The Concentric Structure of Psalm 151A—A Reassessment

The article examines the concentric structure of the Hebrew version of Psalm 151A, discovered in the Qumran manuscript 11Q5. The text is analyzed from the perspective of rhetorical analysis rediscovered by Roland Meynet. This method allows us to identify both a bipartite division and a concentric structure in the poem. With respect to the latter, three compositional layers are identified within the psalm’s concentric structure, a number fewer than that proposed in previous research, but one that provides a clearer and more consistent picture. The outer layer recounts the poem’s main event—David’s transformation into the king of Israel. The middle layer focuses on the obstacles along David’s path to power. In turn, the central layer explains how this change was possible by stating that Yahweh listens to those who praise him. The miraculous character of the events described in the psalm is emphasized by the increasing number of repetitions toward its center. While analyzing the poetic structure, the article shows how the author uses poetic means to adapt the prose biblical narrative and to create new meanings by juxtaposing and opposing various biblical ideas.