HAGIOGRAPHA. The third group into which the books of the Old Testament are divided. The Hebrew name is Kethubim. Writings." The Jews have sub divided the Kethubim into three smaller groups. (1) Poetical books, also called " The Former Writings " iKethubim rishOnim): Psalms, Proverbs, Job. (2) The five Megilloth (q.v.) or Rolls : Song of Songs. Ruth, Lamentations. Ecclesiastes, Esther. (3) A miscellaneous group, sometimes called " The Latter 'Writings " (Kethu bim akharbnim) : Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah. I. and II. Chronicles. This is the order in printed editions of the Hebrew Bible. In the Talmud (q.v.) the order is: Ruth, Psalms, Job. Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Canticles. Lamenta tions, Daniel, Esther, Ezra (Ezra-Nehemiah), Chronicles. Jerome gives the order : Job, David (=Psalms). Solomon (=Proverbs). Ecclesiastes, Canticles, Daniel, Chronicles. Ezra-Nehemiah, Esther. The three groups into which the books of the Old Testament are divided ( (1) Law, (2) Prophets, (3) Hagiographa) mark the stages in the growth of the Canon. The third group is of a rather
miscellaneous character. This is accounted for by sup posing that some of the books were written, or received recognition, too late to be included in the second group. But if the Hagiographa formed as it were an undefined collection, the rules of canonicity were strictly adhered to, and it was not every book that could gain admission. " There were admitted to it only books written • in Hebrew or Aramaic, which treated of the ancient history (Ruth, Chronicles), or gave information about the establishment of the new order of things (Ezra-Nehemiah), or which were supposed to have been written by some famous person of ancient times (Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Canticles, Lamentations. Daniel, perhaps Job also); while Esther obtained admission (after much controversy, as was the case with Ecclesiastes). because it was in complete harmony with the national sentiment of people and scribes alike " (G. Wildeboer). See G. Wildeboer, Canon; H. E. Ryle, Canon.