Interpreting the Psalms

A stimulating new collection of cutting-edge studies in the Psalms.

The Book of Psalms has been precious to countless Jewish and Christian believers in many different languages and countries over many centuries. It has expressed their hopes and fears, inspired their faith, and renewed their trust in God. In this way, the spiritual insight and religious heritage of a small number of ancient Israelites has had a profound and lasting impact on humanity.

The Book of Psalms is also of great importance in biblical scholarship. In the twentieth century, Psalms study was dominated by two approaches, but now it is in the midst of a sea change, and the older perspectives jostle for attention alongside newer interests. This volume aims to bridge the gap between basic introductions and specialized literature.

Part 1 present overviews of current scholarly approaches and Ancient Near Eastern prayer. Part 2 covers central themes of distress, praise, king and cult. Part 3 gives an interesting sample of approaches concerned with the Psalter's content and final form. Part 4 considers interpretative traditions, seen in the shaping of the canonical Psalter and in later Christian and Jewish texts.

Table of Contents

Contributors
Abbreviations

Introduction
A. Psalms Interpretation in Context

1. The Psalms and Current Study -David M. Howard, Jr
2. The Psalms and Ancient Near Eastern Prayer Genres -Tremper Longman III

B. The Psalms and Key Themes
3. The Psalms and Distress- Philip S. Johnston
4. The Psalms and Praise -James Hely Hutchinson
5. The Psalms and the King -Jamie A. Grant
6. The Psalms and the Cult- Jerome F. D. Creach
7. The Psalms and Cult Symbolism: The Case of the Cherubim-Ark -Craig C. Broyles

C. The Psalms and Interpretation Issues
8. The Teaching of the Psalms- David G. Firth
9. The Ethics of the Psalms- Gordon J. Wenham
10. Body Idioms and the Psalms -Andy L. Warren-Rothlin
11, Torah-Meditation and the Psalms: The Invitation of Psalm 1- Michael LeFebvre

D. The Psalms and Interpretative Traditions
12. The Structure of the Psalter -Gerald H. Wilson
13. Qumran and the Psalms -Dwight D. Swanson?
14. The Evangelists and the Psalms- Dale A. Brueggemann?
15. The Targum of Psalms-Timothy M. Edwards

Appendices

1. Index of Form-Critical Categorizations
2. Index of Selective Psalm Commentaries
   Bibliography
   -Publisher.

Publisher Description

Accessible to non-specialists, this is a stimulating new collection of cutting-edge studies in the Psalms.