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@article{ART001448432},
author={YoungJin Kim},
title={The Psalm and the Psalmody of Mesopotamia},
journal={Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies},
issn={1229-0521},
year={2009},
volume={15},
number={4},
pages={88-103},
doi={10.24333/jkots.2009.15.4.88}

TY - JOUR
AU - YoungJin Kim
TI - The Psalm and the Psalmody of Mesopotamia
JO - Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies
PY - 2009
VL - 15
IS - 4
PB - Korean Society of Old Testament Studies
SP - 88
EP - 103
SN - 1229-0521
AB - ______________________________________________________________________________ The Psalm and the Psalmody of Mesopotamia ______________________________________________________________________________ Young-Jin Kim, Ph. D. Professor, Department of Theology Yonsei University In order to answer the question whether the various types of the Psalms were peculiar to Israel or they were among the literary forms influenced/imported from the Ancient Near East, the comparative study on the Psalms and the Mesopotamian poetic literature is necessary. Thus, by comparing the Psalms with the Mesopotamian poetic literature among the Ancient Near East, the present study explicates their similarities and differences in terms of type, structure, content, and theology/ideology on a deeper level. When the Psalms and the Mesopotamian poetic literature are compared, the similarities are found in terms of form, structure, and content. However, there are also differences between the two cultures in terms of their views of god. Nevertheless, that there are similarities among them does not prove that there was interchange or influence between the two poetic literatures. Even if the Psalms were influenced from the Mesopotamian poetic literature, it is difficult to find any further similarity besides their types and structures since their contents have been Israelized Therefore, each of the Psalms and the Mesopotamian poetic literature has its own characteristics. There are many declarative praises in the Psalms whereas the descriptive praises stand out in Mesopotamia. As for the lament, there is another difference that the Mesopotamian lament asserts the desire for the reconciliation with gods and the ignorance of the petitioner whereas the Psalms accentuate the petitioner's supplication for explanation and vindication of innocence. One of the peculiarities of the Mesopotamian lament is that the magical chant and the reconciliatory ritual were interrelated in the Mesopotamian lament. Rather the similarity between the Mesopotamian poetic literature and the Psalms can be understood as natural. There have been always praises, laments, and prayers in whatever form in the human societies, and the contents of the praises, laments, and the prayers are basically similar. The difference among the cultures was caused by the difference of theologies and views of god. According to the general scholarly opinion, the poetic literature of Israel developed primarily under the influence of the poetic literature of Canaan, especially Ugarit.
KW - Genre Psalmody of Mesopotamia; Psalms; Lamentation Praise Psalm
DO - 10.24333/jkots.2009.15.4.88
ER -

YoungJin Kim. (2009). The Psalm and the Psalmody of Mesopotamia. Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies, 15(4), 88-103.

YoungJin Kim. 2009, "The Psalm and the Psalmody of Mesopotamia", Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies, vol.15, no.4 pp.88-103. Available from: doi:10.24333/jkots.2009.15.4.88

YoungJin Kim "The Psalm and the Psalmody of Mesopotamia" Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies 15.4 pp.88-103 (2009) : 88.

YoungJin Kim. The Psalm and the Psalmody of Mesopotamia. 2009; 15(4), 88-103. Available from: doi:10.24333/jkots.2009.15.4.88

YoungJin Kim. "The Psalm and the Psalmody of Mesopotamia" Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies 15, no.4 (2009) : 88-103.doi: 10.24333/jkots.2009.15.4.88

YoungJin Kim. The Psalm and the Psalmody of Mesopotamia. Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies, 15(4), 88-103. doi: 10.24333/jkots.2009.15.4.88

YoungJin Kim. The Psalm and the Psalmody of Mesopotamia. Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies. 2009; 15(4) 88-103. doi: 10.24333/jkots.2009.15.4.88

YoungJin Kim. The Psalm and the Psalmody of Mesopotamia. 2009; 15(4), 88-103. Available from: doi:10.24333/jkots.2009.15.4.88

YoungJin Kim. "The Psalm and the Psalmody of Mesopotamia" Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies 15, no.4 (2009) : 88-103.doi: 10.24333/jkots.2009.15.4.88