Psalms of the Sons of Korah

Eleven psalms have a heading that names the sons of Korah: Psalms 42 and 44 to 49, then Psalms 84, 85, 87 and 88. Together they run to 158 verses, from 7 verses in Psalm 87 to 26 verses in Psalm 44. Seven are in Book 2, starting with its first psalm, and four are in Book 3. The heading of Psalm 88 also names Heman the Ezrahite. Psalm 43 has no heading, so it is not counted, although its last verse repeats the refrain of Psalm 42.

The table lists all eleven with their verse counts and type. The sections below explain who Korah was and what his family did, using the books of Numbers and Chronicles, and then what these psalms talk about.

Korah appears in Numbers 16. Verse 1 names him as the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi. He joined Dathan and Abiram in a revolt against Moses and Aaron, and Numbers 16:32 says the earth opened and swallowed all of Korah's men. Numbers 26:11 then adds a short line: "Notwithstanding, the sons of Korah didn't die." Exodus 6:24 names his sons Assir, Elkanah and Abiasaph, and calls them the families of the Korahites. The psalm headings name the sons of Korah, not Korah himself. They point to this Levite family, not to the man who rebelled.

The books of Chronicles give the Korahites work at the sanctuary. 1 Chronicles 9:19 calls them keepers of the thresholds of the tent, and 9:31 puts one of them in charge of the things baked in pans. 1 Chronicles 26:1 lists Korahites among the doorkeepers. They also sang. 2 Chronicles 20:19 has the Korahites stand up to praise the LORD with an exceedingly loud voice. 1 Chronicles 6:33 to 38 traces Heman the singer, one of the men David set over the service of song, back to Korah. Psalm 84:10 uses the same picture of a doorkeeper: "I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God."

Several are about longing for God's house. Psalm 42 opens "As the deer pants for the water brooks", and Psalm 84 opens "How lovely are your dwellings". Psalms 46, 48 and 87 celebrate Zion, the city of God. Psalm 45 is a wedding song for a king, and Psalm 47 calls God the King of all the earth. Psalm 44 is a national lament from a people who say they have not forgotten God. Psalm 49 is wisdom about wealth and death. Psalm 85 asks God to revive his people, and Psalm 88 is a lament that ends in darkness without turning to praise.

Two of these psalms are quoted in the New Testament. Romans 8:36 quotes Psalm 44:22, "for your sake we are killed all day long", in a passage about suffering. Hebrews 1:8 and 1:9 quote Psalm 45:6 and 45:7, "Your throne, God, is forever and ever", and apply the words to the Son. Other lines in the group include Psalm 46:10, "Be still, and know that I am God", and Psalm 85:10, "Righteousness and peace have kissed each other".