Presentation of the book of Psalms in the Bible, how it is composed, where and when the preparation of the 150 chapters that compose it was made, independent of each other by gender and type of meditation.
Book of Psalms
Many biblical scholars agree that the definitive drafting of the book of Psalms was made in Galilee, probably at the end of the third century BC.
The manuscript contains 150 chapters, made up of texts of different origins, largely unknown authors who lived during the previous centuries, Psalm 104, which is the oldest, was even written in the 14th century BC, inspired by the Hymn to the Egyptian sun.
Each chapter or psalm is characterized by autonomy with respect to the others, they are variegated hymns of praise, wisdom meditation and supplication.
Most of the psalms begin with a verse that also constitutes their introduction, describing in some cases the author or the circumstances under which they were composed.
In biblical-liturgical language, the way in which the psalms are organized by the Catholic Church is called psaltery, a group divided into 5 books that each end with a blessing or a hymn of praise to God.
The first book brings together the first 41 chapters, historically attributed to David except for 1, 2, 10 and 33 which, although considered anonymous, are by convention attributed by many always to the same author as the others.
The second book, which goes from chapter 42 to 72, includes 18 attributed to David and 1 to Solomon, while all the others are anonymous.
The third book goes from Psalm 73 to Psalm 89, almost all anonymous, excluding David 86, Heman 88 and Ethan 89.
The fourth book includes 17 psalms, from 90 to 106, of which 90 is considered written by Moses, while 101 and 103 are of David.
Finally, the fifth book groups the remaining 44 psalms, that is, from 107 to 150, of which 15 attributed to David and 127 to Solomon.
Recommended readings- Psalm 76: complete, commentary
- Psalm 62: complete, commentary
- Psalm 102: complete, commentary
- Psalm 6: complete, commentary
- Psalm 20: complete, commentary
The psalms, in addition to the spiritual meaning, also have a great poetic value that is expressed in the repetition of thought, which is reiterated, modified and sometimes even corrected line after line to better understand the message to be transmitted.
