Heman the Ezrahite

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Heman the Ezrahite (Hebrew : הֵימָן הָאֶזְרָחִי‎Hēmān hā’Ezrāḥī) is the author of Psalm 88 in the Hebrew Bible, according to the Psalm's colophon.

Contents

B. Bava Batra connects the name Heman to the semitic root אמנ (ʔ-m-n) meaning "trusted," [1] while CYDA speculates it is from נתן (n-t-n) and means "given." [2] It is found sixteen times in the New International Version of the Bible. [3] The ethnonym is sometimes understood to mean "of Zerah," with the aleph prosthetic, [4] to mean "of Ezrah," or, alternatively, to mean "the native" who founded a tradition of bards. [5]

Heman the Ezrahite may be one of the three Levites assigned by King David to be ministers of music. This Heman was a grandson of Samuel the prophet [6] who went on to become King David's seer and to have fourteen sons and three daughters. [7]

Works

Psalm 88 seems to have been written in a state of despair. According to Martin Marty, a professor of church history at the University of Chicago, Psalm 88 is “a wintry landscape of unrelieved bleakness.”

Nevertheless, the appeal to God in Psalm 88 begins with the following expression of faith: "O Yahweh, God of my salvation!" Three times (vss. 1, 9, and 13) the psalmist calls on the name of Yahweh. The psalmist accompanies each invocation with a reference to his perseverance in prayer. For example, in verse nine he declares, "I call on you, O Yahweh, every day." [8]

See also

In literature

Madeleine L'Engle has a poem called "Herman the Ezragite: Psalm 88:18" in her collection A Cry Like a Bell. [9] In it, she imagines the feelings of Heman (Herman) that led him to write Psalm 88.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Psalm 89</span>

Psalm 89 is the 89th psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever". In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate translations of the Bible, this psalm is Psalm 88. In Latin, it is known as "Misericordias Domini in aeternum cantabo". It is described as a maschil or "contemplation".

The Psalms of Asaph are the twelve psalms numbered as 50 and 73–83 in the Masoretic Text, and as 49 and 72–82 in the Septuagint. They are located in the Book of Psalms in the Hebrew Bible. Scholars have determined that a psalm's attribution to Asaph can mean a variety of things. It could mean that the psalms were a part of a collection from the Asaphites, a name commonly used to identify temple singers. Another possibility is that the psalms were performed in the style or tradition of the guild bearing Asaph's name. Asaph is said to either be the author or the transcriber of these psalms. He may not have said these psalms but transcribed the words of David. No specific time period is known to be associated with these Psalms, but the record of destruction noted in Psalm 74 may indicate that these Psalms came from the post-exilic period.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Psalm 5</span> Biblical psalm

Psalm 5 is the fifth psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation". In Latin, it is known as "Verba mea auribus percipe Domine". The psalm is traditionally attributed to David. It reflects how the righteous man prays for deliverance not only for freedom from suffering, but to allow himself to serve God without distraction. The New King James Version entitles it "A Prayer for Guidance".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Psalm 6</span> Biblical psalm

Psalm 6 is the sixth psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure". In Latin, it is known as "Domine ne in furore tuo arguas me". This penitential psalm is traditionally attributed to David.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Psalm 12</span> Twelfth psalm of the Book of Psalms

Psalm 12 is the twelfth psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "Help, Lord; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men." In the Greek Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate, it is psalm 11 in a slightly different numbering, "Salvum me fac". Its authorship is traditionally assigned to King David.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Psalm 16</span> Biblical psalm

Psalm 16 is the 16th psalm in the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Psalm 17</span> Book of psalms chapter 17

Psalm 17 is the 17th psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry". In the Greek Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate, it is psalm 16 in a slightly different numbering system, "Exaudi Domine iustitiam meam". Its authorship is traditionally assigned to King David.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Psalm 26</span>

Psalm 26, the 26th psalm of the Book of Psalms in the Bible, begins : "Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity".

Psalm 28 is the 28th psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "Unto thee will I cry, O LORD my rock;". The Book of Psalms is part of the third section of the Hebrew Bible, and a book of the Christian Old Testament. In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate translations of the Bible, this psalm is Psalm 27. In Latin, it is known by the incipit, "Exaudi vocem deprecationis meae".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Psalm 32</span> Biblical psalm

Psalm 32 is the 32nd psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven". The Book of Psalms is part of the third section of the Hebrew Bible, and a book of the Christian Old Testament. In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate translations of the Bible, this psalm is Psalm 31. In Latin, it is known by the incipit, "Beati quorum". The psalmist expresses the joy of being released from great suffering.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Psalm 33</span> Biblical psalm

Psalm 33 is the 33rd psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright". The Book of Psalms is part of the third section of the Hebrew Bible, and a book of the Christian Old Testament. In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate translations of the Bible, this psalm is Psalm 32. In Latin, it is known by the incipit, "Exultate iusti in Domino". Its purpose is to praise "the Sovereignty of the Lord in Creation and History".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Psalm 34</span> Biblical psalm

Psalm 34 is the 34th psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth." The Book of Psalms is part of the third section of the Hebrew Bible, and a book of the Christian Old Testament. In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate translations of the Bible, this psalm is Psalm 33. In Latin, it is known as "Benedicam Dominum in omni tempore".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Psalm 39</span> Biblical psalm

Psalm 39 is the 39th psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue". The Book of Psalms is part of the third section of the Hebrew Bible, and a book of the Christian Old Testament. In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate translations of the Bible, this psalm is Psalm 38. In Latin, it is known as "Dixi custodiam vias meas". It is a meditation on the fragility of man before God, ending in a prayer for a peaceful life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Psalm 142</span>

Psalm 142 is the 142nd psalm of the biblical Book of Psalms in the Masoretic text and modern numbering, part of the final Davidic collection of psalms, comprising Psalms 138 to 145, which are specifically attributed to David in their opening verses. It is labelled as a maschil or contemplation. In the Latin Vulgate, it is an oratio or prayer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Psalm 54</span> Biblical psalm

Psalm 54 is the 54th psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength". In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate translations of the Bible, this psalm is Psalm 53. In Latin, it is known as "Deus in nomine tuo salvum me fac", Attributed to David, it was written for one who finds oneself betrayed by a friend.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Psalm 63</span>

Psalm 63 is the 63rd psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee". In the slightly different numbering system of the Greek Septuagint version of the Bible and the Latin Vulgate, this psalm is Psalm 62. In Latin, it is known as "Deus Deus meus". It is attributed to King David, set when he was in the wilderness of Judah, and its theme concerns being stranded in the wilderness away from one's family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Psalm 71</span>

Psalm 71 is the 71st psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion". It has no title in the Hebrew version. In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate translations of the Bible, this psalm is Psalm 70. In Latin, it is known as "In te Domine speravi".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Psalm 77</span> 77th psalm in the Book of Psalms

Psalm 77 is the 77th psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me". In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate translations of the Bible, this psalm is Psalm 76. In Latin, it is known as "Voce mea ad Dominum clamavi".

Psalm 86 is the 86th psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "Bow down thine ear, O Lord, hear me: for I am poor and needy". In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate translations of the Bible, this psalm is Psalm 85. In Latin, it is known as "Inclina Domine". It is attributed to David.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Psalm 88</span>

Psalm 88 is the 88th psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee". In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate translations of the Bible, this psalm is Psalm 87. In Latin, it is known as "Domine Deus salutis meae". According to the title, it is a "psalm of the sons of Korah" as well as a "maskil of Heman the Ezrahite".

References

  1. ↑ "Bava Batra 15a:10". Sefaria.org. Retrieved 2022-05-13.
  2. ↑ "Chomat Anakh on I Kings 5:11:1". Sefaria.org. Retrieved 2022-05-13.
  3. ↑ "BibleGateway.com - Keyword Search". Biblegateway.com. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  4. ↑ "Rashi on Psalms 88:1:4". Sefaria.org. Retrieved 2022-05-13.
  5. ↑ "Ibn Ezra on Psalms 88:1:2". Sefaria.org. Retrieved 2022-05-13.
  6. ↑ 1 Chronicles 6:33–34
  7. ↑ 1 Chronicles 25:5
  8. ↑ "Bible Gateway passage: Psalm 88 - Lexham English Bible". Biblegateway.com.
  9. ↑ L'Engle, Madeleine (1987). A Cry Like a Bell. Wheaton, IL: Harold Shaw Publishers. p. 43. ISBN   0-87788-148-0.


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