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The Gemoro in Berochos 28b asks about the 18 blessings in the Amidah:

גמ׳ הני שמונה עשרה כנגד מי

Corresponding to what were these eighteen blessings instituted?

The Gemoro offers three answers:

אמר רבי הלל בריה דרבי שמואל בר נחמני {1} כנגד שמונה עשרה אזכרות שאמר דוד בהבו לה׳ בני אלים רב יוסף אמר {2} כנגד שמונה עשרה אזכרות שבקריאת שמע אמר רבי תנחום אמר רבי יהושע בן לוי {3} כנגד שמונה עשרה חוליות שבשדרה

Rabbi Hillel, son of Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani, said: {1} Corresponding to the eighteen mentions of God’s name that King David said in the psalm: “Give unto the Lord, O you sons of might” (Psalms 29). Rav Yosef said {2}: Corresponding to the eighteen mentions of God’s name in Shema. Rabbi Tanḥum said that Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said {3}: Corresponding to the eighteen vertebrae in the spine beneath the ribs.

I could understand the link to the number of mentions of Hashem's name in Shema since the Shema precedes the Amidah in the daily prayers. And I could understand the link to the number of vertebrae in the spine since these vertebrae protrude when we bow in the Amidah. But what is the connection to Psalm 29?

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Rashi explains that it is a reference to the beraita quoted in Rosh HaShanah 32a, which derives the content of the first three blessings of the amidah from the opening words of Tehillim 29.

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  • Very good - for the first three blessings. Where do we get the others from?
    – Avrohom Yitzchok
    Jul 1, 2019 at 11:26
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    @AvrohomYitzchok I don't understand your question. Where do we get the number of the other blessings from? Or where do we get what their topics are?
    – Joel K
    Jul 1, 2019 at 11:30
  • Let us continue this discussion in chat.
    – Avrohom Yitzchok
    Jul 1, 2019 at 14:54

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