Yahweh’s ‘lord’ and unrestrained evil: an Exegesis of Psalm 110

Abstract

This article consists of an exegetical investigation of Psalm 110 and assumes that the psalms function in one sense as prayers, which can be prayed authentically by modern worshippers. Consequently, the specific images of hostile acts of war present a challenge as prayer. The methodology involves the investigation of the text from a grammatico-historical perspective by using selected sources from the 19th century to the present. The meaning of the violent images of enmity and the defining characteristics of the enemy are determined through understanding the perceived suffering of the psalmist. Special attention is given to the role of the phrase םֻאְנָּהוהְי, the identification of יִֹנדַאל and defining the enemy. The conclusions of the exegesis support a more traditional interpretation of יִֹנדַאל and characterise the recalcitrant enemies in an eschatological framework.