PSALMS
The Introduction
Its 150 songs run from Creation to The Post-Exilic Periods. The tremendous breadth of subject matter in The Psalms includes diverse topics such as jubilation, war, peace, worship, judgment, messianic prophecy, praise, and lament.
The Title
Hebrew title, sepher tehellim, means “book of praises”
English title derives from The Septuagint (the 3rd Century Greek translation of The Old Testament) psalmoi, the word those ancient translators chose for the Hebrew word mizmor, which is founding the headings of 57 of The Psalms. The Hebrew word means “a song sung to the accompaniment of stringed instruments”.
English title derives from The Septuagint (the 3rd Century Greek translation of The Old Testament) psalmoi, the word those ancient translators chose for the Hebrew word mizmor, which is founding the headings of 57 of The Psalms. The Hebrew word means “a song sung to the accompaniment of stringed instruments”.
The Authorship
David 73 Psalms: 3, 7, 18, 34, 51 – 2, 54, 56 – 7, 59 – 60, 63, and 142
Asaph (one of David’s choirmasters) 12 Psalms: 50, 73 – 83
Sons of Korah 11 or 12 Psalms: 42 – 9, 84 – 5, 87 – 9
Solomon 2 Psalms: 12 and 72
Moses 1 Psalm: 90
Heman (lead singer of the family of Kohath, son of Levi) 1 Psalm: 88
Ethan (counselor of Solomon) 1 Psalm: 89
Asaph (one of David’s choirmasters) 12 Psalms: 50, 73 – 83
Sons of Korah 11 or 12 Psalms: 42 – 9, 84 – 5, 87 – 9
Solomon 2 Psalms: 12 and 72
Moses 1 Psalm: 90
Heman (lead singer of the family of Kohath, son of Levi) 1 Psalm: 88
Ethan (counselor of Solomon) 1 Psalm: 89
The Date / Purpose
Over a span of 900 years.
In a word, worship.
click here for further reading..."Can Abecedaries Be Used to Date the Book of Psalms?"
In a word, worship.
click here for further reading..."Can Abecedaries Be Used to Date the Book of Psalms?"
The Nature
1.) Religious lyric poetry
2.) Evocative language
3.) Meter
4.) Parallelism
5.) Stylistic arrangements
6.) Music and melody
2.) Evocative language
3.) Meter
4.) Parallelism
5.) Stylistic arrangements
6.) Music and melody
The Text
The Hebrew Bible (Masoretic Text / MT)1 – 8
9 – 10 11 – 113 114 – 115 116:1 – 9 116:10 – 19 117 – 146 147:1 – 11 147:12 – 20 148 – 150 |
The Greek Septuagint
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The Trends in Studying
Individual laments, National laments, Thanksgiving, Descriptive praise (hymns)
The Theology
Purely prophetic, Eschatological, Typological-prophetic, Indirectly messianic, Typically messianic
The Special Terms
Classification
A). Psalm (mizmor) or song (sir) which describes the type of song
B.) Shiggion – apparently from the verb “to err” or “to wander” possibly related to the idea of being wild or ecstatic
C.) Mikhtam – probably from the verb “to cover” which may mean a silent prayer
D.) Maskil – from a verb that means to “make wise or instruct”
Interjections
A) Selah – which may indicate when worshippers were to ‘lift up’ their voices
B) Higgaion – a verb that means “murmur” and hence “meditate”.
Liturgical Notes
A) To the choirmaster – “to excel” or “to lead”
B) According to Jeduthun – may refer to “a guild of musicians”
C) With stringed instruments – harp and lyre
D) For flutes – obscure term (played lamentations)
E) Alamoth – probably means ‘maidens’
F) According to Sheminith – relating to the number 8 (possible 8-stringed lute)
G) According to Gettit – possibly a lyre or other instrument
H) According to “The Hind of The Dawn” – debated
I) According to Lilies – debated
J) A Song of Ascents – possible “pilgrimage up to Jerusalem”
A). Psalm (mizmor) or song (sir) which describes the type of song
B.) Shiggion – apparently from the verb “to err” or “to wander” possibly related to the idea of being wild or ecstatic
C.) Mikhtam – probably from the verb “to cover” which may mean a silent prayer
D.) Maskil – from a verb that means to “make wise or instruct”
Interjections
A) Selah – which may indicate when worshippers were to ‘lift up’ their voices
B) Higgaion – a verb that means “murmur” and hence “meditate”.
Liturgical Notes
A) To the choirmaster – “to excel” or “to lead”
B) According to Jeduthun – may refer to “a guild of musicians”
C) With stringed instruments – harp and lyre
D) For flutes – obscure term (played lamentations)
E) Alamoth – probably means ‘maidens’
F) According to Sheminith – relating to the number 8 (possible 8-stringed lute)
G) According to Gettit – possibly a lyre or other instrument
H) According to “The Hind of The Dawn” – debated
I) According to Lilies – debated
J) A Song of Ascents – possible “pilgrimage up to Jerusalem”
The Outline (Bible Knowledge Commentary on The Old Testament - Walvoord, Zuck, Cook)
Pt 1: Book 1 (Psalms 1 – 41)
Pt 2: Book 2 (Psalms 42 – 72)
Pt 3: Book 3 (Psalms 73 – 89)
Pt 4: Book 4 (Psalms 90 – 106)
Pt 5: Book 5 (Psalms 107 – 150)
Pt 2: Book 2 (Psalms 42 – 72)
Pt 3: Book 3 (Psalms 73 – 89)
Pt 4: Book 4 (Psalms 90 – 106)
Pt 5: Book 5 (Psalms 107 – 150)
