[310.] The tribe of Judah lead the way. They are followed by the tribe of Reuben ([v. 331]) and then by the tribe of Simeon ([v. 340]). This order is perhaps taken from Numbers, chapter ii.
[331.] The Children of Israel are called “sailors” in the poem, but no satisfactory explanation has been made of the usage.
[335, 336.] See Genesis 49:4.
[354.] This refers to God’s promise to Abraham. See Genesis 15:18; 22:17.
2. CYNEWULF AND HIS SCHOOL
[Aside from Cædmon’s Hymn, the only Old English poems whose author we know are four bearing the name of Cynewulf, Christ, Juliana, Elene, and The Fates of the Apostles. In these he signs his name by means of runes inserted in the manuscript. These runes, which are at once letters of the alphabet and words, are made to fit into the context. They are
Several other poems have been ascribed to Cynewulf, especially Andreas, The Dream of the Rood, Guthlac, The Phœnix, and Judith. Except for internal evidence there is no proof of the authorship of these poems. The Riddles were formerly thought to be by Cynewulf, but recent scholars have, with one notable exception, abandoned that theory.
Many reconstructions of the life of Cynewulf have been undertaken. The most reasonable theories seem to be that he was Cynewulf, Bishop of Lindisfarne, who died about 781; or that he was a priest, Cynewulf, who executed a decree in 803. There is no real proof that either of these men was the poet. For a good discussion of the Cynewulf question, see Strunk, Juliana, pp. xvii-xix, and Kennedy, The Poems of Cynewulf, Introduction.
Of the signed poems of Cynewulf, selections are here given from Christ and Elene.]