Psalms, Part 2 And Lamentations (forms Of The Old Testament Literature)

E-Book Overview

PSALMS, Part 2, and LAMENTATIONS is Volume XV of The Forms of the Old Testament Literature, a series that aims to present a form-critical analysis of every book and each unit in the Hebrew Bible. Fundamentally exegetical, the FOTL volumes examine the structure, genre, setting, and intention of the biblical literature in question. They also study the history behind the form-critical discussion of the material, attempt to bring consistency to the terminology for the genres and formulas of the biblical literature, and expose the exegetical procedures so as to enable students and pastors to engage in their own analysis and interpretation of the Old Testament texts. This volume completes Erhard Gerstenberger's widely praised discussion of the psalms literature begun in Volume XIV, and includes as well an admirable study of the book of Lamentations. Gerstenberger interprets the different kinds of songs and prayers that comprise the book of Psalms in light of their sociohistorical settings and provides a concise formal and structural analysis of each biblical text based on an illuminating comparison with other ancient Near Eastern prayers and hymns. Seeing the biblical writings in relation to the social, cultic, religious, and theological conceptions of Israel's neighboring peoples allows contemporary readers to better grasp the purpose and spiritual meaning of the psalms and Lamentations to the Jewish community that composed them.

E-Book Content

THE F O R M S OF THE OED TESTAMENT *1 Genesis; with an Introduction to Narrative Literature *IIA Exodus 1-18 IIB Exodus 19-40; with an Introduction to Legal Genres III Leviticus IV Numbers V Deuteronomy VI Joshua, Judges VII VIII *IX 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings; with an Introduction to Historical Literature *X 2 Kings *XI 1 and 2 Chronicles XII Ezra, Nehemiah *XIII Ruth, Esther, Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Canticles; with an Introduction to Wisdom Literature *XIV Psalms, Part 1; with an Introduction to Cultic Poetry *XV Psalms, Part 2; Lamentations *XVI Isaiah 1-39; with an Introduction to Prophetic Literature XVII Isaiah 40-66 XVIII Jeremiah *XIX Ezekiel *XX Daniel; with an Introduction to Apocalyptic Literature XXIA Minor Prophets, Part 1 *XXIB *XXII XXIII XXIV Micah Minor Prophets, Part 2 Glossary of Genre Terms Indices *Now available LITERATURE George W. Coats George W. Coats Rolf P. Knierim Rodney R. Hutton George W. Coats & Rolf P. Knierim Frederick G. Tiffany Robert L. Hubbard, Jr., & Malcolm M. Clark Antony F. Campbell Antony F Campbell Burke O. Long Burke O. Long Simon J. De Vries Kent Richards Roland E. Murphy Erhard S. Gerstenberger Erhard S. Gerstenberger Marvin A. Sweeney Roy F. Melugin Richard D. Weis Ronald M. Hals John J. Collins Ehud Ben Zvi, Gene M. Tucker, & J. William Whedbee Ehud Ben Zvi Michael H. Floyd Rolf P. Knierim & Gene M. Tucker Rolf P. Knierim & Gene M. Tucker PSALMS PART 2 and LAMENTATIONS ERHARD S. GERSTENBERGER The Forms of the Old Testament Literature V O L U M E X V Rolf P. Knierim, Gene M. Tucker, and Marvin A. Sweeney, editors WILLIAM B . EERDMANS PUBLISHING COMPANY G R A N D RAPIDS, MICHIGAN / CAMBRIDGE, U.K. © 2001 Wm. Β. Eerdmans Publishing Co. 255 Jefferson Ave. S.E., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503 / P.O. Box 163, Cambridge CB3 9PU U.K. All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America 06 05 04 03 02 01 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 ISBN 0-8028-0488-8 CONTENTS Abbreviations and Symbols vi Editors' Foreword xii Author's Preface xv Additional PSALMS, Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Bibliography PART 3 4 5 6 xvii