Close To Torah

We are used to reading story books upon which the last page contains the final two words that mark the conclusion of the book: The End. What is perplexing about Sefer Tehillim is that right in the middle of the entire Sefer we find the words: The End. In Chapter 72 (verse 20) which is basically the middle of Tehillim (as there are 150 Chapters) it states: “The prayers of David, son of Jesse, are ended.” What does this mean considering the 78 Chapters that follow it?!

Radak explains that there are two parts to Sefer Tehillim: 1) Psalm 1 thru 72 were inspired based on specific events that transpired in David’s life. 2) Psalm 73 thru 150 were written by David as general prayers, cries, praises and songs to Hashem. Thus, Psalm 72 was the final event-inspired Psalm and was composed  by David on his deathbed just after he crowned his beloved son Shlomo as his royal successor. It was the last event of his life. The other Psalms that follow are ones that were written throughout David’s life as general miscellaneous prayers not specifically related to his life events. So why was it arranged this way?

The Radak explains that David specifically put the event-inspired Psalms (1-72) first so that the entire Sefer would end with 78 Psalms (the prayer and praise Psalms) that contained a powerful plethora and outpouring of praise to Hashem which is the main lesson of Tehillim.

It is interesting to note that just as Moshe gave the Jews the Five Books of the Torah, so too David gave the Jews the Five Books of Psalms. The Vilna Goan writes that the entire theme of the Torah is to teach man to put his trust in Hashem. Tehillim most eloquently expresses this ideal.

Chazal (Bava Basra 14b) state that David composed Sefer Tehillim. They note that ten great elders contributed as well: Adam HaRishon, Malki Tzedek, Avraham, Moshe, Heiman, Yidosan, Asaf, and the three sons of Korach. Their general texts were comprised and David restated them and edited them with Ruach HaKodesh as part of the complete Sefer Tehillim.

Chazal (Pesachim 117a) tell us a rule that those Psalms written in the singular were commemorative of personal events in David’s life which echoed in national concern and those written in plural were about national challenges which were also present in David’s personal life.

In this series, I strive to enumerate the general story which inspired each specific Psalm, especially when delving into the first 72 Psalms which were event-inspired. I also strive to enumerate the general theme of prayer, yearning and praise especially when relating to Psalms 73 thru 150. What more appropriate prayer can I end the introductions with and begin the series with than the beautiful and heartfelt words of King David himself (Tehillim 51:17), “Hashem, please open my lips and allow my mouth to tell over Your Praise!”

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