Friday 1 March 2024

#Messiah texts - overview

Here is a summary of the series of posts I have done on Messiah, the texts. I am debating whether to attempt a Messiah in Hebrew set to the music of the te'amim. Of course it wouldn't be Handel but what would its theology be and how many other texts might be included?
2024 Subject Source text in Tanach Other texts noted in passing & NT
Jan 30 Comfort Isaiah 40:1-2, 3 Psalm 5:9
31 Exaltation and Abasement Isaiah 40:4
Feb 1 Glory Isaiah 40:5
2 Presence Haggai 2:6-7, Malachi 3:1
3 Who may abide Malachi 3:2 Psalm 15
4 Clean Malachi 3:3 in part
5 The young woman Isaiah 7:14
6 Good News Isaiah 40:9, 60:1 Isaiah 40:8, 59:21
7 Darkness Isaiah 60:3
8 Light Isaiah 9:2 [v. 1 Hebrew] Isaiah 30:2
9 Birth Isaiah 9:6 [v. 5 Hebrew]
10 Interlude - and the Shepherds -- Micah 5:4, Luke 2, New Testament texts in #Messiah via AI
11 Rejoice Zechariah 9:9–10
12 Eyes and Ears Isaiah 35:5-6 Isaiah 34:1,6; 35:4; Deuteronomy 32:41
13 Shepherd again Isaiah 40:11 Matthew 11:28-30
14 The Lamb of God Isaiah 53:3, 50:6
15 Contagion Isaiah 53:4-6
16 Alone Psalm 69:21 [20]
17 Sorrow Lamentations 1:12
18 DisconnectionIsaiah 53:8 Psalm 15 verse 4
19 Not forsaken Psalm 16:10
20 Entry Psalm 24:7-10
21 Ascension Psalms 2:7, 68:19 [18], 97:7 Hebrews 1:5-6, Deuteronomy 32:43
22 Proclamation Psalm 68:12 [11]
23 Beauty Isaiah 52:7 Romans 10:15
24 Universal Psalm 19:5 Romans 10:18
25 Fury Psalm 2:1-2
26 Rebellion Psalm 2:3
27 Ridicule Psalm 2:4
28 Vengeance Psalm 2:9 Revelation 19:6, 11:15-16
29 Redemption Job 19:25-26 1 Corinthians 15, Romans 8, Psalms books 4 and 5. Psalm 49:8, Leviticus 23:10, Joel 2:1, Isaiah 25:8, Hosea 13:14, Psalm 47:9.

Thursday 29 February 2024

Redemption #Messiah texts Job 19:25–26; Psalm 49:8, Isaiah 25:8, Hosea 13:14 #Psalter

After this verse from Job 19, the remainder of the texts for Part III of Messiah are from the New Testament (1 Corinthians 15 and Romans 8). The beginning of redemption occurs on a rare day! (Feb 29, 2024) Gives much joy whatever the stresses are in our lives.

I am reminded of Psalm 49:8 -- we can't find an adequate cover-price for ourselves.
אָ֗ח לֹא־פָדֹ֣ה יִפְדֶּ֣ה אִ֑ישׁ
לֹא־יִתֵּ֖ן לֵאלֹהִ֣ים כָּפְרֽוֹ
8 ♪~ A sibling's ransom can no one of you ransom,
nor give to God the cover-price.

k ak la-pdh ipdh aiw
la-iitn lalohim copro
6
7
ak la pdh i/pdh aiw
la i/tn l/alh\im cpr\v
Psalm 49:8
There is much to do to dig out the allusions to the Hebrew / LXX Scriptures in the NT texts. For now, I have only a few.

45. Air (soprano) – I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.

Job 19:25–26
וַאֲנִ֣י יָ֭דַעְתִּי גֹּ֣אֲלִי חָ֑י
וְ֝אַחֲר֗וֹן עַל־עָפָ֥ר יָקֽוּם
25 And I, I know my redeemer is living,
and after, over dust he will arise.
ch vani idyti goali ki
vakron yl-ypr iqum
9
9
v/ani idy\ti gal\i ki
v/akr\vn yl ypr i/qvm
וְאַחַ֣ר ע֭וֹרִֽי נִקְּפוּ־זֹ֑את
וּ֝מִבְּשָׂרִ֗י אֶֽחֱזֶ֥ה אֱלֽוֹהַּ
26 And after, this my naked skin struck off,
so from my flesh I will gaze on God.
cv vakr yori niqpu-zat
umbwri akzh aloh
8
10
v/akr yvr\i nqp\v zat
vm/bwr\i a/kzh alvh

45. continued: For now is Christ risen from the dead, the first fruits of them that sleep. (1 Corinthians 15:20)

That phrase first fruits, so thoroughly grounded in Tanach, could have us carry on for another month. ChatGPT summarizes: "Paul's reference to Jesus as the "first fruits" in 1 Corinthians 15:20 draws upon the imagery and symbolism of Jewish sacrificial practices to underscore the significance of Jesus' resurrection in the context of Christian eschatology. Jesus is the inaugural participant in the resurrection, paving the way for the future resurrection of all believers and the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan."

Just a bit of the music of the 'first fruits' . A study in Torah is required.

Leviticus 23:10
46. Chorus – Since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:21–22)

47. Accompagnato (bass) – Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet: (1 Corinthians 15:51–52)

48. Air (bass) – The trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (1 Corinthians 15:52–53). Perhaps we could trace the music of the trumpet and the shofar for this image. 
Joel 2:1

תִּקְע֨וּ שׁוֹפָ֜ר בְּצִיּ֗וֹן וְהָרִ֙יעוּ֙ בְּהַ֣ר קָדְשִׁ֔י יִרְגְּז֕וּ כֹּ֖ל יֹשְׁבֵ֣י הָאָ֑רֶץ
כִּֽי־בָ֥א יוֹם־יְהוָ֖ה כִּ֥י קָרֽוֹב
1 Sound a shophar in Zion and raise a shout on my holy hill. Let all inhabitants of the land shudder,
for the day of Yahweh comes, for it is near.
a tqyu wopr bxion vhriyu bhr qodwi irgzu col iowbi harx
ci-ba iom-ihvh ci qrob
24
7
tqy\v wvpr b/xivn vh/riy\v b/hr qdw\i i/rgz\v cl iwb\i h/arx
ci ba ivm ihvh ci qrb

49. Recitative (mezzo-soprano) – Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory. (1 Corinthians 15:54) 
Isaiah 25:8

בִּלַּ֤ע הַמָּ֙וֶת֙ לָנֶ֔צַח וּמָחָ֨ה אֲדֹנָ֧י יְהוִ֛ה דִּמְעָ֖ה מֵעַ֣ל כָּל־פָּנִ֑ים
וְחֶרְפַּ֣ת עַמּ֗וֹ יָסִיר֙ מֵעַ֣ל כָּל־הָאָ֔רֶץ כִּ֥י יְהוָ֖ה דִּבֵּֽר פ
8 He will swallow up death in perpetuity, my Lord Yahweh will wipe away tears from every face.
And the reproach of his people he will put aside from all the earth, for Yahweh has spoken.
k bily hmvvt lnxk umkh adonii ihvh dmyh myl cl-pnim
vkrpt ymo isir myl cl-harx ci ihvh dibr p
23
19
bly h/mvt l/nxk v/mkh adn\i ihvh dmy\h m/yl cl pn\im
v/krp\t ym\v i/sr m/yl cl h/arx ci ihvh dbr

50. Duet (mezzo-soprano/tenor) – O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. (1 Corinthians 15:55–56)

מִיַּ֤ד שְׁאוֹל֙ אֶפְדֵּ֔ם מִמָּ֖וֶת אֶגְאָלֵ֑ם
אֱהִ֨י דְבָרֶיךָ֜ מָ֗וֶת אֱהִ֤י קָֽטָבְךָ֙ שְׁא֔וֹל נֹ֖חַם יִסָּתֵ֥ר מֵעֵינָֽי
14 From the hand of the grave I will ransom them. From death I will redeem them.
Where is your pestilence, Death? Where your canker, Grave? Comfort will be hidden from my eyes.
id mid waol apdm mmvvt agalm
ahi dbriç mvvt ahi qo'tbç waol nokm iistr myinii
12
23
m/id wavl a/pd\m m/mvt a/gal\m
ahi dbr\ic mvt ahi q'tb\c wavl nkm i/str m/yin\i
Hosea 13:14

Comfort is rendered repentance in some translations. This rendering of nkm is with a gloss I don't use. In tradition, repentance for the most part is used as a gloss for wvb, turn, return, et alia, and for God with nkm, comfort, sigh, et alia.

51. Mar 19 Chorus – But thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:57)

52. Air (soprano) – If God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8: 31); Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is at the right hand of God, who makes intercession for us. (Romans 8:33–34)

53. Chorus – Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, and hath redeemed us to God by his blood, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. Blessing, and honour, glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. (Revelation 5:12–14) Amen.

This text came up in a prison study on the experimental theology site a few weeks ago. Who is it that sits on the throne? Perhaps this is a reference to Psalm 47:9. Verse 10 is good to remember in these days of war.
מָלַ֣ךְ אֱ֭לֹהִים עַל־גּוֹיִ֑ם
אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים יָשַׁ֤ב ׀ עַל־כִּסֵּ֬א קָדְשֽׁוֹ
9 Reigns God over nations.
God sits on his holy throne.
't mlç alohim yl-goiim
alohim iwb yl-cisa qodwo
8
10
mlc alh\im yl gvi\m
alh\im iwb yl csa qdw\v
נְדִ֘יבֵ֤י עַמִּ֨ים ׀ נֶאֱסָ֗פוּ עַם֮ אֱלֹהֵ֪י אַבְרָ֫הָ֥ם
כִּ֣י לֵֽ֭אלֹהִים מָֽגִנֵּי־אֶ֗רֶץ מְאֹ֣ד נַעֲלָֽה
10 The princes of the peoples are gathered, the people of the God of Abraham,
for to God belong the shields of earth, supremacy ascended.
i ndibi ymim naspu ym alohi abrhm
ci lalohim mgini-arx maod nylh
16
13
ndb\i ym\im n/asp\v ym alh\i abrhm
ci l/alh\im mgn\i arx mad n/ylh
Psalm 47:9


Wednesday 28 February 2024

Vengeance #Messiah texts #Psalter Psalm 2:9

43. Air (Tenor) – Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. 

Psalm 2:9
תְּ֭רֹעֵם בְּשֵׁ֣בֶט בַּרְזֶ֑ל
כִּכְלִ֖י יוֹצֵ֣ר תְּנַפְּצֵֽם
9 ♪g You will injure them with an iron sceptre.
Like fashioned vessels, you will smash them.

't troym bwb't brzl
ccli ioxr tnpxm
8
7
t/ry\m b/wb't brzl
c/cli iv/xr t/npx\m


44. Chorus – Hallelujah: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. (Revelation 19:6); The kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 11:15); King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. (Revelation 19:16) Hallelujah!

Hallelujah is a frequent word in the fourth and fifth books of the Psalms -- occurring 24 times. The theme of the reign of Yahweh is equally important in the psalms. 

Tuesday 27 February 2024

Ridicule #Messiah texts #Psalter Psalm 2:4

42. Recitative (Tenor) – He that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh them to scorn: the Lord shall have them in derision.
Psalm 2:4

יוֹשֵׁ֣ב בַּשָּׁמַ֣יִם יִשְׂחָ֑ק
אֲ֝דֹנָ֗י יִלְעַג־לָֽמוֹ
The one sitting in the heavens, he laughs.
My Lord derides them.
d iowb bwmiim iwkq
adonii ilyg-lmo
7
7
iv/wb b/wmim i/wkq
adn\i i/lyg l\mv


There are 79 other verses in the Poetry books that share this musical shape. 48 verses in the Psalms, 14 in Proverbs and 19 in Job. E.g. psalm 2:11 - such repeated musical lines may assist in defining the structure of a poem. Interesting that in this case, the B (Munah is the name of this accent) is always repeated. The musical phrase is always e B B ^A ger-rev,e and never e B ^A ger-rev,e. e B B ^A sounds similar to e B ^A, but this beginning to a verse only occurs twice. The accents play two roles. They define the reciting note or the ornament, and they show accentuation in the text. So sometimes the same accent defining the same reciting note will repeat. This particular phrase cannot occur anywhere in the prose books. It contains an accent pair (revia-mugrash - abbreviated in my data as ger-rev) that occurs only in the three poetry sections: Psalms, Proverbs, and the speeches of Job excluding the opening and closing sections, and the narrator's individual verses which are all written with the prose accents.

I wonder if these provide clues to structure or authorship? They are all similar with respect to rhythm, and relative poetic shortness of line, but they are not of equal syllable counts. The counts I see in the Psalms are between 14 and 17.

Monday 26 February 2024

Rebellion #Messiah texts #Psalter Psalm 2:3

 41. Chorus – Let us break their bonds asunder, and cast away their yokes from us. 

Psalm 2:3
נְֽ֭נַתְּקָה אֶת־מֽוֹסְרוֹתֵ֑ימוֹ
וְנַשְׁלִ֖יכָה מִמֶּ֣נּוּ עֲבֹתֵֽימוֹ
3 ♪g Let us snap their bonds,
and kiss good-bye to their cords.

g nntqh at-mosrotimo
vnwlich mmnu ybotimo
8
11
n/ntq\h at mv/sr\vtimv
vn/wlc\h m/mn\v ybt\imv


The musical phrase is unique, occurring only once in Tanach. It is connected to the prior verse and is devoid of ornamentation. You could easily make a fugue subject from it.

Sunday 25 February 2024

Fury #Messiah texts #Psalter Psalm 2:1–2

40. Air (bass) – Why do the nations so furiously rage together: and why do the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth rise up, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord, and against his Anointed. 
Psalm 2:1–2
לָ֭מָּה רָגְשׁ֣וּ גוֹיִ֑ם
וּ֝לְאֻמִּ֗ים יֶהְגּוּ־רִֽיק
1 ♪g Why such a throng of nations?
and tribes in empty muttering?
a lmh rgwu goiim
ulaumim ihgu-riq
6
6
lmh rgw\v gvi\m
v/lam\im ih/g\v riq
יִ֥תְיַצְּב֨וּ ׀ מַלְכֵי־אֶ֗רֶץ וְרוֹזְנִ֥ים נֽוֹסְדוּ־יָ֑חַד
עַל־יְ֝הוָה וְעַל־מְשִׁיחֽוֹ
2 ♪f They station themselves, these sovereigns of earth, these rule-makers reasoning as one,
over Yahweh and over his anointed:
b itiixbu mlci-arx vroznim nosdu-ikd
yl-ihvh vyl-mwiko
12
8
it/ixb\v mlc\i arx v/rvzn\im nv/sd\v ikd
yl ihvh v/yl mwk\v


The psalm continues on from psalm 1. The music shows it by beginning on a note other than the tonic. Seventy-five verses in the poetry books have this form. Verse 2 continues verse 1. Its musical shape is unique. There are a number of repeated phrase shapes in this psalm. No one has yet performed it with the music of the deciphering key.