Psalm 7 → 122
Reasoning: 11328 Output: 4611 Total: 15939
Argument
Short claim: Psalm 122 can be read as the liturgical and historical “next step” after Psalm 7. Psalm 7 ends with a vow of thanksgiving after divine judgment; Psalm 122 shows the worshiper actually going up to Jerusalem, where judgment is enthroned, to give thanks to the Name of YHWH and to pray for the city’s peace. High‑weight lexical hooks (identical forms or very close in form/meaning) - Shared Davidic frame: both begin לְדָוִד (Ps 7: superscription; Ps 122:1). Identical form. - “Name of YHWH” as the explicit object of praise/thanks in both: - Ps 7:18: ואזמרה שם־יהוה עליון - Ps 122:4: להודות לשם יהוה These share the exact collocation שם יהוה (with or without prepositional לְ), and the same verb root ידה “to thank/praise” occurs (Ps 7: אוֹדֶה; Ps 122: לְהֹדוֹת), in the same binyan (Hifil). This is a strong, direct lexical seam: a vow “I will thank … and sing to the Name of YHWH” (Ps 7) is met by the purpose clause “to give thanks to the Name of YHWH” (Ps 122). - Judgment vocabulary in both: - Ps 7:7–9: מִשְׁפָּט צִוִּיתָ; יהוה יָדִין עַמִּים; שָׁפְטֵנִי יהוה - Ps 122:5: כִסְאוֹת לְמִשְׁפָּט The noun מִשְׁפָּט appears in both, with Ps 7 invoking God’s commanded judgment and Ps 122 locating “thrones for judgment” in Jerusalem. - YHWH + Elohim word-pair: - Ps 7:2, 12: יהוה אֱלֹהַי; אֱלֹהִים שׁוֹפֵט צַדִּיק - Ps 122:9: בֵּית־יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ Same two divine names in close apposition, with the shift from singular “my God” to communal “our God.” Rare/marked lexemes or roots that align (heavier weight than common words) - The שׁ־ל־מ cluster: - Ps 7:5: שׁוֹלְמִי (“the one at peace with me/ally”) — a rare form. - Ps 122:6–8: שְׁלוֹם … יִשְׁלָיוּ … שַׁלְוָה … שָׁלוֹם — the root dominates the psalm. The betrayal of “my peaceful one” in Ps 7 makes the repeated plea for shalom in Ps 122 a pointed sequel; the root moves from personal rupture (Ps 7) to communal restoration (Ps 122). - Upward/height semantics as a glue: - Ps 7:7–8: קוּמָה … הִנָּשֵׂא … לַמָּרוֹם שׁוּבָה - Ps 122:1, 4: שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת; שָׁם עָלוּ שְׁבָטִים Imperatives of rising/lifting and “to the heights” in Ps 7 are concretized by the pilgrim “ascents” and tribal “going up” in Ps 122. Form and stylistic correspondences - Both are overtly musical: Ps 7 is a שִׁגָּיוֹן “which he sang to YHWH,” and Ps 122 is a שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת. The close of Ps 7 (ואזמרה) flows naturally into a pilgrim song. - Imperative/jussive prayer and response: - Ps 7: “Arise! Be lifted up! Awake!” addressed to YHWH (vv. 7–8). - Ps 122: Imperative/volitive petitions for the city: שַׁאֲלוּ שְׁלוֹם … יְהִי־שָׁלוֹם … אֲדַבְּרָה־נָּא שָׁלוֹם (vv. 6–8). The rhetorical mode (urgent petition leading to confident declaration) is shared, but the addressee shifts from God (Ps 7) to Jerusalem (Ps 122), fitting a move from courtroom plea to cultic procession. Structural/thematic progression (liturgical logic in ancient Israel) - Vow-to-thank → fulfillment at the sanctuary: - Ps 7 ends with a vow of thanksgiving and praise to the Name (אוֹדֶה … ואזמרה שם־יהוה; v. 18). - Ps 122 narrates the fulfillment context: the community goes “to the house of YHWH … to give thanks to the Name of YHWH” (vv. 1, 4). This matches the common lament pattern where a delivered petitioner brings a todah-offering and public praise at the sanctuary (cf. Lev 7:11–15; Ps 22:26; 66:13–20). - Courtroom in heaven → thrones in Zion: - Ps 7 pictures YHWH convening the court among the peoples (וַעֲדַת לְאֻמִּים תְּסוֹבְבֶךָּ … יהוה יָדִין עַמִּים; vv. 8–9). - Ps 122 locates justice institutionally: “There sit thrones for judgment, thrones for the house of David” (v. 5). Thus, the cosmic verdict sought in Ps 7 is embodied in Jerusalem’s royal/judicial order in Ps 122. - From solitary distress to communal stability: - Ps 7: intensely individual (“אֱלֹהַי,” “נַפְשִׁי,” “אוֹיֵב,” “צוֹרְרַי”). - Ps 122: corporate (“רַגְלֵינוּ,” “שְׁבָטִים,” “אֲחַי וְרֵעָי,” “אֱלֹהֵינוּ”), in a city “joined together” (שֶׁחֻבְּרָה־לָּהּ יַחְדָּו; v. 3). This is a natural narrative sequel: the vindicated individual joins the community at the center of worship and justice. Historical/social plausibility - From Benjaminite hostility to Davidic enthronement: - Ps 7’s superscription names כּוּשׁ בֶּן־יְמִינִי (a Benjaminite; traditionally linked to Saul’s circle). - Ps 122 centers on Jerusalem as the seat of “the house of David” (v. 5) and prays for its peace. Read together, the arc moves from conflict with Benjaminite opposition to the established Davidic reign in Jerusalem, now praying for the capital’s shalom. Note that Benjamin is one of the “tribes” (שְׁבָטִים) that “go up,” implying reconciliation and unity (שֶׁחֻבְּרָה־לָּהּ יַחְדָּו). Further medium‑weight links - Reported speech as the catalyst in both superscriptions/openings: - Ps 7: “על־דִּבְרֵי־כוש” (concerning the words of Cush). - Ps 122: “שָׂמַחְתִּי בְּאֹמְרִים לִי” (I rejoiced when they said to me…). Each psalm is triggered by “words told to me,” but the content shifts from accusatory words (Ps 7) to joyful summons to worship (Ps 122). - Posture/motion imagery: - Ps 7: “arise … be lifted … return on high.” - Ps 122: “our feet were standing … let us go … the tribes have gone up.” The vertical and processional motifs are shared, with the ascent motif reaching its concrete destination in Ps 122. In sum, you can argue that Psalm 122 follows Psalm 7 on at least four converging axes: a direct lexical seam around “giving thanks to the Name of YHWH,” a courtroom-to-throne (mishpat) throughline, a shared ascent/assembly motif that moves from divine rising to human pilgrimage, and a life‑setting move from individual deliverance to communal worship in Jerusalem, historically framed by the shift from Benjaminite opposition to the Davidic judicial order.
Evaluation
Score: 6.5
Evaluated at: 2025-11-27T03:32:25 (UTC)
Evaluator model: gpt-5
Evaluator version: v2
Reasoning: 3008 Output: 5450 Total: 8458
Checklist
- Has verse refs: Yes
- Factual error detected: No
- Only generic motifs: No
- Counterargument considered: No
- LXX/MT numbering acknowledged: No
Vocabulary specificity: 5.0 / 10
Strong ‘להודות/אוֹדֶה לשם יהוה’ seam, mishpat/throne link, rise→ascent, rare שׁוֹלְמִי vs שָׁלוֹם cluster, Davidic frame. Weak: motifs widespread; psalms far apart; alternatives unaddressed. No caps.
Prompt
Consider Psalm 7 and Psalm 122 (reproduced below). What arguments could you make to justify that Psalm 122 logically follows on from Psalm 7? Consider stylistic similarities, similarities of form, similarities of vocab or ideas, shared roots (if you're doing the search in Hebrew), connections to sequences of events common in ancient Israelite life, mythology or history shared by the two psalms.
Rarer words are more significant than commoner words. Identical forms are more significant than similar forms. The same word class is more significant than different word classes formed from the same root. Identical roots are more significant than suppletive roots.
Psalm 7:
Psalm 7
1. שִׁגָּי֗וֹן
לְדָ֫וִ֥ד
אֲשֶׁר־
שָׁ֥ר
לַיהוָ֑ה
עַל־
דִּבְרֵי־
כ֝֗וּשׁ
בֶּן־
יְמִינִֽי׃
2. יְהוָ֣ה
אֱ֭לֹהַי
בְּךָ֣
חָסִ֑יתִי
הוֹשִׁיעֵ֥נִי
מִכָּל־
רֹ֝דְפַ֗י
וְהַצִּילֵֽנִי׃
3. פֶּן־
יִטְרֹ֣ף
כְּאַרְיֵ֣ה
נַפְשִׁ֑י
פֹּ֝רֵ֗ק
וְאֵ֣ין
מַצִּֽיל׃
4. יְהוָ֣ה
אֱ֭לֹהַי
אִם־
עָשִׂ֣יתִי
זֹ֑את
אִֽם־
יֶשׁ־
עָ֥וֶל
בְּכַפָּֽי׃
5. אִם־
גָּ֭מַלְתִּי
שֽׁוֹלְמִ֥י
רָ֑ע
וָאֲחַלְּצָ֖ה
צוֹרְרִ֣י
רֵיקָֽם׃
6. יִֽרַדֹּ֥ף
אוֹיֵ֨ב ׀
נַפְשִׁ֡י
וְיַשֵּׂ֗ג
וְיִרְמֹ֣ס
לָאָ֣רֶץ
חַיָּ֑י
וּכְבוֹדִ֓י ׀
לֶעָפָ֖ר
יַשְׁכֵּ֣ן
סֶֽלָה׃
7. ק֘וּמָ֤ה
יְהוָ֨ה ׀
בְּאַפֶּ֗ךָ
הִ֭נָּשֵׂא
בְּעַבְר֣וֹת
צוֹרְרָ֑י
וְע֥וּרָה
אֵ֝לַ֗י
מִשְׁפָּ֥ט
צִוִּֽיתָ׃
8. וַעֲדַ֣ת
לְ֭אֻמִּים
תְּסוֹבְבֶ֑ךָּ
וְ֝עָלֶ֗יהָ
לַמָּר֥וֹם
שֽׁוּבָה׃
9. יְהוָה֮
יָדִ֢ין
עַ֫מִּ֥ים
שָׁפְטֵ֥נִי
יְהוָ֑ה
כְּצִדְקִ֖י
וּכְתֻמִּ֣י
עָלָֽי׃
10. יִגְמָר־
נָ֬א
רַ֨ע ׀
רְשָׁעִים֮
וּתְכוֹנֵ֢ן
צַ֫דִּ֥יק
וּבֹחֵ֣ן
לִ֭בּ֗וֹת
וּכְלָי֗וֹת
אֱלֹהִ֥ים
צַדִּֽיק׃
11. מָֽגִנִּ֥י
עַל־
אֱלֹהִ֑ים
מ֝וֹשִׁ֗יעַ
יִשְׁרֵי־
לֵֽב׃
12. אֱ֭לֹהִים
שׁוֹפֵ֣ט
צַדִּ֑יק
וְ֝אֵ֗ל
זֹעֵ֥ם
בְּכָל־
יֽוֹם׃
13. אִם־
לֹ֣א
יָ֭שׁוּב
חַרְבּ֣וֹ
יִלְט֑וֹשׁ
קַשְׁתּ֥וֹ
דָ֝רַ֗ךְ
וַֽיְכוֹנְנֶֽהָ׃
14. וְ֭לוֹ
הֵכִ֣ין
כְּלֵי־
מָ֑וֶת
חִ֝צָּ֗יו
לְֽדֹלְקִ֥ים
יִפְעָֽל׃
15. הִנֵּ֥ה
יְחַבֶּל־
אָ֑וֶן
וְהָרָ֥ה
עָ֝מָ֗ל
וְיָ֣לַד
שָֽׁקֶר׃
16. בּ֣וֹר
כָּ֭רָֽה
וַֽיַּחְפְּרֵ֑הוּ
וַ֝יִּפֹּ֗ל
בְּשַׁ֣חַת
יִפְעָֽל׃
17. יָשׁ֣וּב
עֲמָל֣וֹ
בְרֹאשׁ֑וֹ
וְעַ֥ל
קָ֝דְקֳד֗וֹ
חֲמָס֥וֹ
יֵרֵֽד׃
18. אוֹדֶ֣ה
יְהוָ֣ה
כְּצִדְק֑וֹ
וַ֝אֲזַמְּרָ֗ה
שֵֽׁם־
יְהוָ֥ה
עֶלְיֽוֹן׃
Psalm 122:
Psalm 122
1. שִׁ֥יר
הַֽמַּעֲל֗וֹת
לְדָ֫וִ֥ד
שָׂ֭מַחְתִּי
בְּאֹמְרִ֣ים
לִ֑י
בֵּ֖ית
יְהוָ֣ה
נֵלֵֽךְ׃
2. עֹ֭מְדוֹת
הָי֣וּ
רַגְלֵ֑ינוּ
בִּ֝שְׁעָרַ֗יִךְ
יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃
3. יְרוּשָׁלִַ֥ם
הַבְּנוּיָ֑ה
כְּ֝עִ֗יר
שֶׁחֻבְּרָה־
לָּ֥הּ
יַחְדָּֽו׃
4. שֶׁשָּׁ֨ם
עָל֪וּ
שְׁבָטִ֡ים
שִׁבְטֵי־
יָ֭הּ
עֵד֣וּת
לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל
לְ֝הֹד֗וֹת
לְשֵׁ֣ם
יְהוָֽה׃
5. כִּ֤י
שָׁ֨מָּה ׀
יָשְׁב֣וּ
כִסְא֣וֹת
לְמִשְׁפָּ֑ט
כִּ֝סְא֗וֹת
לְבֵ֣ית
דָּוִֽיד׃
6. שַׁ֭אֲלוּ
שְׁל֣וֹם
יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם
יִ֝שְׁלָ֗יוּ
אֹהֲבָֽיִךְ׃
7. יְהִֽי־
שָׁל֥וֹם
בְּחֵילֵ֑ךְ
שַׁ֝לְוָ֗ה
בְּאַרְמְנוֹתָֽיִךְ׃
8. לְ֭מַעַן
אַחַ֣י
וְרֵעָ֑י
אֲדַבְּרָה־
נָּ֖א
שָׁל֣וֹם
בָּֽךְ׃
9. לְ֭מַעַן
בֵּית־
יְהוָ֣ה
אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ
אֲבַקְשָׁ֖ה
ט֣וֹב
לָֽךְ׃