Has Psalm 156 Been Found?: With Images of MS RNL Antonin 798

Jews and most Christians know about only 150 ""Psalms of David""; they were collected in the Davidic Psalter of the (Masoretic) Hebrew Bible or Old Testament. Since about 200 BCE, the Greek translation of the Davidic Psalter contained 151 Psalms of David. Thanks to research on the Qumran Psalms Scroll and the early Syriac Bible, most scholars know about 155 Psalms of David, and they were included in the well-known Old Testament Pseudepigrapha as ""Non-Masoretic Psalms."" Virtually unknown to biblical scholars is Psalm 156. It is preserved in a medieval copy found in the Cairo Genizah, as are other major early Jewish compositions, notably the Damascus Document and the Testament of Levi. Psalm 156 is extensive and almost as long as Psalm 119. It preserves visions attributed to David. The work opens new windows for looking into the creative world of Second Temple Judaism.

""It is scarcely an exaggeration to say that Princeton Theological Seminary Professor James H. Charlesworth plays the role of a contemporary Indiana Jones. In this fascinating book he shows persuasively that the Hebrew text MS RNL Antonin 798, recovered in the nineteenth century from the Cairo synagogue genizah, in all likelihood preserves an authentic pre-70 CE psalm, which in the pre-Christian era was believed to be a psalm of David.""
--Craig A. Evans, Houston Theological Seminary

""Charlesworth offers here a detailed, clearly argued, and provocative analysis of a little-known text, which he proposes should be considered 'Psalm 156'. He also shows how his proposed identification and dating of the text has relevance for the study of ancient Judaism and early Christianity.""
--Larry Hurtado, University of Edinburgh

""Charlesworth offers a careful translation and well-informed analysis of primary and secondary sources surrounding this important but often ignored ancient text that is almost the size of Psalm 119. He argues for an early origin of Psalm 156, around 100 CE, and its history from the Judean desert to the Cairo genizah and finally to the St. Petersburgh museum (MS RNL Antonin 798). Scholars interested in the complex history and interpretation of this ancient text cannot ignore this carefully prepared investigation.""
--Lee Martin McDonald, Acadia University

""Professor Charlesworth, one of the most eminent scholars in the Dead Sea Scrolls, suggests that in a medieval manuscript from the Cairo Geniza a psalm of David is preserved showing close relations to the extra-Biblical Psalms 151-155; he therefore proposes to label it Ps 156. A translation, aiming to reflect the poetry of the Hebrew psalms, and a commentary are the center of this fine book.""
--Hermann Lichtenberger, University of Tubingen

""James Charlesworth offers a fresh translation of the richly resonating Hebrew religious poetry contained in a single medieval manuscript, and a bold proposal concerning its connection to the Bible and to the Dead Sea Scrolls. This helpful volume provides any reader easy access to the evidence for the serious consideration his argument deserves. Charlesworth adds value to a fascinating conversation taking place in current scholarship on early Jewish psalmic writings.""
--William Yarchin, Azusa Pacific University


James H. Charlesworth is George L. Collord Professor of New Testament Language and Literature at Princeton Theological Seminary and Director and Editor of the Princeton Theological Seminary Dead Sea Scrolls Project. He recently completed a critical text and translation of the Thanksgiving Hymns, which will appear in the Princeton Theological Seminary Dead Sea Scrolls Project as volume 5A.

Brandon L. Allen received his MDiv from Princeton Theological Seminary where his research focused on Semitic languages and Early Judaism. He is the Special Assistant to the Editor of the Princeton Theological Seminary Dead Sea Scrolls Project.