248 TH. BOOIJ granted in Zion 31; it is likely to have been recited after entering the city. In Psalm 134, the use of hnh in v. 1 (“ lo ”, “come on”) suits a situation that calls for “blessing YHWH” (cf. hnh in Gen 19,2; Judg 20,7) : the procession has entered the sanctuary now 32. 3. The Great Hallel In early rabbinical tradition a Great Hallel is known besides the Egyptian Hallel. In the Babylonian Talmud rabbi Tarphon takes the view that at the Passover meal, after completing the Egyptian Hallel over the fourth cup of wine, the Great Hallel is to be recited 33. The question is asked, lwdgh llh –kyhm, “From where the Great Hallel?” There are three answers. The first answer is, lbb twrhn d[ wdwhm, “From O praise until the rivers of Babylon”. The second is, lbb twrhn d[ twl[mh ryçm, “From A Song of Ascents until the rivers of Babylon”. The third is, lbb twrhn d[ hy wl rjb bq[y ykm, “ From for YHWH has chosen Jacob for himself until the rivers of Babylon ”. The third answer is unequivocal: Ps 135,4–136,26 must be meant. The first answer is generally assumed to refer to Psalm 136 ; this indeed is the text in the Passover Haggadah. The second answer, however, appears to be problematic. By twl[mh ryv either the title of Psalm 134 is supposed to be intended, or that of Psalm 120. It is in favour of the former opinion that Psalm 134, as a call for “blessing” YHWH, is related to the calls for praise that will follow. In favour of the latter opinion it can be argued that, just as in the first answer wdwh, “Praise!”, logically refers to the first occurrence of this call in Psalm 136, twl[mh ryv in the second answer is likely to intend the first occurrence of that phrase in the collection. In my view, for understanding the Talmudic passage, it is important to include considerations regarding the content of the psalm texts in question. The reason why in the third answer the recitation of Psalm 135 starts with v. 4 must be that a text recited 26,2, and see D. HAMIDOVIC, “‘Les portes de justice’ et ‘la porte de YHWH’ ´ dans la Psaume 118,19-20”, Bib 81 (2000) 542-550. See Th. BOOIJ, “Psalm 133: ‘Behold, how good and how pleasant’”, Bib 31 83 (2002) 258-267. The phrase hwhy ydb[ refers to the members of the cultic community. Cf. 32 e.g. Ps 34,23 ; 113,1; 135,1; Deut 32,36.43. See also Lev 9,5; Jer 7,10. Pesahim 118a. 33 ˙