translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: PSA

label: NET translator note

text: Heb “turns with a turning [toward] his people.” The Hebrew noun שִׁיבַת ( shivat ) occurs only here in the OT. For this reason many prefer to emend the form to the more common שְׁבִית ( shevit ) or שְׁבוּת ( shÿvut ), both of which are used as a cognate accusative of שׁוּב ( shuv ; see Ps 14:7 ). However an Aramaic cognate of שְׁבִית appears in an eighth century b.c. Old Aramaic inscription with the verb שׁוּב . This cognate noun appears to mean “return” (see J. Fitzmyer, The Aramaic Treaties of Sefire [BibOr], 119-20) or “restoration” (see DNWSI 2:1125). Therefore it appears that שְׁבִית should be retained and understood as a cognate accusative of שׁוּב . In addition to Fitzmyer (119-20) see L. C. Allen, who offers the literal translation, “turn with a turning toward” ( Psalms 101-150 [WBC], 170). Allen takes שְׁבִית as construct and understands “Zion” as an objective genitive.


text: Heb “then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with a shout.”


text: Heb “they said among the nations.”


text: Heb “like the streams in the Negev.” sn The streams in the arid south . Y. Aharoni writes of the streams in the Negev: “These usually dry wadis collect water on rainy days from vast areas. The situation is also aggravated by floods from the desert mountains and southern Judah. For a day or two or, more frequently, for only a few hours they turn into dangerous torrents” (Y. Aharoni, The Land of the Bible , 26). God’s people were experiencing a “dry season” after a time of past blessing; they pray here for a “flash flood” of his renewed blessing. This does not imply that they are requesting only a brief display of God’s blessing. Rather the point of comparison is the suddenness with which the wadis swell during a rain, as well as the depth and power of these raging waters. The community desires a sudden display of divine favor in which God overwhelms them with blessings.


text: The noun occurs only here and in Job 28:18 in the OT. See HALOT 646 s.v. I מֶשֶׁךְ which gives “leather pouch” as the meaning.


text: The Hebrew noun אֲלֻמָּה (’ alummah , “sheaf”) occurs only here and in Gen 37:7 in the OT. sn Verse 6 expands the image of v. 5 . See the note on the word “harvest” there.