Introduction
This paper is based on the book of Lamentations. In Hebrew the title Lamentations is ‘ekah’
which means “How” is appeared in the beginning of the book which is specially used to show
grief. So this book is showing grief towards the destruction of Jerusalem through funeral
songs and mourning.1
Historical background
The Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem in 587 BC then only this book was written to grieve
over it. So this book contains funeral songs. The hope of the Jews was centre upon the
Temple and upon David’s family rule in Jerusalem but was ended after the destruction of
Jerusalem and the conquest of Judah. So there was no hope for the Jews, no new
circumstances are mentioned which could bring hope to the Jews that indicate this book may
be written before Cyrus who rose to power and set the exile free to return to Jerusalem.
Probably, the book must have been written before 538 BC as Zech. 7:3 says that during the
time of the Exile, mourning and fasting took an important part in the life of the Jewish
community.2
Position in Canon
Lamentations is included among the five scrolls, since it is read on the ninth of Ab, the day of
fasting and mourning in remembrance over the destruction of the Temple. The writings
follow the LXX and the Vulgate which placed this book after the Prophecies of Jeremiah. In
the Hebrew Canon, it is placed not in the second collection, which include the Prophets along
with the earlier Historical Books, but in the third collection known as the Writings. 3
Authorship
No authorship is given in the book. According to the LXX, Vulgate and Jewish tradition, on
the basis of 2 Ch. 35:25, the author of the Book of Lamentation is Jeremiah. Some
similarities are there between Lamentations and Jeremiah like their harmony in attributing
Jerusalem’s destruction to God’s judgment and certain stylistic parallels. But against the
authorship of Jeremiah, some evidences are stated by some scholars like S. R. Driver and E.
J. Young cited similar lines of evidence and reach differing conclusions.
External evidence:
1
David F. Hinson, The Book of the Old Testament, rev. ed., (Delhi: ISPCK, 1973), 146.
2
David F. Hinson, The Book of the Old Testament, rev. ed., (Delhi: ISPCK, 1973), 147.
3
A. S. Peake, The Century Bible: Jeremiah and Lamentations, vol. 2, rev.,(London: T. C. & E. C. Jack, 1911), 289.
We have no external evidence earlier than that of the LXX translation for the traditional view,
and this is too late to bear any weight. It is possible, that the author of Lam. 3 attributed one
or more of the poems to Jeremiah. Of course the popular view that Jeremiah was like to have
written the Lamentations because his temperament was such as to find pleasant expression in
such compositions, largely depends for its validity on an estimate of Jeremiah derived from
book itself, as estimate of Jeremiah derived from the book itself, and estimate reflected in our
word ‘Jeremiad’. But still there are indications in Jeremiah’s undoubted work of a
temperament akin to that which finds utterance in our book (cf. Jer.9:1; 13:17; 14:17).
Lamentation is alike with the Book of Jeremiah in language and ideas. A. B. Davidson says:
‘The whole style of these poems, though exquisitely beautiful and touching, and studded with
the thoughts of the great prophet, is absolutely different to anything we find in the long roll of
Jeremiah’s great work.4
Internal evidence
Many scholars such as Chaney, Ewald, Eissfeldt, Pfeiffer and others dismiss authorship by
Jeremiah. The main reason given in support of this is that the tradition is unreliable, being
removed by three centuries from the age of the prophet. Internal evidence in comparison with
Jeremiah’s other writings, and several historical allusions are used as alleged evidence. In
reply, it may be said that if Jeremiah is not the author, no other contemporaneous writer fits
the category with any show of probability. Denying Jeremiah’s authorship, critics are cast
into complete confusion concerning who the author was. But the Vulgate, LXX and Targum
of Jonathan and many church fathers and commentators follow this tradition.5
Literary structure
4
A. S. Peake, The Century Bible: Jeremiah and Lamentations, vol. 2, rev.,(London: T. C. & E. C. Jack, 1911), 294.
5
Merrill F. Unger, Unger’s Bible Dictionary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1969), 641-642.
