Psalms of Solomon

1
Psalms of Solomon

• 18 poems in the style of the biblical Psalms.

• Solomon is never even mentioned in these texts.

• Generally classified as Pseudepigrapha but since
  they are in the LXX some consider them Apocrypha

• Written by Jerusalem Jews in response to the
  Roman defeat of Jerusalem 63 B.C.

2
Psalms of Solomon

• Seen as Divine punishment Pss. Sol. 2.1-2
  819-21 1711-14

• These songs hope for a Davidic messiah is
  expected.

• Authorship Pharisees (or less likely, Essenes).

• Extant in Greek and Syriac but were probably
  composed in Hebrew.

• Available online http//www.abu.nb.ca/courses/nti
  ntro/intest/PsSolTex.htm

3
Wisdom of Solomon

• 2nd cen C.E.

• St. Melito (2nd century a.d.) said it was
  considered canonical by Jews and Christian.

• Not the same as the apocryphal book Wisdom of
  Sirach

• Written in Greek but styled after Hebrew poetry.

• Attributed to Solomon 97-8, Thou hast chosen
  me to be a king of thy people Thou hast
  commanded me to build a temple upon thy holy
  mount...

4
Wisdom of Solomon

• classical middle-Platonism as well as ethical
  Stoicism.

• Wisdom 2 reflects the passion narrative of Jesus
  in the language of Isaiah 53.

• 918-1922 breaks away from the earlier text and
  appears to be a Passover Haggadah.

• Available online http//etext.lib.virginia.edu/to
  c/modeng/public/KjvSolo.html

5
The Odes of Solomon

• 42 Hymns Ascribed to Solomon

• c. 100 c.e., probably in Syriac, survives also in
  Greek and Coptic

• Strong Christian influence

• Sometimes they are found with the collection of
  Psalms of Solomon

• All end Hallelujah

• Available online http//users.misericordia.edu//d
  avies/thomas/odes.htm