Was King David the author of the Twenty-Third Psalm?

Answer 1

No

• Answer 2

Yes. Tradition states that King David gave us the Book of Psalms. Seventy-three of the 150 bear his name, and the unattributed ones are also from him (Talmud, Berakhot 9b).

Answer 2

Psalm 23 is traditionally attributed to King David.

However, the psalms are a literary genre that did not exist during the tenth century BCE, when David is said to have lived. Scholars say that the psalms were really written during and after the Babylonian Exile, over a period of two or three centuries. On this evidence, David did not really write the twenty-third Psalm.

Answer 3

Yes, according to tradition, David composed Psalm 23 (one of the most famous and beautiful Psalms). It was spoken as a prayer, when he was being pursued by Saul and was without food or water, near death, in the forest of Haret. His trust in God was so strong that he felt as if he was at peace, in a meadow with a quiet brook to drink from, and with God holding his hand.

According to tradition, King David gave us the Book of Psalms. Seventy-three of the 150 bear his name, and tradition states that the unattributed ones are also from him (Talmud, Berakhot 9b).Concerning those Psalms that have the names of other authors, tradition teaches that we may thank David for them too (Talmud, Bava Bathra 14b). This is because it was he who recorded them in their permanent form and in a single book. If not for King David, those Psalms would have gone lost.

For some decades, academic scholars have claimed that many or most psalms were written several centuries after King David. They stated this for theoretical reasons. Recent analysis, however, makes it pretty clear that the language, style, genre and phraseology of the Psalms is much more ancient than had been claimed (Buttenwieser, Moses: The Psalms, Chronologically Treated with a New Translation. Also: Dahood, Mitchell, Psalms; The Anchor Bible).

See also:

The purpose of the Psalms

More about King David

Secular Bible-criticism

Answer 4

Yes. Tradition states that King David gave us the Book of Psalms. Seventy-three of the 150 bear his name, and the unattributed ones are also from him (Talmud, Berakhot 9b).

Concerning those Psalms that have the names of other authors, tradition teaches that we may thank David for them too. This is because it was he who collated and canonized them into his Book (Talmud, Bava Batra 14b). Some of their authors were contemporaries of David (such as Heiman, Eitan, Asaph, Jeduthun), while others lived before his time (Adam, Moses, Malkitzedek). If not for King David, those Psalms would have gone lost.

For some decades, academic scholars have claimed that many psalms were written several centuries after King David. They stated this for theoretical reasons. Recent analysis, however, makes it clear that the language, style, genre and phraseology of the Psalms is much more ancient than had been claimed. (Buttenwieser, Moses: The Psalms, Chronologically Treated with a New Translation. Also: Dahood, Mitchell, Psalms; The Anchor Bible.)

See also the Related Links.

Link: Reliability of the Hebrew record

Link: About King David

Link: The purpose of the Psalms

Answer 5

It isn't known where David wrote Psalm 23.

Answer 6

the superscription at the beginning in many translations say a melody of David so yes he is credited with writing it.

Answer 7

Yes king David wrote Ps. 150.