The Role of Psalms 135-137 in the Shape and Shaping of Book V of the Hebrew Psalter
Book V of the Psalter (Pss 107-150) is an interesting collection of psalms. After the opening Ps 107, celebrating God's rescue of humanity from various dangerous situations, psalms attributed to David appear again after a virtual absence since Book II. These Davidic psalms (Pss 108-110 and 138-...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
|
| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
SA ePublications
[2019]
|
| In: |
Old Testament essays
Year: 2019, Volume: 32, Issue: 2, Pages: 669-686 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Form
/ Arrangement
/ Bible. Psalmen 135
/ Bible. Psalmen 136
/ Bible. Psalmen 137
|
| IxTheo Classification: | HB Old Testament |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (doi) Volltext (kostenfrei) |
| Summary: | Book V of the Psalter (Pss 107-150) is an interesting collection of psalms. After the opening Ps 107, celebrating God's rescue of humanity from various dangerous situations, psalms attributed to David appear again after a virtual absence since Book II. These Davidic psalms (Pss 108-110 and 138-145) "frame" a grouping of festival psalms that are introduced by two brief alphabetic acrostics (Pss 111 and 112). Seemingly tucked away just after the Songs of Ascents (Pss 120-134), and before the resumption of psalms of David, lie Psalms 135-137, two magnificent community hymns followed by a heartfelt community lament. This essay explores the role of these psalms in the "shape" and "shaping" of the story of the Psalter. It will conclude that the psalms offer a highly stylized recitation of Israel's history that made a world for the postexilic community, recounting Yahweh's work in creation, summarizing the Pentateuchal stories of the ancestors (Pss 135-136) and providing a snapshot of exilic life in Babylon (Ps 137). Their assurance of Yahweh's presence and provisions allow David, in Psalms 138-145, to lead the postexilic people in blessing, praise, and thanks to the sovereign God. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2312-3621 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Old Testament essays
|
| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.17159/2312-3621/2019/v32n2a20 |