The poetical character of the Revelation of John is evident to every attentive reader. Many parts are professedly songs, formal expressions of praise, triumph, or mourning. The language is not only highly figura- tive, but it everywhere abounds with the most poet- ical images and modes of expression. Bishop Jebb has presented some of the songs in the form of Hebrew po- etry ; and Prof. Stuart has shown the metrical arrange- ment of a few other portions; he has also expressed his conviction that the form of poetry, as well as its spirit, prevails to a great extent throughout the work. The references to the Old Test, in this book are more nu- merous than in any other book of the New Test. ; and they are not simple quotations, nor the transference of thought to a less poetic style of expression ; but they are imitations, in general more poetic than the original. That they are presented in the form of Hebrew, and not of Grecian poetry, can occasion no surprise. No other poetry would accord, either with the habit of the
apostle, or with the general character and design of the Bible. But this form of poetry would perfectly har- monize with both. The poetry of the Revelation of John appears to consist of the same description of par- allelisms, with those intercalary lines and other irregu- larities which are found in the larger specimens of Hebrew poetry. The species of parallelism which most prevails is the synthetic or constructive; the others being obviously less suitable to the subject of the com- position. There are, however, instances of every kind". Indeed, this book not only possesses the form and the spirit of Hebrew poetry, but it exhibits as much regu- larity in its parallelisms as any Hebrew poetry with which it can be justly compared. We give the follow- ing passages (Rev. i, 1, 5, 6 ; xxi, 23) :
"The revelation of Jesus Christ,
Which God to him imparted,
To indicate unto his servants
What must come to pass ere long. "To Him who loveth us, and washed us
From our sins iu his own blood;
And constituted us a kingdom,
Priests unto God, even his Father,
To him he glory and dominion,
For ever and ever, Amen ! " And the city has no need of the sun
Nor of the moon to shine in it ;
For the glory of God illumines it,
And the light thereof is the Lamb." III. Classification of Poetic Styles. — 1. According to the Ancient Flebrew Designations. — These appear to have special, if not exclusive reference to what is now known as lyric poetry. The terms are of two classes. See Psalms.
a. General titles, referring apparently to the musical form or purpose of the compositions.
(1.) I*1'^, slrir, a song in general, adapted for the voice alone.
(2.) *V\t)"Q, mizmor, which Ewald considers a lyric song, properly so called, but which rather seems to cor- respond with the Greek \pa\/.ii>c, a psalm, or song to be sung with any instrumental accompaniment. See Psalm.
(3.) nS^sa, negindh, which Ewald is of opinion is equivalent, to the Greek tyaXfioc, is more probably a melody expressly adapted for stringed instruments.
(4.) b'Z'^'2, maskil, <<( which it may be said that if Ewald's suggestion be not correct, that it denotes a lyrical song requiring nice musical skill, it is difficult to give any more probable explanation. See Mascuil.
(5.) DFDE, milium, a term of extremely doubtful meaning. See Michtam.
(6.) "p*1^, shiggayon (Psa. vii, 1), a wild, irregular, dithyrambic song, as the word appears to denote; or, according to some, a song to be sung with variations. The former is the more probable meaning. The plural occurs in Ilab. iii, 1. See Shiggaion.
b. But, besides these, there are other divisions of lyrical poetry of great importance, which have regard rather to the subject of the poems than to their form or adaptation for musical accompaniments. Of these we notice :
(1.) flZl^P. fehilldh, a hymn of praise. The plural tehillim is the title of the book of Psalms in Hebrew. The 145th Psalm is entitled "David's (Psalm) of praise ;" and the subject of the psalm is in accordance with its title, which is apparently suggested by the concluding verse, "The praise of Jehovah my mouth shall speak, and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever." To this class belong the songs which relate to extraordinary deliverances, such as the songs of Moses (Exod. xv) and of Deborah (Jiulg. v), and the Psalms xviii and lxviii, which have all the air of chants to be sung in triumphal processions. Such were the hymns sung in the Temple-services, and by a bold fig- ure the Almighty is apostrophized as "Thou that in- habitest the praises of Israel," which rose in the holy
POETRY
POETRY
h tbe Fragrant clouds i»f incense Psa. xxii, 3).
I Ewald r. fers the Bhorter ] -
idj quoted, such as Psa.
sxviii, and [sa. xxxviii, which relate to
Bnd comroi morate mori
ictory sung b) tl
.. slvi, xlviii. xxiv. 7 1".
which is a shorl triumphal ode, and Psa. xxix, which
■ :•,..% ah on the occasion of a greal natural phe- . are likewise all to be classed in this division
of lyric ; See Hi mx.
.-:-- Fth( lament, or dirge, of which there