The Psalms: An Introduction
Overview
In The Psalms, James Crenshaw offers one of the best available introductions to the psalmic literature of the Bible. Specially designed for use in a wide range of educational settings, James Crenshaw’s book will help beginning students read the psalms with understanding and appreciation.
Part 1 examines the composition and major features of the book of Psalms, and creates comparisons to other biblical psalms and to deutero- and noncanonical psalms. Part 2 surveys the various approaches to the Psalter, illustrating with great clarity the various modes of interpreting the book. Crenshaw looks in particular at the types of psalms, their social settings, and the historical reconstruction of the Israelite experience, with special attention to ancient Near Eastern iconography. Artistic design and theological editing are also discussed. In Part 3 Crenshaw offers in-depth exegesis of four notable psalms — 24, 71, 73, and 115 — to show how one might fruitfully engage the text.
- Contains a detailed introduction to psalms as a genre
- Uncovers the Psalms’ original setting
- Includes a discussion of theology’s influences on the biblical text
- Origins
- The Individual Collections
- Related Psalms
- Approaches to Psalms
- The Psalms as Prayers
- Psalms as a Source of Historical Data
- Classification by Types
- Artistic and Theological Design
- Some Readings
- Standing near the Flame: Psalm 73
- The Resounding Negation: Psalm 115
- Life’s Deepest Apprehension: Psalm 71
- Knowing Whose You Are: Psalm 24
As usual, James Crenshaw has done his homework for this little book. And what homework it is, for he brings to this quite accessible introduction long years of pondering. As a result, an entire tradition of scholarship is on offer for the reader. In addition to presenting all of the ‘necessities’ of an introduction, the book offers peculiar gifts that only Crenshaw can give. These include his careful sorting of ‘wisdom psalms’ and his exposition of specific psalms, most notably Psalm 73. Readers are introduced not only to substantive learning but also to careful method—Crenshaw’s signature contribution.
—Walter Brueggemann, professor of Old Testament, Columbia Theological Seminary
Out of his many years of teaching and studying the book of Psalms, James Crenshaw has given us the fruits of his wisdom. This book looks broadly at matters that have to do with composition, collection, types of psalms, and aspects of their poetry and imagery. But Crenshaw’s close, detailed look at some particular and often ignored psalms is the best part of the book.
—Patrick D. Miller, Charles T. Haley Professor of Old Testament Theology, Princeton Theological Seminary
This volume offers a study of the psalms as a collection of prayers and praises, as discrete efforts to plumb the depths of life’s meaning, and as a central part of ancient Israel’s theological achievement. What a rich and splendid interpretation of a rich and splendid portion of the Bible!
—Walter Harrelson, dean, Vanderbilt Divinity School
Crenshaw has a long record as a highly respected scholar in biblical studies, having published numerous books, articles and studies. An excellent teacher, Crenshaw has written this introduction out of years of teaching the book of Psalms in the classroom. Crenshaw has developed his own approach to the Psalms, and his book would serve well as a textbook. In his survey of the collections in the Psalter and of the psalms outside, Crenshaw gives skillfully written, brief summaries of individual psalms, written in fine English style. The reader could stop at many places for further study and reflection on the psalms summarized.
—Hebrew Studies
- Title: The Psalms: An Introduction
- Author: James L. Crenshaw
- Publisher: Eerdmans
- Print Publication Date: 2001
- Logos Release Date: 2016
- Pages: 200
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subject: Bible. O.T. Psalms › Introductions
- ISBNs: 9780802808547, 0802808549
- Resource ID: LLS:PSLMSNNTRDCTN
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T02:28:52Z