Psalm-80

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Tanakh versions:

Throughout this site I may use any of the following three versions of the TaNaKh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917), 2. Mechon-Mamre.org” (MEC), and 3. “Sefaria.org” (SEF).

Colour coded details of the - TaNaKh:

1. Torah = History & Law, 2. Nevi’im = The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all other Writings.

*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical books - Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot, or Scrolls - Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations of Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and history of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles I & II.

Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold

wondrous things out of Thy Law!

Tehillim - Psalm 119:18..

(JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh).

Please Note: Some alterations or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.

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Remember the following truth from our beloved Torah!

“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).

However, sadly both the later priests as well as our rabbis of long ago have shamefully disobeyed this command of אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם קָדוֹשׁוֹ - ‘Baruch Shem Kadosho’ – ‘Blessed be His Holy Name!’

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“Tehillim - Psalm 80”

With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

Foreword:

Tehillim - Psalm 80 is a deeply rhythmic and emotional plea for national restoration. In the JPS 1917 version, it is notable for its masterful use of the “Vine” allegory and its three-fold refrain that acts as a spiritual heartbeat for the text.

Introduction: The Shepherd and the Vine:

Psalm 80 is a “Psalm of Asaph” set to the tune of “Shoshannim Eduth” (Lilies of Testimony). It is a prayer for the Northern Tribes (Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh), likely written during a time of great national distress or impending exile. The Psalmist uses two primary metaphors for אֱלֹהִים - Elohim: the Shepherd who leads and the Gardener who tends the vine. The recurring plea to “cause Thy face to shine” draws directly from the Priestly Blessing we studied earlier, reminding us that salvation is found in the warmth of the Divine Countenance.

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Let us now read Tehillim - Psalm Chapter 80

1. For the Leader; upon Shoshannim. A testimony. A Psalm of Asaph.
2. Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, Thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; Thou that art enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth.
3. Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up Thy might, and come to save us.
4. O אֱלֹהִים, restore us; and cause Thy face to shine, and we shall be saved.
5. O צְבָאוֹת-יְהוָה - LORD Elohim of hosts, how long wilt Thou be angry against the prayer of Thy people?
6. Thou hast fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in large measure.
7. Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbours; and our enemies mock as they please.
8. O צְבָאוֹת-יְהוָה - LORD Elohim of hosts, restore us; and cause Thy face to shine, and we shall be saved.
9. Thou didst pluck up a vine out of Egypt; Thou didst drive out the nations, and didst plant it.
10. Thou didst clear a place before it, and it took deep root, and filled the land.
11. The mountains were covered with the shadow of it, and the mighty cedars with the boughs thereof.
12. She sent out her branches unto the sea, and her shoots unto the River.
13. Why hast Thou broken down her fences, so that all they that pass by the way do pluck her?
14. The boar out of the wood doth ravage it, that which moveth in the field feedeth on it.
15. O צְבָאוֹת-יְהוָה - LORD Elohim of hosts, return, we beseech Thee; look from heaven, and behold, and be mindful of this vine,
16. And of the stock which Thy right hand hath planted, and the branch that Thou madest strong for Thyself.
17. It is burned with fire, it is cut down; they perish at the rebuke of Thy countenance.
18. Let Thy hand be upon the man of Thy right hand, upon the son of man whom Thou madest strong for Thyself.
19. So shall we not turn back from Thee; quicken Thou us, and we will call upon Thy name.
20. O צְבָאוֹת-יְהוָה - LORD Elohim of hosts, restore us; cause Thy face to shine, and we shall be saved.

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We now turn to our ‘verse by verse’ combined with a commentary:

The Cry to the Shepherd (Verses 1-4).

v. 1: “Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, Thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; Thou that art enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth”.

The Psalmist appeals to the אֱלֹהִים - Elohim who is both intimate (Shepherd) and transcendent (enthroned upon the cherubim).

v. 2: “Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up Thy might, and come to save us”.

These tribes represent the strength of the North, now in need of Divine rescue.

v. 3: “Restore us, O אֱלֹהִים; and cause Thy face to shine, and we shall be saved”.

The Refrain (1st time): Salvation is equated with the "shining" of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s favour.

v. 4: “O צְבָאוֹת-יְהוָה - LORD Elohim of hosts, how long wilt Thou be angry against the prayer of Thy people?”.

There is a unique pain in feeling that even one's prayers are being rejected.

The Bread of Tears (Verses 5-8).

v. 5: “Thou hast fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in large measure”.

A vivid metaphor: grief has become their daily sustenance.

v. 6: “Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbours; and our enemies mock as they list”.

Israel has become a “prize” or a “point of contention” for mocking neighbours.

v. 7: “Restore us, O צְבָאוֹת-יְהוָה - the LORD of hosts; and cause Thy face to shine, and we shall be saved”.

The Refrain (2nd time): Note the title “ צְבָאוֹת אֱלֹהִים (Elohim Tzevaot) adds a layer of Divine power to the plea.

v. 8: “Thou didst pluck up a vine out of Egypt; Thou didst drive out the nations, and didst plant it”.

The start of the great allegory: Israel is a delicate vine moved by the Divine Hand.

The Allegory of the Vine (Verses 9-14).

v. 9: “Thou didst clear a place before it, and it took deep root, and filled the land”.

אֱלֹהִים - Elohim acted as the Gardener, preparing the soil of Canaan.

v. 10: “The mountains were covered with the shadow of it, and the mighty cedars with the boughs thereof”.

The vine grew so strong it rivalled the great cedars of Lebanon.

v. 11: “She sent out her branches unto the sea, and her shoots unto the River”.

The expansion of Israel’s borders from the Mediterranean to the Euphrates.

v. 12: “Why hast Thou broken down her fences, so that all they that pass by the way do pluck her?”

The central question: Why has the Gardener removed the protection?

v. 13: “The boar out of the wood doth ravage it, and that which moveth in the field feedeth on it”.

Wild, unrefined forces (the heathen nations) are consuming the delicate work of אֱלֹהִים.

v. 14: “O צְבָאוֹת אֱלֹהִים - Elohim of hosts, return, we beseech Thee; look down from heaven, and behold, and fashion this vine;”

A plea for the Gardener to return to His work.

The Son of Man and Final Plea (Verses 15-20).

v. 15: “And the stock which Thy right hand hath planted, and the branch that Thou madest strong for Thyself”.

A reminder to אֱלֹהִים that He has a personal stake in this vine’s survival.

v. 16: “It is burned with fire, it is cut down; they perish at the rebuke of Thy countenance”.

The current state of the nation: scorched and failing.

v. 17: “Let Thy hand be upon the man of Thy right hand, upon the son of man whom Thou madest strong for Thyself”.

A prayer for the leadership (perhaps the King) to be strengthened by אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s own hand.

v. 18: “So shall we not turn back from Thee; quicken Thou us, and we will call upon Thy name”.

The promise: if אֱלֹהִים grants life (quicken), the people will respond with faithful worship.

v. 19: “צְבָאוֹת-יְהוָה - the LORD of hosts, restore us; cause Thy face to shine, and we shall be saved”.

The Refrain (3rd time): The most complete title yet, using the Tetragrammaton, sealing the prayer with the highest authority.

v. 20: “צְבָאוֹת-יְהוָה - LORD of hosts, restore us; cause Thy face to shine, and we shall be saved”.

This is the third and final time the refrain is spoken, and it reaches its full theological height. By using the Name יְהוָה - the LORD (the Tetragrammaton) alongside צְבָאוֹת אֱלֹהִים - Elohim of hosts (Elohim Tzevaot), the Psalmist invokes both אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s attribute of Mercy and His attribute of Power. It is a total surrender to the light of the Divine Presence as the only source of national and personal survival.

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My Closing Message: “The Resilience of the Vine”.

When the Psalmist looks at the “broken fences” and the “bread of tears”, he does not see a failed project; he sees a Vine that belongs to a Gardener.

The repetitive refrain is a spiritual technology for us: “Cause Thy face to shine.” It reminds us that we do not need to "fix" the vine ourselves, we cannot. Our task is to call upon the Gardener to return and look upon His planting. As you reflect on these 20 verses, remember that even when the “boar out of the wood” ravages the exterior, the “root” remains in אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s hand, בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם קָדוֹשׁוֹ – ‘Baruch Shem Kadosho’ – ‘Blessed be His Holy Name’.

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This site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!

Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said the following via several of our prophets...

“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. (JPS).

And Remember ...

Enjoy your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!

אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ אוֹתָם

וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם

“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem; walk in My statutes, and keep Mine ordinances, and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that ye may know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem”. Yechezkel - Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).

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“Hebraic Studies” motto is as follows;

“The More Torah, the More Life”

For אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, Blessed be His Sanctified Name,

He is the one who gave us our Life!”

May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts. be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s (Prayers) and regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s (blessings) before food and drinks, etc!

שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!

Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

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