Titles in Psalms

GLOSSARY OF TERMS IN THE

efer to this Titlespage often as you read ithen superscriptions Psalms (titles) of the different Rpsalms each day. It will give you valuable information regarding the author, historical background, musical setting, and use of the various psalms when they were written.

Abimelech—see 2 Samuel 11:21 Mahalath—flutes Absalom—see 2 Samuel 16:15 Mahalath Leannoth—flutes played Ahimelech—see 1 Samuel 22:9 in humiliation, mourning Aijeleth Shahar—sung to the tune Maskil—a song of wisdom or insight of “The Deer of the Dawn” Miktam—a song of deliverance or Alamoth—high-pitched voices denunciation Altaschith—sung to the tune of Muth-labben—sung to the tune of “Do Not Destroy” “The Death of the Son” (or written on Aram-naharaim—Aramaeans of the occasion of the death of a son) northwest Mesopotamia Nathan—see 2 Samuel 12:1-14 Aram-zobah—Aramaeans of central Psalm—religious song accompanied Syria by a stringed instrument Asaph—Levite, family of singers; Sheminith—lyre, 5-stringed harp see 2 Chronicles 5:12 Shiggaion—a song of lament Bathsheba—see 2 Samuel 12:1-14 Shoshannim—sung to the tune of Choir Director—conductor or chief “Over the Lilies” musician in the temple Shoshannim-eduth—sung to the Cush the Benjamite—possibly Shimei; tune of “The Lilies” see 2 Samuel 16:5 Shushan-eduth—sung to the tune Doeg the Edomite—see 1 Samuel 22:9 of “The Lily of the Testimony” Ethan the Ezrahite—a wise man in the Song of ascents—sung during the time of Solomon; see 1 Kings 4:31 festival processions to Jerusalem at Gittith—forerunner of the guitar harvest and New Year Heman the Ezrahite—Levite, family Song of love—wedding song of singers; see 2 Chronicles 5:12 Sons of Korah—musical Levitical Jeduthun—chief musician in the family; see Exodus 6:24 temple; see 1 Chronicles 16:41 Valley of Salt—south end of the Jonath-elem-rechokim—sung to the Dead Sea tune of “A Silent Dove Far Away” Wilderness of Judah—arid region in Korah—Levite, head of temple family southern Judah near the Dead Sea of musicians Ziphites—see 1 Samuel 23:19