Preliminary communication
THE END TIMES IN THE JEWISH INTERPRETATIONI OF THE FIRST NINETEEN PSALMS
Darko Tepert
; Theology of Rijeka, Dislocated Studies of Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Zagreb, Rijeka, Croatia
Abstract
The late Jewish literature views Psalms as text which speak, among other topics, of the messianic time and of Messiah himself. Firstly, this paper considers sources of the late Jewish literature regarding Psalms (1st – 11th c.), and secondly, it examines interpretations of Psalms 1 – 19. When speaking about the end times, these Psalms speak about one or more messiahs in connection with the final victory and with the last judgement. One can detect a certain exclusive approach to the idea of the last judgement, as there is no hope for others and for those who are different. The last battle is imagined as the battle between good and evil, and the winner will be God and his Messiah. Torah is the main weapon in this battle, considering Torah as both written and oral Torah. This means that the keeping of the commandments of this double folded Torah has the key role and enables Jews to win and survive in the end times. Jerusalem is singled out as the place of the judgement and it becomes the throne of God who acts as the judge. The judgement brings destruction onto devil and his followers, including Gog, Magog and Edom, whereas those who belong to God, i. e. faithful and just Israel, shall reside in the renewed Jerusalem and on Zion.
Keywords
Judaism; Psalms; end times; Midrash; Talmud
Hrčak ID:
271041
URI
Publication date:
14.1.2022.
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