Dating of the Psalms

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What is the timeline for the writing of the Psalms? Is there a source I could quote regarding this? A co-worker who is a fallen away Catholic wants to know.
Thanks,
John
 
Dating of the Psalms is very contested. They are roughly divided in time as “pre-exilic” and “post-exilic” (NB, the exile ended in 538).
 
Any idea of a date range I could use? Also any internet site re same?
Thanks
 
King David wrote a lot of them (something like 60 of them?) That would place them around 1000BC. As previously stated, some of them were written after Israel was placed in exile (you can tell because they talk of the destruction of the temple). This would place them sometime after 580BC.

The Psalter, which is the collection of Psalms as we know it today was assembled maybe around 200BC. And the Psalms as a whole were not considered inspired works until around 100BC.

I just purchased the Navarre Bible’s commentary on the Psalms this week, and I may have better information shortly.
 
The were not originally written down. They existed orally for centuries and are believed to have been written down around 600 BCE.

Nahum Sara wrote an excellent book called “On the book of Psalms: Exploring the Prayers of Ancient Israel”. It’s opening chapter gives a great overview/history of the Psalms.
 
C.S. Lewis also wrote an interesting book, Reflections on the Psalms.
 
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