Psalm Titles and Collections

Abstract Within the book of Psalms are a number of smaller groupings or sub-collections, such as the Korah psalms (42–49), the psalms of Asaph (73–83), and the so-called Egyptian Passover psalms (113–118). The majority of attention in this chapter, however, is devoted to two significant collections. The “songs of ascent” (Psalms 120–134) are a collection often thought to have originated as pilgrimage music, performed every year by travelers on their way to worship in Jerusalem. And there are twelve psalms with superscriptions that directly relate to events in the life of David, although they are scattered throughout the book of Psalms rather than appearing sequentially. Since David was considered the greatest king in Israelite history and his is the most extensively drawn portrait in the Hebrew Bible, the chapter offers a short overview of his life story and the position of King David in the book of Psalms.