Survey of the Old Testament Chapter 30 Lamentations

The Writing of the Book Traditionally ascribed to Jeremiah Collection of funeral songs for Jerusalem Probably written by an unknown witness of Jerusalem's fall Photo: "This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Consider now! Call for the wailing women to come; send for the most skillful of them'" (Jer. 9:17). Women were often professional mourners in the ancient world, like this woman with dust on her head.

The Background Purpose and Message Response to the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadrezzar in 587 BC Prophets warned Judah of impending disaster for two centuries prior Purpose and Message Captures the pathos Israel's judgment Admission of transgression and of God's justice Hope for future restoration

Structure and Organization Three funeral dirges, two lamentations Four of five poems are alphabetic acrostics Major Themes Human Suffering Divine Abandonment Photo: "The LORD determined to tear down the wall around the daughter of Zion. He stretched out a measuring line and did not withhold his hand from destroying" (Lam. 2:8). Jeremiah was not the only ancient voice to mourn in writing over the fall of his city. This "Lament over the Fall of Ur" tells how Enlil devastated the city with a great storm (early 2nd millennium BC).