Psalms 136 - Introduction

Another liturgical Psalm, closely resembling Psalms 135, but distinguished by the refrain which forms the second half of each verse. This refrain was evidently sung as a response, either by a choir of priests and Levites answering the choir or the singer who chanted the first line; or by the whole congregation. We read that at the laying of the foundation stone of the Second Temple the priests and Levites "answered one another in praising and giving thanks to Jehovah, saying, For he is good, for his lovingkindness endureth for ever toward Israel" (Ezra 3:11; cp. 2 Chronicles 7:3; 2 Chronicles 7:6); and an analogy for the congregational response may be found in the statement that on certain occasions the people answered with Amen, or Amen, Hallelujah(Psalms 106:48, note; Deuteronomy 27:15; Nehemiah 5:13; Nehemiah 8:6).

This Psalm was known in the liturgical language of the Jews as "the Great Hallel" ("the Hallel" being Psalms 113-118); but the term was also applied to Psalms 135:4-21, and to the whole group 120 136 (Delitzsch).

The Psalm is arranged in well marked groups of three verses to the end of Psalms 136:18, after which follow two groups of four verses: but as Psalms 136:17 are taken from Psalms 135, and Psalms 136:25 is in no obvious connexion with the context, it may be questioned whether the text is in order. Some forms of the LXX, as represented by the Old Latin in the Gallican Psalter, repeated Psalms 136:3 at the end, and the P.B.V. retains the addition.

The Hebrew text of the Book of Ecclesiasticus contains a hymn of thanksgiving which is an obvious imitation of this Psalm, and is largely composed of phrases taken from Psalms in Book 5, particularly 121, 132, 147, 148.

It follows ch. Psalms 51:12, "Therefore I give thanks and will praise, and will bless the name of Jehovah," and runs thus (the refrain being omitted for brevity):