Interpreting Hebrew Poetry

<p>Here is a convenient introduction to the unique aspects of interpreting the one-third of the Hebrew Bible that is in poetic form. Numerous are the occasions when a failure to distinguish poetry from prose in the Old Testament has resulted in flawed interpretation. Robert Lowth's <i>Lectures on the Sacred Poetry of the Hebrews</i> (1753 1787) marked a turning point of major proportions by focusing on the importance of parallelism of lines. But new studies of the past decade now require significant adjustments to Lowth's analyses. <i>Interpreting Hebrew Poetry</i> offers an authoritative introduction to this discussion of parallelism meter and rhythm and poetic style. It also provides by way of example a poetic analysis of Deuteronomy 32 Isaiah 5:1-7 and Psalm 1.</p>