[2] Albert Barnes argues that "there is no reason to doubt the correctness of the superscription",[3] but according to Charles and Emilie Briggs, it is to be dated within the Persian period (539 to 333 BCE).

(4) He loves the temple (v.8), and stands in its choir blessing Yahweh (v.12) [4] They add that the "elements of prayer and worship" in verses 9 to 11 are additions by a later editor.

After succumbing to the wishes of the gathered crowd, Pontius Pilate purportedly washed his hands to show his innocence of their judgement.

In the account, this could function as an outward display of someone mechanically following the psalm verse, but it would be apparent to the original Jewish audience that his abdication of the responsibility of judging justly was not in its spirit.

[14] Heinrich Schütz wrote a setting of a metric paraphrase of Psalm 26 in German, "Herr, schaff mir Recht, nimm dich mein an", SWV 123, for the Becker Psalter, published first in 1628.