Psalms Introduction
I. Title: “The English title ‘Psalms’ or ‘Psalter’ is derived from the Greek translation of the Old Testament. In the Codex Vaticanus (fourth century A.D.), the title ‘Psalmoi’ and the subtitle ‘Biblos psalmon’ (‘Book of Psalms’) are used….The Greek word psalmos, which translates the Hebrew mizmor, signifies music accompanied by stringed instruments. Under the influence of the Septuagint and of Christianity, the word psalmos came to designate a ‘song of praise’ without an emphasis on accompaniment by stringed instruments…Because mizmor is used in the titles of 57 of the psalms, the Greek translators used the translation of that word for the title of the entire collection. In the Hebrew Bible the title of the book is ‘seper tehillim’, ‘Book of Praises’, referring to their content rather than form” (Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 779).
II. Authorship: The Hebrew Masoretic text ascribes seventy-three psalms to David. The psalms of David are customarily identified in several collections: 3-41; 51-70; 138-145. Hence the collection as a whole tended to be termed simply ‘David’ (Hebrews 4:7; Acts 4:25; 13:36; Romans 4:6). David is also referred to as the sweet psalmist of Israel (2 Samuel 23:1). Note Psalm 72:20 “The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended”. Many of the Psalms relate to specific times in the life of David: Psalm 3-2 Samuel 15:1-18:33; Psalm 51-2 Samuel 11:1ff; Psalm 52-1 Samuel 22:6ff; Psalm 54-1 Samuel 23:14ff, and so on. Other authors include: Solomon: Psalms 72, 127. The sons of Korah: Psalms 42-49; 84,87. These psalms are ascribed to this Levitical family, descendants of the rebel leader of that name, whose children were spared—to our great gain (Numbers 26:10f). One part of his family became temple doorkeepers and guardians (1 Chronicles 9:17ff), another part the singers and musicians of the temple choir founded under David (1 Chronicles 6:31,33,39,44).
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