Psalm 72: 20: A Frozen Colophon?

The placement of v. 20 in Psalm 72 has long puzzled scholars and has raised a number of questions: Why is ... used? Why does the verse state that the prayers of David are ended? Where does this leave Solomon (v. 1)? Why is the verse placed after the doxology of vv. 18-19? And why is it found in the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Biblical literature
Main Author: Willgren, David 1983- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Scholar's Press [2016]
In: Journal of Biblical literature
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Bible. Psalmen 72,20 / Sumerian language / Hymn / Doxology / Colophon
RelBib Classification:HB Old Testament
TC Pre-Christian history ; Ancient Near East
Further subjects:B Material Culture
B PSALMS (Musical form)
B COLOPHONS
B PAPYRUS manuscripts
B Doxology
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Parallel Edition:Non-electronic
Description
Summary:The placement of v. 20 in Psalm 72 has long puzzled scholars and has raised a number of questions: Why is ... used? Why does the verse state that the prayers of David are ended? Where does this leave Solomon (v. 1)? Why is the verse placed after the doxology of vv. 18-19? And why is it found in the middle of the Elohistic Psalter? To solve these problems, a number of suggestions have been offered, none of which is entirely convincing. In this article, I suggest a solution based on insights gained from research on scribal habits and material culture. Departing from scholars such as Harry Y. Gamble, William A. Johnson, and Emanuel Tov, I argue that Ps 72:20 is likely not the conclusion of a collection but a frozen scribal colophon, originally intended to "close" a scroll. A possible analogy to such a fixation of a colophon is found in the Sumerian Temple Hymns.
ISSN:1934-3876
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal of Biblical literature
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.15699/jbl.1351.2016.3046