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 138-145)...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Afrikaans |
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Old Testament Society of South Africa
2019-09-01
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| Series: | Old Testament Essays |
| Subjects: |
| _version_ | 1819280884903182336 |
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| author | Nancy L. DeClaissé-Walford |
| author_facet | Nancy L. DeClaissé-Walford |
| author_sort | Nancy L. DeClaissé-Walford |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-24T00:50:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2c2744e0645a48f99274886ea361dd2a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1010-9919 2312-3621 |
| language | Afrikaans |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-24T00:50:54Z |
| publishDate | 2019-09-01 |
| publisher | Old Testament Society of South Africa |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Old Testament Essays |
| spelling | doaj.art-2c2744e0645a48f99274886ea361dd2a2022-12-21T17:23:34ZafrOld Testament Society of South AfricaOld Testament Essays1010-99192312-36212019-09-0132266968610.17159/2312-3621/2019/v32n2a20The Role of Psalms 135-137 in the Shape and Shaping of Book V of the Hebrew PsalterNancy L. DeClaissé-Walford0Mercer UniversityBook 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.Psalm 135Psalm 136Psalm 137Psalms 135-137Psalter Book Vshape of the Psaltershaping of the Psalter |
| spellingShingle | Nancy L. DeClaissé-Walford The Role of Psalms 135-137 in the Shape and Shaping of Book V of the Hebrew Psalter Old Testament Essays Psalm 135 Psalm 136 Psalm 137 Psalms 135-137 Psalter Book V shape of the Psalter shaping of the Psalter |
| title | The Role of Psalms 135-137 in the Shape and Shaping of Book V of the Hebrew Psalter |
| title_full | The Role of Psalms 135-137 in the Shape and Shaping of Book V of the Hebrew Psalter |
| title_fullStr | The Role of Psalms 135-137 in the Shape and Shaping of Book V of the Hebrew Psalter |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Role of Psalms 135-137 in the Shape and Shaping of Book V of the Hebrew Psalter |
| title_short | The Role of Psalms 135-137 in the Shape and Shaping of Book V of the Hebrew Psalter |
| title_sort | role of psalms 135 137 in the shape and shaping of book v of the hebrew psalter |
| topic | Psalm 135 Psalm 136 Psalm 137 Psalms 135-137 Psalter Book V shape of the Psalter shaping of the Psalter |
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