Biblica_1_Layout 1 20/01/12 11:44 Pagina 499 499 THE INTERPRETATION OF PS 144,14 In favor of a drought is the description of unproductive fig trees, grapeless vines, and a failing olive crop. The wording is also similar to that of the drought in Jer 8,13: hnatb ~ynat !yaw !pgb ~ybn[ !ya 69. Favoring the effects of an invasion is the location of this verse immediately following the Babylonian invasion recorded in v. 16 70. Much like Hab 3,17, the positioning of Isa 37,30 after the oracle against Sennacherib (37,22-29) is contextually sufficient to indicate that the gradual agricultural recovery described in 37,30 is a conse- quence of the Assyrian destruction that preceded it 71. Moreover, the martial interpretation is in cadence with Habakkuk’s earlier indict- ment of the Babylonians for denuding Lebanon of its trees and an- imals (2,17). Finally, Jeremiah’s prophecy (5,15-17) that future invaders (Babylon?) will devour the harvest (including figs and vines) and livestock, also upholds this reading of Hab 3,17. If Hab 3,17 does, indeed, describe the results of a Babylonian takeover, it furnishes supporting evidence for our proposal by also combining martial and pastoral themes. It laments the horrors of invasion and captivity through agricultural imagery, just as Ps 144,14 celebrates the security of the herd via martial imagery. 2. Potential Objections to the Pastoral-Martial Orientation The only drawbacks to this formulation involve the semantic un- certainties surrounding ~ylbsm and wnypwla; but these complications are neither unique to this proposal nor insuperable. With respect to ~ylbsm, I recommend Held’s suggestion of “well cared for”, since it is supported by its Aramaic counterpart, lbs (D-stem: “support”, “sustain”, “provide for”) 72, and does not require the insertion of ad- 69 HOLLADAY, Jeremiah 1 (Philadelphia, PA) 429. 70 The devastation of agriculture by invading armies is verified by the Bible and ANE literature (e.g., Lev 26,16; Deut 28,33.49-51; Isa 1,7; Mic 4,4?). The measures include confiscating crops and cutting down fruit trees for siege equipment (Deut 6,11; 20,19-20). COS 2.2A:12, 13. 71 Isa 37,22-30 = 2 Kgs 19,21-29. 72 HELD, “The Root Zbl/Sbl”, 92, n. 49; BOOIJ, “Psalm 144”, 174, 177- 178; DNWSI 774-775; H.G.M. WILLIAMSON, Ezra, Nehemiah (WBC 16; Waco, TX 1985) 71; HALOT 1936; KIRKPATRICK, Psalms, 812. Elsewhere, lklky, “sustain”, is used for the maintenance of the flock (Zech 11,16).