Psalms 1–72

Richard J. Clifford’s Psalms 1–72 is an unusually rich commentary for its relatively compact size. Clifford is particularly strong at bringing together poetic structure, rhetorical movement, Hebrew detail, ancient Near Eastern background and theological interpretation, and he repeatedly offers readings that are both original and exegetically useful. His treatments of Psalms 1–2 as a coordinated introduction to the Psalter, Psalm 18 in relation to divine kingship and the cosmic victory tradition, Psalm 23 through exodus and covenant motifs, Psalm 49 as expressing hope for deliverance from death, and Psalm 72 as portraying the king as an instrument of God’s justice are especially rewarding. Clifford also succeeds unusually well in showing how the Psalms function as prayers rather than merely analysing their historical background. At times he reconstructs Temple rituals, enthronement settings and combat-myth backgrounds with more confidence than the evidence seems to warrant, but these proposals generally illuminate rather than dominate his exegesis. A remarkably economical commentary with a very high concentration of fresh and useful insight, and one of the strongest treatments of Psalms 1–72 available.