the balancing of one thought against another by using syllabic accentual values which most probably never corresponded to strictly measurable units. Apart from rhyme, which does not occur in Hebrew poetry, the Old Testament authors made abundant use of all other literary devices found in poetic writings, including assonance, various figures of speech, and alliteration. Some poems were organized in terms of acrostic configurations, the most familiar example being provided by Psalm 119. Lamentations,