volume 4, issue 2, 2012, pages 47-71

DOI: https://doi.org/10.64438/sbsHKEG9431
Published online: 2012-12-01
Published in print: 2012-12-30

Abstract: Ps 110:5-6 (“He smashes the kings to pieces in the day of his wrath, … he fills with bodies, breaks heads”) seems to present a very violent image of the Messiah. This is a false impression: the author’s intention is rather that of presenting a non-violent Messiah. In order to demonstrate this, first of all the author of this paper gives a translation that is faithful to the MT, above all in the controversial points in vv. 3 and 5-7. Secondly, he marks out the structure of the psalm in four strophes which correspond in parallel (A = 1b; B = 2-3; A’ = 4; B’ = 5-7). He also shows that it cannot be the Messiah who is acting in vv. 5-6 but God who is fulfilling what he had promised in v. 1: the Messiah is completely passive even if he participates in the eschatological battle. The peaceful nature of the Messiah and his priestly character (cf. v. 4) bring the psalm close to the historical work of the Chronicler.