David's psalm

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Medieval illustration of David dictating the psalms.
David prays - shown here in a painting by Rembrandt
Ambrosius Lobwasser's setting of the Psalms of David, 1698

A Psalm of David is a psalm from the biblical book of Psalms , which in its first verse refers to the Israelite King David . Davidization of the Psalter describes the connection of the Psalms with the life and work of David, so that the reader can see David as a model, whose portrayal was poeticized in return.

The information is in the Hebrew version מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִד( mizmor l e david ). The expression is traditionally understood as an indication of authorship ("le-auctoris") and translated as "by David" (for example in the standard translation and the Luther Bible ). The prepositionלְ( l e ) can also refer to the direction, so that the expression is to be rendered as “for / about David” or “belonging to David”. This then expresses the messianic meaning of the Psalm for the Jewish people. In fourteen of the David psalms this information is supplemented by biographical information about David according to the Samuel books . As a result, David is not only portrayed as a figure of identification for the psalmist, but also as a poetized David. In editorial history research since the 19th century, these psalm headings are usually classified as secondary.

The David psalms are the largest group of psalms marked by name before the twelve Asaf psalms and the eleven Korach psalms .

Collection and structure

Hebrew Bible

73 Psalms in the Hebrew Bible are referred to as "David Psalms"; their position within the psalter is structured:

  • Psalm 3–41 (Psalter of David I)
  • Psalm 51-72 (Psalter of David II)
  • Psalm 86
  • Psalm 101-103 (Psalter of David III)
  • Psalm 108-110 (Psalter of David IV)
  • Psalm 138-145 (Psalter of David V)

More detailed biographical references contain the following fourteen psalms (translation according to the text-critical Elberfeld Bible )

Septuagint

In the Greek translation, the Septuagint , ten other psalms are named as "David psalms" ( ψαλμὸς τῷ Δαυίδ , psalmos tō Dauid ); so a total of 83.

Psalm 151 , which is included in the Septuagint manuscripts , is also referred to in the (Hebrew) Great Psalm scroll 11QPs a of Qumran as the “ Psalm of David”. It also says that David wrote 3,600 songs of praise (tehilim).

Davidization can therefore be seen as a process that ascribes psalm writing to David as well as wisdom to King Solomon .

New Testament

In the New Testament , quotations from other Psalms are cited in some places with reference to David: Acts 4,25  EFB from Psalm 2 , Acts 2,25-28  EFB from Psalm 16 , Rom 4,6-8  EFB from Psalm 32 , Rom 11 , 9  EFB from Psalm 69 , Heb 4.7  EFB from Psalm 95 , Mt 22.43-44  EFB and parallel passages as well as Acts 2.34-35  EFB from Psalm 110 .

Theological profile

Most of the David psalms are individual lament and supplication prayers in hostile distress, which are always assigned praise and thanksgiving psalms that describe the answer to the lament or salvation from need. The praying ego of the David psalms is different: sometimes royal-sovereign with a YHWH image of the same kind, salvation from the temple is hoped for, sometimes the persecuted ego stands there as poor and just, which hopes that JWHW will enforce justice.

Time of origin

There is consensus in research that the David psalms were not written by David. However, the actual time of origin of the David psalms is very controversial and usually cannot be clarified with absolute certainty. In part, it is believed that they originated in the exilic and post-exilic period.

reception

The David psalms or the "Psalms of David" collectively for the entire Psalter are the subject of settings, rewrites and other artistic works, see the overview under Psalms of David .

literature

Individual evidence

  1. See Erich Zenger : The Book of Psalms . In: Erich Zenger u. a. (Ed.): Introduction to the Old Testament . 8th edition. Kohlhammer, Stuttgart a. a. 2012, ISBN 3-17-020695-8 , pp. 428–452, here 433 f . ( Online: Google Books (7th edition) ).