The Amplified Bible

The Amplified Bible - Psalm

THE PSALMS

Introduction: "Praise Songs" is the Hebrew title of this book. The Greek title Psalmoi, meaning "songs to the accompaniment of stringed instruments," is the basis for entitling this book as The Psalms. With few exceptions, each of the 150 chapters is a separate and complete unit.

By title the authorship of approximately one hundred psalms is assigned as follows: David 73; Asaph - 12; Sons of Korah - 10; Moses - 1; Heman the Ezrahite - 1; Ethan the Ezrahite - 1; and one or two to Solomon. The rest of the psalms are anonymous.

With many authors over a long period of time contributing to this collection, the Psalms reflect a wide variety of feelings, emotions, attitudes, and interests. Since these psalms come out of the experiences of individuals from such a wide background, they have had a universal appeal throughout the millenniums since they were written.

Frequently psalms are classified by categories. Some of the suggested classifications, with examples that may be helpful for further study, are the following:

1. Liturgical - 120-130
2. Messianic - 2,16,22,25,69,110
3. Penitential - 6,32,51
4. Personal - 23,27,37
5. Historical - 78,105-106
6. Praise - 95-100,146-150
7. Alphabetic - 25,111-112,119
8. Prayers of the righteous - 17,20,40,55

David, who wrote so many of the psalms, had a genuine interest in establishing worship and may have begun the liturgical use of numerous psalms (1Chronicles 15-16). Very likely the early collection of the Psalms began with David. Further additions and arrangements may have been made by Solomon, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, Josiah, and others. Since evidence is any psalm later than the fifth century B.C., it is possible that Ezra may have been responsible for the final arrangement of the Psalms.