1A Psalm of David, when he fled from his son Absalom. O LORD, how my foes have increased! How many rise up against me!
2Many say of me, “God will not deliver him.” Selah
3But You, O LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, and the One who lifts my head.
4To the LORD I cry aloud, and He answers me from His holy mountain. Selah
5I lie down and sleep; I wake again, for the LORD sustains me.
6I will not fear the myriads set against me on every side.
7Arise, O LORD! Save me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked.
8Salvation belongs to the LORD; may Your blessing be on Your people. Selah
Psalms 3 Verse Notes
Ps 3:1
The ambiguity of 'A Psalm of David' attributions
The phrase 'A Psalm of David' found in 73 psalms is a translation of the Hebrew 'Lu David,' where the preposition 'lu' is highly versatile and does not specifically mean 'written by.' It could indicate 'to,' 'about,' 'concerning,' or 'belonging to.' This ambiguity suggests that David was not necessarily the author of these psalms, but rather they were associated with him in some way, perhaps as part of a collection or in a style he would use.
Summarized by AI · The Hebrew Bible: Exploring the Literature of Ancient Israel · Lecture 21: Psalms | The Poetry of the People (?) · watch the clip
Titles and superscriptions are later interpretive additions
The detailed titles and superscriptions found on some psalms, such as 'A Psalm of David when he fled from his son Absalom' (Psalm 3), are likely not original to the psalms themselves. These descriptions often provide a narrative setting that is generic and not specifically tied to the psalm's content, making them interchangeable with other psalms. Evidence from the Septuagint and Dead Sea Scrolls shows these titles were added over time as part of an ongoing interpretive process.
Summarized by AI · The Hebrew Bible: Exploring the Literature of Ancient Israel · Lecture 21: Psalms | The Poetry of the People (?) · watch the clip
Generic language in laments for broader applicability
Individual laments, such as Psalm 6, use generic language to describe distress, avoiding specific details about the speaker's troubles or enemies. This generality, like 'my whole being is stricken with terror' or 'surrounded by enemies,' makes the psalms more universally applicable for readers facing various forms of anguish, allowing them to identify with the text regardless of their specific circumstances.
Summarized by AI · The Hebrew Bible: Exploring the Literature of Ancient Israel · Lecture 21: Psalms | The Poetry of the People (?) · watch the clip
