Beat Weber, «Psalm 78 als 'Mitte' des Psalters? — ein Versuch», Vol. 88 (2007) 305-325
The 'center' of the Psalter has not been given much attention up to now. This essay first examines the literary concept of 'center'. On the basis of thematic-theological considerations the focus then falls on Ps 78, the second longest Psalm.
Key considerations are: the move from (individual) hlpt to (collective) hlht; Torah-wisdom; didactic history reflection climaxing with David; interface of mosaic and davidic figures and topics; double connection back to Torah and Nebiim, cf. programmatically Psalm 1. This evidence suggest that Ps 78 has been envisaged by the final redactors as the 'center' of the book (intention) and can be recognized as such as the Psalter is read repeatedly or even memorised (reception).
Psalm 78 als “Mitte†des Psalters? — ein Versuch 325
Ps 78 anzuzeigen scheinen. Allerdings sind die Markierungen nicht
derart, dass eine solche Intention ganz offenkundig wäre. Die “Mitteâ€
des Psalters in Ps 78 bleibt hintergründig und hat damit — will man
Stichworte von Ps 78 aufnehmen — eine Affinität zu Rätselrede und
Parabel. Sie kann in jedem Fall nur mittels einer Mehrfachhörung bzw.
-lesung und einer Memorierung des Psalters erschlossen werden. Mehr
zu sagen, wäre vermessen — deshalb, so im Titel: “ein Versuchâ€.
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SUMMARY
The “center†of the Psalter has not been given much attention up to now. This
essay first examines the literary concept of “centerâ€. On the basis of thematic-
theological considerations the focus then falls on Ps 78, the second longest Psalm.
Key considerations are: the move from (individual) hlpt to (collective) hlht;
Torah-wisdom; didactic history reflection climaxing with David; interface of
mosaic and davidic figures and topics; double connection back to Torah and
Nebiim, cf. programmatically Psalm 1. This evidence suggest that Ps 78 has been
envisaged by the final redactors as the “center†of the book (intention) and can be
recognized as such as the Psalter is read repeatedly or even memorised
(reception).