Page 1 of 2
Names of the Book
English: | Lamentations |
Hebrew: | איכה |
Transliterated: | Eikhah |
Other names: |
Who
Wrote the book: | Jeremiah |
Are the key people: | Jeremiah, the people of Jerusalem |
Is it written to: | The people of Judah and Jerusalem |
What
Jeremiah mourns for Jerusalem (Lamentations 1:1-22) |
G-d punishes the sin of nations (Lamentations 2:1-22) |
Hope remains in the midst of affliction (Lamentations 3:1-66) |
G-d's anger will be satisfied (Lamentations 4:1-22) |
Jeremiah pleads for restoration (Lamentations 5:1-22) |
When
Was it written: | c 586 BCE |
Did the events occur: | c 586 BCE |
Was it canonized: | c 499-100 BCE |
(see the Timeline of the Tanakh) |
Where
Was it written: | Outside Jerusalem |
Did the events occur: | Jerusalem |
Why
Lamentations was written to inform us that: |
Jerusalem was destroyed as a consequence of sin. |
Even in the midst of judgment and destruction G-d has mercy. |
Sin has severe consequences. |
There is always hope in G-d's redemption. |
Introduction
The book of Lamentations is both history and poetry: it is a compilation of five poems which provide historical background on the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians. It has been described as a eulogy intended to mourn the loss of the kingdom of Judah and its capital. Although mostly dark and mournful, the book contains bright rays of hope which reveal that G-d's compassion is new every morning and His faithfulness is great... even to those who do not deserve it.
Scripture- Book Selection