Page:04.BCOT.KD.PoeticalBooks.vol.4.Writings.djvu/127

the quousque Psa 4:3, and the words of the feeble-faiths Psa 4:7, it follows that Psa 4:1-8 is the later of the two.
It is at the head of this Psalm that we are first met by למנצּח (or למנצּח with Gaja, Hab 3:19), which still calls for investigation. It is found fifty five times in the Psalter, not 54 as is usually reckoned: viz., 19 times in book 1, 25 times in book 2, 8 times in book 3, 3 times in book 4. Only two of the Psalms, at the head of which it is found, are anonymous: viz., Ps 66, Psa 67:1-7. All the others bear the names of David and of the psalmists celebrated from David's time, viz., 39 of David, 9 of the Korahites, 5 of Asaph. No fewer than 30 of these Psalms are Elohimic. למנצח is always the first word of the inscription; only in Ps 88, which is easily liable to be overlooked in reckoning, is it otherwise, because there two different inscriptions are put together.
The meaning of the verb נצּח is evident from the Chronicles and the Book of Ezra, which belongs to them. The predilection of the chronicler for the history of religious worship and antiquarian lore is also of use in reference to this word. He uses it in the history of the time of David, of Solomon, of Josiah, of Zerubbabel and Joshua, and always in connection with the accounts of the Temple-service and the building of single parts of the Temple. To discharge the official duties of the Temple-service is called נצּח על־מלאכת בּית־ה   1Ch 23:4 (comp. Psa 28:1), and the expression is used in Ezr 3:8. of the oversight of the work and workmen for the building of the Temple. The same 3300 (3600) overseers, who are called הרדים בּעם העשׂים בּמּלאכה in 1Ki 5:5 are described by the chronicler (2Ch 2:1) as מנצּחים עליהם. In connection with the repair of the Temple under Josiah we read that Levites were appointed לנצּח   (2Ch 34:12), namely לכל עשׂה מלאכה (2Ch 34:13), instead of which we find it said in 2Ch 2:17 להעביד, to keep the people at their work. The primary notion of נצח is that of shining, and in fact of the purest and most dazzling brightness; this then passes over to the notion of shining over to outshining, and in fact both of uninterrupted continuance and of excellence and superiority (vid., Ithpa. Dan 6:4, and cf. 1Ch 23:4 with Psa 9:13; 1Co 15:54 with Isa 25:8).