48:11 Mount Zion rejoices;
the towns 1 of Judah are happy, 2
because of your acts of judgment. 3
97:8 Zion hears and rejoices,
the towns 4 of Judah are happy,
because of your judgments, O Lord.
19:2 because his judgments are true and just. 5
For he has judged 6 the great prostitute
who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality,
and has avenged the blood of his servants 7 poured out by her own hands!” 8
1 tn Heb “daughters.” The reference is to the cities of Judah surrounding Zion (see Ps 97:8 and H. Haag, TDOT 2:336).
2 tn The prefixed verbal forms are understood as generalizing imperfects. (For other examples of an imperfect followed by causal לְמַעַן [lÿma’an], see Ps 23:3; Isa 49:7; 55:5.) Another option is to interpret the forms as jussives, “Let Mount Zion rejoice! Let the towns of Judah be happy!” (cf. NASB, NRSV; note the imperatives in vv. 12-13.)
3 sn These acts of judgment are described in vv. 4-7.
4 tn Heb “daughters.” The term “daughters” refers to the cities of Judah surrounding Zion (see Ps 48:11 and H. Haag, TDOT 2:336).
5 tn Compare the similar phrase in Rev 16:7.
6 tn Or “has punished.” See BDAG 568 s.v. κρίνω 5.b.α, describing the OT background which involves both the vindication of the innocent and the punishment of the guilty.
7 tn See the note on the word “servants” in 1:1.
8 tn Grk “from her hand” (referring to her responsibility in causing the blood of God’s followers to be shed).