Introduction to the Psalms of Solomon
The pseudepigraphal work known as Psalms of Solomon. is a collection of 18 Psalms written by devout Jews. Based on the internal evidence, these psalms were composed during a time of bitter crisis for the Jewish nation--indeed a time when their holy temple was overrun and profaned by Gentiles. The very first Psalm in this collection refers to this:
1I cried out to the Lord when I was severely troubled, to God when sinners set upon (me).
2Suddenly, the clamor of war was heard before me;...
8Their lawless actions surpassed the gentiles before them;
they completely profaned the sanctuary of the Lord.1
Similar citations could be repeated. The second psalm, for instance, makes reference to the arrogant sinners breaking down the strong walls with a battering ram (PssSol 2:1). The eighth psalm explicitly mentions Jerusalem in the context of war and also notes that "they stole from the sanctuary of God" (PssSol 8:11). The simple point is that the writers were Jewish and were expressing the severity of the circumstances in these psalms.
Below is a synopsis of each of the 18 Psalms.
- PssSol 1: Jerusalem (personified) fallen
- PssSol 2: The heavy hand of the Gentiles (viz. Pompey) on Jerusalem
- PssSol 3: A Song of the righteous and the sinner
- PssSol 4: A Psalm against the arrogant
- PssSol 5: A Psalm of God's provisions
- PssSol 6: Beattitude of hope in the Lord
- PssSol 7: Hope in God's compassion
- PssSol 8: Jerusalem's defeat; Israel's confession and plea for mercy
- PssSol 9: Dispersed Israel makes a plea of covenant mercy
- PssSol 10: A Hymn of the Lord's discipline
- PssSol 11: Jerusalem's glory
- PssSol 12: The Slanderous tongue
- PssSol 13: The Right hand of the Lord: Protection and discipline
- PssSol 14: Destinies of righteous and sinners compared
- PssSol 15: The Salvation of the righteous
- PssSol 16: A Prayer against waywardness
- PssSol 17: A Song for the King of Israel
- PssSol 18: A Song of the Messiah
Notes
1The translation of the text of Psalms of Solomon is from R. B. Wright, "Psalms of Solomon," The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha, ed. James H. Charlesworth (New York: Doubleday, 1985): 2:639-70.
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This page is provided by Roger DePriest, M.A., Ph.D. student, as part of the "Apocalyptic and the New Testament" site project.