Concerning the form of Hebrew poetry, difficult problems arise have not yet found a satis factory solution. The line and the verse are found, and a characteristic feature that has long been recognized is the parallelism of the verse members ( porallelism us membrornm). That is, the thought is expressed in two clauses of ap proximately the same length, of which the second bears a definite relation to the first, either repeating the thought in different words (synonymous parallelism, cf. Psalm i. 2), or presenting a thought in contrast to that of the first (antithetic parallelism, cf. Psalm i. 6), or corresponding in structure to the first, the paral lelism being in the form rather than the thought (synthetic parallelism, ef. Psalm ii. 0). All these elements are found in Babylono-Assyrian poetic literature, and may be regarded as char acteristic of ancient Semitic poetry in general. The combination of verses into strophes was, of course. a step that was bound to be taken, and the earliest and most common strophe was that of four lines, but all species of variation were introduced, and it is difficult to determine the character and number of these variations. A long controversy has been waged in to the question of Hebrew metre, and while at pres ent there is a general disposition among scholars to recognize the existence of well-defined metrical forms in Hebrew poetry, there is no agreement as vet to the number or even nature of these forms. Four theories are at present contending for the mastery. The one represented chiefly by J. Ley (Grandziige des Rhythnins des Fcrs- and des Strophenbaites in der hcbraischen Poesie, Halle, 1875, and Lett fatten der Jletrik der hebriiischen Pocsic, 1887), rests on the counting of the word-accent, of which there is at least one in every word (barring enclitics), and in some words two. According to the theory, the number of unaccented syllables is not taken into account, and the metre depends solely upon the number of accented ones. A second theory advocated chiefly by C. Bickell (Carmina l'e(eris Testamenti Metrice, Innsbruck, 1882) is an application of the principles of Syriac metres to the poetry of the Old Testa ment, and recognizes the various metres by the number of 'rises' and 'falls' in all the syllables of each line. The fatal objection to the theory is that it involves constant changes in the Mas soretic text to admit of being carried out, and while all scholars are agreed that the Massoretie text requires critical treatment, a hypothetical metrical theory does not form a satisfactory point of departure for a pruning process. Re cently Grimme ("Abriss der biblisch-hebriiischen Metrik," in the Zeitschrift der dentschen mor genhindisehen Gesellschaft, 1890, pp. 529-5S4, and 1897, pp. (i83-712) has endeavored by a combination of the accent and the quantity theory to work out new principles which rest on the assumption that every syllable has. inde pendent of the accent or in combination with it. a definite quantity. The value of the various quantities of all the syllables in a line plus the principal tone-syllable in a word forms the means of determining the kind of metre employed. While Grinune's theory is not open to the objec tion that applies to Biekell's, it assumes values for the vowel signs attached to the Hebrew words which vary radically from those hitherto accepted. His theory. therefore, stands or falls with the system of accents and vowels that he sets forth in his work, Grundz-itge der hebraischen Accent- laid l'ocallehre (Freiburg, 1899).
The latest investigation of the subject, and one which may fairly.be considered to mark a decided advance toward the solution of the prob lem, is represented by Eduard Sleyers's zur hebraischen Metrik." of which the first part appeared in the .1hhandlungen der philologisch historischen Classe der lainiglich s.Iiehsiseheu Gesellschaft der Wissensehaften, vol. xx., I (Leipzig, 1901). Sievers, whose contributions to metrical studies in general lend to his utterances great authority, endeavors to take into account the 'unaccented' syllables as well as the 'ac cented' in his study of the form of Hebrew poetry. Recognizing, as his predecessors did, that the fundamental features of Hebrew poetry are the 'line' and 'verse,' he has drawn up on the basis of an original distinction between `singing' and 'recitative' poetry a scheme of the variations in `lines' and `verses' (or 'rows' (Reihen) and 'periods' (Perioden), as he prefers to call them, to be detected in Hebrew poetry. The normal foot in Hebrew poetry consisting of three syllables (or their dissolution), there are to be distinguished 'simple' lines consisting of two, three, and four feet, with a preponderance of the 'two feet' line, but with further complica tions by the multiplication of this kind of a line to form a 'six feet' line. The combination of lines leads again to a variety of verses or 'periods,' and among these the most common again is the 'symmetrical' verse formed of the doubled form of the triple 'two-feet' line. In the course of his elaborate investigation, Sievers endeavors to take into account not only the quan tity and accent of words, but also enclitics that have no 'tone' and words which by close coin bine tion with others have lost their 'tone.' It is perhaps too early to pronounce a verdict on Sievers's scheme, but it seems safe to predict that he has directed the study into new channels, and has tended to discourage theories that either give to Hebrew poetry an 'eccentric' status or that can only be carried out by violent distortions of the Massoretie text.
BIBLIOGRAPHY. Of commentaries, translations, Bibliography. Of commentaries, translations, etc., mention may be made of those by Olshausen (Leipzig, 1853) ; Hitzig (2d ed., Leipzig, IMM O) ; Ewald (Die Dialer des Allen Mendes, 2d ed., Giittingen. 1865-(17; Eng. trans., London. 1880) ; Graetz (Breslau. 1882-83) ; Cheyne (The Book of Psalms. London, 1884; The Book of Psalms with Commentary. London, 1888) : Perowne ( London, 1864; new ed. 1892) ; Nowaek (Gotha, 18881; Kirkpatrick (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges, Cambridge, 1891 sqq.) ; Baetligen (2d ed.. Mitt ingen, 1897) ; Delitzsch (5th ed., Leipzig, 1894; Eng. trans., Edinburgh. 1887-89) ; Wellhausen (The Polychrome Bible, Leipzig. 1896; Eng. trans., New York. 1898) ; Huhn) (Freiburg. 1899). Consult, also: Cheyne, The historical Origin and Religions Ideas of the Psalter (Hampton Lectures for 1889, Lon don, 18911: Loeb, ha lithlrature des paurres dans ht Bible (Paris, 1892) ; Davidson, The Praises of Israel (London, 1893) ; Robertson. The Poetry of the Psalms (London, 1898) ; and the introductions to the Old Testament. and Old Testament theologies of Schultz, Kayser-Marti. Smend. and Hillman. For Hebrew poetry. be sides the works already mentioned, consult: Lowth, De. Sacra Poesi Debrworum (Oxford, 1753; trans. by Gregory, 1847) : D. H. Mller, St rophenban and Responsion (Vienna, 1899).