• Psalms.
• Review: First Samuel and Second Samuel.
• Review: First Chronicles.
• Review: The Psalms.

---

PSALMS.

---

§ I. THE TITLE.

1. In the Hebrew, Praises.

• Why?

2. In the Septuagint, Psalms: i. e., Poems to Be Sung.

3. In English, often Called The Psalter.

§ II. DIVISIONS OF THE BOOK.

1. Five Separate Collections, Each Ending with a Doxology.

      Supposed to have been collected by different persons, and at five successive periods:
 
First Collection, i. 1-xli. 13.
Second Collection, xlii. 1-lxxii. 20.
Third Collection, lxxiii. 1-lxxxix. 52.
Fourth Collection, xc. 1-cvi. 48.
Fifth Collection, cvii. 1-cl. 6.

§ III. AUTHORSHIP.

1. Two Sources of Information.

      (1.) The Inscriptions.
      (2.) Comparison of the contents with the history of Israel.

2. The Inscriptions.

      (1.) These are a part of the Hebrew text, supposed to have [42] been appended by the compilers. They are not all certainly correct; but the presumption is in their favor.
      (2.) By these the authors of one hundred and one are given: i. e., David, seventy-three; Solomon, two; Asaph, twelve; Sons of Korah, twelve; Ethan, one; Moses, one.

• Why the whole sometimes called, Psalms of David?

3. The Contents.

      Allusions to events as past, prove a date later than the events, and a corresponding authorship: e. g.,cxxxvii. The result a negative one: i. e., it shows the date could not have been earlier than the event.

§ IV. THEIR VALUE.

1. Hymn Book of the Jews and of early Christians.

      A metrical version, the exclusive hymn book of the Puritans.

2. Basis of Many of Our Modern Hymns: e. g., Ps. xix, cf.
Hymns, 68, 69, in New Christian Hymn and Tune-Book; Ps. xxii,
cf. 73, 368, 475, in the same; Ps. ciii, cf. 30, in the same.

3. They show the Best Effects of Jewish Law and History on
the Hearts of Good Men.

4. The Study of Them Promotes Devotion.

5. By Their Variety of Occasion and Sentiment They Are
Adapted to Edification in All Conditions of Life.

6. Defective in Sentiment: As to Enemies: e. g.,
Ps. cxxxix. 21, 22; et al. [43]

      This a result of the wars allowed under the Jewish economy, cf. Heb. viii. 7.

7. Their Inspiration.

      (1.) Predictions in some of them fulfilled: e. g., Ps. xvi. 5-9, cf. Acts, ii. 25-28; Ps ii. 1-3, cf. Acts, iv. 25-30, et al.
      (2) David's Inspiration asserted:
           a. by himself, II. Sam. xxiii. 2;
           b. by Jesus, Matt. xxii. 43-46;
           c. by Peter, Acts, ii. 25-32.
      (3.) The Psalms in general endorsed by Jesus. Luke, xxiv. 44.

---

REVIEW.

FIRST AND SECOND SAMUEL.

I. GENERAL QUESTIONS.

• With what event does First Samuel begin, and with what does Second Samuel close?
• Is the history in the two books continuous?
• What is the range in time of the genealogical part of First Chronicles?
• What, that of the historical part?
• How do these three books connect historically with the book of Judges? and to what extent do they bring forward the history of Israel?

II. ELI AND HIS SONS.

• What offices did Eli hold? and how long?
• What was his character?
• What the character and conduct of his sons?
• What rebukes were administered to Eli? and by whom?
• State the circumstances of his death.
• What befell one of his [44] daughters in law?
• What befell the captured ark?

III. SAMUEL.

• Give the account of his parents, and of his birth. I. Sam. Part I. § I.
• What fulfillment of his mother's vow?
• Describe the rebuke of Eli through him. I. Sam. Part I. § II.
• How old must he have been at this time?
• What report went out because of this?
• What is next known of Samuel? and how long the interval? I. Sam. Part I. § IV.
• Describe his reformation, and his rout of the Philistines.
• What office did he then assume? and how did he execute it?
• Describe the call for a king. I. Sam. Part I. § V.
• How did he set forth the evils of monarchy?
• Describe the first anointing of Saul.
• How did he bring Saul before the people. I. Sam. Part I. § VI.
• What did he do to confirm Saul in the throne?
• Give the points in his farewell address.
• Explain the first rebuke which he gave to Saul. I. Sam. Part II. § I.
• Where was he when Saul confronted the Philistines by advancing to Gebah?
• Recount his dealings with Saul in regard to the Amalekites. I. Sam. Part II. § II.
• Describe his mission to anoint David. I. Sam. Part II. § III.
• How did he once protect David? I. Sam. Part II. § V.
• Give the account of his death. I. Sam. Part II. § VII.
• Describe his return to answer Saul. I. Sam. Part II. § VIII.
• What his personal character?
• For what is he most distinguished?
• What did Israel chiefly owe to him?
• How does he compare with previous prophets? [45]

IV. SAUL.

• His tribe, his family, his person, his early occupation, and his estimate of himself? I. Sam. Part I. §§ V, VI.
• By what authority was he anointed to be king?
• How was it proved to him that God had authorized it?
• Why done in secret, and kept secret?
• By what authority was he actually made king? I. Sam. Part I. § VI.
• Describe his first act as a king.
• Why did he wait so long?
• What army did he organize? I. Sam. Part II. § I.
• What was his next war? and how was it brought on?
• What fatal sin did Saul then commit? and why was it fatal?
• Tell how this war was brought to an end?
• What other tribes did Saul conquer?
• What children had he by his wife, and by his concubines? I. Sam. Part II. § I. cf. I. Sam. Part II. § V.
• What his policy in regard to promotions?
• Describe his conduct in regard to the Amalekites? I. Sam. Part II. § II.
• What was the nature of his sin?
• What affliction befell him? and what was the remedy?
• Was this a real spirit? or was it jealousy called an evil spirit?
• What did he do and say in regard to David's combat with Goliath? I. Sam. Part II. § IV.
• Why not know whose son David was?
• How did he show his jealousy of David? I. Sam. Part I. § V.
• Describe the slaughter of the priests at Nob.
• What four efforts did he make to capture David? I. Sam. Part II. § VII.
• How did he fail in each?
• Why so persistent?
• State the circumstances which led to his death. I. Sam. Part II. § VIII.
• What was done [46] with his body? and why?
• What were Saul's chief characteristics?
• Was he a worshipper of God?

V. DAVID.

1. His Early Life.

• Give the account of his anointing. I. Sam. Part II. § III.
• Of his being brought to Saul.
• Of his combat with Goliath. I. Sam. Part II. § IV.
• Why had David gone home?
• What promotions did he receive? and why? I. Sam. Part II. §§ V-VIII.
• What escapes did he make from Saul in this period?
• Describe his interviews with Jonathan.

2. His Career as an Outlaw.

• When he last fled, how did he get bread and a weapon? I. Sam. Part II. § VI.
• To what refuge did he first resort?
• Why?
• To what next? and who joined him?
• What provision did he make for his parents?
• Describe the affair of Keilah. I. Sam. Part II. § VII.
• What occurred in the land of Ziph?
• What, in the stronghold of En-gedi?
• How did he escape Saul's last attempt?
• How did he obtain Abigail for a wife?
• What was his last place of refuge?
• What his experiences during Saul's last war? I. Sam. Part II. § VIII.

3. His Struggle to Obtain the Kingdom. II. Sam. Part I. §§ I-III.

• When and how did he hear the news of Saul's death? II. Sam. Part I. § I.
• What was true in the story of the Amalekite?
• What was done with him? and why?
• How did David express [47] himself about the disaster?
• By whom, and where was David first proclaimed king? II. Sam. Part I. § II.
• What message did he send to Jabesh-gilead?
• Why?
• What opposition was organized against him? and why?
• What battle was fought, and what the result of it?
• As hostilities continued, what change gradually took place? II. Sam. Part I. § III.
• State and describe the chief cause of the downfall of Ish-bosheth?
• How did David act in regard to the death of Abner?
• Describe the death of Ish-bosheth? II. Sam. Part I. § III.
• What was then done by the tribes?
• What family had David up to this time? II. Sam. Part I. § III.

4. The Prosperous Part of His Reign. II. Sam. Part II.

• What city did David select as his capital? and why? § I.
• How did he get possession of it?
• What other two battles did he fight about this time?
• What did he first do in regard to the ark of the covenant?
• When did he move it the rest of the way? and what precautions did he take?
• How did he celebrate the occasion?
• What is said of Michal on this occasion?
• Give the account of his proposal to build a temple. § II.
• Does this explain his placing the park in Jerusalem?
• What nations did David conquer? § III.
• What was now the extent of his kingdom?
• Who were his chief officers?
• How did he deal with Mephibosheth? and why? § IV.
• What occasioned the Ammonite war? and what battles were fought in it? § V.
• What siege followed? and who [48] conducted it?
• What sin did David commit during the siege? and what attempts did he make to conceal it?
• Describe the exposure of the sin.
• Give the account of the child's death, and of the birth of Solomon.
• How did the siege of Rabbah terminate?

5. David's Adversities. II. Sam. Part III.

• What was the first great calamity in David's family? § I.
• Tell how Amnon's death was brought about.
• How did this affect David?
• How was he induced to call Absalom home?
• Give the account of Absalom's person and family.
• How did he gain access to the king's presence?
• How did Absalom prepare for rebellion? § II.
• What moved him to this?
• How did he inaugurate it?
• What was David's first movement? and why made?
• Describe his ascent of the mount of Olives.
• Describe the cursing of Shimei.
• Describe Hushai's meeting with Absalom.
• What was Ahithophel's first counsel? and why?
• What was his second? and how was it defeated?
• What warning was sent to David? and how?
• What was the fate of Ahithophel? and why?
• To what place did David retreat? and why?
• What new organization of both armies?
• Describe the battle?
• What is said of Absalom's pillar? and why mentioned here?
• Tell of the bearers of tidings and of David's reception of the news.
• What the effect of David's lamentation? and how was it stopped? § IV.
• How was the allegiance of the tribes restored?
• How did Shimei make up with David?
• State the case of Mephibosheth and Ziba.
• Describe [49] David's parting from Barzillai.
• How did Sheba's rebellion originate? and how was it suppressed?
• State the case of the Gibeonites, and show how they were avenged. § V.
• Why did the nation suffer for Saul's sin? and why did the vengeance fall on Saul's sons?
• What was the character of Rizpah?
• What kind of warriors had David? and why so heroic? § VI.
• What was David's reputation as a poet?
• What claim of inspiration?
• What the sin of numbering Israel? § VII.
• Was the sin known before the act?
• What discrepancy as to the numbers, and how accounted for?
• What choice of penalties did David make? and why?
• Why did the penalty fall on the people?
• Tell how the plague was stopped.
• What discrepancy as to the price paid to Araunah? and how accounted for?

---

FIRST CHRONICLES.

• What the general character of the genealogies in this book?
• What lines, from the time of David down, are most fully traced?
• What preparations did David make for building the temple? Part II. § VIII.
• How did he organize the priests? § IX.
• How, the Levites?
• Why all this before the temple was built?
• How did he organize the militia? § X.
• What orders did he give concerning the temple? § XI.
• What the sources of the Chronicler's information?
• What is known of Gad? xxix. 29, cf. I. Sam. xxii. 5; II. Sam. xxiv. 10-14; II. Chron. xxix. 25.
• What thus [50] far known of Nathan? xxix. 29; II. Sam. vii. 4, 5, 23, 17; xii. 1-15, 24, 25; II. Chron. xxix. 25.

---

THE PSALMS.

• Whence the title?
• How is the book divided?
• What means have we of knowing the authors?
• How many have their authors named in the inscriptions?
• Are these all reliable?
• In what way do the contents indicate authorship?
• What valuable purposes have the Psalms served?
• What defect in their sentiments?
• What evidences of their inspiration? [51]

[CNSH2 42-51]