or without
changes for musical effect): for example see The Song of Moses and
Miriam (page 149).

4. A characteristic metrical system in Biblical verse is the 'Doom
form.' Here the thread of the poem is in what, for form and spirit, may
be called prose; but this prose is interrupted at intervals by lyric
verse, celebrating or realising what the prose brings forward. This is
chiefly found in prophecies of 'doom,' or denunciation of the foes of
Israel (hence the name): the prose is a Divine word of denunciation, the
lyrics are mostly impersonal celebrations of what the Divine speaker
says. The form is easily collected from examples; see pages 175-181.

STORY

Story as a form of literature differs from History by its appeal to the
imagination and emotions, whereas History addresses itself to our sense
of record and scientific explanation. It is of no consequence whether
the matter of the story be historic fact or invention; in the one case
the writer selects, in the other case he frames, such details as will
have the desired effect in presenting the story to the mind of the
reader. The stories of the Bible are scattered through the history, of
which they form a part; thus a reader of the Bible in its ordinary
versions may be required at any moment to alter the character of his
attention without anything to warn him of the change. In the Modern
Reader's Bible (volumes Genesis, The Exodus, The Judges, The Kings) the
stories are separated from the surrounding matter by titles. Selections
of these stories enter into the present volume.

/i. Joseph and his Brethren./ This is one of the most elaborate and
artistically beautiful stories in all literature. It emphasises an
important place in the Biblical history, Joseph being a link between the
Children of Israel and the world empire of Egypt. Among elements of
story beauty note the personality of Joseph, its attractiveness wherever
he goes and its gradual maturing. Note also the sketches of varied life
which make a background to the story as it moves along--glimpses of
shepherd life, of caravan trading, of palace life in Egypt. But the main
interest will be the 'plot'--the technical term for the harmony that
binds the different parts of a story into one whole. In the present case
there are three 'motives' underlying the plot. (1) What has been called
the 'oracular action': the interest of mystic dream oracles gradually
becoming clear as the oracles are fulfilled. (2) The dev