It’s more than just David pouring out his heart, you know. The sages saw it as a collection of voices, a chorus echoing through generations. Think of it as an anthology, not a solo album.
According to the Legends of the Jews, Moses himself contributed a significant portion! Just as Moses gave eleven blessings, he also composed eleven psalms. And these weren’t just lost to time; they were later incorporated into David’s Psalter, the very book we still cherish today.
But Moses wasn't the only one. The Psalter, in this understanding, also includes psalms from figures like Adam, Melchizedek, Abraham, Solomon, Asaph, and even the three sons of Korah! What a gathering of spiritual giants!
Each psalm, in this tradition, is linked to a specific tribe of Israel. Moses’s first psalm, the one that says, "'Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men,'" is connected to the tribe of Reuben. Ginzberg, in his Legends, suggests this reflects forgiveness for the tribe’s forefather who sinned but returned to God.
Then there’s the powerful psalm, "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." This one? It’s for the tribe of Levi, the ones who dwelled in the sanctuary, under, as the psalm says, the shadow of the Almighty.
And what about Judah, whose very name, Yehudah, signifies "Praise the Lord?" Fittingly, the psalm "It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord" belongs to them.
The psalm "The Lord is apparelled with majesty" is linked to Benjamin. Why Benjamin? Because the sanctuary stood in his territory! That’s why the psalm closes with the words, "Holiness becometh Thine house, O Lord, forevermore." It's a direct connection to the Beit Hamikdash, the Holy Temple.
Then there’s the fiery psalm: "O Lord, Thou God to whom vengeance belongeth; Thou God to whom vengeance belongeth, shine forth." This one, according to tradition, was composed for the tribe of Gad. It speaks of Elijah, a member of this tribe, who was destined to destroy the foundations of the heathens and bring about the Lord’s vengeance. Talk about intense!
And finally, the psalm "O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation" is given to the tribe of Issachar, the learned men. Because, as the tradition goes, this tribe dedicated themselves to the Torah, the book of praise itself.
So, what does this all mean? It shows us the Psalms are not just a collection of poems, but a tapestry woven with the threads of Israel’s history, its tribes, and its relationship with the Divine. Each psalm, a voice resonating from a particular place, a particular time, a particular tribe, all contributing to the grand symphony of praise. It invites us to see the Psalms not just as words on a page, but as living echoes of our ancestors' prayers.