Psalms, Part 2 and Lamentations (Forms of the Old Testament literature)

PSALMS, Part 2, and LAMENTATIONS is Volume XV of The Forms of the Old Testament Literature, a series that aims to present a form-critical analysis of every book and each unit in the Hebrew Bible. Fundamentally exegetical, the FOTL volumes examine the structure, genre, setting, and intention of the biblical literature in question. They also study the history behind the form-critical discussion of the material, attempt to bring consistency to the terminology for the genres and formulas of the biblical literature, and expose the exegetical procedures so as to enable students and pastors to engage in their own analysis and interpretation of the Old Testament texts. This volume completes Erhard Gerstenberger's widely praised discussion of the psalms literature begun in Volume XIV, and includes as well an admirable study of the book of Lamentations. Gerstenberger interprets the different kinds of songs and prayers that comprise the book of Psalms in light of their sociohistorical settings and provides a concise formal and structural analysis of each biblical text based on an illuminating comparison with other ancient Near Eastern prayers and hymns. Seeing the biblical writings in relation to the social, cultic, religious, and theological conceptions of Israel's neighboring peoples allows contemporary readers to better grasp the purpose and spiritual meaning of the psalms and Lamentations to the Jewish community that composed them. PSALMS, PART 2 and LAMENTATIONS......Page 4 Contents......Page 6 Abbreviations and Symbols......Page 7 Editors' Foreword......Page 13 Author's Preface......Page 16 A. Commentaries (cited by author's name and pages only)......Page 18 Β. Cultic Poetry and Ceremony......Page 19 C. Psalms......Page 21 PSALMS, PART 2......Page 24 Psalm 61: Complaint of the Individual; Congregational Psalm of Confidence with Intercession......Page 26 Psalm 62: Homily of Confidence......Page 31 Psalm 63: Thanksgiving Prayer......Page 35 Psalm 64: Complaint of the Individual......Page 40 Psalm 65: Hymnic Prayer......Page 43 Psalm 66: Communal Thanksgiving Hymn......Page 48 Psalm 67: Communal Thanksgiving Hymn......Page 54 Psalm 68: Victory Songs; Communal Hymn......Page 57 Psalm 69: Complaint of the Individual......Page 69 Psalm 70: Complaint of the Individual......Page 77 Psalm 71: Individual Complaint; Meditation......Page 81 Psalm 72: Intercession, Wishes......Page 87 Psalm 73: Meditation and Confession......Page 93 Psalm 74: Communal Complaint......Page 100 Psalm 75: Exhortation, Sermon......Page 104 Psalm 76: Confessional Hymn; Zion Hymn......Page 108 Psalm 77: Plaintive Meditation and Hymn......Page 111 Psalm 78: Didactic Song, Homily......Page 115 Psalm 79: Communal Complaint......Page 123 Psalm 80: Communal Complaint......Page 126 Psalm 81: Divine Oracles; Sermon......Page 130 Psalm 82: Report of Trial; Praise and Petition......Page 136 Psalm 83: Communal Complaint......Page 140 Psalm 84: Zion Hymn, Pilgrim Song......Page 145 Psalm 85: Communal Complaint; Communal Prayer......Page 150 Psalm 86: Individual Complaint, Congregational Prayer......Page 155 Psalm 87: Admission Pronouncement; Zion Hymn......Page 161 Psalm 88: Individual Complaint......Page 164 Psalm 89: Communal Complaint......Page 170 Psalm 90: Meditation......Page 181 Psalm 91: Benediction; Sermon......Page 186 Psalm 92: Hymnic Prayer......Page 191 Psalm 93:Confessional Hymn (cf. Yahweh-kingship Psalms 47; 95-99)......Page 196 Psalm 94: Communal Complaint......Page 200 Psalm 95: Yahweh-Kingship Hymn; Sermon......Page 205 Psalm 96: Yahweh-Kingship Hymn......Page 210 Psalm 97: Yahweh-Kingship Hymn......Page 214 Psalm 98: Yahweh-Kingship Hymn......Page 218 Psalm 99: Yahweh-Kingship Hymn......Page 222 Psalm 100: Introit Hymn......Page 226 Psalm 101: Reflection, Confession, Instruction......Page 229 Psalm 102: Complaint of the Individual; Communal Prayer......Page 233 Psalm 103: Communal Hymn......Page 238 Psalm 104: Personal and Communal Hymn......Page 244 Psalm 105: Hymn, Instruction......Page 253 Psalm 106: Communal Confession of Guilt; Hymnic Instruction......Page 259 Psalm 107: Instruction to Give Thanks......Page 269 Psalm 108: Communal Complaint......Page 276 Psalm 109: Complaint of the Individual; Counter-Curse......Page 280 Psalm 110: Divine Proclamation; Messianic Promise......Page 286 Psalm 111: Acrostic Hymn......Page 293 Psalm 112: Acrostic Felicitation......Page 297 Psalm 113: Communal Hymn, Praise from Below......Page 300 Psalm 114: Communal Hymn, Proclamation of Yahweh's Reign......Page 304 Psalm 115: Communal Hymn, Polemics against Idols......Page 308 Psalm 116: Thanksgiving of the Individual......Page 314 Psalm 117: Communal Hymn......Page 321 Psalm 118: Thanksgiving of the Individual......Page 323 Psalm 119: Acrostic Prayer; Instruction......Page 333 Psalm 120: Complaint of the Individual......Page 340 Psalm 121: Pilgrimage Song, Words of Assurance......Page 345 Psalm 122: Pilgrimage Song; Hymn to Jerusalem......Page 349 Psalm 123: Communal Complaint; Psalm of Confidence......Page 353 Psalm 124: Thanksgiving of Community......Page 356 Psalm 125: Song of Confidence......Page 359 Psalm 126: Communal Thanksgiving......Page 362 Psalm 127: Community Instruction......Page 367 Psalm 128: Felicitation......Page 371 Psalm 129: Communal Thanksgiving......Page 375 Psalm 130: Individual and Communal Complaint......Page 378 Psalm 131: Song of Confidence, Confession of Faith......Page 382 Psalm 132: Zion Psalm, Messianic Hymn......Page 386 Psalm 133: Announcement of Blessing......Page 394 Psalm 134: Blessings......Page 397 Psalm 135: Hymn to Yahweh......Page 400 Psalm 136: Communal Thanksgiving......Page 407 Psalm 137: Communal Complaint......Page 413 Psalm 138: Individual Thanksgiving......Page 420 Psalm 139: Meditation......Page 424 Psalm 140: Complaint of the Individual......Page 431 Psalm 141: Complaint of the Individual......Page 436 Psalm 142: Complaint of the Individual......Page 440 Psalm 143: Complaint of the Individual......Page 444 Psalm 144: Praise and Petition: Worship Agenda......Page 450 Psalm 145: Acrostic Hymn......Page 455 Psalm 146: Communal Hymn......Page 460 Psalm 147: Communal Hymn......Page 465 Psalm 148: Communal Hymn......Page 470 Psalm 149: Communal Hymn and Instruction......Page 475 Psalm 150: Final Praise......Page 481 LAMENTATIONS......Page 486 Bibliography......Page 488 1. The History of the Booklet......Page 490 2. Meter and Literary Forms......Page 492 3. Contents and Purposes......Page 494 4. Historical Situations and Social Roots......Page 496 5. Theology and Ethics......Page 498 Lamentations 1: Communal Mourning Agenda......Page 500 Lamentations 2: Communal Mourning Agenda......Page 508 Lamentations 3: Agenda of Communal Lament......Page 515 Lamentations 4: Communal Lament......Page 520 Lamentations 5: Communal Complaint......Page 524 Genres......Page 529 Formulas......Page 562 Psalms, Part 2, and Lamentations is Volume XV of The Forms of the Old Testament Literature, a series that aims to present a form- critical analysis of every book and each unit in the Hebrew Bible. Fundamentally exegetical, the FOTL volumes examine the structure, genre, setting, and intention of the biblical literature in question. They also study the history behind the form-critical discussion of the material, attempt to bring consistency to the terminology for the genres and formulas of the biblical literature, and expose the exegetical procedures so as to enable students and pastors to engage in their own analysis and interpretation of the Old Testament texts. This volume completes Erhard Gerstenberger's widely praised discussion of the psalms literature begun in Volume XIV, and includes as well an admirable study of the book of Lamentations. Gerstenberger interprets the different kinds of songs and prayers that comprise the book of Psalms in light of their socio-historical settings and provides a concise formal and structural analysis of each biblical text based on an illuminating comparison with other ancient Near Eastern prayers and hymns. Seeing the biblical writings in relation to the social, cultic, religious, and theological conceptions of Israel's neighoring peoples allows contemporary readers to better grasp the purpose and spiritual meaning of the psalms and Lamentations to the Jewish community that composed them. Erhard S. Gerstenberger. Includes Bibliographical References (p. Xvii-xxii).