A. Parallelisms of specification
1. Specification defined
“In the
parallelism of specification, each succeeding stich makes more specific
what the opening stich states in general.
In other words, the movement is from general to specific.”[1]
2. Examples of parallelisms of specification in Ps 24
a.
α The whole earth is
YHWH’s,
and the fullness
of it;
β the
habitable world [is YHWH’s], and
they that inhabit it. (v 1)
The first stich of
this couplet first presents the cosmos and its contents in the most general
sense, the entire earth and all that in it is; the second stich uses the more
specific term “world” (têbêl),
which connotes the habitable terrain of the earth, as well as “they that
inhabit it.” This general à
specific move, especially in this creational sense, is not unlike what we see
in Gen 1 and 2, where the author give the panoramic scenes of Creator God
bringing the cosmos into existence in chapter 1, and focusing in on YHWH
creating and culturing Eden with a garden nook for to tabernacle with his
people. Psalm 24:1 likely carries the
same sense; YHWH is Creator and Owner of all, even all of the inhabitants of
the hospitable domains. In other words,
all domains, even those of Israel’s enemies, are under YHWH supreme Kingship
and rule. Moreover, if the foregoing
observations on the background are correct, then there may be a ring in this
distich of YHWH’s universal Kingship, and especially Israel and Jerusalem.
b. α Who shall go up into the mountain of YHWH?
β Who shall stand up in his holy place? (v
3)
This parallelism
also moves from the general, the mountain or hill of YHWH, or Jerusalem, the
City of God, to the specific, YHWH’s mediated presence in the
tent/tabernacle/temple via the Ark of the Covenant. The purpose of this was to prepare the
pilgrims for the gravity of the worship to which they were going. It is one thing to go up to Jerusalem, but
once there, the worshipper would find themselves in the presence of YHWH, the
Most Holy God of Israel!
c. α Such is the generation of them that seek
him,
β that seek his presence—[even] Jacob. Selah. (v 6)
Granted, the
translation is this couplet is a source of disagreement among scholars. However, if this translation is correct, then
here lies another specification parallel.
It may also be arranged in a chiastic structure to highlight the
specification.
i.
Such is the generation (α-)
ii.
of them that seek him, (-α)
ii. that seek his presence/face (β-)
i. [even] Jacob (-β)
The answers to the question
regarding who can stand in the holy place in v 3 where answered in terms of the
individual in vv 4—5. In v 6, there is a
shift to the corporate community and their desire to seek YHWH. The general “generation” (or class or group)
is used in the first stich, as is the general “seek him.” The second stich specifies what they seek
YHWH for, namely his presence/face and who exactly it is that does seek his
presence, “[even] Jacob”! Like the
parallelism of v 3 above, here too the worshipper is awakened
to what lies before them, specifically.
B. Parallelism of alteration with
intensification[2]
1. Alteration defined
An
alteration is when there are series of members that have a particular
correspondence, in which the first stich of one series corresponds to the first
stich in the next series of member, the second with the second and so on. For example, the pattern looks something like
this.
A.
B.
C.
A.
B.
C…etc.
2. Parallelism of intensification defined
“A parallelism of intensification…occurs
when the second stich of a couplet restates the first in a more pointed,
extreme, or forceful way…we might way the second develops the first by saying,
‘Not only that but more so.’”[3]
3. Example of parallelism of alteration with intensification in Ps 24
A1. YHWH’s
Right to the City | Lift up…that the King
of glory might come in (v 7)
B1. The Gates Seek Identification | Who is this King of glory? (v 8a)
C1. The Coming King Identified | YHWH, strong and mighty;
YHWH,
mighty in battle. (v 8b, c)
A2. YHWH’s Right to the City | Lift up…that the King of glory might come in
(v 9)
B2.
The Gates Seek Identification | Who is
this King of glory? (v 10a)
C2. The Coming King Identified
| YHWH of Hosts,
he
is the King of glory. (v 10b, c)
Members
A and B are synonymous in both series; the change, the intensification occurs
in the C members. C1 identifies the
coming King in terms of what he does, he is “mighty in battle” (v 8c), for
example. In C2, however, the unconditioned title of the God of the armies of
Israel is stated without qualification; “YHWH of Hosts, he is the King of
glory!” This key term, this technical
title for YHWH is connected with the Ark and the establishment of Jerusalem and
her king, David. C2, therefore, identifies the coming King as the rightful owner of
King of the city; it identifies him in terms of Who he is rather than what he
does, which intensifies the C member.
[1]
William W. Klein, Craig L. Blomberg, Robert L. Hubbard contributors, Introduction
to Biblical Interpretation. Thomas
Nelson: Nashville, Tennessee (2004), p. 293.
[2]
The alteration structure of the parallel is indebted to E. W. Bullinger, Figures of Speech Used in the Bible:
Explained and Illustrated. Baker
Book House: Grand Rapids, Michigan (1968), p. 373.
[3]
Klein, et al., p. 295.