Psalms of Solomon

The Psalms of Solomon is a collection of 18 seals, which are based on the Old Testament Psalms and attributed to the biblical King Solomon. The font must be distinguished from the Odes of Solomon.

Tradition

The Psalms of Solomon are eleven manuscripts in Greek - the oldest manuscript Copenhagen and Vienna manuscript, date from the 10th or 11th century - preserved in Syriac as well as in two other manuscripts and fragments. The first edition took place in 1626 in Lyon. The first testimony is the Codex Alexandrinus of the New Testament dating from the 5th century. He calls in his table of contents, the Psalms of Solomon, after the first and second Epistle of Clement, but quite distinct from the canonical writings. Since the back pages of the Codex Alexandrinus but were lost, including his text of the Psalms of Solomon is not obtained. Presumably, the Psalms of Solomon, a Hebrew original from the first century BC based.

Drafting time, place and authorship

Except for the first Psalm in their titles contain all further reference to Solomon. The attribution to these results from his legendary wisdom and poetic talent. Historical value do not have this information. Zeitgeschichtliche allusions may be in Ps 2; 8 and 17: take with respect to the conquest of Jerusalem by Pompey in 63 BC and his death in Egypt in 48 BC, however, it can not be ruled out that individual psalms are older and reflect the reign of Alexander Jannaeus. Whether also find references to Herod the Great, is controversial. This results in an approximate time of composition of the last pieces in the second half of the first century BC

An obvious it even to search for the author circles in Judea, perhaps even in Jerusalem, is. Since there are some directed against the Sadducees polemical verses, the work Pharisaic circles has been assigned. Since the discoveries of Qumran, where there are similar thoughts in part, this thesis is controversial, even among the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Psalms of Solomon were not even found.

Theological guiding principles

Main theme of the Psalms of Solomon is the righteousness of God. It is again and again reflects the example of God's relation of the pious, but also in the ratio of the righteous and the wicked. Suffering is generally understood as a punishment, in the case of basically just as educational measure.

A special attention to the last two seals: In them an eschatological salvation figure Davidic lineage plays an essential role. These descriptions and the fact emerging sovereign title form the intellectual milieu from which the first Christians drew their theological ideas.