The book of Lamentations
The Book of Lamentations
What is the book of Lamentations about?
After warning the southern Jewish nation to obey God, the prophet Jeremiah witnesses the punishment God had threatened. Lamentations is a book of mourning, weeping, and grieving because Jerusalem had endured a massive holocaust at the hands of King Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians.
An unrepentant Judah continued to live in sin, rebellion and rejection of God. Having been warned by Jeremiah over the last 40 years, they still blatantly ignored him.
The city of Jerusalem comes to a stark realization of their transgressions when they are overrun by the Babylonians and did not have the protection of God because they did not stay true to his laws and commands.
Who wrote the book of Lamentations?
The author of Lamentations is unkown but traditionally attributed to Jeremiah.
Who is the audience?
Jews in Babylonian exile after the destruction of Jerusalem.
Timeframe Lamentations was written:
Approximately 586 BC, during or after the fall of Jerusalem.
"In short" (One sentence summary):
A poem of despair about the destruction of Jerusalem ultimately due to the Jewish nation's failure to obey God.
Fun facts about Lamentations/Did you know?
The entire book is poetic. The first, second, fourth, and fifth laments all contain 22 verses, reflecting the number of letters in the Hebrew alphabet.
