POETICAL BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. THE poetical books of the Old Testament are five in number, viz: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Canticles, or the Song of Solomon. They are almost entirely written in Hebrew rhythm, and are therefore usually classed by themselves, though some of them, in point of date, are anterior to the historical books. As long ago as the time of Gregory Nazianzen, they were called by him the five metrical books (vid. Greg. Naz. Carm. xxxiii. v. 16). They are also mentioned by Amphilochius, Bishop of Iconium, in an iambic poem which he addressed to Seleucus (Op. Tom. ii., p. 98; Paris, 1611). Also Epiphanius and Cyril of Jerusalem refer to them (Epiph. de Pond. et Mens., p. 533; Suicer's Thesaurus, Tom. ii). In our Hebrew Bibles they are placed in the Hagiographa (holy writ ings), between Malachi and the book of Esther; but in our English version between the historical and prophetic writings. These books are important for our present purpose, as they contain numerous allusions to music, and as they had, in many cases, at least, during their recital, musical accompaniments. We shall therefore consider them rather more fully than the other books of the sacred volume. HEBREW POETRY. GENERAL VIEW OF HEBREW POETRY. Of all poetry, that of the Hebrews is the most ancient on record which has reached our times in any language, and to determine its origin we are obliged to go back nearly to the commencement of the human race. Instrumental music was, in all probability, practised as early as 160 years after the creation of Adam, and vocal music undoubtedly preceded that. When the human voice first began to utter musical sounds, or certainly very soon after, words must have been employed, and expressed in a kind of poetry, though imperfect and rude. Dr. Jahn informs us that " poetry had its origin in the first ages of the world, when undisciplined feelings and a lively imagination naturally supplied strong expressions, giving an expressive modulation to the voice, and motion to the limbs" (Jahn's Biblical Arch. § 90). The word poetry is derived from the Greek term Пonous poiesis, signifying the production or creation of anything, referring undoubtedly to the creative power necessary for a poet. Although the term which now indicates poetry is of comparatively modern origin; yet poetic effusions were uttered long anterior to the existence of the Greek language or nation, and even before the national existence of the Hebrews, although, as we have said, their writings contain the earliest authoritative record of the art extant. In India, refined poetry existed in the sacred books of the Hindoos, 1000 years B. C., and probably rude specimens 3000 years B. C. The Egyptians cultivated music, and probably poetry, more than 3000 years B. C. Some other nations cultivated the latter nearly as early; but we have a rude specimen in the Jewish scriptures recorded by Moses, and represented as having been uttered by Lamech, the father of Jubal, to his two wives in reference to a heinous crime of which he was guilty. In the excited state of his mind he exclaims: "Adah and Zillah, hear my voice, Ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech; If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, Vid. Gen. iv. 23, 24. This passage, occurring in immediate connection with the mention of Jubal, and having been uttered by his father, must, have been spoken as early as 150 or 160 years after the creation of Adam, and about 1496 or 1506 before the deluge. It is a remarkable circumstance that we have the mention of music and a specimen of poetry in immediate connection, though they are not named as accompanying each other. The name of Jubal is recorded as the father of instrumental music, and Lamech, his natural father, presents a specimen of rude poetry, from the excitement produced by reflecting upon a revolting crime which he had committed. Here we have proof positive that poetry was coeval with music. Dr. Jahn asserts that poetry, music, and dancing were contemporaneous in origin (Jahn's Biblical Arch. § 90). It is not necessary to suppose that there was a musical accompaniment to the recital of Lamech's poetry. It is probable that there was not, though very often, subsequently, there were such accompaniments. This specimen of early versification is called by biblical scholars prosaic poetry. It has the imagination, pathos, passion, and striking expression of poetry, but not faultless versification nor metaphorical language. It is natural in distinction from artificial and finished poetry. Another specimen may be found in Gen. ix. 25, 26, 27, where the patriarch Noah, awaking from his wine and ascertaining the shameful conduct of Ham and Canaan, and the com mendable course of Shem and Japheth, is represented as exclaiming, under the excitement of his feelings, in oriental verse: "Cursed be Canaan; A servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of Shem; And Canaan shall be his servant. God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; And Canaan shall be his servant." This was an important prophecy in reference to the settlement and government of mankind upon the earth, which has been terribly fulfilled in respect to the descendants of Ham and Canaan, who are even now in bondage in this and other countries. The prediction has also been remarkably fulfilled in respect to the descendants of Shem and Japheth, who have extended their borders to almost all parts of the globe. Another instance occurs in Gen. xxvii. 27, 28, 29: And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, "See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the Lord hath blessed; Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, And the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine: Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: Be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: Cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee." Isaac blessed his son Jacob while he supposed he was blessing Esau. This occurred in consequence of the duplicity of Rebekah, in endeavoring to secure the blessing for her son Jacob the younger, and to deprive Esau, the elder, of his birthright. When the latter returned with his venison, and found that his younger brother had taken away his birth-right, he wept bitterly, and called upon his father to bless him also. Isaac did so in the following poetic effusion contained in Gen. xxvii. 39, 40: And Isaac his father answered, and said unto him, "Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, And of the dew of heaven from above; And by the sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother: And it shall come to pass, when thou shalt have the dominion, That thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck." These prophecies were remarkably fulfilled in the posterity of the two brothers. We find similar specimens of poetry in Ex. xxxii. 18, and last clause of v. 17 (vid. Rem. on Ex. xxxii. 17, 16, supra). 17 And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp. 18 And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, come: But the noise of them that sing do I hear. 4 |