Psa 136:1 | KD | STEP | The cry , Praise ye Jāh , for good is Jahve , is here followed by a Hodu , the last of the collection, with “for His goodness endureth for ever” repeated twenty-six times as a versus intercalaris . In the liturgical language this Psalm is called par excellence the great Hallel, for according to its broadest compass the great Hallel comprehends Ps 120-136,<, whilst the Hallel which is absolutely so called extends from to Ps 118. Down to the song and counter-song organize themselves into hexastichic groups or strophes, which, however, from (and therefore from the point where the dependence on Ps 135, already begun with , becomes a borrowing, onwards) pass over into octastichs. In Heidenheim’s Psalter the Psalm appears (after Norzi) in two columns (like Deut. 32), which it is true has neither tradition (vid., Ps 18) nor MSS precedent in its favour, but really corresponds to its structure.

‏ Psalms 136:1

O Give Thanks unto the Lord, for He Is Good

The cry Psa 135:3, Praise ye Jāh , for good is Jahve, is here followed by a Hodu, the last of the collection, with “for His goodness endureth for ever” repeated twenty-six times as a versus intercalaris. In the liturgical language this Psalm is called par excellence the great Hallel, for according to its broadest compass the great Hallel comprehends Ps 120-136,<, ^{▼▼There are three opinions in the Talmud and Midrash concerning the compass of the “Great Hallel,” viz., (1) Ps 136, (2) Ps. 135:4-136:26, (3) Ps 120-136.} whilst the Hallel which is absolutely so called extends from Psa 113:1-9 to Ps 118. Down to Psa 136:18 the song and counter-song organize themselves into hexastichic groups or strophes, which, however, from Psa 136:19 (and therefore from the point where the dependence on Ps 135, already begun with Psa 136:17, becomes a borrowing, onwards) pass over into octastichs. In Heidenheim’s Psalter the Psalm appears (after Norzi) in two columns (like Deut. 32), which it is true has neither tradition (vid., Ps 18) nor MSS precedent in its favour, but really corresponds to its structure.