repetition is a common device Whatever is written is the experience, thoughts, and emotions of the author In choosing words to share such a testimony, the Hebrew author avoids abstract philosophical and theological terms, and uses concrete and pictorial ones d) Parallelism is the essential feature of Hebrew poetry It is the structure of a verse which shows a correspondence between two or more lines of that verse For example, after a statement has been made in the rst line of a verse, that thought is repeated, enlarged, or even contrasted in the remaining line or lines Basically, there are three types of parallelism in Hebrew poetry:7 (1) Synonomous Here the second line is a repetition of the thought of the first line (Psalm 37:2,6,10,12) (2) Antithetic The second line expresses an idea contrasted with that of the first (Psalm 1:6; 30:5; 37:9) (3) Synthetic The second and later lines enlarge upon or complete the thought of the first line (Psalm 2:6; 19:7; 24:9; 37:4,5,13; 95:1-3; ROV 16:3,5; Job 19:25) Other characteristics of Hebrew poetry will be cited from time to time in the course of these next few chapters on the poetical books For example, in the next section of this chapter (Background) the literary style of the book of Job is discussed As you begin your survey of this third section of the Old Testament (“Poetical Books”), it will be helpful to review the prominent themes of the books of the two preceding sections (“Law,” and “History”) The following list of words chosen by J Sidlow Baxter suggests the leading subjects of each of the seventeen books.8 Go through the list and see if you know why each word was chosen to represent each book You might want to use di erent words in some cases This exercise will be a good review of your surveys thus far LAW HISTORY Genesis—Destitution Joshua—Possession Exodus—Deliverance Judges, Ruth—Declension Leviticus—Dedication Samuel—Transition Numbers—Direction Samuel—Confirmation Deuteronomy—Destination Kings—Disruption Kings—Dispersion 1, Chronicles—Retrospection Ezra—Restoration Nehemiah—Reconstruction Esther—Preservation Later, when you have nished surveying each of the ve poetical books, you will want to look back and compare the themes of those writings As a preview to the group, read the following lists, which identify the main subjects of the books.9 Job: The Problem of Pain Blessing Through Suffering Psalms: The Way to Pray Praise Through Prayer Proverbs: The Behavior of the Believer Providence Through Precept Ecclesiastes: The Folly of Forgetting God Verity Through Vanity Song of Solomon: The Art of Adoration Bliss Through Union Some Bible students see an overall progression of teaching in the group of ve books Do you observe any progression? Refer to Chart and observe at the bottom of the chart the period during which the poetical books were written II BACKGROUND OF JOB A THE MAN JOB Name There are two possible literal meanings of the name Job If the name’s origin is in the Arabic language, it means “one who turns back” (i.e., repents) If its origin is Hebrew, it means “the hated ... (Background) the literary style of the book of Job is discussed As you begin your survey of this third section of the Old Testament (“Poetical Books”), it will be helpful to review the prominent themes of. .. observe at the bottom of the chart the period during which the poetical books were written II BACKGROUND OF JOB A THE MAN JOB Name There are two possible literal meanings of the name Job If the name’s... prominent themes of the books of the two preceding sections (“Law,” and “History”) The following list of words chosen by J Sidlow Baxter suggests the leading subjects of each of the seventeen books.8