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Psalm 51 states explicitly when it was written: "When Nathan the prophet came to him" (to rebuke King David) in 2 Samuel ch.12.

What about the last two verses, which imply the lack of an altar and city walls?

Ibn Ezra commentary says that these verses may have been added later. Rashi commentary states that they refer to the Temple Mount, which had not yet been built in David's time (and which made Jerusalem what it was, a holy city). That is why the last verse mentions "Your altar," a title that would not apply to those altars that the Israelites had before the Temple was built. Metzudot commentary says that these verses were written by David, prophetically referring to the eventual exile (like Psalm 79).

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7y ago

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Psalm 51 was undoubtedly written during the dark years of the Babylonian Exile, centuries after the time of King David.

The exiled Jews believed that their condition was God's punishment for their sins, and much of Psalm 51 deals with repentance in the hope of a return (verse 14) to Judah. They also believed that they could not sacrifice to God in a foreign land, so verse 16 tells God that he does not desire a sacrifice but otherwise the author would offer one.

The psalm finishes with (verse 18) a plea to God to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem (a plea that David would not have needed to make) and then (verse 19) a promise that he would then offer bullocks in sacrifice on the altar of the Temple.

Psalm 51 could not have been written by David, whose city walls were intact and who could make burnt offerings whenever he chose.

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8y ago
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Psalm 51 states explicitly when it was written: "When Nathan the prophet came to him" (to rebuke King David) in 2 Samuel ch.12.Link: The authorship of the Psalms

What about the last two verses, which imply the lack of an altar and city walls?

Ibn Ezra commentary says that these verses may have been added later.

Rashi commentary states that they refer to the Temple Mount, which had not yet been built in David's time (and which made Jerusalem what it was, a holy city). That is why the last verse mentions "Your altar," a title that would not apply to those altars that the Israelites had before the Temple was built.

Metzudot commentary says that these verses were written by David, prophetically referring to the eventual exile (like Psalm 79).

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Wiki User

8y ago
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Q: When did David write psalms 51?
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