Copyright 1934
Columbia University Press

Reprinted with the permission of the original publisher

Manufactured in the United States of America

GRATEFULLY DEDICATED
TO
RICHARD J. H. GOTTHEIL

NOTE

Professor Cumming has chosen a most interesting subject uponwhich to write a comparison of “The Assyrian and the Hebrew Hymnsof Praise.” He has spent a number of years developing his theme, andhas produced a book which I commend heartily to the attention ofscholars who are interested in this field. Of course, we do not possessall the hymns written by the Assyrian poets, nor have we all thoseproduced by the old Hebrew songsters. But we certainly have sufficientto make it possible for us to form a just idea of their characterand of their beauty.

Richard Gottheil

FOREWORD

It was the author’s original intention to add to this book a translationof all the important Assyrian hymns; for a bringing together ofhymns now scattered through many books and periodicals would bea very real service to Old Testament scholarship. Such a task howevercalls for the knowledge and skill of the thoroughly competentAssyriologist. It is hoped that the list of texts and translations appendedto this book may make it easier for any interested reader tolocate and carry further the study of any particular hymn. In thecase of the Hebrew psalms some slight confusion may be sparedthe reader if he recognizes that the numbering of the verses is thatof the Hebrew text, which differs slightly in certain psalms fromthat of the English translations.

Charles Gordon Cumming

CONTENTS

THE HEBREW HYMNS OF PRAISE

I. Hebrew Psalms Which Are Not Hymns 3

II. Hebrew Sanctuary Hymns of Praise 18

III. Hebrew Eschatological Hymns 32

IV. Hebrew Nature Hymns 39

V. Hebrew Hymns in Praise of Sacred Institutions 44

THE ASSYRIAN HYMNS OF PRAISE

VI. Assyrian Hymnal Introductions to Prayers 53

VII. Assyrian Antiphonal Hymns 72

VIII. Assyrian Self-Laudations of the Gods 83

A COMPARISON OF THE ASSYRIAN AND THE HEBREW HYMNS

IX. The Literary Form of the Assyrian and the Hebrew Hymns 95

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