Shows how a prayer evolves over time within the structure provided by a liturgical tradition.

What is it about?

Psalm 20 is found not only in the Bible but also in another ancient version discovered in Egypt (known as Papyrus Amherst 63), as well as in a feminized version from late eighteenth century Italy. This essay provides a commentary on the psalm and a detailed comparison of the two ancient versions to explore how, over time, a particular prayer evolved in ancient Israel within the structure provided by a liturgical tradition. The essay describes the early modern version from Italy, which continues a process of evolution that was occurring already in ancient Israel.

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Why is it important?

Other studies of Amherst 63 exist, but this essay is the first to contextualize the evolution of the prayer in the history of liturgy with attention to the organic ways in which prayer develops within a tradition.