Victorious righteousness
Dahood takes “righteous” in Psalm 118:15, 19 as “victory.” The joyful shouting is heard from the tents of the victorious, and the gates are the gates of victory. He cites Isaiah 41:2 and 49:24 as other texts where this nuance of ZDK comes to the fore.
The meaning could be: a) Victory is vindication. When God grants victory, He publicly demonstrates that His people are in His favor, in the right, having a righteous status before Him.
Or b) That the victory is an act of justice. The tents of the victors are the tents of the righteous because they have put the world right by defeating the wicked.
Peter Leithart
Peter J. Leithart is President of Theopolis Institute. He is the author of numerous books on theology, literature, and culture, including Theopolitan, Defending Constantine, and Baptized Body.
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