Authorship and Composition of Pre-Davidic Psalms
While many psalms are attributed to David, the Book of Psalms is a collection from various authors, reflecting different periods and circumstances in Israel's history [1]. The superscriptions, or "titles," of the psalms, which are generally considered reliable, attribute 73 psalms directly to David [1]. Examples include "A song or Psalme of David" (Psalm 108:1, Geneva 1599) [2], "A Psalme of David" (Psalm 138:1, Geneva 1599) [3], and "A Psalm of David" (Psalm 101:1, LITV) [4]. Psalm 145 is specifically titled "A Psalme of David of Praise" (Geneva 1599) [5], and its Hebrew name, Tehillah, meaning "Praise," is applied only to this psalm in the superscriptions [6].
Beyond David, other inspired poets contributed to the Psalter over successive generations, enriching the collection to reflect a broader range of human emotions and experiences [1]. For instance, while Psalm 1 is without a title, some scholars, like John Gill, suggest it may be a psalm of David, noting that the subsequent Psalm 2 is ascribed to him, and both were sometimes joined as one psalm by Jewish tradition [8]. Similarly, Psalm 111, though untitled, is thought by some to have been penned by David, partly due to its artificial alphabetical structure [11].
The dating of psalms can sometimes be inferred from their content or traditional interpretations. For example, Psalm 144 is understood by Matthew Henry to have been written by David after his accession to the crown, when he was facing conflicts with neighboring nations like the Philistines [10]. John Gill also places Psalm 144 after David became king, following his victories over the Philistines [13]. Psalm 140 is considered by some to have been composed by David before he was king, possibly concerning figures like Doeg and the Ziphites who slandered him to Saul [12]. The superscriptions often provide clues to the historical context, such as Psalm 30, which is cross-referenced with events in 2 Samuel and 1 Kings [7].
The New Testament also affirms Davidic authorship for certain psalms. For instance, Psalm 110 is explicitly attributed to David by Jesus Christ in Matthew 22:43 and by the Apostle Peter in Acts 2:34 [9]. Furthermore, Psalm 109 is understood to have been written by David under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, with its prophetic content concerning Judas Iscariot being confirmed in Acts 1:16 [14]. The Christian Church received the Psalter from the Jewish tradition as both sacred scripture and a liturgical hymn-book used in the Temple [6].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Psalms — The psalms are the production of various authors. "Only a portion of the Book of Psalms claims David as its author. Other inspired poets in successive generations added now one now another contribution to the sacred collection, and thus in the wisdom of Providence it more completely reflects every phase of human emotion and circumstances than it otherwise could." But it is specially to David and his contemporaries that we owe this precious book. In the "titles" of the psalms, the genuineness of which there is no sufficient reason to doubt, 73 are ascribed to”
- Psalms “Psalms 108:1 (Geneva1599) — A song or Psalme of David. O God, mine heart is prepared, so is my tongue: I will sing and giue praise.”
- Psalms “Psalms 138:1 (Geneva1599) — A Psalme of David. I will praise thee with my whole heart: euen before the gods will I praise thee.”
- Psalms “Psalms 101:1 (LITV) — A Psalm of David. I will sing of mercy and judgment; to You O Jehovah, I will sing praise.”
- Psalms “Psalms 145:1 (Geneva1599) — A Psalme of David of Praise. O my God and King, I will extold thee, and will blesse thy Name for euer and euer.”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Psalms, Book Of — The present Hebrew name of the book is Tehill'im, "Praises;" but in the actual superscriptions of the psalms the word Tehillah is applied only to one, (Psalms 145:1) ... which is indeed emphatically a praise-hymn. The LXX. entitled them psalmoi or "psalms," i.e., lyrical pieces to be sung to a musical instrument. The Christian Church obviously received the Psalter from the Jews not only as a constituent portion of the sacred volume of Holy Scripture, but also as the liturgical hymn-book which the Jewish Church had regularly used in the temple. Divisi”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Psalms 30:1 cross-references: Deuteronomy 20:5, 2 Samuel 5:11, 2 Samuel 6:20, 2 Samuel 7:2, 2 Samuel 20:3, 2 Samuel 24:25, 1 Kings 8:63, 1 Chronicles 21:6, Psalms 13:4, Psalms 25:2, Psalms 27:6, Psalms 28:9, Psalms 34:3, Psalms 35:19, Psalms 35:24, Psalms 41:11, Psalms 66:17, Psalms 79:4, Psalms 79:10, Psalms 89:41, Psalms 140:8, Psalms 145:1, Lamentations 2:15, Daniel 4:37”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 1 (introduction): This psalm, though without a title, may reasonably be thought to be a psalm of David; since the next psalm, which is also without a title, is ascribed to him, Act 4:25; and since both are joined together as one psalm by the Jews (k); See Gill on Act 13:33; and since this is the general preface to the whole book, which is chiefly of David's penning, it is entitled, in the metaphrase of Apollinarius, "a Song of David, the Prophet and King.'' (k) T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 9. 2.”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 110 (introduction): INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 110 A Psalm of David. This psalm was written by David, as the title shows, and which is confirmed by our Lord Jesus Christ, Mat 22:43 and by the Apostle Peter, Act 2:34 and was not written by anyone of the singers concerning him, as Aben Ezra and Kimchi; nor by Melchizedek, nor by Eliezer the servant of Abraham, concerning him, as Jarchi and others: for the former could not call Abraham his lord, since he was greater than he, Heb 7:7 and though the latter might, yet he could not assign his master a place at the right hand of God; ”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 144 (introduction): The four preceding psalms seem to have been penned by David before his accession to the crown, when he was persecuted by Saul; this seems to have been penned afterwards, when he was still in trouble (for there is no condition in this world privileged with an exemption from trouble), the neighbouring nations molesting him and giving him disturbance, especially the Philistines, Sa2 5:17. In this psalm, I. He acknowledges, with triumph and thankfulness, the great goodness of God to him in advancing him to the government (Psa 144:1-4). II. He prays to Go”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 111 (introduction): INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 111 This psalm, though without a name, is thought to be penned by David; it is composed in an artificial manner, in an alphabetical order, each clause or sentence beginning with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet in course, till the whole is finished; this perhaps was done to recommend the psalm, to make it more observed, and to help the memory; the general design of it is to excite to praise the Lord, from the consideration of his great and wonderful works.”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 140 (introduction): INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 140 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. This psalm, A ben Ezra says, was composed by David before he was king; and Kimchi says, it is concerning Doeg and the Ziphites, who calumniated him to Saul; and, according to our English contents, it is a prayer of David to be delivered from Saul and Doeg. The Syriac inscription is, "said by David, when Saul threw a javelin at him to kill him, but it struck the wall; but, spiritually, the words of him that cleaves to God, and contends with his enemies.'' R. Obadiah says, it was made”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 144 (introduction): INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 144 A Psalm of David. This psalm was written by David; not on account of the return of the Jews from the Babylonish captivity, by a spirit of prophecy, as Theodoret; but on his own account, after he was come to the throne, and was king over all Israel; and was delivered from the was between him and Israel, and from the war of the Philistines, as Kimchi observes, having gained two victories over them: or it was written between the two victories, and before he had conquered all his enemies; since he prays to be delivered from the ha”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 109 (introduction): INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 109 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. This psalm was written by David, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, concerning Judas the betrayer of Christ, as is certain from Act 1:16 hence it is used to be called by the ancients the Iscariotic psalm. Whether the occasion of it was the rebellion of Absalom, as some, or the persecution of Saul, as Kimchi; and whoever David might have in view particularly, whether Ahithophel, or Doeg the Edomite, as is most likely; yet it is evident that the Holy Ghost foresaw the sin of Judas,”