much imperfection, or even folly and wickedness. So it has ever
been in the history of human affairs, and so it is at the
present day.

CHAPTER XXI.

THE POETICAL BOOKS (INCLUDING ALSO ECCLESIASTES AND CANTICLES).

1. The Hebrews reckon but three books as _poetical_, namely: Job,
Psalms, and Proverbs, which are distinguished from the rest by a
stricter rhythm--the rhythm not of feet, but of _clauses_ (see below,
No. 3)--and a peculiar system of accentuation. It is obvious to every
reader that the poetry of the Old Testament, in the usual sense of the
word, is not restricted to these three books. But they are called
poetical in a special and technical sense. In any natural classification
of the books of the Old Testament, those of Ecclesiastes and Canticles
will fall into the division which contains the books of Job, Psalms, and
Proverbs.

The Hebrew system of accentuation is very subtle and
complicated, and there is nothing corresponding to it in our
western languages. These so-called accents are quite numerous,
one of them resting, as a general rule, upon each word. Certain
of them are peculiar to the poetical books, and are called
poetical accents. They serve a threefold office. (1.) They guide
the modulated flow of the voice in _cantillation_, thus serving,
in a certain sense, as _musical notes_. Some think that this was
their primary office. (2.) They indicate the _logical relation_
to each other of the words and clauses, thus performing the
office of marks of _interpunction_. (3.) They rest, with certain
exceptions, on the _tone_ syllable, and thus serve as _accents_
in our restricted sense of the word.

In the first division of the present chapter, the _characteristics of
Hebrew poetry_ will be briefly considered in respect to its _spirit_,
its _form_, and its _offices_. Then will follow, in the second division,
a notice of the _contents of the several books_.

(A.) CHARACTERISTICS OF HEBREW POETRY.

2. As it respects the _spirit_ of Hebrew poetry, we notice, first of
all, its perfect _harmony with the spirit of the Theocracy_. It is, in
truth, an outgrowth of the Theocracy in the souls of holy men educated
under its influence and thoroughly imbued with its spirit. The God of
Moses and Aaron is also the God of David, Asaph, and Solomon; of Hosea,
Isaiah, and Habakkuk. In his boldest flights the Hebrew poet always
remains loyal to t