The Book of Psalms

Question 1

The First Book

Answer 1

• Comprises the first 41 Psalms
• All of these are ascribed to David except Psalms 1, 2, 10 and 33, which, though untitled in the Hebrew, were also traditionally ascribed to David
• While Davidic authorship cannot be confirmed for all 41 Psalms, this probably is the oldest section of the Psalms
• (Psalms whose author is not “titled” are called “orphan psalms”)

Question 2

The Second Book

Answer 2

• Consists of the next 31 Psalms (42-72)
• Eighteen of these are ascribed to David
• Psalm 72 begins “For Solomon” but is traditionally understood as being written by David as a prayer for his son
• Psalms 42-49 are ascribed to the Sons of Korah
• The rest are anonymous

Question 3

The Third Book

Answer 3

• Contains seventeen Psalms (73-89), most are ascribed to Asaph
• However, Psalm 84-85 and 87-88 is ascribed to the Sons of Korah, and Psalm 86 is ascribed to David
• Interestingly, Psalms 88 and 89 are also ascribed as well to Heman the Ezrahite and Ethan the Ezrahite,m respectively, who were two wise men from Solomon’s time (1 Kings 4:31)

Question 4

The Fourth Book

Answer 4

-Also contains seventeen Psalms (90-106), of which Psalm 90 is ascribed to Moses, and Psalms 101 and 103 to David

Question 5

The Fifth Book

Answer 5

• Contains the remaining 44 Psalms

- Of these, 15 ascribed to David, one (Psalms 127) as a charge to Solomon

Question 6

These “Five Books of Psalms”

Answer 6

• (Ps. 1-41; 42-72; 73-89; 90-106; 107-150) were each provided with a concluding doxology- a hymn of praise of to God
• (Ps. 41:13; 72:18-19; 89:52; 106:48; 150)

Question 7

Psalms 120-134 are referred to as Songs of Ascents

Answer 7

• They are hymns during or commemorating the approach by exiles returning from Babylon to Jerusalem
• (Jerusalem is set on a mountain about one half mile above sea level, so the exiles would “ascend” to Jerusalem)

Question 8

Psalm 117

Answer 8

-Is the shortest Psalm, which simply consists of two verses of praise

Question 9

Psalm 119

Answer 9

• Is the longest Psalm
• It is composed 176 verses, in stanzas of eight verses; each verse of a stanza begins with same letter of one of the 22 Hebrew letters
• The stanzas are arranged in alphabetical order
• (Alpha to Taw) Often referred to as David’s Acrostic Psalm

Question 10

The Titles

Answer 10

• “Psalms” and “Psalter” come from the Septuagint (the pre-Christian Greek translation of the OT), where they originally referred to stringed instruments (such as harp, lyre and lute), then to songs sung with their accompaniment
• The traditional Hebrew title is Tehillim (meaning “praises”), even though many of the psalms are tephillot (meaning “prayers”)