On the Redaction and Arrangement of the Psalter

Abstract

Many biblical scholars regard the canonical Psalter simply as a collection of psalms that were sang in the cult of the Second Temple in Jerusalem or in the service of synagogues in ancient Israel, and they seldom give attention to its arrangement. The discoveries of the manuscripts of Psalms, however, shed a new light on the problem. Known as 11QPs^a, this manuscript shows different arrangement from the canonical Psalter. After examining the opinions of J. Sanders and P. W. Skehan, I assume that the Psalter was fixed in the second half of the first century A. D., when a few groups of redactors worked on the Psalter. This brings the matter to the question whether the canonical Psalter was used in the cult of the Second Temple. I agree with N. Füglister's hypothesis that negates the actual relations between the Psalter and the Second Temple. He insists that the Psalter was a book of prayer and contemplation to be used by the maginal people who kept themselves away from Sadducees. As a result, the arrangement of Psalter shows a clear intention on the part of the redactors. The study of the arrangement will require further attention.