Psalms 79:2
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Psalms 79:2
2 The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth.
Chapter Context
Psalms 79 is a poetic and liturgical chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of sacrifice, faith, truth. Written during various periods (c. 1000-400 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Temple worship utilized these compositions across various periods of Israel's history.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-13: Central message and teachings
This chapter is significant because it contributes to the biblical metanarrative of redemption. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Psalms and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Psalms 79:2
2 The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth.
Analysis
The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth. This horrifying image depicts covenant violation of the most extreme kind. The Hebrew nevelah (נְבֵלָה) for "dead bodies" specifically refers to corpses denied proper burial—an unspeakable disgrace in ancient Near Eastern culture. The psalmist laments that God's avadim (עֲבָדֶיךָ, servants) and chasidim (חֲסִידֶיךָ, faithful ones/saints) have been left as carrion.
Denial of burial violated the most basic human dignity. Deuteronomy 21:22-23 mandated same-day burial even for executed criminals. Leaving bodies exposed to scavengers was reserved for the most contemptible enemies (1 Kings 14:11; Jeremiah 7:33). Yet here, God's covenant people—those who served Him faithfully—suffer this ultimate indignity. The parallel structure emphasizes the horror: "fowls of the heaven" and "beasts of the earth" together consume those who belonged to the God of heaven and earth.
This verse echoes Jeremiah's prophecy of Jerusalem's destruction (Jeremiah 7:33, 16:4, 19:7), suggesting the psalm reflects the Babylonian conquest of 586 BC. The theological crisis is acute: if God's faithful servants suffer such desecration, where is His covenant faithfulness? The lament doesn't question God's existence but demands explanation for apparent abandonment of those who bore His name.
Historical Context
This psalm likely commemorates the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC, when Nebuchadnezzar's armies breached the walls, burned the temple, and slaughtered thousands. Archaeological evidence from this period reveals burn layers in Jerusalem and mass burial sites. The siege and its aftermath were catastrophic—starvation, mass executions, deportation, and temple desecration. Bodies would have been left unburied during the chaos, precisely fulfilling the covenant curses of Deuteronomy 28:26.
Reflection
- How do believers today process apparent divine abandonment when God's people suffer extreme persecution and martyrdom?
- What does it mean that even God's 'servants' and 'saints' are not promised exemption from brutal suffering in this fallen world?
- How does this verse prepare us to pray honestly about atrocities committed against Christians in hostile nations?
Word Studies
- Heaven: שָׁמַיִם (Shamayim) H8064 - Heaven, sky
Cross-References
- Parallel theme: Deuteronomy 28:26, Jeremiah 7:33, 16:4, 34:20