problem which modern pedagogy has been unable to solve. If this volume serves to point out anew what every intelligent man should know about the Old Testament, if it helps to give parents, teachers, and pupils a better appreciation of the Bible narratives and their value from a literary as well as an ethical point of view, if it brings the reader to a more adequate conception of the thoughts and ideas which lie at the foundation of Christian civilization, and if it succeeds in emphasizing the beauties and verities upon which the saints of all the ages have fed their souls, it will prove, we may confidently hope, a most important contribution to our educational literature. Two quotations must suffice to show the value of such a contribution. "A gilt-clasped Bible," says Arnold Bennett, "is the secret of England's greatness. "When the history of twentieth-century culture shall be written," adds Professor Rankin, "no feature of that culture will be more noteworthy than the increasingly conscious recognition of the unclasped Bible as an impelling force and guide in the life of men of Anglo-Saxon civilization." Harrisburg, Pa. March 30, 1916. NATHAN C. SCHAEFFER. TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE INTRODUCTION CHAPTER I METHOD OF MASTERY Present-day ignorance of the Bible. Not an open CULTURE VALUE OF THE BIBLE. Its emphasis on the value of human life. Its solutions CHAPTER III ITS VALUE AS LITERATURE The critical study of the books of the Bible not ir- THE BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. The books of the Pentateuch. The historical books. PAGE 5 7 17 35 44 59 70 OLD TESTAMENT STORIES. PAGE CHAPTER VI CHARACTERISTICS OF OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 89 CHAPTER VII GENESIS AS A STORY BOOK FOR CHILDREN CHAPTER VIII THE BOOK OF RUTH The story. Analysis and Comment. CHAPTER X THE CHAPTER XI OLD TESTAMENT POETRY. 95 105 113 124 CHARACTERISTICS OF OLD TESTAMENT POETRY 131 Shorter A Noble qualities of Hebrew poetry. Its form. CHAPTER XII THE BOOK OF PSALMS Divisions, five books. The number of the psalms. CHAPTER XIII THE BOOK OF JOB Authorship. A great drama. Its theme. The char- CHAPTER XIV THE SONG OF SONGS A brief Difficulties of interpretation. A series of wedding songs. Interpretation in five acts and thirteen scenes: Act I, King Solomon tries to win favor of captive 142 153 166 Act II. She declares her devotion to her shepherd Act III. The Shulamite taken to Jerusalem with the Act IV. She still protests her allegiance to her Act V. Love has won. The Shulamite returns to her lover and her vineyards. Comments on the form and meaning of the poem. BOOKS OUTSIDE THE CANON. CHAPTER XV OLD TESTAMENT APOCRYPHA Definition of the term Apocrypha. Brief account of PAGE 177 TESTAMENT SECTION 2 A BRIEF OUTLINE OF HEBREW HISTORY 196 199 SECTION 4 LIST OF THE GREAT STORIES OF THE OLD TESTA- SECTION 5 THE BIBLE STUDENT'S LIBRARY |