Psalms, Part 2, and Lamentations
in Forms of the Old Testament Literature
Pages
568 pages
Publisher
Eerdmans
Published
8/1/2001
ISBN-13
9780802804884
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.
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.
Collections
This book appears in the following featured collections.
- TGC: Scholarly Commentaries by The Gospel Coalition
Reviews
The Gospel Coalition
June 1, 2024
June 1, 2024
A well-researched and well-argued commentary. While Gerstenberger’s writing is considerably technical, it attends closely to the text.
[Full Review]
Review of Biblical Literature (RBL) (Thomas Hieke)
June 1, 2003
June 1, 2003
During the more than ten years after the publication of FOTL 14 (1988), the first part of Erhard S. Gerstenberger’s commentary on the Psalms, the scholarly community often inquired after the second volume. Hence it is grateful to hear the author say: “Here it is, finally” (xvi). The first volume proved to be a very useful and informed commentary on the Psalms (Pss 1–60), and the second one meets its expectations. The decade that passed since the publication of FOTL 14 evidenced a wide stream of literature on the Psalms and several new approaches to ancient Hebrew poetry. Gerstenberger admits that he has learned much from the new avenues of Psalm exegesis starting in the 1990s. However, he also remains true to his principles, and one can clearly agree with his statement in the preface: “I still think that a form-critical and social-historical analysis like the one begun with FOTL XIV may be helpful to recognize the multiple roots of psalmody in different types of human organization and ritual practice” (xv).
[Full Review]