Psalms
One hundred fifty songs and prayers, gathered into five books over many centuries.
What the sources say, and how sure we are
- The text says
About 73 psalms carry a heading naming David. Others name Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon (Pss 72, 127), Moses (Ps 90), Heman, and Ethan. Many have no author named. The collection is divided into five books, each ending with a closing blessing.Pss 3–41; Ps 72; Ps 90; Ps 41:13; 72:18–19; 89:52; 106:48
- The text says
The psalms reflect events across Israel’s history, including the reign of David (Pss 3, 51) and the exile (Ps 137).Ps 3; Ps 51; Ps 137
- Outside evidence
The Dead Sea Scrolls include a Psalms scroll from Cave 11 (11QPsa) that orders many later psalms differently and adds other songs, showing the collection’s final order was still being settled in the last centuries BC.11QPsa
- Debated
The Hebrew heading “of David” can mean by David, for David, or in the David tradition. Some scholars accept David as the author of many psalms with his heading; others see many of them as written later. Some psalms with his heading mention the Lord’s “house” or “temple,” which could mean the tabernacle or reflect later editing.Ps 5:7; Ps 27:4
- Christian conclusion
Jesus said the Psalms speak of him, and the New Testament quotes them often to explain his suffering, resurrection, and rule.Luke 24:44; Ps 22; Ps 110