Philip Sumpter, «The Coherence of Psalms 15–24», Vol. 94 (2013) 186-209
This article develops recent arguments that Psalms 15–24 constitute a relatively self-contained sub-collection that is chiastically arranged. It seeks to uncover the logic underlying the arrangement by attending to three points: 1) the manner in which the content of each psalm is 'expanded' and 'brought forward' in its chiastic parallel; 2) the nature of the relation between the framing psalms (15; 19; 24) and those that intervene; 3) the significance of David and Zion. In short, it argues that the editors were concerned to situate David within his true theological context.
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THE COHERENCE OF PSALMS 15–24
– Second, in light of the “structure of intensificationâ€, we should look
for a linear as well as a concentric reading of chiasm 30. In particular,
we need to be aware of the presence of an implicit “narrative ele-
ment†as the reality within which the diverse psalms of our collec-
tion cohere. Again, this accords with my theory that the one content
of the collection is the struggle of faith within the divine economy,
for this economy has a broadly narrative structure.
Having now established a theoretical framework, we turn to the
sub-collection of Psalms 15–24. I will first read each psalm in terms
of its development by its parallel (§III), demonstrating the presence
of a “structure of intensificationâ€. The second half of the chiasm
does not just repeat the first half, it also develops it by broadening
and refining its theological horizon as well as intensifying its im-
agery (with the special exception of Psalms 18 // 20–21; see below).
I will then show how the framing psalms (15; 19; 24) stand apart
from the rest and function — in an incremental manner — to clarify
the ultimate context for interpreting the whole (§IV).
III. Parallelismus Psalmorum
The inter-psalmic pattern of intensification occurs in two ways: 1)
the content of the first psalm is consistently intensified and set within
a more developed theological horizon; 2) as a part of this pattern, the
speaking subject of the A-psalm is consistently related to the larger
community in the B-psalm as an exemplar or type of it. A brief word
should be said here about the identity of this subject before we proceed
with our analysis. In the superscriptions he is explicitly identified as
“Davidâ€. Although the historical superscriptions (e.g. in Pss 3,1 and
18,1) as well as the concluding colon in Ps 72,20 indicate that the his-
torical figure was indicated, there are other indications that he was
also interpreted in eschatological categories (e.g. Ps 18, 44-46 and the
Millard makes this point in relation to Psalms 15–24 without going on
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to interpret the collection: “The message (Pointe) of every chiasm does not
consist in the mere repetition of particular words or motifs in reverse order.
It consists in the small variations […] . Every chiasm is thus also part of a
linear structure. The message only becomes evident when the reader bears
the first half of the chiasm in mind when reading the second half†(MILLARD,
“Mitte des Psaltersâ€, 258-259; translation mine).
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