Wednesday, 23 January 2013

A book for discovering things

I have revisted a presentation I did 18 months ago to introduce my book project to Uvic. At the time, I had a first draft of the approach I was going to take. The revised presentation is available as pdf here if you are interested.

While I was doing this, I discovered something. I already point out that all of the Acrostics follow a Psalm of significance and act as celebratory markers.

Psalm 8 (9-10); Psalm 24 (25); Psalm 33 (34); Psalm 36 (37)
Psalm 110 (111-112); Psalm 118 (119); Psalm 144 (145)

But look at that surprising relationship: And tell me - what is the relationship I am pointing out - why are Psalms 8 and 144 related and why are Psalms 36 and 110 related? The relationship is unique to the pair in both cases. And this pairing is a chiasm X. (See the presentation for a hint on the Acrostics slide.)

I wonder if one combines this high-wire relationship with the repeated psalms (14-53, 40-70, 57+60 = 108) whether one could not imagine these somehow holding like tent poles the whole structure of the Psalter.

Also I wonder: does this imply a relationship between 118 and 24+33?  What might that be?  24 and 118 have a clear link through open / door - gate.

33 and 118 share 34 roots accounting for 172 of 359 words (close to 1/2).

Here is a very constrained set - hard to reduce them and still see the results. (I even omitted חסד!)
Selected words occurring in each of psalms -33,118

Word and gloss * first usage12345678910123456789VsStem
רננו shout for joy
-33.1רנן
צדיקים righteous ones
-33.1צדיק
הודו give thanks
-33.2ידה
דבר the word of
-33.4דבר
מעשׂהו he makes
-33.4עשׂה
צדקה righteousness
-33.5צדק
בדבר in the word of
-33.6דבר
נעשׂו are made
-33.6עשׂה
נתן giving
-33.7נתן
ייראו will fear
-33.8ירא
גוים the nations
-33.10גוי
הגוי the nation
-33.12גוי
האדם human
-33.13אדם
מעשׂיהם their deeds
-33.15עשׂה
נושׁע victorious
-33.16ישׁע
חיל force
-33.16חיל
לתשׁועה in victory
-33.17ישׁע
חיל force
-33.17חיל
עין the eye of
-33.18עין
יראיו those who fear him
-33.18ירא
ממות from death
-33.19מות
ולחיותם and to keep them alive
-33.19חיה
עזרנו our help
-33.20עזר
ישׂמח will be glad
-33.21שׂמח
בשׁם in name
-33.21שׁם
בטחנו we have trusted
-33.21בטח
הודו give thanks
118.1ידה
יראי those who fear
118.4ירא
אירא I will fear
118.6ירא
יעשׂה will do
118.6עשׂה
אדם an earthling
118.6אדם
בעזרי with those helping me
118.7עזר
מבטח over trusting
118.8בטח
באדם in an earthling
118.8אדם
מבטח over trusting
118.9בטח
גוים nations
118.10גוי
בשׁם in the name of
118.10שׁם
בשׁם in the name of
118.11שׁם
כדבורים like a swarm of bees
118.12דבר
בשׁם in the name of
118.12שׁם
עזרני has helped me
118.13עזר
לישׁועה salvation
118.14ישׁע
רנה a shout of joy
118.15רנן
וישׁועה and salvation
118.15ישׁע
צדיקים righteous ones
118.15צדיק
עשׂה making
118.15עשׂה
חיל weal
118.15חיל
עשׂה making
118.16עשׂה
חיל weal
118.16חיל
אמות I will die
118.17מות
אחיה I will live
118.17חיה
מעשׂי the deeds of
118.17עשׂה
ולמות but over to death
118.18מות
נתנני did he give me
118.18נתן
צדק righteousness
118.19צדק
אודה I will give thanks to
118.19ידה
צדיקים righteous ones
118.20צדיק
אודך I will thank you
118.21ידה
לישׁועה salvation
118.21ישׁע
בעינינו in our eyes
118.23עין
עשׂה made
118.24עשׂה
ונשׂמחה and be glad
118.24שׂמח
הושׁיעה you save
118.25ישׁע
בשׁם in the name of
118.26שׁם
ואודך I will thank you
118.28ידה
הודו give thanks
118.29ידה

24 and 118 share 17 roots accounting for 94 of 287 words (close to 1/3).
Here are the significant ones - slightly less constrained.
Selected words occurring in each of psalms -24,118

Word and gloss * first usage12345678910VsStem
ברכה a blessing
-24.5ברך
וצדקה and righteousness
-24.5צדק
ישׁעו his salvation
-24.5ישׁע
פניך your face
-24.6פנה
שׁערים gates
-24.7שׁער
* ראשׁיכם your heads
-24.7ראשׁ
* פתחי doors
-24.7פתח
עולם everlasting
-24.7עלם
* ויבוא and will come in
-24.7בוא
עזוז strong
-24.8עזז
שׁערים gates
-24.9שׁער
* ראשׁיכם your heads
-24.9ראשׁ
* פתחי doors
-24.9פתח
עולם everlasting
-24.9עלם
* ויבא and will come in
-24.9בוא
לעולם is forever
118.1עלם
לעולם is forever
118.2עלם
לעולם is forever
118.3עלם
לעולם is forever
118.4עלם
עזי my strength
118.14עזז
לישׁועה salvation
118.14ישׁע
וישׁועה and salvation
118.15ישׁע
פתחו open
118.19פתח
שׁערי the gates of
118.19שׁער
צדק righteousness
118.19צדק
אבא I will go
118.19בוא
השׁער the gate of
118.20שׁער
יבאו will go
118.20בוא
לישׁועה salvation
118.21ישׁע
לראשׁ the head of
118.22ראשׁ
פנה the corner
118.22פנה
הושׁיעה you save
118.25ישׁע
ברוך blessed is
118.26ברך
הבא the one coming
118.26בוא
ברכנוכם we have blessed you
118.26ברך
לעולם is forever
118.29עלם

24 and 33 share 24 roots 90 / 250 - slightly over a third.




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