Lamentations Criticism
Lamentations, traditionally attributed to the prophet Jeremiah, is a powerful collection of five Hebrew poems found in the Old Testament. It articulates the profound grief and suffering experienced by the survivors of Jerusalem following its devastating siege by Babylon in 587 B.C. Renowned for its intricate acrostic structure and use of dirge meter, Lamentations stands as a poignant expression of communal desolation and theological reflection, as noted by scholars such as Herbert Lockyer.
The thematic complexity of Lamentations is marked by a progression from mourning to a faint glimmer of hope, with the city of Jerusalem metaphorically depicted as a fallen queen. According to Harvey H. Guthrie Jr., the poems weave together elements of human suffering and divine retribution, suggesting that acknowledgment of sin is a prerequisite for redemption. The question of divine justice is central, as James Fischer describes the poems as being "incandescent with emotions of desolation, grief, incomprehension, and indignation."
Scholarly debates around Lamentations are extensive, focusing on aspects such as authorship, structure, and theological implications. While Claus Westermann emphasizes the importance of its form and origins for theological reflection, others like Tod Linafelt highlight differences between the Hebrew and Targum versions, underscoring the text's adaptability in interpreting survival.
The acrostic nature of the poems, hailed as a "literary jewel" by Kathleen M. O’Connor, has sparked debate about whether this structure detracts from or enhances the message. Nevertheless, the book's literary artistry and theological insights continue to captivate scholars. As Norman K. Gottwald notes, the poems suggest a divinely ordained destruction, yet offer a glimpse of hope for renewal amidst despair.
The varied tone and perspective within the poems, particularly the metaphor of Jerusalem as a fallen queen, illustrate the city's devastation. The central poem's introduction of hope, arguing that God's anger is not eternal, and the final communal plea for restoration highlight this thematic shift. According to William F. Lanahan, these shifts showcase the use of multiple personae. Scholars like Thomas F. McDaniel and W.C. Gwaltney Jr. have explored potential influences from Near Eastern literature, with McDaniel dismissing Sumerian influence due to lack of evidence.
The critical reception of Lamentations is varied, with ongoing discussions about its acrostic form, authorship, and compositional chronology. Georg Fohrer questions the traditional attribution to Jeremiah, while Samuel Tobias Lachs suggests a later composition date for the fifth chapter. Despite these debates, Lamentations remains a seminal work within biblical scholarship, lauded for its emotional depth and theological exploration.
Contents
- Principal Works
-
Lamentations (Classical and Medieval Literature Criticism)
-
Lamentations
(summary)
In the following excerpt, Robinson discusses the general characteristics of the verses in Lamentations, their varying levels of emotional intensity, and their probable order of composition.
-
The Theology of Doom and The Theology of Hope
(summary)
In the following excerpt, Gottwald argues that Lamentations stresses the unique nature of the fall of Jerusalem and Israel's sins in order to convince its audience that the destruction must have been the will of God and that, in the face of discouraging external conditions, hope of renewal can nevertheless be found.
-
Lamentations
(summary)
In the following excerpt from an essay originally written in German in 1965, Fohrer concisely describes the literary type and style of Lamentations and discusses what can be deduced of its origin and authorship.
-
The Date of Lamentations V
(summary)
In the following essay, Lachs contends that the fifth chapter of Lamentations was written around 168-65 b.c.e., justifying the conclusion with his interpretations of its verses.
-
The Alleged Sumerian Influence upon Lamentations
(summary)
In the following essay, McDaniel examines and rejects the supposed relationship of Sumerian literature to Lamentations, basing his conclusion in part on the fact that the parallels that exist are general and that no convincing means of transmission has been found.
-
The Meaning and Purpose of Lamentations
(summary)
In the following essay, Hillers provides an overview of Lamentations and explores a number of topics including its place in the biblical canon; its alphabetic acrostics; its meter, parallelism, syntax, and strophic structure; and its liturgical use.
-
The Speaking Voice in the Book of Lamentations
(summary)
In the following essay, Lanahan offers a detailed examination of five distinctive narrative personae in Lamentations and explains how their use benefits the work.
-
The Conclusion of the Book of Lamentations (5:22)
(summary)
In the following essay, Gordis considers and rejects assorted approaches to the problematic closing verse in Lamentations and offers his own interpretation based on a different reading of the syntactic structure employed.
-
Human Suffering in Lamentations
(summary)
In the following essay, Moore critiques attempts at finding unity in Lamentations and contends that its theme and structure work together to express grief and promote hope.
-
History and Poetry in Lamentations
(summary)
In the following essay, Hillers explores the reasons behind the lack of historical material in Lamentations and explains that what little of it can be found owes more to literary and religious traditions than to history.
-
The Biblical Book of Lamentations in the Context of Near Eastern Lament Literature
(summary)
In the following essay, Gwaltney summarizes the history of Mesopotamian laments, analyzes their forms, and argues that the gaps in the record that caused Thomas F. McDaniel to reject the notion of Sumerian influence on Lamentations have now been bridged.
-
Lamentations
(summary)
-
Lamentations (Poetry Criticism)
-
Lamentations
(summary)
In the following essay, Lockyer provides a brief overview of the Book of Lamentations.
-
Lamentations
(summary)
In the following essay, Guthrie provides a thematic and stylistic examination of the five poems that comprise the Book of Lamentations.
-
Lamentations
(summary)
In the following essay, Fischer provides a close reading of the poems of the Book of Lamentations, asserting that the pieces are “incandescent with emotions of desolation, grief, incomprehension, and indignation.”
-
Lamentations
(summary)
In the following essay, Westermann explores the function, significance, literary form, and origins of the Book of Lamentations.
-
Survival in Translation: The Targum to Lamentations
(summary)
In the following essay, Linafelt describes the origin, nature, and character of the Targum Lamentations and differentiates the Targum and Hebraic versions of the poems.
-
‘None Survived or Escaped’: Reading for Survival in Lamentations 1 and 2
(summary)
In the following essay, Linafelt examines elements of the dirge and lament in the first two chapters of the Book of Lamentation, deeming these sections 'literature of survival.'
-
The Book of Lamentations
(summary)
In the following essay, O'Connor examines the historical setting, authorship, liturgical uses, and literary features of the Book of Lamentations, calling the work “a literary jewel and a rich resource for theological reflection and worship.”
-
Lamentations
(summary)
- Further Reading