Catalogue of Psalms Recited in the Prayers

Neubauer addresses the related issues of the authorship of the Psalms and the individual psalm titles according to the early Jewish authorities. Beginning with a survey of what is known about music usage in Israelite worship, Neubauer launches into a thorough examination of what the Rabbinic material preserves regarding these issues.

Baethgen describes a Syriac text purporting to be a translation of a commentary on the psalms by Theodore of Mopsuestia, showing that it cannot be a simple translation of Theodore's commentary but does contain much material derived from him.

The Psalm Headings remain one of the most difficult and puzzling pieces of the Hebrew Bible. The present study looks at how these titles were treated in the East Syriac traditions. This volume gives a history of research and presents a new critical edition based on previously unpublished manuscripts. The Psalm headings in the East Syriac tradition reflect the exegesis of the Antiochene school, especially Diodore of Tarsus and Theodore of Mopsuestia. The headings contain a summary of Theodore's exegesis which had an important influence on the work of Syriac interpreters such as Ishodad of Merv and Bar Hebraeus.

Fourth-century Aphrahat is characterized as misogynist, especially when he compares women to Satan. This may be an unintended result of contemporary Christian literature. The the eschatological context of Aphrahat’s asceticism, salvific role of Mary, victimization in Aphrahat’s work, and positive statements about women negotiate this view.