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psalmsmore about psalms

psalms


  1  definition  found 
 
  From  Easton's  1897  Bible  Dictionary  [easton]: 
 
  Psalms 
  The  psalms  are  the  production  of  various  authors.  "Only  a 
  portion  of  the  Book  of  Psalms  claims  David  as  its  author.  Other 
  inspired  poets  in  successive  generations  added  now  one  now 
  another  contribution  to  the  sacred  collection,  and  thus  in  the 
  wisdom  of  Providence  it  more  completely  reflects  every  phase  of 
  human  emotion  and  circumstances  than  it  otherwise  could."  But  it 
  is  specially  to  David  and  his  contemporaries  that  we  owe  this 
  precious  book.  In  the  titles"  of  the  psalms,  the  genuineness  of 
  which  there  is  no  sufficient  reason  to  doubt,  73  are  ascribed  to 
  David.  Peter  and  John  (Acts  4:25)  ascribe  to  him  also  the  second 
  psalm,  which  is  one  of  the  48  that  are  anonymous.  About 
  two-thirds  of  the  whole  collection  have  been  ascribed  to  David. 
 
  Psalms  39,  62,  and  77  are  addressed  to  Jeduthun,  to  be  sung 
  after  his  manner  or  in  his  choir.  Psalms  50  and  73-83  are 
  addressed  to  Asaph,  as  the  master  of  his  choir,  to  be  sung  in 
  the  worship  of  God.  The  "sons  of  Korah,"  who  formed  a  leading 
  part  of  the  Kohathite  singers  (2  Chr.  20:19),  were  intrusted 
  with  the  arranging  and  singing  of  Ps  42,  44-49,  84,  85,  87,  and 
  88. 
 
  In  Luke  24:44  the  word  psalms"  means  the  Hagiographa,  i.e., 
  the  holy  writings,  one  of  the  sections  into  which  the  Jews 
  divided  the  Old  Testament.  (See  {BIBLE}.) 
 
  None  of  the  psalms  can  be  proved  to  have  been  of  a  later  date 
  than  the  time  of  Ezra  and  Nehemiah,  hence  the  whole  collection 
  extends  over  a  period  of  about  1,000  years.  There  are  in  the  New 
  Testament  116  direct  quotations  from  the  Psalter. 
 
  The  Psalter  is  divided,  after  the  analogy  of  the  Pentateuch, 
  into  five  books,  each  closing  with  a  doxology  or  benediction: 
 
  (1.)  The  first  book  comprises  the  first  41  psalms,  all  of 
  which  are  ascribed  to  David  except  1,  2,  10,  and  33,  which 
  though  anonymous,  may  also  be  ascribed  to  him 
 
  (2.)  Book  second  consists  of  the  next  31  psalms  (42-72),  18  of 
  which  are  ascribed  to  David  and  1  to  Solomon  (the  72nd).  The 
  rest  are  anonymous. 
 
  (3.)  The  third  book  contains  17  psalms  (73-89),  of  which  the 
  86th  is  ascribed  to  David,  the  88th  to  Heman  the  Ezrahite,  and 
  the  89th  to  Ethan  the  Ezrahite. 
 
  (4.)  The  fourth  book  also  contains  17  psalms  (90-106),  of 
  which  the  90th  is  ascribed  to  Moses,  and  the  101st  and  103rd  to 
  David. 
 
  (5.)  The  fifth  book  contains  the  remaining  psalms,  44  in 
  number.  Of  these  15  are  ascribed  to  David,  and  the  127th  to 
  Solomon. 
 
  Ps  136  is  generally  called  "the  great  hallel."  But  the  Talmud 
  includes  also  Ps  120-135.  Ps  113-118,  inclusive,  constitute 
  the  hallel"  recited  at  the  three  great  feasts,  at  the  new  moon, 
  and  on  the  eight  days  of  the  feast  of  dedication. 
 
  "It  is  presumed  that  these  several  collections  were  made  at 
  times  of  high  religious  life:  the  first  probably,  near  the 
  close  of  David's  life;  the  second  in  the  days  of  Solomon;  the 
  third  by  the  singers  of  Jehoshaphat  (2  Chr.  20:19);  the  fourth 
  by  the  men  of  Hezekiah  (29,  30,  31);  and  the  fifth  in  the  days 
  of  Ezra." 
 
  The  Mosaic  ritual  makes  no  provision  for  the  service  of  song 
  in  the  worship  of  God.  David  first  taught  the  Church  to  sing  the 
  praises  of  the  Lord.  He  first  introduced  into  the  ritual  of  the 
  tabernacle  music  and  song. 
 
  Divers  names  are  given  to  the  psalms.  (1.)  Some  bear  the 
  Hebrew  designation  _shir_  (Gr.  ode,  a  song).  Thirteen  have  this 
  title.  It  means  the  flow  of  speech,  as  it  were  in  a  straight 
  line  or  in  a  regular  strain.  This  title  includes  secular  as  well 
  as  sacred  song. 
 
  (2.)  Fifty-eight  psalms  bear  the  designation  (Heb.)  _mitsmor_ 
  (Gr.  psalmos,  a  psalm),  a  lyric  ode,  or  a  song  set  to  music;  a 
  sacred  song  accompanied  with  a  musical  instrument. 
 
  (3.)  Ps  145,  and  many  others  have  the  designation  (Heb.) 
  _tehillah_  (Gr.  hymnos,  a  hymn),  meaning  a  song  of  praise;  a 
  song  the  prominent  thought  of  which  is  the  praise  of  God. 
 
  (4.)  Six  psalms  (16,  56-60)  have  the  title  (Heb.)  _michtam_ 
  (q.v.). 
 
  (5.)  Ps  7  and  Hab.  3  bear  the  title  (Heb.)  _shiggaion_ 
  (q.v.). 
 




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