Introduction to the Five Books of the Bible
General introduction
This study is intended to be an introduction to the five books of the Bible grouped together in the Old Testament of English translations of the Bible after the Law and historical books (Genesis to Esther) and before the books ofthe Prophets (Isaiah to Malachi). The five books in the order in which they are placed are:
• Job
• Psalms
• Proverbs
• Ecclesiastes
• Song of Songs
The books deserve to be grouped together since they are clearly different in character from the other parts of the Old Testament (with the possible exception of Lamentations, which was placed together with them in the Hebrew Bible but is placed after Jeremiah in English translations because its authorship is traditionally attributed to the prophet), but they really comprise books of two different major genres:
a) Poetry – the Psalms are a collection of poems or songs.
b) Wisdom – Job, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes belong within this genre.
Having identified these two genres, however, it must be said that the division is not as absolute as it may appear, for a number of reasons:
• There is some debate as to which category Song of Songs should be placed in – is it a poetic song or an example of “lyric wisdom” (see the section on Song of Songs for further discussion).
• A number of psalms can be classified as “wisdom psalms” (see the section on Psalms for more detail).
• Proverbs and sections of Ecclesiastes and Job are written in poetry.
In addition it is important to realise that the literary genres called wisdom and poetry are by no means restricted to these five books. As we shall see, these genres are found throughout the Old Testament (and even in the New Testament). Still, it is within these five books that poetry and wisdom are concentrated in the Old Testament, and this section serves a distinct purpose within the canon of Scripture. Major purposes:
• Commentary on the Old Testament narrative
Together with Lamentations and the Prophetic books of
This study is intended to be an introduction to the five books of the Bible grouped together in the Old Testament of English translations of the Bible after the Law and historical books (Genesis to Esther) and before the books ofthe Prophets (Isaiah to Malachi). The five books in the order in which they are placed are:
• Job
• Psalms
• Proverbs
• Ecclesiastes
• Song of Songs
The books deserve to be grouped together since they are clearly different in character from the other parts of the Old Testament (with the possible exception of Lamentations, which was placed together with them in the Hebrew Bible but is placed after Jeremiah in English translations because its authorship is traditionally attributed to the prophet), but they really comprise books of two different major genres:
a) Poetry – the Psalms are a collection of poems or songs.
b) Wisdom – Job, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes belong within this genre.
Having identified these two genres, however, it must be said that the division is not as absolute as it may appear, for a number of reasons:
• There is some debate as to which category Song of Songs should be placed in – is it a poetic song or an example of “lyric wisdom” (see the section on Song of Songs for further discussion).
• A number of psalms can be classified as “wisdom psalms” (see the section on Psalms for more detail).
• Proverbs and sections of Ecclesiastes and Job are written in poetry.
In addition it is important to realise that the literary genres called wisdom and poetry are by no means restricted to these five books. As we shall see, these genres are found throughout the Old Testament (and even in the New Testament). Still, it is within these five books that poetry and wisdom are concentrated in the Old Testament, and this section serves a distinct purpose within the canon of Scripture. Major purposes:
• Commentary on the Old Testament narrative
Together with Lamentations and the Prophetic books of