Les Psaumes 72:20 Midrash : Midrash Tehillim, Aggadat Bereshit & Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition)

Another interpretation of “Blessed is the person” (Psalms 1:1). Rabbi Nachman began [his teaching, with the verse:] “Wisdom gives more strength to the wise than ten mighty governors [in a city]” (Ecclesiastes 7:19). These are the ten people, by way of whom the psalms were said: Adam, Melchizedek, Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, Asaf, and the three children of Korah. About those [ten] there is no dispute. About whom is there a dispute? Rav and Rabbi Yochanan said that Yedutan [who is mentioned in Psalms 39:1, 62:1 and 77:1, is not an author of any of the psalms but is a word that] refers to the decrees that passed over the Psalmist and over Israel. [In Kohelet Rabbah 7:19:4, we’re told that Rav and Rabbi Yochanan are actually on opposite sides of this debate. Rav holds that Yeudutan (at least in some instances of that word in the book of Psalms) refers to a person – one of the three children of Korah – while Rabbi Yochanan holds that (in the book of Psalms), it only ever refers to the decrees that passed over the Psalmist and over Israel]. Rav Huna said in the name of Rav Abba, even though they were said by ten elders, they were only properly fixed by the hand of David, King of Israel. This can be likened to a choir of singers that was requested to praise the king with a hymn for the king. The king told them that they are all worthy, all good singers, all praiseworthy and fitting to sing the hymn. But this one person will sing it on your behalf [which might mean, “with your accompaniment”], because his voice is the sweetest of all. This is what is written: “the sweetest of the songs of Israel” (2 Samuel 23:1). All of your voices are sweet, but David son of Jesse’s is sweetest of all; the sweetness of the songs of Israel; a great person the son of a great person; a nobleman the son of a nobleman. What is written [towards the] end of the book of Psalms? “Here ends the Psalms of David son of Jesse” (Psalms 72:20) [which, perhaps the Midrash is reading creatively as, “all of the Psalms are of David son of Jesse.”] And just as they were said by ten people, they were also said in ten different formats: 1. [the style] of the chief conductor; 2. [alongside an] instrumental melody; 3. song set to instruments; 4. acapella song; 5. prayer; 6. praise; 7. blessing; 8. thanksgiving; 9. praises of the blessed; and 10. [with the word] hallelujah. And the greatest of all of them is hallelujah because it includes simultaneously within it a name [of God] and praise. Rav read [every instance of the word hallelujah throughout] the entire book [as two words, rather than one:] hallelu [and, then after a space] jah.

[2] Another interpretation: Prayer of David - "Hear O Lord." "If not, do justice with me; let my plea come before you, according to your righteousness. Please don't hand me over to the angel or to the scorching heat. They are all cruel. But you, do justice with me, and let your judgments come forth. As it is said, 'All of David's prayers are ended' (Psalm 72:20). Rabbi Acha said: All the prayers were ended before David ben Jesse."

(Fol. 117) R. Juda, in the name of Samuel, said: "The Bible song (Ex. 15) was uttered by Moses and Israel when they ascended from the Red Sea. But who recited the Hallel? The prophets among them ordained that Israel shall say it on every momentous occasion; and whenever trouble overtakes them and they are delivered [by God] from it, they should say it [as praise] for their deliverance." We are taught that R. Meier has said: "All the songs and praises which are uttered in the Book of Psalms were uttered by David, as it is said (Ps. 72, 20) Here are ended the prayers of David, the son of Jesse. Do not read Kalu (here ended) but read it Kal elu (all these are). And who said Hallel? R. Jose says: "My son, Elazar, holds that Moses and Israel uttered them when they were ascending the Red Sea. But his associates differ from him and say that David uttered them. And to me it seems that my son's opinion is more correct than that of his associates; for how is it possible that Israel could slay the Passover offering and take the palm branches (on Succoth) and utter no praise to God?"