Smith DTh Thesis (final).pdf - South African Theological Seminary

Chapter 6: Composition of Psalms 3-8is quite possible that the editors used the information in the headings ofPsalms 3-7 to pattern them into a neat chiastic arrangement as illustratedabove. Nevertheless, it remains impossible to judge whether this beautifularrangement has its origins in the hands of editors or in the mind of themodern reader.So it is plausible that the editors may have added Psalm 7 after Psalm 6 tobalance Psalm 3 in a neatly crafted chiastic collection. 130 However, I think aneven more plausible hypothesis is that Psalms 3 and 7 were neighbouringhymns in an earlier collection, but the insertion of Psalms 4-6 as a trioseparated them. This would not negate the possibility that the neat chiasticarrangement was also intended. If Labuschagne’s claim that the editors wereartists at work in arranging the psalms into beautiful patterns, they may havefound the merging of two mini-groups (Pss 3 and 7 with Pss 4-6) to form a130 Regarding the Songs of Ascent, Barker (1995:165-166) notes that the headings form anearly symmetrical chiastic pattern. Psalm 127 lies at the centre of the 15 Songs of Ascent; itis attributed to Solomon. The seven psalms on each side include five anonymous and twoDavidic. The positioning of the seven anonymous and Davidic psalms is very nearlysymmetrical. It is unlikely the only Solomonic psalm was placed in the centre of this collectionby chance and, by coincidence, has a perfect balance of Davidic and anonymous psalms oneither side. This looks like an instance of the compilers balancing the headings neatly.242