The identity of the individual in the Book of Psalms
The aim of the thesis is to discover the identity of the individual in each of the ninety-three psalms in which an ~I~ occurs and to assign each of these psalms to a context in the cultic religion of ancient Israel. After the introduction, which explores briefly the current state of the debate and explains the methodology adopted here, the thesis falls into two halves: Part I examines the two questions in psalm studies which are most closely related to the question of the ~I~ in the psalms namely the identity, or several identities, of the: antagonists in the psalms and the meaning of the various terms translated ~poor~. This lays the foundation for the examination and classification of the psalms of the individual in Part II. These psalms are discussed in the three divisions of royal psalms, psalms of the private person and psalms which are best assigned to the cultic ministers (the cultic prophets, wisdom teachers and temple poets). Within this main division a further classification is attempted on the basis of the situation which appears to underly the use of these psalms in temple worship. In the case of the royal psalms, this leads to an examination of the royal ritual and a new reconstruction of this
Croft, Steven John Lindsey
Philosophy
The identity of the individual in the Book of Psalms. The aim of the thesis is to discover the identity of the individual in each of the ninety-three psalms in which an ~I~ occurs and to assign each of these psalms to a context in the cultic religion of ancient Israel. After the introduction, which explores briefly the current state of the debate and explains the methodology adopted here, the thesis falls into two halves: Part I examines the two questions in psalm studies which are most closely related to the question of the ~I~ in the psalms namely the identity, or several identities, of the: antagonists in the psalms and the meaning of the various terms translated ~poor~. This lays the foundation for the examination and classification of the psalms of the individual in Part II. These psalms are discussed in the three divisions of royal psalms, psalms of the private person and psalms which are best assigned to the cultic ministers (the cultic prophets, wisdom teachers and temple poets). Within this main division a further classification is attempted on the basis of the situation which appears to underly the use of these psalms in temple worship. In the case of the royal psalms, this leads to an examination of the royal ritual and a new reconstruction of this
identity individual book aim_discover identity individual psalm occur assign psalm context cultic religion_ancient israel introduction explore briefly current_state debate explains adopt fall_two half part_examine two_question psalm study closely_related question psalm namely identity several identity psalm mean various term translate poor lay_foundation examination classification psalm individual part psalm discuss division royal psalm psalm private person psalm best assign cultic minister cultic prophet wisdom teacher temple poet within main division classification attempt basis situation appear underly use psalm temple worship case royal psalm lead examination royal ritual new reconstruction