The Reference to Shiloh in Psalm 78
The date of Psalm 78 remains a hotly contested matter among scholars, with some arguing for exilic or post-exilic authorship, others arguing for pre-exilic or exilic authorship. The linguistic evidence in the psalm favors the latter perspectives, but even here, little consensus has been reached. The...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
HUC
2007
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| In: |
Hebrew Union College annual
Year: 2006, Volume: 77, Pages: 1-31 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Parallel Edition: | Non-electronic
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| Summary: | The date of Psalm 78 remains a hotly contested matter among scholars, with some arguing for exilic or post-exilic authorship, others arguing for pre-exilic or exilic authorship. The linguistic evidence in the psalm favors the latter perspectives, but even here, little consensus has been reached. The majority of scholars have opted for a Hezekian date of composition, with some also considering a Josianic date and a minority suggesting an exilic date. The psalm's reference to Shiloh in vv. 60-66 factors significantly into these arguments, with most scholars viewing the reference as a polemic against the northern kingdom and its cult. This position is problematic for several reasons, most of which relate to misconceptions regarding the legacy of the Shiloh tradition in the courts of Hezekiah and Josiah and its position in the discourse of the exilic Deuteronomists. The present study notes these difficulties and suggests an alternative, namely, that the reference to Shiloh best fits a Solomonic background and constitutes a polemic against the old Shilonite priesthood that suffered during Solomon's reign. The broader psalm, consequently, should be seen as emerging from Solomon's court. |
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| Contains: | Enthalten in: Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Hebrew Union College annual
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