ABSTRACT
The previous paper offers an excellent framework for examining gender in relation to ancient Israel, a multifaceted society that flourished from the late second millennium bce to the late first millennium ce, and in the (Hebrew) Bible, a complex collection reflecting the beliefs and desires of various subsets of that society. 1 I would like to supplement it in two ways: by offering some discussion of terms concerning gender and sex in the Bible, and by looking at gender, specifically constructions of masculinity, in the Book of Psalms. The initial exploration of sex and gender is important in its own right, and will also serve as background for approaching Psalms. I have chosen Psalms because it is long and well known, and thus complements the previous chapter’s focus on a lesser-known, single biblical episode. In addition, several previous scholars have looked at gender and Psalms, so it is possible to enter into a dialogue.
