Psalms of Asaph

The Psalms of Asaph are the twelve psalms numbered 50 and 73–83 in the Book of Psalms in the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament. When the psalms are labeled as the Psalms of Asaph scholars have discovered that that can mean a variety of things. Because of the attribution to Asaph it could mean that the psalms were a part of a collection from the Asaphites (a name commonly used to identify temple singers). Another possibility is that the psalms could have been performed in the style or tradition of the guild bearing Asaph's name. Asaph himself is said to either be the author or the transcriber of these psalms for some say that he may not have said these psalms but rather that he transcribed the words of David. There is also a disconnect as to the exact origin of the association of Asaph with these psalms because some are labeled as "of Asaph" while others are "for Asaph" and another "a testimony to Asaph." A specific time period is not known to be associated with these Psalms but most of the book of Psalms was written in the time of David and Solomon (c. 1010–930 BC).