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

Chapter 2: History of Psalms Studiesand well used canonical collections was probably completedonly after the exile, perhaps in the time of Nehemiah. Whilstthere are indications of internal ordering here and there, thereappears to be no systematic attempt to structure the psalterinternally. Given the historical development of compilation, theold interpretation of midrash tehillim (on Ps 1:5) that the fivebooks reflect the five books of Moses is probably no more than alate reflection. The Sitz im Leben of this long process ofcompilation appears to have been the need to furnishrecognized collections for use in the temple liturgy. . . .In a major study of the overall purpose and message of the Psalter, DavidMitchell (1997, The Message of the Psalter: An Eschatological Programme inthe Book of Psalms) not only defended the view that the final form of thePsalter is a purposeful literary arrangement (a “book”) rather than ahaphazard collection of psalms, but also sought to demonstrate that the finalredactors intended the Psalter to be read eschatologically. He began with acomprehensive review of the history of psalms interpretation, demonstratingthat until the rise of critical exegesis the psalms had always been interpretedeschatologically by both Jews and Christians. Next he offered four reasonswhy an eschatological agenda would have been likely:41