The book of lamentation
Submitted to African Institute for International
Studies (AIIS) in cooperation with Faith Theological
Seminary
By Eyob Zelalem
In partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the
Degree of Master of prophetic literature
Instructor Eyob mulatu
Date July 25 2023
Introduction
The Book of Lamentations (Hebrew: ֵאיָכה, ʾĒḵā, from its incipit meaning
"how") is a collection of poetic laments for the destruction of
Jerusalem in 586 BCE.[1] In the Hebrew Bible it appears in
the Ketuvim ("Writings") as one of the Five Megillot (or "Five
Scrolls") alongside the Song of Songs, Book of Ruth, Ecclesiastes and
the Book of Esther although there is no set order. In the Christian Old
Testament it follows the Book of Jeremiah, as the prophet Jeremiah is
its traditional author.[2][3] However, according to modern scholarship,
while the destruction of Jerusalem by Babylon in 586/7 BCE forms the
background to the poems, they were probably not written by Jeremiah.
[2]
Most likely, each of the book's chapters was written by a different
anonymous poet, and they were then joined to form the book.[3][4]
Some motifs of a traditional Mesopotamian "city lament" are evident in
this book, such as mourning the desertion of the city by God, its
destruction, and the ultimate return of the divinity; others "parallel
the funeral dirge in which the bereaved bewails... and... addresses the
[dead]".[2] The tone is bleak: God does not speak, the degree of
suffering is presented as overwhelming, and expectations of future
redemption are minimal. Nonetheless, the author repeatedly makes clear
that the city (and even the author himself) had profusely sinned
against God, to which God had strongly responded. In doing so the
author does not blame God but rather presents him as righteous, just
and sometimes even as merciful.
TITLE OF THE BOOK
A. Hebrew The title to the book in Hebrew is hkya (‘Ekah). This is the
Hebrew term for “How,”
“Alas,” or “Oh” that appears as the first word in the Hebrew text in
1:1; 2:1; 4:1. This word was
commonly used in Israelite funeral dirges (cf. 2 Sam 1:19; Isa 42:12)1
B. Greek: The title to the book in Greek is QRHNOI (Threnos) meaning
“lament.”
C. Latin: The title to the book in the Latin Vulgate was a
transliteration for the title “lament”
(Threni) and was subtitled Id est Lamentationes Jeremiae
Prophatae which became the basis for
our English title “Lamentations.”
DATE 586 B.C. and shortly after
A. Chapters 1--4 suggest an intensity which would have been
right after the fall of Jerusalem
B. Chapter 5 may describe a time when the “sharp pains of
defeat had dulled into the chronic ache of captivity”, but
it need not necessarily describe a later period (of up to
530 according to LaSor et al)2
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
A. This collection of songs was composed after the fall of the
city of Jerusalem in 587/6 bc
B. Perhaps this time should be identified with Jeremiah 39:1-
18.3Historical accounts are in 2
Kings 24--25 and 2 chronicles 36.
AUTHOR: Probably Jeremiah the Prophet
A. External Evidence:\
1. The Greek Septuagint (LXX) ascribes the book to the prophet
Jeremiah— QRHNOI IEREMIOU.”
2. Jewish tradition ascribed the book of Lamentations to the
prophet Jeremiah4
3. The Latin Vulgate ascribed the book to Jeremiah--Id est
Lamentationes Jeremiae Prophetae
4. The early church fathers, Origen and Jerome, understood
without question question that Jeremiah was the author of
Lamentations
B. Internal Evidence:
1. Jeremiah and Lamentations both convey a similar tone and
employ similar vocabulary
2. The main basis for rejecting Jeremiah as the author of the
book is style
a. Some would argue that since its poetic style is different
than that of Jeremiah that it should be assigned to “an
unknown eyewitness of the fall of Jerusalem, since the text
itself records nothing of authorship” But why could not
Jeremiah write in a poetic style
b. Arguments which affirm that Jeremiah and Lamentations do
not share a similar view point are not built upon sound
exegesis
c. conclusion
One cannot be dogmatic about the author of the book of
Jeremiah, but it seems reasonable to follow tradition in this
matter and identify its author as probably being Jeremiah the
prophet
Later interpretation and influence
Lamentations is recited annually by Jews on the fast day
of Tisha B'Av ("Ninth of Av") (July–August), mourning the
destruction of both the First Temple (by the Babylonians in
586 BCE) and the Second Temple (by the Romans in 70 CE).[3][4]
[22]
In Christian tradition, readings from Lamentations are part of
the Holy Week liturgies.[3]
In Western Christianity, readings (often chanted) and choral
settings of extracts from the book are used in
the Lenten religious service known as Tenebrae (Latin for
'darkness'). In the Church of England, readings are used
at Morning and Evening Prayer on
the Monday and Tuesday of Holy Week, and at Evening Prayer
on Good Friday.
In the Coptic Orthodox Church, the book's third chapter is
chanted on the 12th hour of the Good Friday service, that
commemorates the burial of Jesus.[citation needed]
Outline
I. A city mourns (1:1-22)
II. GOD as Enemy (2:1-22)
III. Gilipse of Hope (3:1-66)
IV. Ongoing suffering and a spark of Relife (4:1-22)
V. Plase, Lord, Help! (5:1-22)
Them of the book
1. Judgment: The long-warned judgment was finally upon them! God
faithfully punishes sin. Although repentance had repeatedly been
offered, there comes a time when it is too late and God decrees
appropriate judgment.
2. Lamenting: Expressing grief in appropriate ways can be
beneficial. Jeremiah shows us that lamenting is good for the soul
and that periods of sadness should not be suppressed.
3. Hope: Beyond despair, there is always hope. Despite rebelling
against the Lord, committing idolatry, and engaging in terrible
acts, the people of Judah were still offered hope in their
punishment from God.
PURPOSES FOR THE BOOK
A. To provide an emotional postscript to the book of Jeremiah
B. To express grief over the fall of Jerusalem because of her sin
C. To remind the readers that “sin, in spite of all its allurement
and excitement, carries with it heavy weights of sorrow, grief,
misery, barrenness, and pain
D. To “offer reproof, instruction, and hope” to the survivors of
fallen Jerusalem
E. To “chasten Israel that they recognize the righteousness of God’s
dealings with them, and that in a spirit of repentance they cast
themselves once more upon His mercy
Literary style
A. The entire book of Lamentations is poetic in its form
B. Each chapter of the book is comprised of a poem making five
poems in all
C. The poems use the literary style of an acrostic where the
poem is built around the alphabet
The Parallels between Lamentations and
Deuteronomy
Lamentations Deuteronomy
She dwells among the
And among those nations you
1:3 nations but she has found no 28:65
shall find no rest.
rest.
Her adversaries have become He shall be the head, you
1:5a 28:44
the head shall be the tail
Her little ones have gone Your sons and your daughters
1:5c away as captives before the 28:32 shall be given to another
adversary. people.
They have fled without You shall flee seven way
1:6c 28:25
strength before the pursuer. before them
You shall have sons and
My virgins and my young daughters, but they shall not
1:18c 28:41
men have gone into captivity be yours, for they shall go
into captivity
You shall become a horror, a
All who pass along the way
proverb, a taunt among all
2:15 clap their hands in derision at 28:37
the people where the Lord
you
will drive you.
2:20 Should women eat their 28:53-57 Then you shall eat the
offspring? offspring of your own body ....
...who shall have no respect
On the ground in the streets
2:21 28:50 for the old, nor show favor to
lie young and old
the young
...the refined and delicate
The hands of compassionate women among you ... she
4:10 women boiled their own 28:56-57 shall eat them secretly (i.e.,
children her children) for lack of
anything else ....
Our houses were given to You shall build a house, but
5:2b 28:30
aliens you shall not live in it.
And among those nations you
5:5 There is no rest for us. 28:65
shall find no rest
... the burning heat of ... the rain of your land
5:10 28:24
famine .... powder and dust ....
Who shall have no respect for
5:11 Women of Zion ravished. 28:30
the old ....
Who shall have no respect for
5:12 Elders were not respected 28:50
the old ....
5:18 foxes prowl in Zion 28:26 And your carcasses shall be
food to all birds of the sky
and to the beasts of the
earth, and there shall be no
one to frighten them away.
Summery
The book consists of five separate poems.[3] In the first (chapter
1), the city sits as a desolate weeping widow overcome with
miseries. In chapter 2, these miseries are described in
connection with national sins and acts of God. Chapter 3 speaks
of hope for the people of God: that the chastisement would only
be for their good; a better day would dawn for them. Chapter 4
laments the ruin and desolation of the city and temple, but
traces it to the people's sins. Chapter 5 is a prayer that Zion's
reproach may be taken away in the repentance and recovery of the
people.
Encouragement for someone experiencing profound
suffering based on the Book of Lamentations:
"It is because of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed
since His compassions never fail." Lamentations 3:22 KJV
When burdened beyond our capacity, we must avoid bitterness.
Instead, let our faith transform us for the better. For
Christians, suffering should be perceived as a threefold call to
yearn for a better world, strive to become a better person, and
live out a more inspiring witness.
Occasionally, suffering may lead to loss of life. However, even
being alive amidst such immense pain signifies God's mercy.
Therefore, there is hope – God can aid in easing your suffering.
bibliography
1. Andrew E. Hill and John H. Walton, A Survey of the Old Testament, 334
Andrew E. Hill and John H. 1. Walton, A Survey of the Old Testament, 334
2. https://insight.org/resources/bible/the-major-prophets/lamentations
3. https://www.biblestudytools.com/lamentations/
4. https://bible.org/article/introduction-book-lamentations
5. Tyndale Old Testament commentaries, volume 21. inter-varsity press Norton
Street, Nottingham NG7 3HR, England, 2001
