Article Index

Names of the Book

THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM BY TITUS- Wilhelm Von Kaulbach

English:  Lamentations
Hebrew:  איכה
Transliterated:  Eikhah
Other names:   

 

whoWho

Wrote the book:  Jeremiah
Are the key people:  Jeremiah, the people of Jerusalem
Is it written to:  The people of Judah and Jerusalem

 

whatWhat

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)

 

whenWhen

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)

 

whereWhere

Was it written:  Outside Jerusalem
Did the events occur:  Jerusalem

 

whyWhy

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.

 

whyIntroduction

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.

 

 

Torah Portion

unknown

 

 

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Today is

Yom Sh'lishi, 9 Adar II, 5784

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

 

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