Psalms, Books 23 by Denise Dombkowski Hopkins
Many readers are convinced that the Psalms are hopelessly “masculine,” especially given that seventy-three of the 150 psalms begin with headings linking them to King David. In this volume, Denise Dombkowski Hopkins sets stories about women in the Hebrew Bible alongside Psalms 42–89 as “intertexts” for interpretation. The stories of women such as Hannah, Rahab, Tamar, Bathsheba, Susanna, Judith, Shiphrah, Puah, and the Levite’s concubine can generate a different set of associations for psalm metaphors than have traditionally been put forward. These different associations can give the reader different views of the dynamics of power, gender, politics, religion, family, and economics in ancient Israel and in our lives today that might help to name and transform the brokenness of our world. From the Wisdom Commentary series Feminist biblical interpretation has reached a level of maturity that now makes possible a commentary series on every book of the Bible. It is our hope that Wisdom Commentary, by making the best of current feminist biblical scholarship available in an accessible format to ministers, preachers, teachers, scholars, and students, will aid all readers in their advancement toward God’s vision of dignity, equality, and justice for all. The aim of this commentary is to provide feminist interpretation of Scripture in serious, scholarly engagement with the whole text, not only those texts that explicitly mention women. A central concern is the world in front of the text, that is, how the text is heard and appropriated by women. At the same time, this commentary aims to be faithful to the ancient text, to explicate the world behind the text, where appropriate, and not impose contemporary questions onto the ancient texts. The commentary addresses not only issues of gender (which are primary in this project) but also those of power, authority, ethnicity, racism, and classism, which all intersect. Each volume incorporates diverse voices and differing interpretations from different parts of the world, showing the importance of social location in the process of interpretation and that there is no single definitive feminist interpretation of a text.
"In Psalms, Books 2–3, Denise Dombkowski Hopkins employs dissonant listening to the individual psalms, ever looking for intertexts that illuminate the powerful emotions and logic of the original authorsThe intertexts involve women whose experiences resemble those voiced by the psalmists. Other female voices—African American, Latin American, and Asian—join Denise in a plea to implement social justice, combat racism and sexual trafficking, adopt sustainable agricultural practices, and bring healing to a broken world."James L. Crenshaw, Robert L. Flowers Emeritus, Professor of Old Testament, Duke University
"Psalms, Books 2–3, in the Wisdom Commentary series, is a rich resource with a multivoiced format that honors the Psalms' own interpretability. Instead of using their considerable exegetical expertise to pronounce a single meaning for each psalm or verse, the author and contributors point out a variety of ways in which the psalms can be understood and appropriated. The writers care deeply about the Psalms as a living spiritual resource, but like the psalmists themselves, they wrestle and protest as well as offer thanks and praise. They repeatedly offer differing views on such issues as the merits of submission and humility (religious attitudes that men sometimes find all too convenient to impose on women). They remind us that different people, contexts, and situations may require different religious responses. I believe that men as well as women will benefit from the detailed discussions, rich bibliography, and varied viewpoints presented in this commentary."Marti J. Steussy, MacAllister-Petticrew Professor of Biblical Interpretation Emerita, Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis
"Denise Dombkowski Hopkins offers lay readers and scholars a critically important resource for feminist approaches to the Psalms. Connecting Psalms scholarship with issues of concern in the world today—such as race, violence, and human treatment of the earth—Dombkowski Hopkins invites readers to a conversation about the Psalms that is simultaneously grounded and provocative, informed and wide-ranging. Deeply aware of the important role of social and cultural location and the many different ways that readers identify as feminist, this commentary is a vital contribution to and firm foundation for further feminist interpretations of the Psalms."Amy C. Cottrill, Denson N. Franklin Associate Professor of Religion, Birmingham-Southern College
"Dr. Dombkowski Hopkins's commentary on Psalms 42–89 provides an exemplary model of commentary writing that significantly widens the scope of the conversation for such a time as this. Her range of expertise, from ancient Near Eastern culture to eco-feminist hermeneutics, is compelling and instructive. More than offering a single reading strategy, her commentary is critically wise, generously inclusive, and urgently relevant."Dr. William P. Brown, William Marcellus McPheeters Professor of Old Testament, Columbia Theological Seminary
"Can another commentary in the field make a significant contribution? This volume, covering Books 2 and 3 of the Psalter (Psalms 42-89), definitely breaks new ground. Each psalm receives extensive coverage treating form-critical, historical, linguistic and theological issues. Scholars will rejoice to see Hebrew words discussed, and general readers will enjoy the accessible style of the commentary."America Magazine
"This book is a powerful look at the role of women as reflected in the psalms. It is extremely well documented and reads like literature coming out of a theology program. The book is instructive as it offers so many feminist insights to ponder."Catholic Press Association award, first place in Scripture, academic studies
"One of the many strengths of this volume is found in Hopkins's rhetorical focus on the structures and literary patterns of these psalms. A welcomed addition to Psalms scholarship, especially for those who approach the biblical text with an eye toward literary-theological reflections."Nicholas R. Werse, Catholic Books Review
"Like all entries in the series, this is a work of solid scholarship that many readers will find illuminating and at times fruitfully provocative."The Bible Today
"Psalms, Books 2–3, in the Wisdom Commentary series, is a rich resource with a multivoiced format that honors the Psalms' own interpretability. Instead of using their considerable exegetical expertise to pronounce a single meaning for each psalm or verse, the author and contributors point out a variety of ways in which the psalms can be understood and appropriated. The writers care deeply about the Psalms as a living spiritual resource, but like the psalmists themselves, they wrestle and protest as well as offer thanks and praise. They repeatedly offer differing views on such issues as the merits of submission and humility (religious attitudes that men sometimes find all too convenient to impose on women). They remind us that different people, contexts, and situations may require different religious responses. I believe that men as well as women will benefit from the detailed discussions, rich bibliography, and varied viewpoints presented in this commentary."Marti J. Steussy, MacAllister-Petticrew Professor of Biblical Interpretation Emerita, Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis
"Denise Dombkowski Hopkins offers lay readers and scholars a critically important resource for feminist approaches to the Psalms. Connecting Psalms scholarship with issues of concern in the world today—such as race, violence, and human treatment of the earth—Dombkowski Hopkins invites readers to a conversation about the Psalms that is simultaneously grounded and provocative, informed and wide-ranging. Deeply aware of the important role of social and cultural location and the many different ways that readers identify as feminist, this commentary is a vital contribution to and firm foundation for further feminist interpretations of the Psalms."Amy C. Cottrill, Denson N. Franklin Associate Professor of Religion, Birmingham-Southern College
"Dr. Dombkowski Hopkins's commentary on Psalms 42–89 provides an exemplary model of commentary writing that significantly widens the scope of the conversation for such a time as this. Her range of expertise, from ancient Near Eastern culture to eco-feminist hermeneutics, is compelling and instructive. More than offering a single reading strategy, her commentary is critically wise, generously inclusive, and urgently relevant."Dr. William P. Brown, William Marcellus McPheeters Professor of Old Testament, Columbia Theological Seminary
"Can another commentary in the field make a significant contribution? This volume, covering Books 2 and 3 of the Psalter (Psalms 42-89), definitely breaks new ground. Each psalm receives extensive coverage treating form-critical, historical, linguistic and theological issues. Scholars will rejoice to see Hebrew words discussed, and general readers will enjoy the accessible style of the commentary."America Magazine
"This book is a powerful look at the role of women as reflected in the psalms. It is extremely well documented and reads like literature coming out of a theology program. The book is instructive as it offers so many feminist insights to ponder."Catholic Press Association award, first place in Scripture, academic studies
"One of the many strengths of this volume is found in Hopkins's rhetorical focus on the structures and literary patterns of these psalms. A welcomed addition to Psalms scholarship, especially for those who approach the biblical text with an eye toward literary-theological reflections."Nicholas R. Werse, Catholic Books Review
"Like all entries in the series, this is a work of solid scholarship that many readers will find illuminating and at times fruitfully provocative."The Bible Today
Denise Dombkowski Hopkins is Woodrow and Mildred Miller Professor of Biblical Theology and Hebrew Bible at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. She has authored Journey through the Psalms (Chalice Press, 2002) and (with Michael Koppel) Grounded in the Living Word: The Old Testament and Pastoral Care Practices (Eerdmans, 2010). She and Michael Koppel have co-chaired the Bible and Practical Theology section in the Society of Biblical Literature for six years. The mother of two, she holds PhD and MA degrees from Vanderbilt University and a BA from Syracuse University. Barbara E. Reid, general editor of the Wisdom Commentary series, is a Dominican Sister of Grand Rapids, Michigan. She is the president of Catholic Theological Union and the first woman to hold the position. She has been a member of the CTU faculty since 1988 and also served as vice president and academic dean from 2009 to 2018. She holds a PhD in biblical studies from The Catholic University of America and was also president of the Catholic Biblical Association in 2014–2015.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780814681206 |
| ISBN 10 | 0814681204 |
| Title | Psalms, Books 23 |
| Author | Denise Dombkowski Hopkins |
| Series | Wisdom Commentary Series |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Liturgical Press |
| Year published | 2016-11-17 |
| Number of pages | 462 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |