In “The Psalmist as Historiographer” (T&T Clark, 2018), Jeffrey Leonard concludes his essay on Psalm 78 by claiming that numerous other psalms which allude to earlier Scripture are in need of ongoing research. One of the Psalms that fits Leonard’s call is Psalm 135, particularly with respect to exodus allusions within the Psalm.
Psalm 135 is ripe for further study for at least two reasons. First, scholars have frequently failed to detect exodus allusions within Psalm 135 with the result that other exodus Psalms (e.g., Pss 77–78; 105–106; 114; 118; 136) have received greater priority (Estelle, 2018; Gärtner, 2015; Gillingham, 1999). Second, though other scholars have detected many of the exodus allusions within Psalm 135, they have largely failed to provide synthesis on the function and contribution of these allusions to the overall message of the Psalm (Human, 2021; Emanuel, 2013; 2012).
Because of these features, Psalm 135 fits Jeffrey Leonard’s call for further research. The aim of this paper is therefore to give needed attention to exodus allusions in Psalm 135 by proposing each allusion and determining their collective function in the Psalm. In this paper I will argue that by alluding to exodus texts, Psalm 135 charges the audience to remember YHWH in praise and resist idolatry by drawing them into the story and purpose of the original exodus generation. To argue this thesis, I will utilize Jeffrey Leonard’s methodological guidelines to determine instances of inner-biblical allusion (Leonard, 2008). This paper will contribute further insight into the function of inner-biblical allusions within the Psalms (per Leonard’s call) as well as needed synthesis on the function of exodus allusions within the message of Psalm 135 in particular.