(3) Style and Contents. Let us examine more particularly the style and contents of the book.
(a) As to its style, we find it to be marked by those characteristics which distinguish the poetry ot the Hebrews from their prose compositions. Of these, one of the most obvious and important is what, since Bishop Lowth's day, has been termed parallelism. This consists in a certain resemblance or correspondence, either as to thought or form, or both, between the members of a period. The two most simple kinds of paral lelism, and the only two we shall notice here, are when the period contains but two members, and the last either repeats the thought contained in the first, or presents an antithetical assertion, begin ning generally with the adversative but. The first kind of parallelism is called by Lowth synony mous, the second antithetic. The following pas sage is a beautiful example of synonymous paral lelism : 'My son, if thou wilt receive my words, And hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear to wisdom, And apply thy heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, And liftest up the voice for understanding. If thou seekest her as silver, And searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, And find the knowledge of God.' Prov. :1-5.
As an instance of antithetic parallelism, take these verses: 'The fear of the Lord prolongeth days; But the years of the wicked shall be shortened. The hope of the righteous shall be gladness; But the expectation of the wicked shall perish. The way of the Lord is strength to the upright ; But destruction shall be to the workers of in iquity.' Prov. x :27-29.
(b) It will be perceived that there is a conti nuity in the former of these passages, which does not belong to the latter.
In fact the first nine chapters of the book of Proverbs are remarkably distinguished from the remainder, and constitute a sort of proem or ex ordium to the work. This portion was probably committed to writing, while the disconnected aphorisms which compose the greater part of the remaining portion were only uttered. It is a con tinuous discourse, written in the highest style of poetry, adorned with apt and beautiful illustra tions, and with various and striking figures. The personification of Wisdom in these chapters is universally regarded as one of the most beautiful examples of prosopopceia to be found in the Bible, and possesses an indescribable grace and majesty.
What can be finer than the passage ch.
But he knoweth not that the dead are there. And that her guests are in the depths of the grave.
where many eminent critics are of opinion that the Son of God is to be understood as speaking.
'Wisdom is better than rubies, And no precious things compare with her.
'I, Wisdom, dwell with prudence, And find out knowledge of wise counsels.
'The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil; Pride, haughtiness, and an evil way, And a perverse mouth, do I hate.
'Counsel is mine, and reflection; I am understanding; I have strength.
'By me kings reign, And princes decree justice; By me princes rule, And nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
'I love them that love me; And they that seek me early shall find me.
'Riches and honor are with me.
Yea, enduring riches and righteousness.
'My fruit is better than gold, yea than refined gold; And my increase than choice silver.' 'I walk in the way of righteousness, In the midst of the path of rectitude; To ensure abundance to those that love me, And to fill their storehouse. . .
'Blessed is the man that heareth me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors! For whosoever findeth me findeth life; And shall obtain favor from Jehovah.' (Prov. viii:II-zt, 34, 35.) (c) In the next chapter the word Wisdom has a feminine termination; and Wisdom and Folly are personified as females. The contrast between their respective pretensions and invitations may be made more evident than it is in our version by arranging the passages in apposition to each other.
Wisdom hath builded her house, She hath hewn out her seven pillars, She hath killed her beasts, She hath mingled her wine, She hath also furnished her table, She bath sent forth her maidens, She crieth upon the highest places of the city, 'Whoso is simple let him turn in hither.' To him who wanteth understanding she saith: 'Come, eat of my bread; And drink of the wine I have mingled. Forsake the foolish and live; And go in the way of understanding; For by me thy days shall he multiplied, And the years of thy life shall be increased; Folly is clamorous; She is simple and knoweth nothing.