Bible Interpretation, Student Workbook, SW05

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B I B L E I N T E R P R E T A T I O N

Wisdom literature is dramatically important because it wrestles with the issues that are of ultimate concern in our lives without resolving all of the tensions and problems associated with them. It is designed to raise our spirits in the midst of life, not give final answers to the issues of life.

F. Poetic works – that form of biblical genre which usually appears in the form of song, sonnet, or hymn, and is designed to image forth reality in its most concrete sense to move and inspire us

1. Closely associated with the music tradition of the Hebrew peoples

2. Meter, rhythm, and pace are important for the poems as artistic pieces.

3. How the songs were written is also important in terms of what was written.

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4. Psalms are the richest mine of poetry to be found in the OT, but it occurs throughout, especially in the Wisdom Literature.

5. Songs were a significant part of Hebrew life and culture (e.g., Song of the Well, Num. 21.17-18; Gen. 31.27; Jer. 7.34, etc.).

6. Many poems were accompanied by instrumental music (Exod. 15.20; Isa. 23.16).

7. Hebrew poetry was a recited form of communication, highlighting vowel accents and stresses (this is the key to its meter).