108 Th. Booij in her bed, is seeking her beloved; the faithful, in their beds, are to punish the nations. The solution of the paradox is in the subjects’ state of experience. In the young woman’s case this is a dream, probably. In the case of the faithful it may be a dream as well, or just imagination. The faithful, if observed on their couches, would utter no praises and wield no swords. In their minds, nevertheless, the praises are loud (cf. Isa 58,1) and the swords extremely dangerous (cf. Judg 3,16.21-22; Prov 5,3-4.9). The fierceness and the threat of the scene make one think of the texts mentioned in the above paragraph at the end (Hos 7,14 etc.). So it is not by chance perhaps that the action is connected with a place alone (v. 5). On this point too, the author, consciously or unconsciously, may have followed a literary convention. In all likelihood, considering v. 9a, the images of vv. 6-9 are based on prophetic sayings (26). Historical events, however, are their breeding ground. The return from exile, the restoration of the national community, and the steady rebuilding of Jerusalem made Israel experience the greatness and goodness of its God. From that experience the sense of joy, pride and power was born which is expressed in the metaphor of the rising horn in Ps 148,14, leading to the vision of a glorious retribution in Ps 149,6-9. Lomanstraat 32-B Th. BOOIJ 1075 RC Amsterdam SUMMARY Ps 149,5 can be understood from the literary motif of intensified spiritual activity and receptivity in resting time, particularly in the night. Formally, the statement of this verse is related to Cant 3,1. In vv. 5-9 the psalm describes the feelings and mental images of YHWH’s faithful with regard to a future judgement on the nations. The consciousness of Israel’s special position, expressed in the preceding hallelujah-psalms as well, is brought to a climax. (26) See esp. the oracles concerning foreign nations. Israelites may be the instrument for carrying out the judgement; see Ezek 25,14; Obad 18.21; Mic 4,13; 5,7-8; Zech 9,13-15; 12,6. Cf. bwtkh in Sir 48,10.