Psalm 135: The election of Israel (verses 21-27)

Juan de Juanes

In the last post we looked at the psalms witness of God's intervention in history.  The other key theme of  Psalms 113, 134 and 135 is of course the election of Israel, and their special status as the people that God is especially mindful of.   In Psalm 135, this theme is dealt with mostly in verses 21-27.

Comparison of the psalms

Verses 21 and 22 are identical to Psalm 134:12, and you can find notes on them in that context here..

Both Psalms 113 (Monday Vespers) and 134 point specifically to the election of Israel; Psalms 113 and 135 talk about God's 'mindfulness' of his people, as the table below sets out.

 The election of Israel in Psalms 113, 134 and 135.

	Ps 135	Ps 134	Ps 113
He has chosen Israel		4 Quoniam Jacob elegit sibi Dominus; Israël in possessionem sibi.	2  Facta est Judæa sanctificátio ejus, Israël potéstas ejus.
Given them the Promised Land as an inheritance	21  Et dedit terram eórum hereditátem [] 22  Hereditátem Israël, servo suo []	12 et dedit terram eorum hæreditatem, hæreditatem Israël populo suo.
Continues to care for his people	23  Quia in humilitáte nostra memor fuit nostri: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus. 24  Et redémit nos ab inimícis nostris: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	13 Domine, nomen tuum in æternum; Domine, memoriale tuum in generationem et generationem. 14 Quia judicabit Dominus populum suum, et in servis suis deprecabitur.	17  Domus Israël sperávit in Dómino: * adjútor eórum et protéctor eórum est... 20  Dóminus memor fuit nostri: * et benedíxit nobis: 21  Benedíxit dómui Israël: * benedíxit dómui Aaron. 22  Benedíxit ómnibus, qui timent Dóminum, * pusíllis cum majóribus.

The verses

23	V/NV/JH	Quia in humilitáte nostra memor fuit nostri: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
		ὅτι ἐν τῇ ταπεινώσει ἡμῶν ἐμνήσθη ἡμῶν ὁ κύριος ὅτι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ

Quia (for) in humilitáte (in the affliction/lowliness/humiliation) nostra (our) memor (mindful) fuit (he was) nostri (of us)

humilitas, atis, f affliction, humiliation, wretchedness, misery

memor, oris  mindful of, thoughtful of; to remember, call to mind, think of, take thought for, recall, recount, etc.

DR	For he was mindful of us in our affliction: for his mercy endures for ever.
Brenton	For the Lord remembered us in our low estate; for his mercy endures for ever:
MD	He remembered us in our lowliness, for his mercy endureth forever
RSV	It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures for ever;
Cover	who remembered us when we were in trouble (for his mercy endureth for ever),
Knox	Eternal the mercy that remembers us in our affliction,

24	V/NV	Et redémit nos ab inimícis nostris: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
	JH	Et redemit nos de hostibus nostris : quoniam in aeternum misericordia eius.

Et (and) redémit (he redeemed) nos (us) ab (from) inimícis (the enemies) nostris (of us)

redimo ere emi emptum  3 to redeem, buy back, ransom, rescue, set free, save

inimicus, i, m., a foe, enemy

DR	And he redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endures for ever.
Brenton	and redeemed us from our enemies; for his mercy endures for ever.
MD	He delivered us from our enemies, for his mercy endureth forever
RSV	and rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures for ever;
Cover	and hath delivered us from our enemies (for his mercy endureth for ever);
Knox	eternal the mercy that rescues us from our enemies,

25	V/NV	Qui dat escam omni carni: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
	JH	Qui dat panem omni carni : quoniam in aeternum misericordia eius.
		ὁ διδοὺς τροφὴν πάσῃ σαρκί ὅτι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ

Qui (and) dat (he gives) escam (food) omni (to all) carni (flesh)

esca, ae, f food for men or beasts.

caro, carnis, f  flesh as food, the -flesh of beasts; man, mankind;  the body; every living being

DR	Who gives food to all flesh: for his mercy endures for ever.
Brenton	Who gives food to all flesh; for his mercy endures for ever.
MD	He giveth food to all flesh, for his mercy endureth forever
RSV	he who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures for ever.
Cover	who giveth food to all flesh (for his mercy endureth for ever).
Knox	eternal the mercy that gives all living things their food.

Who gives food to all flesh

The final verse of the psalm has been given a number of different interpretations by the Fathers and Theologians.  Some interpret is as a general reference to God's ongoing work of sustaining the world.  Others see it as a reference to the Eucharist, an allusion to manna, because it comes immediately after a reference to God leading his people from the desert.  

Those interpretations are obviously all valid, but I'd like to add another layer to that and suggest that perhaps the verse provides a fitting conclusion to St Benedict's 'redemption triptych in the opening psalms of Vespers from Monday to Wednesday.  In this light we can read the reference to food for all flesh, and the subsequent verses (which repeat the opening of the psalm), as referring to God's offer of his own flesh as food and drink for us in the New Covenant of Christ;  a covenant which is open to all, Jew and Gentile alike.

Vulgate	Douay-Rheims
Alleluja.
1 Confitémini Dómino, quóniam bonus: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	Praise the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endures for ever.
2  Confitémini Deo deórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	2 Praise the God of gods: for his mercy endures for ever.
3  Confitémini Dómino dominórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	3 Praise the Lord of lords: for his mercy endures for ever.
4  Qui facit mirabília magna solus: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	4 Who alone does great wonders: for his mercy endures for ever.
5  Qui fecit cælos in intelléctu: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	5 Who made the heavens in understanding: for his mercy endures for ever.
6  Qui firmávit terram super aquas: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	6 Who established the earth above the waters: for his mercy endures for ever.
7  Qui fecit luminária magna: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	7 Who made the great lights: for his mercy endures for ever.
8  Solem in potestátem diéi : * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus	8 The sun to rule the day: for his mercy endures for ever.
9  Lunam et stellas in potestátem noctis: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	9 The moon and the stars to rule the night: for his mercy endures for ever.
10  Qui percússit Ægyptum cum primogénitis eórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	10 Who smote Egypt with their firstborn: for his mercy endures for ever.
11  Qui edúxit Israël de médio eórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	11 Who brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endures for ever.
12  In manu poténti, et bráchio excélso : * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	12 With a mighty hand and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endures for ever.
13  Qui divísit Mare Rubrum in divisiónes: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	13 Who divided the Red Sea into parts: for his mercy endures for ever.
14  Et edúxit Israël per médium ejus: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	14 And brought out Israel through the midst thereof: for his mercy endures for ever.
15  Et excussit Pharaónem, et virtútem ejus in Mari Rubro: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	15 And overthrew Pharao and his host in the Red Sea: for his mercy endures for ever.
16  Qui tradúxit pópulum suum per desértum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	16 Who led his people through the desert: for his   mercy endures for ever.
17  Qui percússit reges magnos: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	17 Who smote great kings: for his mercy endures for ever.
18  Et occídit reges fortes : * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	18 And slew strong kings: for his mercy endures for ever.
19  Sehon, regem Amorrhæórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	19 Sehon king of the Amorrhites: for his mercy endures for ever.
20  Et Og, regem Basan: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	20 And Og king of Basan: for his mercy endures for ever.
21  Et dedit terram eórum hereditátem : * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	21 And he gave their land for an inheritance: for his mercy endures for ever.
22  Hereditátem Israël, servo suo : * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	22 For an inheritance to his servant Israel: for his mercy endures for ever.
23  Quia in humilitáte nostra memor fuit nostri: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	23 For he was mindful of us in our affliction: for his mercy endures for ever
24  Et redémit nos ab inimícis nostris: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	24 And he redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endures for ever.
25  Qui dat escam omni carni: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus	25 Who gives food to all flesh: for his mercy endures for ever.
26  Confitémini Deo cæli: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	26 Give glory to the God of heaven: for his mercy endures for ever.
27  Confitémini Dómino dominórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	Give glory to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endures for ever

And that concludes this set of notes on Psalm 135.  You can find an introduction to the third psalm of Wednesday Vespers, Psalm 136, here.

Psalm 135: God's providential interventions in history (verses 10-20)

Crossing the Red Sea, a wall painting from the 1640s in Yaroslavl, Russia

Verses 10 to 20 of Psalm 135 provide accounts of God's governance of history that are virtually identical to those of Psalm 134 (see the table below).  

Repetition between the psalms

Accordingly, I won't go over the same ground again (you can read the notes on Psalm 134 here), but will just provide notes on the additional material contained in verses 12-16.  I've included verses 21 and 22 in the table for reference purposes, since they fit into this narrative and are practically identical in both psalms, but I will come back to them briefly in the next post in this series.

Table 1: Repetition of material between Psalms 134 and 135 on salvation history

Psalm 134	Psalm 135
8 Qui percussit primogenita Ægypti, ab homine usque ad pecus. 9 Et misit signa et prodigia in medio tui, Ægypte : in Pharaonem, et in omnes servos ejus. 10 Qui percussit gentes multas,  et occidit reges fortes: 11 Sehon, regem Amorrhæorum, et Og, regem Basan, et omnia regna Chanaan: [12 et dedit terram eorum hæreditatem, hæreditatem Israël populo suo.]	10  Qui percússit Ægyptum cum primogénitis eórum [quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus] 11  Qui edúxit Israël de médio eórum [] [12-16 contain additional material] 17  Qui percússit reges magnos [] . 18  Et occídit reges fortes [] 19  Sehon, regem Amorrhæórum.[] 20  Et Og, regem Basan [] [21  Et dedit terram eórum hereditátem [] 22  Hereditátem Israël, servo suo []]

*Note: Italics and [] indicate additional material.

Notes on the verses

 There is of course, also some commonality between the verses that follow and others in Psalm 113 and 134.  Nonetheless, this is the more unique material:

12	V	In manu poténti, et bráchio excélso : * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
	NV	in manu potenti et brachio extento* quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
	JH	In manu ualida et in brachio extento : quoniam in aeternum misericordia eius.
		ἐν χειρὶ κραταιᾷ καὶ ἐν βραχίονι ὑψηλῷ ὅτι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ

In manu (With the hand) poténti (of might/strength), et (and) bráchio ([strong] arm) excélso (uplifted/outstretched)

manus, us, f, the hand

potens, entis, p. adj.  powerful, mighty, strong.

brachium, ii, n.  the arm; a symbol of power, might, strength.

excelsus, a, um  (1) high, august, sublime, towering aloft (2) with Deus, the most high (3) uplifted (said of the arm) (4) as a neuter substantive, a)heights, high places  b) billows, high waves

DR	With a mighty hand and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endures for ever.
Brenton	with a strong hand, and a high arm: for his mercy endures for ever.
MD	With strong hand and outstretched arm for his mercy endureth forever
Cover	with a mighty hand and stretched-out arm (for his mercy endureth for ever);
Knox	with constraining power, with his arm raised on high, his mercy is eternal.

13	V/NV/JH	Qui divísit mare rubrum in divisiónes: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
		τῷ καταδιελόντι τὴν ἐρυθρὰν θάλασσαν εἰς διαιρέσεις ὅτι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ

Qui (who) divísit (divides) Mare Rubrum (the Red Sea) in divisiónes (into parts)

divisio onis f a part, division, portion

divido, visi, visum, ere 3,  to separate, divide, part

DR	Who divided the Red Sea into parts: for his mercy endures for ever.
Brenton	To him who divided the Red Sea into parts: for his mercy endures for ever:
RSV	to him who divided the Red Sea in sunder, for his steadfast love endures for ever;
Cover	who divided the Red Sea in two parts (for his mercy endureth forever),
Knox	Eternal the mercy that divided the Red Sea in two,

14	V	Et edúxit israël per médium ejus: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
	NV	Et traduxit Israel per medium eius,quoniam in aeternum misericordia eius.
	JH	Et eduxit Israhel in medio eius : quoniam in aeternum misericordia eius.
		καὶ διαγαγόντι τὸν Ισραηλ διὰ μέσου αὐτῆς ὅτι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ

Et (and) edúxit (led) Israël per (through) médium (the middle) ejus (of it)

educo, duxi, ductum, ere 3,  to lead out or forth.

medius, a, um in the middle, midst

DR	And brought out Israel through the midst thereof: for his mercy endures for ever.
Brenton	and brought Israel through the midst of it: for his mercy endures for ever:
MD	And he made Israel pass through it, for his mercy endures forever
Cover	and made Israel to go through the midst of it (for his mercy endureth for ever),
Knox	eternal the mercy that led Israel through its waters,

15	V/NV	Et excussit pharaónem, et virtútem ejus in mari rubro: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
	JH	Et conuoluit Pharao et exercitum eius in mari rubro: quoniam in aeternum misericordia eius.
		καὶ ἐκτινάξαντι Φαραω καὶ τὴν δύναμιν αὐτοῦ εἰς θάλασσαν ἐρυθράν ὅτι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ

Et (and) excussit (he overthrew/shook off) Pharaónem (Pharaoh), et (and) virtútem (the army) ejus (his) in Mari Rubro (in the Red Sea)

excutio ere cussi cussum  to shake off, shake out; overthrow

virtus, utis, f   strength, power, might; an army, host; the angels.; the heavenly bodies, the sun, moon, and stars

DR	And overthrew Pharao and his host in the Red Sea: for his mercy endures for ever.
Brenton	and overthrew Pharao and his host in the Red Sea: for his mercy endures for ever.
MD	And he buried Pharao and his army in the Red Sea for his mercy endureth forever
RSV	but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea, for his steadfast love endures for ever;
Cover	but as for Pharaoh and his host, he overthrew them in the Red Sea (for his mercy endureth for ever);
Knox	eternal the mercy that drowned in the Red Sea Pharao and Pharao’s men.

16	V/NV/JH	Qui tradúxit pópulum suum per desértum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
		τῷ διαγαγόντι τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ ὅτι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ τῷ ἐξαγαγόντι ὕδωρ ἐκ πέτρας ἀκροτόμου ὅτι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ

Qui (who)  tradúxit (led) pópulum (the people) suum (his) per (through) desértum (the desert)

traduco ere duxi ducturm to lead, bring or conudct across, to lead or bring over

populus, i, people;  the chosen people; a heathen nation

desertus, a, um, part. adj.  desert, arid, waste, solitary, desolate  subst., desertum, i, n., a desert, wilderness.

DR	Who led his people through the desert: for his mercy endures for ever.
Brenton	To him who led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endures for ever.
MD	He led his people through the desert, for his mercy endures forever
RSV	to him who led his people through the wilderness, for his steadfast love endures for ever;
Cover	who led his people through the wilderness (for his mercy endureth for ever);
Knox	And so he led his people through the wilderness, his mercy is eternal.

The significance of salvation history

Pope Benedict XVI's commentary on the psalm draws out the significance of this history for us:

"We know that biblical Revelation repeatedly proclaims that the presence of God the Saviour is manifested in particular in the history of salvation (cf. Dt 26:5-9; Jos 24:1-13). Thus, the Lord's liberating actions, the heart of the fundamental event of the Exodus from Egypt, pass before the psalmist's eyes. Closely connected with the Exodus is the gruelling journey through the Sinai Desert, whose ultimate destination is the Promised Land, the divine gift that Israel continues to experience in all the pages of the Bible.

The famous crossing of the Red Sea, "divided in two", split as it were in two and subdued like a defeated monster (cf. Ps 136[135]:13), brings forth the free people called to a mission and a glorious destiny (cf. vv. 14-15; Ex 15:1-21), who will have a new Christian interpretation in their full liberation from evil by baptismal grace (cf. I Cor 10:1-4).

The journey then begins through the desert: there the Lord is portrayed as a warrior who, by continuing the work of liberation begun in the Red Sea crossing, stands by his people to defend them by striking down their enemies. The desert and the sea thus represent the passage through evil and oppression, to receive the gift of freedom and the Promised Land (cf. Ps 136[135]:16-20)."

Vulgate	Douay-Rheims
Alleluja.
1 Confitémini Dómino, quóniam bonus: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	Praise the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endures for ever.
2  Confitémini Deo deórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	2 Praise the God of gods: for his mercy endures for ever.
3  Confitémini Dómino dominórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	3 Praise the Lord of lords: for his mercy endures for ever.
4  Qui facit mirabília magna solus: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	4 Who alone does great wonders: for his mercy endures for ever.
5  Qui fecit cælos in intelléctu: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	5 Who made the heavens in understanding: for his mercy endures for ever.
6  Qui firmávit terram super aquas: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	6 Who established the earth above the waters: for his mercy endures for ever.
7  Qui fecit luminária magna: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	7 Who made the great lights: for his mercy endures for ever.
8  Solem in potestátem diéi : * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus	8 The sun to rule the day: for his mercy endures for ever.
9  Lunam et stellas in potestátem noctis: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	9 The moon and the stars to rule the night: for his mercy endures for ever.
10  Qui percússit Ægyptum cum primogénitis eórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	10 Who smote Egypt with their firstborn: for his mercy endures for ever.
11  Qui edúxit Israël de médio eórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	11 Who brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endures for ever.
12  In manu poténti, et bráchio excélso : * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	12 With a mighty hand and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endures for ever.
13  Qui divísit Mare Rubrum in divisiónes: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	13 Who divided the Red Sea into parts: for his mercy endures for ever.
14  Et edúxit Israël per médium ejus: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	14 And brought out Israel through the midst thereof: for his mercy endures for ever.
15  Et excussit Pharaónem, et virtútem ejus in Mari Rubro: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	15 And overthrew Pharao and his host in the Red Sea: for his mercy endures for ever.
16  Qui tradúxit pópulum suum per desértum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	16 Who led his people through the desert: for his   mercy endures for ever.
17  Qui percússit reges magnos: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	17 Who smote great kings: for his mercy endures for ever.
18  Et occídit reges fortes : * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	18 And slew strong kings: for his mercy endures for ever.
19  Sehon, regem Amorrhæórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	19 Sehon king of the Amorrhites: for his mercy endures for ever.
20  Et Og, regem Basan: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	20 And Og king of Basan: for his mercy endures for ever.
21  Et dedit terram eórum hereditátem : * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	21 And he gave their land for an inheritance: for his mercy endures for ever.
22  Hereditátem Israël, servo suo : * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	22 For an inheritance to his servant Israel: for his mercy endures for ever.
23  Quia in humilitáte nostra memor fuit nostri: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	23 For he was mindful of us in our affliction: for his mercy endures for ever
24  Et redémit nos ab inimícis nostris: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	24 And he redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endures for ever.
25  Qui dat escam omni carni: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus	25 Who gives food to all flesh: for his mercy endures for ever.
26  Confitémini Deo cæli: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	26 Give glory to the God of heaven: for his mercy endures for ever.
27  Confitémini Dómino dominórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.	Give glory to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endures for ever

The final part in this series of notes on Psalm 135 can be found here.