The Author of Psalm 72

Is it David or Solomon or Does It Even Matter?

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Introduction

The Book of Psalms is divided into five sections (or smaller books), which are Psalms 1–41, Psalms 42–72, Psalms 73–89, Psalms 90–106, and Psalms 107–150. At the end of each of these sections, there are textual and literary clues that these five divisions are right.

Books 1 and 2 (Psalms 1–41 and Psalms 42–72) are full of Davidic psalms. There is an occasional psalm without an author’s name in the superscription, and there are some psalms by others like the “sons of Korah” and “Asaph” (see Psalms 42–49 and Psalm 50). But mainly in books 1 and 2 we read what David has written.

When book 2 comes to an end, though, we don’t see David’s name in the superscription. Psalm 72 has “Of Solomon.” So, did Solomon write the final psalm in book 2? And why would it matter?