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2013 October 10



Jeremiah Lamenting the Destruction of Jerusalem (1630)
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606-1669)
Dutch Golden Age Baroque Style
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Image Source: Web Gallery of Art


     The Book of Lamentations Overview: Lamentations is a series of 5 poems lamenting the final fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians in about 586 B.C. The first four chapters are acrostic poems. The fifth chapter is a non-acrostic poem. Each chapter has 22 verses except for chapter 3 which has 66 verses, consisting of 22 triplet acrostics. The first chapter follows the normal alphabetic order; but chapters 2-4 have a reversal of letter number 16 (called "Ayin") with number 17 ( called "Pe") -- (i.e., the order is Pe, Ayin in chapters 2, 3, and 4). Tradition holds that Jeremiah is the author, and the content of the book is consistent with Jeremiah's style in the Book of Jeremiah - particularly his use of poetry, laments, and variations of speakers (where he speaks, the people speak, and the LORD speaks, often without formal introduction - discernible by context - which is a device used by other prophets and poets in Scripture). For purposes of illustration, I've analyzed the chapters for major components of the mourning process in accord with "The Five Stages of Grief," as well as for content.

     Explanation: Depression. In Lamentations 4 (as in chapter one and chapter two) the opening word is the exclamation, "eyk," "how!?" -- the word of denial -- how can these things be!? The chapter deals almost entirely with the depressing afflictions which abounded among God's people; verses 21 and 22, however, warn Edom that their punishment is coming, but the punishment of Israel is coming to an end. The chapter opens with a wail that the fine gold is marred, the stones of the sanctuary are thrown down, and the sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, are treated like common pots (1-2). Jeremiah complains that even sea monsters suckle their young, but the babes in Zion thirst and starve, being abandoned; the delicate are desolate in the streets, and the finely clothed embrace dunghills (3-5). Israel's punishment is greater than Sodom's (6). The Nazarites who were purer than snow and whiter than milk are blacker than coal and withered (7-8). Those who died early were better off than those who wasted away (9). Even the pitiful women ate their own children (10). The LORD, in his fury, devoured the foundations of Zion, doing what even the kings of other nations would not have believed possible; and this was for the bloodshed of their prophets and priests who (metaphorically) staggered blind and defiled with blood through the streets until others drove them away for their pollution; and even the heathen to whom they fled chased them away because the LORD had divided them and regarded them no longer (11-16). Meanwhile, Judah waited in vain for help from a nation which could not deliver them; their streets were unsafe; their end was near; their persecutors were swift and ubiquitous; their anointed one (King Zedekiah, in whom they trusted) was unable to deliver them (17-20). As the chapter closes, Jeremiah turns his attention to one of Israel's oldest enemies, Edom, and ironically tells her to rejoice (while they can) for the harm that is coming on Judah because Edom will also suffer, but Zion will be delivered permanently (21-22).


Lamentations 4

Aleph

1 How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street.

Beth

2 The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!

Gimel

3 Even the sea monsters draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones: the daughter of my people is become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.

Daleth

4 The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, and no man breaketh it unto them.

He

5 They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.

Waw

6 For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her.

Zayin

7 Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire:

Heth

8 Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets: their skin cleaveth to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick.

Teth

9 They that be slain with the sword are better than they that be slain with hunger: for these pine away, stricken through for want of the fruits of the field.

Yodh

10 The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children: they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people.

Kaph

11 The LORD hath accomplished his fury; he hath poured out his fierce anger, and hath kindled a fire in Zion, and it hath devoured the foundations thereof.

Lamed

12 The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy should have entered into the gates of Jerusalem.

Mem

13 For the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her,

Nun

14 They have wandered as blind men in the streets, they have polluted themselves with blood, so that men could not touch their garments.

Samech

15 They cried unto them, Depart ye; it is unclean; depart, depart, touch not: when they fled away and wandered, they said among the heathen, They shall no more sojourn there.

Pe

16 The anger of the LORD hath divided them; he will no more regard them: they respected not the persons of the priests, they favoured not the elders.

Ayin

17 As for us, our eyes as yet failed for our vain help: in our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save us.

Sadhe

18 They hunt our steps, that we cannot go in our streets: our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end is come.

Qoph

19 Our persecutors are swifter than the eagles of the heaven: they pursued us upon the mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness.

Resh

20 The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the LORD, was taken in their pits, of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the heathen.

Shin

21 Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, that dwellest in the land of Uz; the cup also shall pass through unto thee: thou shalt be drunken, and shalt make thyself naked.

Tau

22 The punishment of thine iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Zion; he will no more carry thee away into captivity: he will visit thine iniquity, O daughter of Edom; he will discover thy sins.



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