Responses to violence in some lament Psalms of the individual

Abstract

Responses to violence in some lament Psalms of  the individual Lament psalms  of  the  individual  that  reflect a motif of violence  are  here examined so as  to determine whether or not the editors of  the Psalter had a pattern  of instruction  that  they  wished  to  inculcate  with  respect  to  the experience  of violence.  An  examination  of prayers  of the  accused  and prayers of  sickness as sub-groups within  the Gattung  indicates the presence of  such a pattern,  and suggests  that the  editors wished to model a pattern that rejects  the  right of  human  retribution.  This pattern  needs  to  be  tested further  through  an  examination  of a  third  sub-group,  the  prayers  for protection.