CHAPTER XVI

(ll.) THE " HOLY WRITINGS " EXAMINED

Psalms

The Psalter is the Hymn-Book of the Jewish Church,
a collection of hymns gradually compiled and mainly
intended for Temple use. Some psalms are earlier
than the Exile, a very few may go back to David's
day, probably nine-tenths are of the Exile and after.
The Second Temple was completed in 516 b.c and
lasted till 70 ad. As soon as services were rendered
possible, a regular liturgy would be required, temple
singers and a fixed temple psalmody. But not till
about 450 B.C did Ezra and Nehemiah make pro-
vision for full and regular services, by settling
definitely the revenues of the priests and singers and
other ministers of the Temple, who, till then, had
been ill-provided for. Sometime between 5 16-450 b.c.
the first collection of psalms (iiL-xli.) * was introduced.
^ The five divisions (see R.V.) of Psalter » Bk. L, Psi. 1-41 ; Bk. II.
