study of the king james bible(钦印〈圣经〉研究)-第24章
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Genesis。 When it was over he asked an old listener what he thought of his
effort； and the only comment was； 〃You can't beat Moses！〃 Well； it would
be difficult to surpass these Bible writers in simplicity； in going straight to
the point； and making that plain and leaving it。 Where the Bible takes a
hundred words to tell the whole story Browning takes several hundred
lines to tell it。
The simplicity of the Bible is largely because there is so little abstract
reasoning in it。 Having few or no abstract ideas； it does not need abstract
words。 Rather； it groups its whole movement around characters。 Three
eminent literary men were once asked to select the best reviews of a novel
which had just appeared。 One of the three statements which they rated
highest said of the book that it 〃achieves the true purpose of a novel；
which is to make comprehensible the philosophy of life of a whole
community or race of men by showing us how that philosophy accords
with the impulses and yearnings of typical individuals。〃 Few phrases could
be more foreign to Bible phrases than those。 But there is valuable
suggestion in it for more than the literature of the novel。 That is exactly
what the Scripture does。 Its reasoning is kept concrete by the fact that it is
dealing with characters more than movements； and so it can speak in
concrete words。 That always makes for simplicity。
There are two elements common to the history of literature about
which a special word is deserved。 I mean the dramatic and the oratorical
elements。 The difference between the dramatic and the oratorical is chiefly
that in dramatic writing there is a scene in which many take part； and in
the oratorical writing one man presents the whole scene； however dramatic
the surroundings。 There is not a great deal of either in the Scripture。 There
is no formal drama； nothing that could be acted as it stands。 It is true； to be
sure； that Job can be cast into dramatic form by a sufficient manipulation；
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but it is quite unlikely； in spite of some scholars； that it was ever meant to
be a formal drama for action。 It does move in cycles in the appearance of
its characters； and it does close in a way to take one back to the beginning。
It has many marks of the drama； and yet it seems very unlikely that it was
ever prepared with that definitely in mind。 On the other hand； a most
likely explanation of the Song of Solomon is that it is a short drama which
appears in our Bible without any character names； as though you should
take 〃Hamlet〃 and print it continuously； indicating in no way the change of
speakers nor any movement。 The effort has been measurably successful to
discover and insert the names of the probable speakers。 That seems to be
the one exception to the general statement that there is no formal drama in
the Scripture。 But there are some very striking dramatic episodes； and they
are made dramatic for us very largely by the way they are told。 One of the
earlier is in I Kings xviii：21…39。 It is almost impossible to read it aloud
without dramatic expression：
〃And Elijah came unto all the people； and said； How long halt ye
between two opinions？ if the Lord be God； follow him： but if Baal； then
follow him。 And the people answered him not a word。 Then said Elijah
unto the people； I； even I only； remain a prophet of the Lord； but Baal's
prophets are four hundred and fifty men。 Let them therefore give us two
bullocks； and let them choose one bullock for themselves； and cut it in
pieces； and lay it on wood； and put no fire under； and I will dress the other
bullock； and lay it on wood； and put no fire under： and call ye on the name
of your gods； and I will call on the name of the Lord： and the God that
answereth by fire； let him be God。 And all the people answered and said； It
is well spoken。 And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal； Choose you one
bullock for yourselves； and dress it first； for ye are many； and call on the
name of your gods； but put no fire under。 And they took the bullock which
was given them； and they dressed it； and called on the name of Baal from
morning until noon； saying； O Baal； hear us。 But there was no voice； nor
any that answered。 And they leaped upon the altar which was made。 And it
came to pass at noon； that Elijah mocked them； and said； Cry aloud； for he
is a god； either he is talking； or he is pursuing； or； he is in a journey； or
peradventure he sleepeth； and must be awakened。 And they cried aloud；
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and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets； till the
blood gushed out upon them。 And it came to pass； when midday was past；
and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice；
that there was neither voice； nor any to answer； nor any that regarded。 And
Elijah said unto all the people； Come near unto me。 And all the people
came near unto him。 And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken
down。 And Elijah took twelve stones； according to the number of the tribes
of the sons of Jacob； unto whom the word of the Lord came； saying； Israel
shall be thy name。 And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the
Lord； and he made a trench about the altar； as great as would contain two
measures of seed。 And he put the wood in order； and cut the bullock in
pieces； and laid him on the wood； and said； Fill four barrels with water；
and pour it on the burnt sacrifice； and on the wood。 And he said； Do it the
second time。 And they did it the second time。 And he said； Do it the third
time。 And they did it the third time。 And the water ran round about the
altar； and he filled the trench also with water。 And it came to pass at the
time of the offering of the evening sacrifice； that Elijah the prophet came
near； and said； Lord God of Abraham； Isaac； and of Israel； let it be known
this day that thou art God in Israel； and that I am thy servant； and that I
have done all these things at thy word。 Hear me； O Lord； hear me； that this
people may know that thou art the Lord God； and that thou hast turned
their heart back again。 Then the fire of the Lord fell； and consumed the
burnt sacrifice； and the wood； and the stones； and the dust； and licked up
the water that was in the trench。 And when all the people saw it； they fell
on their faces： and they said； The Lord； he is the God； the Lord； he is the
God。〃
That is not simply a dramatic event； that is a striking telling of it。 It is
more than a narrative。 In narrative literature the scene is accepted as
already constructed。 In dramatic literature such appeal is made to the
imagination that the reader reconstructs the scene for himself。 We are not
told in this how Elijah felt； or how he acted； nor how the people as a whole
looked； nor the setting of the scene； but if one reads it with care it makes
its own setting。 The scene constructs itself。
The dramatic style does not prevail at most important points of the
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Scripture； because it is a fic
