Page 3 - The Poetic Books - Student Text

The Poetic Books
By Dick Lauger, M. Th.

Study Section 1: Introduction

1.1 Connect

Most of the OT from Genesis through Esther is narrative, what we think of as history.
Other types of writing are sprinkled throughout the history. Moses received the Ten
Commandments in the form of declaration law. He also was given examples of how
the Ten Commandments are applied in different situations. This is called case law.
Even a quick reading demonstrates the differences. Lists can be found in Numbers as
a census of the people becomes important. These are different from the genealogies of Genesis. The
book of Proverbs is another type of literature. Like the title implies, many of the verses are statements
of wisdom and can be taken on their own, even though the writer puts them together purposely for
more meaning. All these forms and others are called genres.

Narrative is the most basic form of writing. Whether fiction or non-fiction, narrative has certain
characteristics that help the reader figure out what the author intends. The writer places his “story” in a
setting of place and time. He writes about certain people. He has a plot, action that moves the
characters along. He usually includes dialogue between his characters. He always takes a point of view,
sometimes writing in first person (“I”), third person (“he”) or some other standpoint. Writers are
selective. They pick and choose events among a multitude of possibilities. Their choice tells us about
their purpose in writing, or theme. The writers of the OT were not giving us entertainment. Their
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purpose was more serious. They wrote about God and his will for his people.

Much of what is true about narrative can be said about Biblical poetry, although with a different mix and
emphasis. Hebrew poetry does not rhyme like the poetry of other languages. Experts in Hebrew
language point out a strong “stress or accent” that gives it a “rhythmic quality.” Not having access to the
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original Hebrew, we must limit our discussion and study of poetry to other issues. Hebrew poetry
contains many figures of speech. Metaphor, simile, personification, and other forms add impact to
poetry.

The same is true for poetry in most languages. Figures of speech give the writing power and capture our
imagination. How do we know the following poem taken from “The Kalela Dance” is poking fun at life in
the Copperbelt of Zambia?

1 P. T. Vogt, Interpreting the Pentateuch (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2009), 48-60.
2 C. Hassell Bullock, An Introduction to the Old Testament (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 1988), 34.
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