Abstract
The image “book of life” is mentioned expressis verbis in Psalm 69:29a. The supplicant appeals to God to erase his enemies from the “book of life”. The aim of this paper is to elaborate on this image. Quite varied notions can be distinguished in this regard: firstly, the idea of the lists of the citizenry and secondly, the image of the heavenly book. Furthermore, three types of “heavenly books” can be distinguished, namely (1) the book of fate; (2) the book of works; and (3) the book of life. The conclusion is drawn that “life” here implies “life” under the protection of God which is sustained by his righteousness (69:28). The supplicant’s enemies will be excluded from this privilege when God erases them from the “book of life”. This reference to life is primarily a reference to ordinary earthly life.
Highlights
Psalm 69:29a commences with a jussive in the passive voice (“may they be erased”)
The supplicant’s enemies - who are fellow Jewish brothers (69:9ab) - are the subject of this verb
The idea that the deity in his/her relationship to the world and the human being conducts a heavenly bookkeeping was known to all religions in the Ancient Near Eastern as well as other ancient religions (Koep 1954: 725)[13]
Summary
The supplicant’s enemies - who are fellow Jewish brothers (69:9ab) - are the subject of this verb By means of this jussive form of the verb the supplicant expresses a wish directed towards the deity to let justice be brought about. 29b links syndetically to 29a and is a negative request: the vetitive occurs in the final position (“may they not be inscribed”) This jussive is, likewise, in the passive voice, with the enemies as the subject. Wildberger (1965:157-8)[5] justly remarks that the derivation of this image causes some difficulties With regard to this image Hossfeld & Zenger (2000:278) infers as follows: “Ob der Psalm hier an das himmlische Buch denkt, in dem Gott zunächst alle »Lebendigen« einträgt und dann die Sünder bei großer Schuld aus diesem Buch ausstreicht The idea of the lists of the citizenry will be elaborated on and secondly, the image of the heavenly book
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