The Rising ‭תורהנ‬ of Psalm 93: Chaotic Order

Abstract

The relation between Yahweh and the sea in Psalm 93 has usually been considered to be an adversarial one. Particularly stressed in this regard are the three references to the rising ‭תורהנ‬ in v. 3. There are, however, several features of the psalm that are unamenable to this view. In addition, proponents of this line of thought have attempted to modify an element in v. 4b so as to make this perspective more probable. The style of this psalm argues against such emendations. The new thesis advanced in this article is that the chaotic waters manifest, rather than oppose, the power of Yahweh. This proposal is grounded both in stylistic and terminological considerations and in the function of similar imagery both in other ‭ךלמהוהי‬ (‘Yahweh reigns’) psalms and in other throne visions in the books of Isaiah and Ezekiel. Psalm 93 imbues Yahweh with the hue of a sea god and in the process provides a different modulation on the theme of Yahweh and the primeval chaos than is found elsewhere in the Old Testament.