[Avodah] Rhyming in Tanach

[Dr. Josh Backon]

R. Moshe Yehuda Gluck asked:

>Is rhyming ever used in Tanach?


Think of the alliteration in Ha'Azinu and in V'Zoht ha'Bracha.
[likchi - imrati; k's'irim - v'chirvivim; kanecha - vayechonenecha;
yesovevenhu - y'vonenehu - yitzrenu; tumecha - v'urecha - chasidecha; 
etc.] Think of Shirat Devorah (Shoftim 5) [chadashim - she'arim;
mashabim - la'she'arim; lakachu - nilchamu. Also Shmuel Bet 22
(sal'i - um'tzudati - u'mfalti). Then of course most of Yeshayahu
and in Trei Asar. [e.g. Yeshayahu 1: petza - v'chabura - u'maka tri'a;
3 (ha'avasim - v'hashvisim - v'hasaharonim; ha'machalatzot - v'hama'atafot-
v'hamitpachot).


While not rhyme, there is also extensive use of acrostics (Tehillim 9, 10,
25, 34, 37, 119; Mishlei 31:10-31; Eicha).

Just as a reminder to readers:

The halachic requirements for studying start with: Hebrew grammar
(see: Chavot Yair 124, R. Yaakov Emden in Migdal Oz 16d-17a,
Introduction of the GRA on Shulchan Aruch ORACH CHAIM), followed by all
of Tanach (Torah, Neviim and Ketuvim) (see: Rosh Hagiv'a 11a, R. Chaim
of Volozhin in Keter Rosh 58, and the Netziv in the beginning of his
Ha'emek Davar 5). Only after one masters Hebrew and Tanach does one start
with Mishna and Gemara.

Those who stress thorough mastery of all of Tanach include: ROSH on Bava
Metzia 2 toward the end; R. Yaakov Lipman Heller in his Introduction to
the Maadaney Yom Tov to Bava Kama; the Maharal in Gur Aryeh to Devarim 6:7 and
in his Tiferet Yisrael 56; the SHELAH at the beginning of Shavuot; Vavey
Ha'Amudim, Amud Hatorah 5; the Meharsha on the gemara in Sanhedrin 24a;
Yosif Ometz 270, 284; the Amudey Shesh 24; the Bach on TUR Yoreh Deah 245
d"h haya minhag; R. Yaakov Emden in his Siddur Beit Yaakov in Hilchot Talmud
Torah; the Pri Megadim at the beginning of Orach Chaim; the Even Sheleima
8:2; Toldot Adam 3; Shulchan Aruch HaRav Hilchot Talmud Torah 1:1; SHU'T
Zera Emet Yoreh Deah 107; the Netivot Hamishpat; R. Shimshon Refael Hirsch in
Chorev 551.


KT

Josh