The Self-Interpreting BibleJohn Brown of Haddington

Kings, priests, and the books

Date and Origin of the Psalms

Blackwood’s Comprehensive Aids to the Study of the Bible · Vol. I, p. 36

Begins on Vol. I, p. 36

Arranged According to the Occcasion and Order.

Psalms After What Scripture Probable Occasion on Which Each Psalm Was Composed Before Christ
1 Neh. 13. 3 Written by David or Ezra, and placed as a preface to the Psalms 444
2 1 Chron. 17. 27. On the delivery of the promise by Nathan to David—a prophecy of Christ's kingdom 1044
3 2 Sam. 15. 29 On David's flight from Absalom 1023
4 2 Sam. 17. 29 During the flight from Absalom
5 2 Sam. 17. 29 During the flight from Absalom
6 1 Chron. 28. 21. Inserted toward the end of David's life 1015
7 2 Sam. 16. 14 On the reproaches of Shimei 1023
8 1 Chron. 28. 21. Inserted toward the end of David's life 1015
9 1 Sam. 17. 4, or 1 Chron. 16. 43. On the victory over Goliath 1063
10 Dan. 7. 28 During the Babylonish captivity 539
11 1 Sam. 19. 3 When David was advised to flee to the mountains 1062
12 1 Chron. 28. 1 Inserted toward the end of David's life 1015
13, 14, 15 Dan. 7. 28 During the Babylonish captivity 539
16 1 Chron. 17. 27, or 1 Sam. 27 On the delivery of the promise by Nathan to David¹ 1044
17 1 Sam. 22. 19 On the murder of the priests by Doeg 1060
18 2 Sam. 22. 51 On the conclusion of David's wars 1019
19 1 Chron. 28. 21. Inserted toward the end of David's life 1015
20, 21 2 Sam. 10. 19 On the war with the Ammonites and Syrians. 1036
22 1 Chron. 17. 27. On the delivery of the promise by Nathan; or in severe persecution 1044
23, 24 1 Chron. 28. 21, or 1 Chron. 16. 43 Inserted toward the end of David's life 1015
25, 26, 27 Dan. 7. 28 During the Babylonish captivity 539
28, 29 1 Chron. 28. 21. Inserted toward the end of David's life 1015
30 1 Chron. 21. 30. On the dedication of the threshing-floor of Araunah 1017
31 1 Sam. 23. 12 On David's persecution by Saul 1060
32, 33 2 Sam. 12. 15 On the pardon of David's adultery 1034
34 1 Sam. 21. 15 On David's leaving the city of Gath 1060
35 1 Sam. 22. 19 On David's persecution by Doeg 1060
36, 37 Dan. 7. 28 During the Babylonish captivity 539
38, 39
40, 41		 1 Chron. 28. 21. Inserted toward the end of David's life 1015
42 2 Sam. 17. 29 On David's flight from Absalom 1023
43 2 Sam. 17. 29 On David's flight from Absalom 1023
44 2 Kings 19. 7 On the blasphemous message of Rabshakeh. 710
45 1 Chron. 17. 27. On the delivery of the promise by Nathan² 1044
46 2 Chron. 20. 26. On the victory of Jehoshaphat 896
47 2 Chron. 7. 10 On the removal of the ark into the temple 1004
48 Ezra 6. 22 On the dedication of the second temple 515
49, 50 Dan. 7. 28 During the Babylonish captivity 539
51 2 Sam. 12. 15 Confession of David after his adultery 1034
52 1 Sam. 22. 19 On David's persecution by Doeg 1060
53 Dan. 7. 28 During the Babylonish captivity 539
54 1 Sam. 23. 23 On the treachery of the Ziphims to David 1060
55 2 Sam. 17. 29 During the flight from Absalom 1023
56 1 Sam. 21. 15 When David was with the Philistines in Gath. 1060
57 1 Sam. 24. 22 On David's refusal to kill Saul in the cave 1058
58 1 Sam. 24. 22 Continuation of Psalm 57 1058
59 1 Sam. 19. 17 On Saul surrounding the town of David 1061
60 1 Kings 11. 20 On the conquest of Edom by Joab 1040
61 1 Chron. 28. 21. Inserted toward the end of David's life 1015
62 2 Sam. 17. 29 In David's persecution by Absalom 1023
63 1 Sam. 24. 22 Prayer of David in the wilderness of Engedi. 1058
64 1 Sam. 22. 19 On David's persecution by Saul 1060
65 1 Chron. 28. 21. Inserted toward the end of David's life 1015
66 Ezra 3. 13 On laying the foundation of the second temple 535
67 Dan. 7. 28, During the Babylonish captivity 593
68 2 Sam. 6. 11 On the first removal of the ark 1045
69 1 Chron. 28. 21. Inserted toward the end of David's life 1015
70, 71 2 Sam. 17. 29 On Absalom's rebellion 1023
72 1 Chron. 29. 19. On Solomon's being made king by his father. 1015
73 2 Kings 19. 19 On the destruction of Sennacherib 710
74 Jer. 39. 10 On the destruction of the city and temple 588
75, 76 2 Kings 19. 35 On the destruction of Sennacherib 710
77 Dan. 7. 28 During the Babylonish captivity 539
78 1 Chron. 28. 21, or 2 Chron. 19. 56 Inserted toward the end of David's life 1015
79 Jer. 39. 10 On the destruction of the city and temple 588
80 Dan. 7. 28 During the Babylonish captivity 539
81 Ezra 6. 22 On the dedication of the second temple 515
82 2 Chron. 19. 7 On the appointment of judges by Jehoshaphat 897
83 Jer. 39. 10, or 2 Chron. 20 On the desolation caused by the Assyrians 588
84 Ezra 3. 13 On the foundation of the second temple 535
85 Ezra 1. 4 On the decree of Cyrus 536
86 1 Chron. 28. 21. Inserted toward the end of David's life 1015
87 Ezra 3. 7 On the return from the Babylonish captivity. 536
88 Exod. 2. 25 During the affliction in Egypt 1531
89 Dan. 7. 28 During the Babylonish captivity 539
90 Numb. 14. 45 On the shortening of man's life, &c 1489
91 1 Chron. 28. 10. After the advice of David to Solomon 1015
92, 93 Dan. 7. 28 During the Babylonish captivity 539
94 Jer. 39. 10 On the destruction of the city and temple 588
95 1 Chron. 28. 21. Inserted toward the end of David's life 1015
96 1 Chron. 16. 43. On the removal of the ark from Obed-edom's house 1051
97
98
99
100		 2 Chron. 7. 10 On the removal of the ark into the temple 1004
101 1 Chron. 28. 21. Inserted toward the end of David's life 1015
102 Dan. 9. 27 On the near termination of the captivity 538
103 2 Sam. 12. 15 On the pardon of David's adultery 1034
104 1 Chron. 28. 21. Inserted toward the end of David's life 1015
105
106		 1 Chron. 16. 43. On the removal of the ark from Obed-edom's house 1051
107 Ezra 3. 7 On the return from the captivity 536
108 1 Kings 11. 20 On the conquest of Edom by Joab 1040
109 1 Sam. 22. 19 On David's persecution by Doeg 1060
110 1 Chron. 17. 27. On the promise by Nathan to David³ 1044
111, 112
113, 114		 Ezra 3. 7 On the return from the captivity 536
115 2 Chron. 20. 26. On the victory of Jehoshaphat 896
116, 117 Ezra 3. 7 On the return from the captivity 536
118 1 Chron. 17. 27. On the promise by Nathan to David⁴ 1044
119 Neh. 13. 3 Manual of devotion by Ezra⁵ 444
120
121
122		 1 Chron. 28. 21. Inserted toward the end of David's life 1015
123 Dan. 7. 28 During the Babylonish captivity 539
124 1 Chron. 28. 21. Inserted toward the end of David's life 1015
125 Ezra 3. 7 On the return from the captivity 536
126 Ezra 1. 4 On the decree of Cyrus 536
127, 128 Ezra 3. 7 On the return from the captivity 536
129 Ezra 4. 24 On the opposition from the Samaritans 535
130 Dan. 7. 28 During the Babylonish captivity 539
151 1 Chron. 28. 21. Inserted toward the end of David's life 1015
132 1 Chron. 15. 14. On the second removal of the ark 1051
133 1 Chron. 28. 21. Inserted toward the end of David's life. 1015
134 Ezra 3. 7 On the return from the captivity 536
135
136		 2 Chron. 7. 10 On the removal of the ark into the temple 1004
137 Dan. 7. 28 During the Babylonish captivity 539
138 Ezra 6. 13 On the rebuilding of the temple 519
139 1 Chron. 13. 4 Prayer of David when made king over all Israel 1048
140 1 Sam. 22. 19 On David's persecution by Doeg 1060
141 1 Sam. 27. 1 Prayer of David when driven from Judea 1055
142 1 Sam. 22. 1 Prayer of David in the cave of Adullam 1060
143 2 Sam. 17. 29 During the war with Absalom 1053
144 2 Sam. 17. 29 On the victory over Absalom 1053
145 1 Chron. 28. 10. David, when old, reviewing his past life 1015
146 to 150 Ezra 6. 22 On the dedication of the second temple 515

Note.—The Book of Psalms is quoted in the New Testament, or clearly referred to, upwards of seventy times.

Authors.—The question of the authorship of many of the Psalms has caused much discussion, and is still an open one. Though an interesting question, it is not vitally important. The Psalms are usually ascribed to the several authors, as follows: David, 85; Solomon, 7; Moses, 9; Asaph, 12; Heman, 1; Ezra, 3; the sons of Korah, 11; Hezekiah, 1; Daniel, 1; Haggai, 1; Unknown, 19.

¹ Applied to our Lord by Peter, Acts 2. 25-31; and by Paul, Acts 13. 35, 36.

² Explained and applied to our Lord, Heb. 1. 8, 9; 1 Pet. 3. 22; Eph. 1. 22; Phil. 2. 9-11.

³ Cited by our Lord to prove his Divinity, Matt. 22. 44; by Peter, Acts 2. 32-36; Paul, 1 Cor. 15. 25-28; Heb. 7. 1-28; 8. 1.

⁴ Cited by our Lord, Matt. 21. 42; explained by Peter, Acts 4. 11; 1 Pet. 2. 4, 5; Paul, Rom. 9. 32, 33; Eph. 2. 20, 21.

⁵ Calmet and most commentators refer this Psalm to the captivity.

Scan of the printed page