Qumran and the growth of the Psalter

According to Peter Flint we can discern three literary editions of the Psalter: Edition I (Pss. 1/2 – 89), Edition IIa (Pss. 1/2 – 89 and 11QPs^a), and Edition IIb (Pss. 1/2 – 89 and Pss. 90-150). After looking at the Qumran MSS Dwight D. Swanson states that there is manuscript evidence for at least [...]

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Law, Prophets and Psalms

I have often wondered why in the Gospel of St. Luke we have the order of Law, Prophets and Psalms (Luke 24:44). I think it may be to do with how the Psalms were viewed in early Judaism. The Qumran community viewed the Psalms as prophecy composed by David (11QPs^a) and so I would suggest [...]

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Calvin on Ps. 123

It is uncertain at what time, or even by what Prophet, this Psalm was composed. I do not think it probable that David was its author; because, when he bewails the persecutions which he suffered in the time of Saul, it is usual with him to inter-pose some particular references to himself. My opinion, then, [...]

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Psalms: Composition & Reception

Another interesting volume is The Book of Psalms: Composition and Reception.
Written by leading experts in the field as well as some younger scholars, The Book of Psalms: Composition and Reception offers a wide-ranging treatment of the main aspects of Psalms study. The almost 30 essays consist of two overall sections. The first section contains studies [...]

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Prophets & Psalter

The perspective of Israel’s worship in the Psalter is eschatologically orientated. As a result, the Psalter in its canonical form, far from being different in kind from the prophetic message, joins with the prophets in announcing God’s coming kingship.
Childs, B. (1979) Introduction to the Old Testament as Scripture. SCM Press. pp. 518

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When was the Psalter closed?

Phil Sumpter has posted Erich Zenger’s thoughts on it closing between 200-150 BCE:
1) The editorially placed Psalter framework (Pss 1-2 and 146-150) reflect the language and theology found in Jesus Sirach (175 BCE).
2) The same goes for Qumran’s wisdom text musar lammebin and the “Book of [...]

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Evidence for an exilic & post-exilic redaction

What evidence is there for an exilic & post-exilic redaction in Books I-III? One proof of exilic redaction I would suggest is the presence of Ps. 37 with the continual reference to the land.
vv. 3 Trust in the Lord and do good.
Then you will live safely in the land [...]

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Shrines and Psalms

Noth writes in The History of Israel that “In all probability the divine throne of the sacred Ark formed the center of worship”. He continues
It appears that, according to several traditions preserved in the Old Testament, the undoubtedly very ancient tree shrine east of the city of Shechem in the middle of the mountains [...]

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Approaching the Psalms through Canonical, Form and Reader Response Criticism

Proposed principle one: When one begins approaching the Psalms through Canonical, Form and Reader Response Criticism the first stage must include the determining of the period when the Canonical Psalter was composed and ‘read’.
Proposed principle two: The use of the Psalter must also be discovered.
Proposed principle three: Once the period when the Canonical Psalter [...]

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The hope of David in Books I-III

Gerald Wilson has noted that in Books 1-3 royal psalms are used at the seams. Ps. 2 opens up Book 1 and this “is dominated by royal considerations and especially the institution of the Davidic covenant” (Wilson, 1986: 88). Ps. 72 closes Book 2 wherein “the covenant which YHWH made with David (Ps. 2) and [...]

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