Formula Criticism and the Poetry of the Old Testament

244 Pages·1976·7.012 MB·English

by  William R. Watters

William R. Wärters
Formula Criticism and the Poetry
of the Old Testament

William R. Watters
Formula Criticism and the Poetry
of the Old Testament
w
DE
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Walter de Gruyter · Berlin · New York
1976
Beiheft zur Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft
Herausgegeben von Georg Fohrer
138
©
ISBN 3110057301
1976
by Waltet de Gruyter & Co., vormals G. J. Göschen'sche Verlagshandlung — J. Guttentag,
Verlagsbuchhandlung — Georg Reimer — Karl J. Trübner — Veit & Comp., Berlin 30
Alle Rechte des Nachdrucks, der photomechanischen Wiedergabe,
der Übersetzung, der Herstellung von Mikrofilmen und Photokopien,
auch auszugsweise, vorbehalten.
Printed in Germany
Satz und Druck: Hubert & Co., Göttingen
Bindearbeiten: Lüderitz & Bauer, Berlin 61
To Ginny

"Need we suppose that Shakespeare was indebted
either to Jeremiah or to Job when he put into
Hamlet's mouth the words:
Ο cursed spite
That ever I was born to set it right!"
A. Guillaume,
Studies in the Book of Job,
with a New Translation, 15

Preface
Certainly in the completion of any published research, there are many
persons, in addition to the author, who play significant roles at various
stages. First, I must express my indebtedness to Dr. Jacob M. Myers
(Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) who convinced me that the field of biblical
Hebrew poetic composition was not exhausted in its entirety by Segert,
Robinson and Lowth. And I would be remiss were I not to thank Drs.
George Nickelsberg and Helen Goldstein (Iowa City, Iowa) for their
advice and criticism of the manuscript at various stages. Foremost,
however, was the concern and constant prodding of Dr. J. Kenneth
Kuntz (Iowa City, Iowa) who oversaw the production of the manuscript
in its final form. Without the constant encouragement of my wife,
Virginia, who proof-read the manuscript at every point of preparation,
the work would never have been completed.
Last, but in no small measure, I wish to show my indebtedness to
Rabbi Leroy M. Diamond (Jerusalem) who taught me that it is not only
important to examine the elements of the Hebrew poetic line, but also
to appreciate the content of those lines. He has convinced me through
study together that the poetry is central to the continuous Judaic tradition,
and he has shown me through personal example that Jewry today is the
embodiment of that tradition.
Jerusalem, Israel William Walters
December 25, 1975