Studies in Biblical Poetry the Collected Notes of C.A
Studies in Biblical Poetry The Collected Notes of C.A. LaRue 1 Table of Contents INTRODUCTION SECTION ONE: PSALMS SECTION TWO: LAMENTATIONS SECTION THREE: SONG OF SONGS SECTION FOUR: JOB SECTION FIVE: PROVERBS SECTION SIX: ECCLESIATES SECTION SEVEN: THE PROPHETS AND OTHER WRITINGS SECTION EIGHT: THE NEW TESTAMENT 2 INTRODUCTION: *from myjewishlearning.com The Poetic Writings Approximately one-third of the Old testament is written in poetry. The three main divisions-- the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings - contain poetry in successively greater amounts. Only seven Old Testament books - Leviticus, Ruth, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Haggai, and Malachi - appear to have no poetic lines. Several books in the OT are written either totally (Psalms, Lamentations and Song of Songs) or predominantly in poetry (Job, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes). Moreover, many parts of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and the Minor Prophets also contain poetic writings. While each of these Old Testament books has its own unique tone and style, in general, the poetry they contain can be grouped into 5 basic types: Worship: •Hymns praising God. (Psalm 8) •Psalms of thanksgiving for deliverance. (Psalms 30,124) •Psalms of supplication, voicing complaints and requests. (Psalms 44,64) Teaching: •Proverbs (Ecclesiastes10:18), •Riddles (Proverbs 30:4), •Wise advice (Proverbs 4), •Narrative poems about traditions (Psalms 78, 132), •Narrative poems with a moral (Proverbs 7), •Hymns praising wisdom (Job 28), •Wisdom on the futility and fragility of human life (Ecclesiastes 1:4-9). Prophecy: •Prophecies of reproof and warning (Isaiah 34), •Prophecies of consolation (Isaiah 35). Weddings: •Processionals (Song 3:9-11), 3 •Songs for the bride's preparation (Song 4:1-7), •Epithalamiums outside the wedding chamber (Psalm 127), •Dawn songs greeting newlyweds after the wedding night (Song 6:9-10), •Blessings (Psalm 128).
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