What You Don’t Know About Psalm 1 | Sami Bsoul

Sami Bsoul, PhD

Most people think Psalm 1 is just a general poem about good guys and bad guys. But the Midrash reveals something astonishing: the “Blessed is the man” opening isn’t anonymous advice, it’s King David’s own blessing over Israel, spoken after he

 Music

established the entire Temple order of priests and Levites.

Fact 1 (Midrash Tehillim, the Psalm’s “Author” and Purpose):
The Midrash Tehillim (also called Midrash Shocher Tov) directly connects Psalm 1 to King David’s establishment of the 24 priestly watches and 24 Levite watches in the Temple. David was “earnestly seeking the good” of Israel, and his blessing was this very psalm, “Blessed is the man.” This makes Psalm 1 not just wisdom literature, but David’s actual benediction over the people. 

Fact 2 (Midrash Tehillim, The “Villains” Named):
The same Midrash identifies the wicked by name. The verse in Proverbs 11:27 (“But those who seek to harm me will be destroyed”) is applied to Doeg the Edomite and Ahithophel the Gilonite, two specific antagonists of King David. This means the contrast in Psalm 1 is not abstract; it is deeply personal, rooted in David’s own life and enemies. 

Fact 3 (Ibn Ezra, The Four “Stances” Are Escalating):
Ibn Ezra records that the Sages said: “Stood” (עָמַד) is worse than “walked” (הָלַךְ), and “sat” (יָשַׁב) is worst of all, meaning the “scoffers” are the most corrupt. Ibn Ezra himself clarifies that “wicked” (רְשָׁעִים) are those who are unstable like a stormy sea, while “sinners” (חַטָּאִים) are habitually stuck in a way of life. 

Fact 4 (Malbim, The Unique Meaning of “Blessed”):
Malbim points out a crucial linguistic distinction. The Hebrew word ashrei (אַשְׁרֵי) does not mean material “success.” It refers to a deep, spiritual happiness that comes from moral refinement, something unique to human beings. Animals can have worldly success, but only a person who delights in Torah can reach the state of ashrei. 

Fact 5 (Why This Opens the Psalms):
The Radak (Rabbi David Kimchi) explains that the Book of Psalms was intentionally placed with this psalm first. It is not a prayer, it is a declaration of faith about reward and punishment and Divine providence, establishing the foundation for every prayer that follows. 

These are just glimpses into the depth of Psalm 1. To experience the full power of this psalm in its original Hebrew…

You can listen to it in original Hebrew here  Music

© Sami Bsoul, 2021