Hebrew Book of Psalms

Syllabus Summary

• 1. As the deer pants for the water (Psalm 42/43)

  This session will introduce the five-book Hebrew Psalter, differences in how psalms are divided and counted in manuscripts, and how Hebrew poets used literary devices like refrains to structure their poems. We will also discuss the nature of individual lament in the psalms and illustrate this by a close study of the combined Psalms 42–43.

• 2. Why have you forsaken me?! (Psalm 22)

  This session will introduce the types and functions of superscriptions in the Psalms, the role of David in the Psalms, and the history of interpretation of the Psalms as prophecy. We will illustrate these phenomena with a close study of Psalm 22 and its reception in the New Testament.

• 3. Judgment of the gods (Psalm 82)

  This session will do a close study of Psalm 82, including discussions of monotheism and the divine council in the Hebrew Bible, the names of God, the nature of the so-called Elohistic Psalter, and the use of poetic parallelism and the Hebrew word Selah in Hebrew poetry.

• 4. The darkest Psalm (Psalm 88)

  This session will study Psalm 88, often called the darkest psalm, because it ends in darkness with little or no light at the end of the tunnel. We will consider the theological significance of unresolved lament, examine the function of Psalm 88’s canonical position within the Psalter, and investigate the nature of Sheol in the Hebrew Bible.

• 5. Create in me a clean heart (Psalm 51)

  This session will explore the penitential psalms with a close study of Psalm 51, while also considering the function of historical superscriptions, the relationship between sacrifices and temple ritual in the Psalms, and how poets used literary devices like chiasm and iconicity to structure their poems.

• 6. May his days be few (Psalm 109)

  This session will work through the difficult and controversial theological issue of imprecatory psalms that curse one’s enemies by looking at Psalm 109. We will discuss the ethics of cursing and its (in)appropriateness for modern believers.

• 7. The nations have invaded your inheritance (Psalm 79)

  This session will cover the nature of communal lament, where the entire community cries out to God, based on the example of Psalm 79. We will also discuss the controversial question of how to date many of the Psalms.

• 8. Teach us to number our days (Psalm 90)

  This session will conclude our study of the laments with the beautiful Psalm 90. We will pay particular attention to the canonical position of this psalm at the beginning of book IV and how this affects the overall interpretation of the Psalter as a whole.

• 9. Blessed is the one whose sins are forgiven (Psalm 32)

  This session will introduce the topic of praise and thanksgiving in the Psalter and review the penitential psalms. We will study Psalm 32, while also considering the significance of how different ancient manuscripts sometimes have different arrangements of psalms.

• 10. Enter his gates with thanksgiving (Psalm 100)

  This session will study the relationship between Israel’s God and the nations, the liturgical usage of psalms, and the importance of canonical position in the Psalter for understanding individual psalms and the collection as a whole, which will be illustrated by a close examination of Psalm 100.

• 11. The Lord is my shepherd (Psalm 23)

  This session will investigate the famous Psalm 23, while introducing psalms of trust and confidence and the use and blending of conceptual metaphors in Hebrew poetry.

• 12. He will command his angels concerning you (Psalm 91)

  This session will examine Psalm 91 and discuss the usage of psalms to ward off evil and the reception of Psalm 91 in the Dead Sea Scrolls and the New Testament.

• 13. I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139)

  This session will review the challenge of imprecatory psalms with a study of the majestic Psalm 139.

• 14. The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises (Psalm 145)

  This session will study the influential Psalm 145, looking at the nature of hymns of praise and how it has been used and adapted liturgically, including in the Dead Sea Scrolls. We will also discuss the nature of acrostic (or alphabetic) psalms and the missing nun verse in Psalm 145.

• 15. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord (Psalm 150)

  This session will look at the short but powerful Psalm 150, considering its universal call to praise, the use of instruments in ancient Israelite music, and the importance of the psalm’s position at the very end of the Psalter.

• 16. How majestic is your name in all the earth (Psalm 8)

  This session will do a close reading of the majestic Psalm 8, considering the theological relationships between God, humans, and nature in conversation with ancient cosmology.

• 17. He set the earth on its foundations (Psalm 104)

  This session will study the creation hymn Psalm 104, while comparing and contrasting creation themes in the Psalms and Genesis and illustrating the ways thematic connections between Psalms could impact their position in psalm collections based on several Dead Sea Scrolls.

• 18. Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the Lord? (Psalm 106)

  This session will investigate the historical Psalm 106 and set it in the context of other historical psalms and the relationship between poetry and history in the Psalms. We will also consider the canonical position of Psalm 106 at the beginning of book V of the Psalter.

• 19. Who is this King of glory? (Psalm 24)

  This session will discuss the liturgical use of psalms—particularly entrance liturgies—and the theological significance of the ark of the covenant and divine presence in the Psalms as illustrated by Psalm 24.

• 20. Sing to the Lord a new song (Psalm 98)

  This session will introduce the “Lord reigns” Psalms with a close study of Psalm 98, while also considering the debated existence of an annual enthronement festival in ancient Israel as the background for these and other psalms.

• 21. Be still, and know that I am God (Psalm 46)

  This session will introduce the Zion hymns that praise the city of Jerusalem based on the example of Psalm 46. We will further consider the theological implications of using and critiquing earlier Canaanite traditions.

• 22. Let us go to the house of the Lord (Psalm 122)

  This session will introduce the Songs of Ascent and the traditional usage of psalms in pilgrimage liturgies based on the example of Psalm 122.

• 23. Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked (Psalm 1)

  This session will introduce the prominent themes of wisdom and Torah (instruction) in the Psalms based on Psalm 1. We will also consider the significance of its canonical position at the very beginning of the Psalter and whether it might serve as a sort of preface that shapes how we read the entire Psalter as a collection.

• 24. Do not fret because of those who are evil (Psalm 37)

  This session will do a close study of Psalm 37, including discussions of acrostic psalms, poetic structuring devices, and the role of alphabetical order and manuscript evidence in interpreting the Psalms.

• 25. Your word is a lamp for my feet (Psalm 119)

  This session will survey Psalm 119, the largest psalm and chapter in the Bible. We will look at the function of wisdom texts and learning tools, examine the nature of synonyms in the Psalms, and also consider what the canonical position of Psalm 119 in the Psalter might tell about its meaning and role in the collection as a whole.

• 26. Why do the nations conspire in vain? (Psalm 2)

  This session will introduce the royal Psalms that thematize the relationship between God and his anointed king. We will examine Psalm 2, with an emphasis on its messianic interpretation and its possible prefatorial function (along with Ps 1) at the beginning of the Psalter.

• 27. The Lord is my rock (Psalm 18)

  This session will investigate Psalm 18 alongside the parallel psalm in 2 Samuel 22, comparing the two versions in different manuscripts to illustrate the history of textual transmission and how textual criticism can help us better read the Psalms. We will further the nature of archaic Hebrew poetry, difficulties in translating Hebrew verb tenses, and the use of conceptual metaphors.

• 28. How long, Lord? Will you hide yourself forever? (Psalm 89)

  This session will continue with our study of the royal psalms with a close reading of Psalm 89. We will consider the relationship between the Davidic dynasty and divine rule in the Psalms and the role that Psalm 89 plays in its canonical position at the end of book III, as well as considering the significance of mythological creatures in the Psalms.

• 29. Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet (Psalm 110)

  This session will delve into the relationship between royal and priestly ideologies in the Psalms based on the example of Psalm 110. We will also revisit the controversial question of dating the composition of the Psalms and the role of Melchizedek in the Psalm and subsequent reception history.

• 30. Outside the number (Psalm 151)

  This session will illustrate the prolific world of non-canonical psalms with Psalm 151, a psalm that is found both in the Dead Sea Scrolls and the traditional Greek version of the Psalms.