CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTORY
FAILURE to perceive what are the formal elements
in Hebrew poetry has, in the past, frequently led
to misinterpretation of Scripture. The existence
of formal elements is now generally recognised;
but there are still great differences of opinion as
to the exact nature of some of these, and as to
their relation to one another and large questions
or numerous important details of both the lower
and higher criticism and of the interpretation of
the Old Testament are involved in these differ-
ences. An examination of the forms of Hebrew
poetry thus becomes a valuable, if not indeed a
necessary, means to the correct appreciation of
its substance, to an understanding of the thought
expressed in it, in so far as that may still be
understood, or, where that is at present no
longer possible, to a perception of the cause and
extent of the uncertainty and obscurity.
More especially do the questions relating to
the two most important forms of Hebrew poetry
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