Wisdom Epistemology in the Psalter : A Study of Psalms 1, 73, 90, and 107

There has been scant scholarship on the epistemology of the Psalter. This work presents a comparative epistemological analysis of the wisdom motifs in Psalms 1, 73, 90, and 107, selected on the basis of their epistemic content and canonical placement within the Psalter. An epistemological progression is found to develop across the canonical ordering of the four psalms, providing a helpful diagnostic for exploring the structure of the Psalter. Abbreviations 11 Introduction 13 Epistemology in the Bible 13 Focus of the Present Study 14 Chapter I. Basic Issues in Epistemology and the Sociology of Knowledge 16 Preliminaries 16 Theory of Knowledge 17 Foundationalism 19 Coherentism 21 The Sociology of Knowledge 23 Social Stock of Knowledge 24 Externalization 25 Objectivation 26 Internalization 29 How a Society Constructs and Understands Its Worldview: Epistemological Significance of Metaphor 32 Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT) 34 The Epistemological Structuring Power of Metaphors 37 Further Epistemological Influence of Metaphors 38 Methodology for Epistemological Textual Analysis 41 Epistemological Textual Analysis 42 Chapter II. Social Epistemology Case Study: Proverbs 1–9 44 Preliminaries 44 Case Study: Proverbs 1–9 46 Worldview: Defining Metaphors and Liminal Structure 47 Inculcating and Preserving the Worldview: Objectivation and Internalization 54 Justification for Belief: Foundationalism or Coherentism? 60 Conclusion 64 Chapter III. Wisdom Elements Within the Psalms: Prior Studies and Present Focus 65 Introduction 65 Wisdom Psalms as a Unique Genre 65 Prior Research 68 Weeks: Rethinking the “Wisdom Psalm” Criteria 68 Geller and Van Leeuwen: Function Over Form 69 Wisdom and Torah 72 Berlin: “Creation Wisdom” 73 Brown: Comparing Psalms to Proverbs 74 Kellenberger: “Realization Discovery” 76 Conclusion 79 Four Psalms: An Epistemological Approach 79 Preliminary Note on the Texts 81 Chapter IV. Psalm 1: Social Epistemology Within a Deuteronomistic Worldview 83 Translation and Text-Critical Issues 83 Verses 1–2 84 Verses 3–4 85 Verses 5–6 86 Structure, Unity, and Dating 87 Structure 87 Unity 87 Dating 89 Metaphor Analysis 89 Worldview and Epistemology 93 Epistemological Impact of the Canonical Placement of Psalm 1 97 Conclusion 101 Chapter V. Psalm 73: Mystical Knowledge 103 Text and Translation 103 Text-Critical Issues 106 Verse 4 106 Verse 7 108 Verse 9 108 Verse 10 109 Verse 17 110 Verse 18 110 Verse 20 110 Verse 24 111 Structure, Unity, and Dating 111 Psalm 73: Metaphor Analysis 113 Exegesis of Ps 73:17 115 Epistemological Analysis 118 Pedagogy 119 Epistemic Knowledge and Realization-Discovery 121 Social Epistemology 123 Conclusion 124 Chapter VI. Psalm 90: Seeking for Knowledge 125 Psalm 90 Translation and Text-Critical Issues 125 Verse 1 127 Verse 5 128 Verse 8 129 Verse 9 131 Verse 10 132 Verse 12 132 Verse 13 133 Structure, Unity, and Dating 133 Structure 133 Unity 133 Dating 135 Psalm 90: Metaphor and Worldview 136 Social Epistemology 138 Review of Exegesis of Ps 90:12 140 “To number our days rightly teach us” (למנות ימינו כן הודע) 142 Conclusion 143 Appendix 144 Chapter VII. Psalm 107: The Epistemology of Salvation 150 Psalm 107 Translation and Text-Critical Issues 150 Verses 1–3 154 Verses 4–9 155 Verses 10–16 155 Verses 17–22 155 Verses 33–43 157 Structure, Unity, and Dating 157 Structure 157 Unity 158 Dating 160 Psalm 107: Metaphor Analysis 161 Strophe I (vv. 4–9): Desert Wanderings 162 Strophe II (vv. 10–16) Imprisonment 164 Strophe III (vv. 17–22) Illness 165 Strophe IV (vv. 23–32) Stormy Seas 165 Verses 33–41 167 Worldview 168 Epistemology 170 Social Epistemology 170 Epistemic Vagueness 172 Conclusion: New Knowledge for the Wise Person to Learn 175 Conclusion: Implications for the Canonical Study of the Psalter 177 Psalm Exegesis and Psalter Exegesis 177 Epistemological Comparison of Psalms 1, 73, 90, and 107 179 Psalm 1 179 Psalm 73 179 Psalm 90 180 Psalm 107 182 Epistemological Progression 183 Epistemology and the Canonical Structure of the Psalter 184 Bibliography 186 Primary Sources 186 Lexicons and Grammars 186 Commentaries 186 Articles and Monographs 188 Bible Reference Index 216 Author Name Index 223 Subject Index 228 Subject Index 228

We present a comparative epistemological analysis of the wisdom motifs in Psalms 1, 73, 90, and 107. These texts were selected on the basis of their epistemological content (each confronts the relationship between virtue and prosperity), and their canonical placement within the Psalter (each begins one of the Psalter’s five “Books”). We explore the implications of their respective epistemological features for our understanding of the canonical structure of the Psalter.
After developing a diagnostic method for the identification and analysis of the epistemological features within a biblical text, we apply it to each of the four psalms, and discuss their epistemological qualities with respect to their canonical placement in the Psalter.
We find that an epistemic progression develops across the canonical ordering of the four psalms. While the psalmists are increasingly forthright in acknowledging the moral paradox that the righteous often suffer, while the wicked can prosper, they engage this paradox with ever more sophisticated responses. Although Yhwh is ultimately the source of all wisdom, human beings can facilitate their acquisition of knowledge by seeking him out intentionally, by questioning him directly, and by observing him with a heart focused on learning.