Psalms

We are starting with the Psalms.

The word "Psalms" in its original form connotates praises, prayers, and also stringed instruments and their accompanied songs.

There are 150 Psalms which are divided into 5 Books: 1-41, 42-72, 73-89, 90-106 and 107-150.

34 of the Psalms are referred to as the "Orphan Psalms" because they have no superscription.

The word Selah appears 39 times in the Psalms. The meaning however is unknown but it may indicate a brief musical or litergical interlude.

1. Prayers of the Individual
2. Praise from the Individual for Go's saving Help
3. prayers of the community
4. Praise from the community for God's Saving help
5. confessions of confidence in the Lord
6. hymns in praise of God's majest and virtues
7. Hymns celebrating God's universal reign
8. Songs of Zion
9. Royal Psalms by for or concerning the Lord's anointed
10. Plgrimage songs
11. Liturgical songs
12. Didactic (instructional songs

Hebrew Poetry lacks rhyme and regular meter. ITs most distrinctive and pervasive feature is parallelism.