The Forms of Hebrew Poetry

(Joyce) #1

66 FORMS OF HEBREW POETRY


the first line at the end of the second line (-i.e.
b instead of b'), occurs in Job xxxii. 17


yqlH ynx-Jx hnfx


ynx-Jx yfd hvHx


Will-answer I also my-part,
Will-declare my-knowledge I also.


An example may be found in Deuteronomy
xxxii. 30 a, b of
a. b. c
b'. a'. c'
Jlx dHx Jdry hkyx


hbbr vsyny Mynwv


How should one pursue a-thousand,
Or-two put-to-flight ten-thousand.


The same poem also contains four examples
(Deuteronomy xxxii. 3, 18, 23, 38) of the scheme


a. b. c
c'. a'. b'


It may suffice to cite v. 18 (reading hwt for


ywt)--


hwt ddly rvc


jllHm lx Hkwtv


The rock that-bare-thee thou-wast-unmindful-of,
And-forgattest the God that-gave-thee-birth.


Another example of this scheme may be found
in Proverbs v. 5.
The tendency in poetry to give the verb its
normal (prose) position at the beginning of the
first line, but, in order to gain variety, to throw

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