All ye peoples, clap your hands,
Shout to God with the voice of triumph,
For Yahwe most high is to be feared,
A great king is he over all the earth.
It was observed in the study of the sanctuary hymns that certain of them (147, 148) repeated the call to praise at intervals throughout the hymn, creating somewhat the impression of a union of little hymns in one. This phenomenon seems to be particularly conspicuous in the eschatological hymns. Thus Psalm 96 may be divided into three hymns: I, verses 1-6; II, verses 7-10; III, verses 11-13. So also Psalm 98 divides into: I, verses 1-3; II, verses 4-6a; III, verses 6b-9. Likewise Psalm 99: I, verses 1-4; II, verses 5-8; III, verse 9. Psalm 47 breaks into two parts: I, verses 1-5; II, verses 6-9; and Psalm 149 likewise: I, verses 1-4; II, verses 5-9. In all these hymns the repeated calls to praise represent growing momentum and power of hymnal enthusiasm for Yahwe, the great king.
Turning from the introductions to the conclusions of the eschatological hymns we find that Psalm 149 is the only one of those found in the psalter that does actually end with, “Hallelujah.” Others, however (Psalms 97, 99, 96, 98), do end with the hymnal note of praise and all conclude with the note of triumph. In Psalm 149 it is Israel’s national triumph:
To execute vengeance upon the nations,
Punishments upon the peoples,
To bind their kings with chains,
And their nobles with fetters of iron,