abundant evidence in the historical writings to which reference has already been made of David’s skill in composing odes and elegies (see 2 Sa. 1:19–27; 3:33–34; 22; 23:1–7). An early tradition describes him as ‘the sweet psalmist of Israel’ (2 Sa. 23:1), while later OT writings refer to his direction of the musical worship of Israel, his invention of and skill in playing musical instruments, and his composition (Ne. 12:24, 36, 45–46; Am. 6:5). Seventy-three of the psalms in the Bible are recorded