Semantics and Poetics of the Righteous and the Wicked in the Psalms - by Kevin Foth (Hardcover)

About the Book

This book examines the common contrast between the "righteous" and the "wicked" in the Book of Psalms. Combining semantic analysis with poetics, the research contends that these contrasting figures are integral to the conventions of Hebrew psalmody, serving diverse functions within individual psalms.

Book Synopsis

This book examines the common contrast between the "righteous" and the "wicked" in the Book of Psalms. Combining semantic analysis with poetics, the research contends that these contrasting figures are integral to the conventions of Hebrew psalmody, serving diverse functions within individual psalms.

Review Quotes

ldquo;The Righteousrdquo; and ldquo;the Wickedrdquo; function as main characters in the poetic drama of the Hebrew Psalter. In this book, Kevin Foth draws out the complexities of the roles they play and the way these charactersmdash;particularly as they are set against one anothermdash;contribute to the meaning of individual psalms. This generative study not only offers deeper understanding of ldquo;righteousrdquo; and ldquo;wicked, rdquo; it also provides a model for applying insights about characterization to the interpretation of other aspects of the book of Psalms.

In this clear and insightful work, Kevin Foth casts into new light one of the most important theological concerns in the Psaltermdash;the nature and destiny of those called ldquo;righteousrdquo; vis-agrave;-vis those labeled ldquo;wicked.rdquo; By exploring these figures as literary types, he advances our understanding, which has long been hindered by the limits of historical and cultic interpretations. This study is a must read for students of the Psalms and for those who want to understand the nature and importance of the righteous and the wicked within them.

In this thoroughly engaging work, Kevin Foth has developed a truly landmark study on the ldquo;righteousrdquo; and the ldquo;wickedrdquo; and how they function in the Psalms. By employing a distinctly poetics approach matched by close readings of individual psalms, Foth teases out the varied nuances that these conventional ldquo;stock charactersrdquo; carry in Hebrew psalmody. In so doing, he has advanced Psalms research in new and significant ways.

In this volume Kevin Foth provides a fresh presentation of two of the most important contrasting figures in the Hebrew Bible on his way to analyzing their role within the psalms. The study showcases the value of attending to the unique poetic expression of individual compositions rather than importing insights from other contexts. Judicious with past scholarship, Foth challenges past conclusions and charts new directions which will not only impact the reading of the psalms but also the use of the psalms for ethical reflection.

Research on the Psalms has often sought to understand them in terms of genre, cult function, or canonical placement. Research on character in Old Testament studies has typically engaged narrative books. We have therefore been waiting for an intervention such as Kevin Foth offers: an exploration of character in the Psalmsmdash;in this case, the righteous and the wickedmdash;calibrated to the psalmsrsquo; own distinctive poetics. Foth forges a fresh path; his work is meticulous, subtle, and sound.

About the Author

Kevin Foth is adjunct professor of Old Testament at Denver Seminary and an upper grades teacher at Ambleside School of Colorado.