02_Booij_351_351_374 30/10/15 13:01 Pagina 370 370 THIJS BOOIJ 370 (v. 12), in which Israel’s God visits the earth, waters it, creates amazing fertility, and gives food in abundance 82. The time to hope for this bounty was Succoth, when YHWH came to “judge the peoples with equity” (Ps 67,5). This festival, celebrated at the turn of the year (Exod 34,22), was also a favourite opportunity for paying vows to YHWH who had been gracious to his people (Ps 65,2-3). In Psalm 98, verse 9 (cf. Ps 96,13) seems to allow different readings. The verse is considered to refer to YHWH’s universal reign and judgment in an eschatological future 83, or to a “climactic denouement” of YHWH’s works being at hand 84, or to YHWH’s present rule as demonstrated by his acts on behalf of Israel 85, or to YHWH’s coming to his people in a “sacrament of renewal” 86. It is unsatisfactory in these interpretations that the relationship of Ps 98,4-9 with Psalm 67 is ignored. The two texts adopt different positions. Psalm 67, speaking of their produce yielded by the earth (v. 7), looks back in time, while Ps 98,4-9, calling to welcome the King, looks forward. The texts, however, agree in saying that YHWH judges the world with equity and that this is reason for joy and jubilation (cf. Ps 118,24). Thus Psalm 98, just as Psalm 67, appears to be related to Succoth. 3. Gunkel’s third genre characteristic is a traditional “form language”. Groups of texts expressing the people’s gratitude have indeed forms and elements in common. (a) The verb hdy hif‘il, “praise”, typical of expressions of thankfulness, is found in Psalms 67 (vv. 4.6), 107 (vv. 1.8.15.21.31), 118 (vv. 1.19.21.28.29), Isaiah 12 (vv. 1.4), and Isa 25,1-5 (v. 1). (b) Several texts, though apparently communal songs, have statements in the first person singular. Some of them are presented as spoken, or to be spoken, by Israel or by the Israelites in general. Others can be considered to be spoken, like those in Psalm 118, by an individual representing the people. Psalm 65, in view of its broad 82 In v. 10 the pronominal suffix in ~ngd, “their grain”, is reason to assume that here, as in v. 6, #ra is used in the sense of “earth”, not “land”. Cf. v. 9 and the plural in Pss 33,8; 66,1.4; 96,1.9; 98,4; 100,1. 83 See e.g. DELITZSCH, Psalmen, 657, 661; GUNKEL, Psalmen, 421, 427; KRAUS, Psalmen, 837-838, 848; F.L. HOSSFELD – E. ZENGER, Psalmen 51– 100. Übersetzt und ausgelegt (HThKAT; Freiburg i.B. 2000) 670, 690. 84 TATE, Psalms 51–100, 525 (cf. 515). 85 GOLDINGAY, Psalms III, 102, 107, 123, rendering ab by “he has come”. Cf. KISSANE Psalms II, 126, 131. 86 EATON, Psalms, 345.