THE POETICAL BOOKS (INCLUDING ALSO ECCLESIASTES AND CANTICLES).

1.  The Hebrews reckon but three books as poetical, namely:  Job, Psalms, and Proverbs, which are distinguished from the rest by a stricter rhythm—­the rhythm not of feet, but of clauses (see below, No. 3)—­and a peculiar system of accentuation.  It is obvious to every reader that the poetry of the Old Testament, in the usual sense of the word, is not restricted to these three books.  But they are called poetical in a special and technical sense.  In any natural classification of the books of the Old Testament, those of Ecclesiastes and Canticles will fall into the division which contains the books of Job, Psalms, and Proverbs.

The Hebrew system of accentuation is very subtle and complicated, and there is nothing corresponding to it in our western languages.  These so-called accents are quite numerous, one of them resting, as a general rule, upon each word.  Certain of them are peculiar to the poetical books, and are called poetical accents.  They serve a threefold office. (1.) They guide the modulated flow of the voice in cantillation, thus serving, in a certain sense, as musical notes.  Some think that this was their primary office. (2.) They indicate the logical relation to each other of the words and clauses, thus performing the office of marks of interpunction. (3.) They rest, with certain exceptions, on the tone syllable, and thus serve as accents in our restricted sense of the word.

In the first division of the present chapter, the characteristics of Hebrew poetry will be briefly considered in respect to its spirit, its form, and its offices.  Then will follow, in the second division, a notice of the contents of the several books.

(A.) CHARACTERISTICS OF HEBREW POETRY.

2.  As it respects the spirit of Hebrew poetry, we notice, first of all, its perfect harmony with the spirit of the Theocracy.  It is, in truth, an outgrowth of the Theocracy in the souls of holy men educated under its influence and thoroughly imbued with its spirit.  The God of Moses and Aaron is also the God of David, Asaph, and Solomon; of Hosea, Isaiah, and Habakkuk.  In his boldest flights the Hebrew poet always remains loyal to the institutions of Moses, not in their letter alone, but much more in their spirit, of which he is the inspired interpreter.  The same Jehovah who thundered from Sinai and spake to the people by Moses, speaks also by the sweet psalmist of Israel, by the wisdom of Solomon, and by the whole succession of the prophets.  Hence the poetry of the Hebrews is radiant throughout with the pure monotheism of the Theocracy.  It exhibits God in his infinite perfections, as the Creator and sovereign Ruler of the world, without a single taint of pantheism or polytheism, and that in an age when pantheism and polytheism were the reigning forms of religion without the pale of the covenant people.