Psalms 99
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Psalms 99
[Psalms 99:1] THE LORD REIGNETH; LET THE PEOPLE TREMBLE: HE SITTETH BETWEEN THE CHERUBIMS; LET THE EARTH BE MOVED.
The CHERUBIMS were two angelic figures traditionally shaped a little like children. One of them was feminine, the other masculine. They were placed over the Ark of the Coventant in the Holy of Holies (Inner Sanctuary) of the Tabernacle. It was from there that the Almighty communicated with Moses.
AND THERE I WILL MEET WITH THEE, AND I WILL COMMUNE WITH THEE FROM ABOVE THE MERCY SEAT, FROM BETWEEN THE TWO CHERUBIMS WHICH ARE UPON THE ARK OF THE TESTIMONY, OF ALL THINGS WHICH I WILL GIVE THEE IN COMMANDMENT UNTO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL [Exodus 25:22].
[Psalms 99:2] THE LORD IS GREAT IN ZION; AND HE IS HIGH ABOVE ALL THE PEOPLE.
Even after the destruction of the Temple Jerusalem remained the center of the world.
ZION (cf. Midrash Tanchuna) can represent Joseph at some level.
THE PEOPLE. Hebrew "Ha-amim" i.e. "the peoples" in the plural.
[Psalms 99:3] LET THEM PRAISE THY GREAT AND TERRIBLE NAME; FOR IT IS HOLY.
The name of something reflects its essence.
[Psalms 99:4] THE KING'S STRENGTH ALSO LOVETH JUDGMENT; THOU DOST ESTABLISH EQUITY, THOU EXECUTEST JUDGMENT AND RIGHTEOUSNESS IN JACOB.
This applies primarily to the Torah and its laws and all the judgments that are derived from it. It also applies to the social and economic development of the Tribes. The Torah may be understood at many levels all of which are pertinent. So too, the direct meaning of many Biblical verses may be understood to have equally valid applications for each Judah and Joseph.
[Psalms 99:5] EXALT YE THE LORD OUR GOD, AND WORSHIP AT HIS FOOTSTOOL; FOR HE IS HOLY.
[Psalms 99:6] MOSES AND AARON AMONG HIS PRIESTS, AND SAMUEL AMONG THEM THAT CALL UPON HIS NAME; THEY CALLED UPON THE LORD, AND HE ANSWERED THEM.
[Psalms 99:7] HE SPAKE UNTO THEM IN THE CLOUDY PILLAR: THEY KEPT HIS TESTIMONIES, AND THE ORDINANCE THAT HE GAVE THEM.
[Psalms 99:8] THOU ANSWEREDST THEM, O LORD OUR GOD: THOU WAST A GOD THAT FORGAVEST THEM, THOUGH THOU TOOKEST VENGEANCE OF THEIR INVENTIONS.
All of the above verses are understood not only to apply to Moses and Aaron and Samuel but also to all of the Israelite people whom they served.
THEIR INVENTIONS. Hebrew "alilotam" which in Modern Hebrew connotes "false claims" and this understanding is probably close enough to the original meaning.
Targum Yehonatan seems to answer the verse as saying that the Almighty helped the Israelites but also punbished them for their wrongdoing that resulted through evil imaginations or false doctrine. The other Commentators interpret the expression to say that the Almighty took vengeance against the "false claims" made against them.
The Jews throughout history have had falkse claims made against them.
They used to say that the Jews steal Christian children and use their blood to make matzos on Pesach (Passover). This was a famous false claim made against Judah. It is known as the blood libel. One of the first places were this claim was heard was in Norwich in East England north of London in ca. 1144 CE. After that similar allegations were made throughout Europe and in Poland and Germany until very recently. A famous Rabbi wrote an article suggesting that the blood libel was inflicted on Judah as a punishment for the selling of Joseph and claiming to his father that a wild animal had devoured him (Genesis 37:26-33):
AND JUDAH SAID UNTO HIS BRETHREN, WHAT PROFIT IS IT IF WE SLAY OUR BROTHER, AND CONCEAL HIS BLOOD? [Genesis 37:26]
COME, AND LET US SELL HIM TO THE ISHMEELITES, AND LET NOT OUR HAND BE UPON HIM; FOR HE IS OUR BROTHER AND OUR FLESH. AND HIS BRETHREN WERE CONTENT. [Genesis 37:27]
THEN THERE PASSED BY MIDIANITES MERCHANTMEN; AND THEY DREW AND LIFTED UP JOSEPH OUT OF THE PIT, AND SOLD JOSEPH TO THE ISHMEELITES FOR TWENTY PIECES OF SILVER: AND THEY BROUGHT JOSEPH INTO EGYPT. [Genesis 37:28]
AND REUBEN RETURNED UNTO THE PIT; AND, BEHOLD, JOSEPH WAS NOT IN THE PIT; AND HE RENT HIS CLOTHES. [Genesis 37:29]
AND HE RETURNED UNTO HIS BRETHREN, AND SAID, THE CHILD IS NOT; AND I, WHITHER SHALL I GO? [Genesis 37:30]
AND THEY TOOK JOSEPH'S COAT, AND KILLED A KID OF THE GOATS, AND DIPPED THE COAT IN THE BLOOD; [Genesis 37:31]
AND THEY SENT THE COAT OF MANY COLOURS, AND THEY BROUGHT IT TO THEIR FATHER; AND SAID, THIS HAVE WE FOUND: KNOW NOW WHETHER IT BE THY SON'S COAT OR NO. [Genesis 37:32]
AND HE KNEW IT, AND SAID, IT IS MY SON'S COAT; AN EVIL BEAST HATH DEVOURED HIM; JOSEPH IS WITHOUT DOUBT RENT IN PIECES. [Genesis 37:33]
Nowadays the Arabs helped by the Western Press frequently make false allegations against the Jews.
Conspuiracy Theories are also false allegations made against farious groups especially the US Establishment, Great Britain, and the Zionist-Jews. In other words Conspiracy Theories are frequently directed against both Judah and Joseph. The Almighty will take revenge against they who besmirch HIS people.
[Psalms 99:9] EXALT THE LORD OUR GOD, AND WORSHIP AT HIS HOLY HILL; FOR THE LORD OUR GOD IS HOLY.
AT HIS HOLY HILL, Hebrew "Le-Har Kodshoi" i.e. towards his Holy Mount. When praying it is recommended to direct one's attention towards the Temple Mount. This was recommended by King Solomon when the Temple was dedicated.
YET IF THEY SHALL BETHINK THEMSELVES IN THE LAND WHITHER THEY WERE CARRIED CAPTIVES, AND REPENT, AND MAKE SUPPLICATION UNTO THEE IN THE LAND OF THEM THAT CARRIED THEM CAPTIVES, SAYING, WE HAVE SINNED, AND HAVE DONE PERVERSELY, WE HAVE COMMITTED WICKEDNESS; [1-Kings 8:47]
AND SO RETURN UNTO THEE WITH ALL THEIR HEART, AND WITH ALL THEIR SOUL, IN THE LAND OF THEIR ENEMIES, WHICH LED THEM AWAY CAPTIVE, AND PRAY UNTO THEE TOWARD THEIR LAND, WHICH THOU GAVEST UNTO THEIR FATHERS, THE CITY WHICH THOU HAST CHOSEN, AND THE HOUSE WHICH I HAVE BUILT FOR THY NAME: [1-Kings 8:48]
THEN HEAR THOU THEIR PRAYER AND THEIR SUPPLICATION IN HEAVEN THY DWELLING PLACE, AND MAINTAIN THEIR CAUSE. [1-Kings 8:49]
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