What is the logic behind the unequal divisions of Tehillim into days of the month; the sections are of very varying lengths i.e. the "longest days" are twice the length of the "shortest days?"
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2Yehudis Hendry, welcome to Mi Yodeya, and thanks very much for bringing your question here! I hope you get good answers, and that you also check out some of our other stuff, perhaps starting with our 100+ other tehilim-psalms questions. Please consider registering your account, which will give you access to more of the site's features.– Isaac Moses ♦Mar 5, 2015 at 5:10
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1This might be a good place to start looking for an answer: judaism.stackexchange.com/a/9261/603– MenachemMar 5, 2015 at 6:44
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The original divisions that you noted would be more equal. I wonder if publishers could go back to it?– Yehudis HendryMar 6, 2015 at 15:44
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1 Answer
The division of the Tehillim is not meant to be just a way to say the entire Tehillim over the course of a month, rather it was split like this because each day of the month is different and has its own path to follow in the service of Hashem. Each days chapters' are special for that day.
Similarly, the Psalm of the day (which the Leveim sang in the Beis Hamikdash) for Wednesday is at least twice as long as the one for Friday. Each day is special and has a special way to serve Hashem.
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1So why are the daily tehillim read in order? If they were special for the day, one might think that each day's tehillim should be selected from throughout.– DanielAug 5, 2015 at 17:54
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Ok, will do. The order they are in is also for a reason. Not Chronological. See here judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/35021/…– WhyEnBeAug 5, 2015 at 18:03
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@WhyEnBe I'm not saying their order isn't for a reason. I'm just suggesting that the reason might not be for the convenience of reading them in order during the monthly cycle. Can you show some evidence that that's the reason the tehillim are in the order that they are (as opposed to any other reason)?– DanielAug 5, 2015 at 18:07