of this Book in the General Plan of Redemption—­7.  Arrangement of its Materials—­its Twofold Introduction; the Body of its History; its Two Appendixes—­8.  Its Date and Authorship—­9.  Uncertainty of its Chronology—­10.  The Book of Ruth.  Its Place in the History of Redemption—­III. The Books of Samuel—­11.  The Two Books of Samuel originally One Work—­Their Name—­12.  Their Office in the History of Redemption—­Eventful Character of the Period whose History they record—­Change to the Kingly Form of Government—­God’s Design in this—­The Kingly Office Typical of Christ—­13.  Contents of the Books of Samuel—­Introductory Division; Second Division; Third Division—­14.  Authorship and Date of their Composition—­IV. The Books of Kings—­15.  They Originally constituted a Single Book—­Their Names and Office—­Their Manner of Execution—­Their Main Divisions—­16.  The First Period—­17.  The Second Period—­18.  The Third Period—­19.  Chronology of the Books of Kings.  Their Date and Authorship—­V. The Books of Chronicles—­20.  They originally constituted One Work—­Their Various Names—­They constitute an Independent Work—­Their Office different from that of the Books of Kings—­Peculiarities which distinguish them from these Books—­Particular Attention to the Matter of Genealogy; Fullness of Detail in Respect to the Temple Service; Omission of the History of the Kingdom of Israel; other Omissions—­21.  Position of the Chronicles in the Hebrew Canon—­Their Authorship and Date—­Their Relation to the Books of Kings—­22.  Difficulties connected with these Books—­VI. Ezra and Nehemiah—­23.  General Remarks on these Books—­Change in the Relation of the Hebrews to the Gentile Nations—­Gradual Withdrawal of Supernatural Manifestations—­24.  While the Theocracy went steadily forward to the Accomplishment of its End—­The Jews reclaimed from Idolatry in Connection with the Captivity—­Establishment of the Synagogue Service and its Great Influence—­25.  The Book of Ezra—­Its Authorship—­Parts written in Chaldee—­Persian Monarchs mentioned by Ezra and Nehemiah—­26.  The Book of Nehemiah—­Its Contents and Divisions—­First Division; Second Division; Third Division—­27.  Authorship and Date of the Book—­VII. Esther—­28.  Contents of this Book—­Feast of Purim—­29.  The Ahasuerus of this Book—­Remarks on its History

CHAPTER XXI.

THE POETICAL BOOKS (INCLUDING ALSO ECCLESIASTES AND CANTICLES). 1.  Books reckoned as Poetical by the Hebrews—­Hebrew System of Accentuation—­A. Characteristics of Hebrew Poetry—­Its Spirit—­Harmony with the Spirit of the Theocracy; Vivid Consciousness of God’s Presence; Originality; Freshness and Simplicity of Thought; Variety—­Job and Isaiah.  David, Solomon; Diversity of Themes; Oriental Imagery; Theocratic Imagery—­Form of Hebrew Poetry—­3.  Its Rhythm that of Clauses—­Antithetic Parallelism; Synonymous Parallelism; Synthetic Parallelism—­Combinations