What does the Psalm 75 title 'Al-Taschith' mean?

Question

Robert Young's Analytical Concordance simply states :

destroy or corrupt not

There is a Hebrew word tashbets meaning 'broidered' but that may not be relevant.

I am interested primarily in Psalm 75 in regard to the title adding to the meaning of the body of Asaph's psalm, but it also has a bearing on David's three psalms as well.

Can anyone shed some more light on this title of Psalms 57, 58, 59 and 75 ?

Answer 1

This is a frequently asked question with no non-speculative answers. The answers that have been proposed are:

1. Al Tashhet refers to the tune or rhythm of a song that was once well known, to which this Psalm should be set, possibly the tune used for Deuteronomy 9:26¹
2. Various attempts to link these Psalms with themes of tashet (to waste, spoil or destroy) in the OT. For example I Sam 24:5 and 26:9²

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1. "I prayed to the LORD and said, "Sovereign LORD, do not destroy your people, your own inheritance that you redeemed by your great power and brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand." (NIV)

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naftali_Herz_Tur-Sinai