4. nbSPl, tephilldh, a "prayer:" xvii, lxxxvi, xc, cii, cxlii.
5. nblltl, tehillAh, a "psalm" simply: cxlv.
6. b^SiCE, maskil (instructive, "maschil," q. v.), a di- dactic poem: xxii, xlii, xliv, xlv, lii-lv, lxxiv, lxxviii, Ixxxviii, lxxxix, cxlii.
7. PlrftS, cduth (precept, " eduth," q. v.), an ethical poem : lx, lxxx.
S. 'j'PBttS, shiggaybn (sighing, "shiggaion," q.v.), an ele- giac or plaintive song: vii.
V. Original Authorship of the Psalms. — Many of the ancients, both Jews and Christians, maintained that all the Psalms were written by David, which is one of the most striking proofs of their uncritical judgment. So the Talmudists (Cod. Pesachim, x, 117); Augustine, who is never a good critic (De Civ. Dei, xvii, 14) ; and Chrysostom (Prol, ad Psalmos). But Jerome, as might be expected, held the opinion which now universally prevails (EpUt. ad Sophroniuni). The titles and the contents of the Psalms most clearly show that they were composed at different and remote periods by sev- eral poets, of whom David was only the largest and most eminent contributor.
1. David, "the sweet psalmist of Israel" (2 Sam. xxiii, 1). To him are ascribed seventy-three psalms in the Hebrew text (not seventy-four, as DeWette and Tholuck state; nor seventy-one, as most others have counted), and at least eleven others in the Sept.— name- ly, xxxiii, xliii, xci, xciv-xcix, civ, exxxvii; to which may be added Psa. x, as it forms part of Psa. ix in that version.
To these psalms the collector, after properly append- ing the single psalm of Solomon, has affixed the notice that " the prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended" (Psa. lxxii, 20); evidently implying, at least on the prima facie view, that no more compositions of the royal psalmist remained. How, then, do we find in the later books— iii, iv, v — further psalms yet marked with David's name? Some have sought to answer this question by a reference to the authorship assigned in the superscriptions of other psalms. If (as we shall presently see) in the times posterior to those of David the Levitical choirs prefixed to the psalms which they composed the names of Asaph, Heman, and Ethan, out of a feeling of veneration for their memories, how much more might the name of David be prefixed to the utter- ances of those who were not merely his descendants, but also the representatives for the time being, and so in some sort the pledges of the perpetual royalty of his lineage ! The name David is used to denote, in other parts of Scripture, after the original David's death, the then bead of the Davidic family ; and so, in prophecy, the Messiah of the seed of David, who was to sit on David's throne (1 Kings xii, 16; Hos. iii, 5; Isa. lv, 3; Jer. xxx, 9 ; Ezra xxxiv, 23, 24). Thus some seek to explain the meaning of the later Davidic superscrip- tions in the Psalter. The psalms to which they belong are thought to have been written by Hezekiah. by Josiah, by Zerubbabel, or others of David's posterity. This view is supposed to be confirmed by various con-
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Biderations. In the later books, and even in book v taken alone, the psalms marked with David's name arc not grouped all together. In some instances there is interna] evidence of occasion: thus Psa. ci can ill be I with the historical circumstances of any pe- riod of David's life, but suits exactly with those of the opening of the reign of Josiah. Some of these psalms — Psa. lxxxvi. cviii. cxliv— are compacted of passages fmm previous psalms of David. Lastly, the Hebrew text of many (sec. above all, Psa. c.xxxix) is marked by grammatical Cbaldaisms, which arc entirely un- paralleled in Psa. i lxxii. and which thus afford strong ofa comparatively recent date. They cannot, therefore, it is claimed, be David's own; yet it is held that the superscriptions arc not on that account to be rejected as false, hut must rather he properly inter- preted, on the ground of the improbability that any would, carelessly or presumptuously, have prefixed Da- vid's name to various psalms scattered through a collec- tion, while yet leaving the rest at leas) in l ks iv. v
— altogether unsuperscribed. Ingenious as is this ex- planation, we prefer to adhere t" the simple and obvious meaning of the titles as ascribing the psalms in question to David himself, and we do nol feel constrained to seek other authors by the nature of the contents.
When wo consider David's eminence as a poet, and the delight he took in sacred song, we cannot wonder that he should he the author of so many of the Psalms — no fewer, in all likelihood, than half the collection: tin' wonder rather should !»• that we do not find more of his line odes, for it is certain he wrote some which are not. in this hook: see in 2 Sam. i. 1!» 27 his lament over s.-uil and Jonathan, and in xxiii, 1-7 his last in- spired effusion. His character and merit as the father of Hebrew melody and music — for it was in his hands and under his auspices that these flourished most are thus set forth by I lie son of Sirach (xlvii, 8-10), " In all his work he gave thanks. To the Holy and Most High he sane; songs with all his heart in words of praise (pij- fKiri <7<i'//c i. ami he loved his Maker. He set singers also before the altar, and from their music (y^ov) sweet melody resounded, lie gave splendor to the feasts, and adorned the solemn times unto perfection (fii-xpi OW- reXeiag), in that they praised his holy name, and the sanctuary pealed with music from early morn."