Hebrew PoetryHebrew Poetry

Reading Psalms and JobReading Psalms and Job

ParallelismParallelism Robert Lowth Robert Lowth

(1710-1787) made (1710-1787) made the idea of Hebrew the idea of Hebrew poetic parallelism poetic parallelism popularpopular

Expression of the Expression of the same idea, its same idea, its antithesis, or a antithesis, or a building on it in building on it in different words. different words. Three basic forms.Three basic forms.

Synonymous ParallelismSynonymous Parallelism The heavens are The heavens are

telling the glory of telling the glory of God; and the God; and the firmament proclaims firmament proclaims his handiwork. Ps his handiwork. Ps 19:119:1 A= the heavensA= the heavens

AA11= the firmament= the firmament B= tellingB= telling

BB11=proclaims=proclaims C= glory of GodC= glory of God

CC11= his handiwork= his handiwork

The major idea is The major idea is reiterated in reiterated in synonyms; the synonyms; the previous pattern is previous pattern is the basic one:the basic one:

A B C AA B C A1 1 BB1 1

CC11

Antithetic ParallelismAntithetic Parallelism Those who go out Those who go out

weeping, bearing the weeping, bearing the seed for sowing; shall seed for sowing; shall come home with come home with shouts of joy, carrying shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves. 126:6their sheaves. 126:6

In this case, the In this case, the balance is with balance is with opposite thoughtsopposite thoughts

Go out – coming homeGo out – coming home Weeping – shouts of joyWeeping – shouts of joy Bearing the seed for Bearing the seed for

sowing – carrying their sowing – carrying their sheavessheaves

Another example: The Another example: The wicked borrow and do wicked borrow and do not pay back, but the not pay back, but the righteous are generous righteous are generous and keep giving (37:21)and keep giving (37:21)

Synthetic ParallelismSynthetic Parallelism I am poured out I am poured out

like water, and all like water, and all my bones are out my bones are out of joint; my heart of joint; my heart is like wax; it is is like wax; it is melted within my melted within my breast Ps 22:14breast Ps 22:14

Loosest and most Loosest and most difficult of Lowth’s difficult of Lowth’s categoriescategories

The idea builds – a The idea builds – a synthesis is synthesis is createdcreated

Not the same Not the same words, but the words, but the same idea keeps same idea keeps growing and growing and developingdeveloping

Other Kinds of BalanceOther Kinds of Balance Statement and reasonStatement and reason

Blessed be the Lord!Blessed be the Lord! for he has heard the for he has heard the

voice of my voice of my supplication. (28:6)supplication. (28:6)

Question and Answer; Question and Answer; or answer and or answer and questionquestion For you are the God in For you are the God in

whom I have taken whom I have taken refuge; why have you refuge; why have you cast me off?cast me off?

Abstract to concreteAbstract to concrete Even my bosom friend in Even my bosom friend in

whom I trusted; who ate whom I trusted; who ate of my bread, has lifted the of my bread, has lifted the heel against me. (41:9)heel against me. (41:9)

RepetitionRepetition O Israel, trust in the O Israel, trust in the

Lord! He is their help and Lord! He is their help and their shield. O house of their shield. O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord! Aaron, trust in the Lord! He is their help and their He is their help and their shield. You who fear the shield. You who fear the Lord! He is their help Lord! He is their help and their shield. (115:9-and their shield. (115:9-11)11)

PoetryPoetry

As in many As in many languages, poetry in languages, poetry in Hebrew is figurative Hebrew is figurative and you need to and you need to explore the ideasexplore the ideas

You can expect to You can expect to see alliteration, see alliteration, assonance, rhyme – assonance, rhyme – but, of course, in but, of course, in HebrewHebrew

Repetitions are Repetitions are frequentfrequent

Clear forms will Clear forms will appear in some appear in some typestypes

The BookThe Book Tehillim – “praises” from the verb hallel or “to praise”Tehillim – “praises” from the verb hallel or “to praise” Cultic texts – used in community worshipCultic texts – used in community worship ““Hymnbook of the Second Temple” because the final Hymnbook of the Second Temple” because the final

collection is post-exiliccollection is post-exilic Dead Sea Scrolls (below) has Psalms, but not in the same Dead Sea Scrolls (below) has Psalms, but not in the same

orderorder

Some Notes on How Some Notes on How ManyMany

150 Psalms in English 150 Psalms in English textstexts

Codex Leningradensis Codex Leningradensis has 149 (114 and 115 has 149 (114 and 115 are combined)are combined)

Many Greek Many Greek manuscripts have manuscripts have 151; Psalm 151 is also 151; Psalm 151 is also in the DSSin the DSS

Five Books Five Books Pss 1-41 Davidic PsalmsPss 1-41 Davidic Psalms Pss 42-49 Elohistic Pss 42-49 Elohistic

Psalter; “Sons of Korah”Psalter; “Sons of Korah” Pss 73-89 Mostly Pss 73-89 Mostly

community laments – community laments – Pss 73-83 associated Pss 73-83 associated with Asaph with Asaph

Pss 90-106 Kingship of Pss 90-106 Kingship of YHWHYHWH

Pss 107-150 Davidic, Pss 107-150 Davidic, pilgrimage, and pilgrimage, and individual lamentsindividual laments

Key TermsKey Terms Invocation – asks for God’s Invocation – asks for God’s

presence or attentionpresence or attention Hear my voice, O God, in my Hear my voice, O God, in my

complaint; preserve my life complaint; preserve my life from my dread enemy. 64:1from my dread enemy. 64:1

Lament – a complaint; Lament – a complaint; explains a problem and explains a problem and feeling of isolationfeeling of isolation

All day long my enemies All day long my enemies taunt me; those who deride taunt me; those who deride me use my name for a curse. me use my name for a curse. 102:8102:8

Petition – requests Petition – requests intervention/actionintervention/action

But I trust in you, O Lord; I But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hand; times are in your hand; deliver me from the hand of deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors. my enemies and persecutors. 31:14-1531:14-15

PraisePraise GeneralGeneral

Praise the Lord! Praise the Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my live; I will sing praises to my God all my life long. 146:1-God all my life long. 146:1-22

Call to praiseCall to praise Make a joyful noise to the Make a joyful noise to the

Lord, all the earth. Worship Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; the Lord with gladness; come into his presence with come into his presence with singing. 100:1-2singing. 100:1-2

Vow of praiseVow of praise I will come into your house I will come into your house

with burnt offerings; I will with burnt offerings; I will pay you my vows, those that pay you my vows, those that my lips uttered and those my lips uttered and those that my lips promised when that my lips promised when I was in trouble. 66:13-14I was in trouble. 66:13-14

Psalms ScholarshipPsalms Scholarship Hermann Gunkel Hermann Gunkel

(1862-1932)(1862-1932)

German scholarGerman scholar

Form Criticism Form Criticism identified 5 primary identified 5 primary types of Psalmstypes of Psalms

Sitz im leben – setting Sitz im leben – setting in life – an idea in life – an idea pioneered by Sigmund pioneered by Sigmund MowinckelMowinckel

Gunkel’s Psalm TypesGunkel’s Psalm Types Hymns of PraiseHymns of Praise

Individual LamentsIndividual Laments

Individual Individual Thanksgiving PsalmsThanksgiving Psalms

Communal LamentsCommunal Laments

Royal PsalmsRoyal Psalms

Also there are 5 sub-Also there are 5 sub-typestypes Songs of PilgrimageSongs of Pilgrimage Community Community

ThanksgivingThanksgiving WisdomWisdom Torah and Prophetic Torah and Prophetic

LiturgiesLiturgies MixedMixed

Hymns of PraiseHymns of Praise

Intro or call to Intro or call to worshipworship

Reason for worshipReason for worship

Call repeatedCall repeated

Praise the Lord, all Praise the Lord, all you nations! Extol you nations! Extol him all you peoples!him all you peoples!

For great is his For great is his steadfast love steadfast love toward us, and the toward us, and the faithfulness of the faithfulness of the Lord endures Lord endures forever. forever.

Praise the Lord!Praise the Lord!

(Psalm 117)(Psalm 117)

Individual LamentIndividual Lament Most frequent type of Most frequent type of

PsalmPsalm

Give a pattern for prayer:Give a pattern for prayer: InvocationInvocation Complaint – articulation of Complaint – articulation of

the problemthe problem Confession of trust in GodConfession of trust in God Petition for intervention Petition for intervention

and action needed to solve and action needed to solve the problemthe problem

Vow to tell of God’s saving Vow to tell of God’s saving workwork

To you, O Lord, I call; my rock, do not refuse to To you, O Lord, I call; my rock, do not refuse to hear me, for if you are silent to me, I shall be hear me, for if you are silent to me, I shall be like those who go down to the Pit.like those who go down to the Pit.

Hear the voice of my supplication, as I cry to you Hear the voice of my supplication, as I cry to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your for help, as I lift up my hands toward your most holy sanctuary.most holy sanctuary.

Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who are workers of evil, who speak peace who are workers of evil, who speak peace with their neighbors, while mischief is in their with their neighbors, while mischief is in their hearts.hearts.

Repay them according to their work, and Repay them according to their work, and according to the evil of their deeds; repay according to the evil of their deeds; repay them according to the work of their hands; them according to the work of their hands; render them their due reward.render them their due reward.

Because they do not regard the works of the Because they do not regard the works of the Lord, or the work of his hands, he will break Lord, or the work of his hands, he will break them down and build them up no more.them down and build them up no more.

Blessed be the Lord, for he has heard the sound Blessed be the Lord, for he has heard the sound of my pleadings. The Lord is my strength and of my pleadings. The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, so I am my shield; in him my heart trusts, so I am helped, and my heart exults, and with my helped, and my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.song I give thanks to him.

The Lord is the strength of his people; he is the The Lord is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of the anointed. O save your saving refuge of the anointed. O save your people, and bless your heritage; be their people, and bless your heritage; be their shepherd, and carry them forever. (Psalm 28)shepherd, and carry them forever. (Psalm 28)

Individual ThanksgivingIndividual Thanksgiving Nine of these Nine of these

psalmspsalms

Intro tells you why Intro tells you why thanks are being thanks are being givengiven

What was going on What was going on with the personwith the person

Trust in God and Trust in God and promise to make promise to make an offeringan offering

Psalm 30Psalm 30 V1 I will extol you, O V1 I will extol you, O

Lord, for you have Lord, for you have drawn me up, and did drawn me up, and did not let my foes not let my foes rejoice over merejoice over me

Vv 8-11 what was Vv 8-11 what was asked and givenasked and given

V12 so that my sould V12 so that my sould may praise you and may praise you and not be silent. O Lord not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give my God, I will give thanks to you thanks to you forever.forever.

Community LamentsCommunity Laments

Structured much Structured much like individual like individual lamentslaments

They discuss times They discuss times of national tragedyof national tragedy

Praise of God is Praise of God is keykey

Psalm 137 most Psalm 137 most famous examplefamous example

Royal PsalmsRoyal Psalms

Psalms concerning Psalms concerning the monarchy and the monarchy and events associated events associated with itwith it

Coronation (Pss 2, Coronation (Pss 2, 72, 101, 110), 72, 101, 110), great victories (Pss great victories (Pss 20, 21, 89), royal 20, 21, 89), royal weddings (Ps 45)weddings (Ps 45)

No one clear No one clear structurestructure

From various From various differing times and differing times and about different rulersabout different rulers

MiscellaneousMiscellaneous Psalm 1 – Wisdom – Sets Psalm 1 – Wisdom – Sets

up not only the first up not only the first collection but the whole collection but the whole bookbook

Psalm 119 extols the Psalm 119 extols the Torah and is the longest Torah and is the longest Psalm at 176 verses (also Psalm at 176 verses (also an alphabetic acrostic an alphabetic acrostic with 8 lines for each of with 8 lines for each of the 22 letters; others – the 22 letters; others – some incomplete – 25, some incomplete – 25, 34, 1111, 112, 145)34, 1111, 112, 145)

Psalms pilgrims sang Psalms pilgrims sang going up to Jerusalem going up to Jerusalem are key toward the are key toward the end; 122 most famous end; 122 most famous (although 121 is my (although 121 is my favorite)favorite)

Some Uses of PsalmsSome Uses of Psalms Congregational – with Congregational – with

both vocal and both vocal and instrumental musical instrumental musical scoresscores Singing, shouting, Singing, shouting,

instruments (Pss 33, instruments (Pss 33, 150)150)

Dancing (Pss 149, 150)Dancing (Pss 149, 150) In temple (134, 135)In temple (134, 135) Call and response (136)Call and response (136)

LiturgiesLiturgies Offerings (66)Offerings (66) Processions (24, 48, 132)Processions (24, 48, 132)

FestivalsFestivals Songs of Ascent (120-Songs of Ascent (120-

134)134)

Special FastsSpecial Fasts Crises (44, 60, 90)Crises (44, 60, 90)

Individual UsesIndividual Uses See previous textsSee previous texts

Book of JobBook of Job

Prose prologue and Prose prologue and epilogue – chapters epilogue – chapters 1 and 2; 42:7-171 and 2; 42:7-17

Poetic Body of TextPoetic Body of Text Three Cycle of Three Cycle of

Speeches Between Speeches Between Job and His Friends Job and His Friends – Eliphaz, Bildad – Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar – and Zophar – chapters 3-31chapters 3-31

A monologue A monologue chastising Job and chastising Job and the friends from a the friends from a previously unknown previously unknown Elihu (chapters 32-Elihu (chapters 32-37)37)

Two speeches from Two speeches from God and Job’s God and Job’s responses responses (chapters 38:1-(chapters 38:1-42:6)42:6)

Other “Jobs”Other “Jobs” MesopotamianMesopotamian

““A Man and His God” or a A Man and His God” or a Sumerian JobSumerian Job

Humans sinful from birth Humans sinful from birth and that explains sufferingand that explains suffering

“ “I will Praise the Lord of I will Praise the Lord of Wisdom”Wisdom”

Humans must do rituals to Humans must do rituals to ward off troubleward off trouble

““The Babylonian Theodicy”The Babylonian Theodicy” Debate on whether bad Debate on whether bad

things happen to good things happen to good people and what that says people and what that says about Godabout God

““The Dialogue Between a The Dialogue Between a Master and His Slave”Master and His Slave”

Closer to Ecclesiastes than Closer to Ecclesiastes than JobJob

EgyptianEgyptian ““The Admonitions of The Admonitions of

Ipuwer”Ipuwer” Laments wickedness that Laments wickedness that

the gods allow humans to the gods allow humans to dodo

““The Dispute Between a The Dispute Between a Man and His Ba”Man and His Ba”

Suicide as an answer to Suicide as an answer to human suffering and human suffering and whether or not it should whether or not it should be allowedbe allowed

““The Tale of the Eloquent The Tale of the Eloquent Peasant”Peasant”

Debates again over the Debates again over the rights of humans; more rights of humans; more human than divinehuman than divine

Job’s SufferingJob’s Suffering

Job and His Three Job and His Three FriendsFriends

Chagall Chagall Job PrayingJob Praying

ChagallChagallJob in DespairJob in Despair

William Blake William Blake Job and His DaughtersJob and His Daughters

                                                                                                                                                                       

William Blake William Blake Job and His Family Restored to Job and His Family Restored to

ProsperityProsperity