Author Title ISBN All Fields Bible & The Arts Biblical Commentaries Biblical Languages Hebrew Bible / Old Testament History of the Biblical Period Journals Literature of the Bible New Testament SIIBS The Trauma Bible Theology of the Bible Bible Bibliographies Bible in the Modern World Biblical Reception Classic Reprints Critical Commentaries Dictionary of Classical Hebrew Dictionary of Classical Hebrew Revised Earth Bible Commentary Hebrew Bible Monographs Journal of Greco-Roman Christianity and Judaism New Testament Monographs Pericope Readings: A New Biblical Commentary Recent Research in Biblical Studies Text of the Hebrew Bible The Social World of Biblical Antiquity, First Series The Social World of Biblical Antiquity, Second Series Click here for titles coming soon... Click here to view the latest titles Click here to view the complete catalogue Search Books & Journals About Us For Authors For Customers Contact Us Facebook xii + 312 pp. £32.50 / $47.50 / €37.50 Scholar's Price £65 / $95 / €75 List Price Hardback Lamentations From Despair to Prayer Elie Assis The destruction of Jerusalem and its temple in the sixth century bce brought its inhabitants pain, a feeling of abandonment by God, and the loss of self-identity—and engendered the six poems of the book of Lamentations. Previous studies of the book have sought for its theological centre, or have read the book solely as an expression of grief, but in this innovative interpretation Elie Assis claims that its main aim is to impart hope to its exiled readers. The intention of Lamentations is to transport the mourners from despair to prayer, and to offer its assurance that the destruction must only be temporary because God has not severed his covenant with the people. The people’s wish to feel themselves desired by God can be fulfilled, and the divine commitment is forever binding. Through his sensitive literary analysis Assis lays bare a progression of thought within each poem and as well from poem to poem; it is a movement, theological and emotional, from despair in the first poem to prayer and hope in the last. Series: Hebrew Bible Monographs, 101 978-1-914490-11-8 hardback Publication May 2022 Contents Introduction Subject and Historical Background 1 Acrostic Form Collection or Single Work? Structure The Destruction: Chapters 2 and 4 The Aftermath of the Destruction: Chapters 1 and 5 Conclusions Purpose in Light of the Structure Author and Date Appendix Lamentations 1 Topic Structure and Significance Part I, vv. 1-11 Part II, vv. 12-19 Part III, vv. 20-22 Lamentations 2 Topic Structure and Significance Part I, vv. 1-10 Part II, vv. 11-19 Part III, vv. 20-22 Lamentations 3 Topic Identity of ‘the Man’ Structure and Significance Part I, vv. 1-20 Part II, vv. 21-39 Part III, vv. 40-47 Part IV, vv. 48-66 Lamentations 4 Topic Structure and Significance Part I, vv. 1-16 Part II, vv. 17-20 Part III, vv. 21-22 Lamentations 5 Topic Structure and Significance Part I, vv. 1-18 Appeal to God: Remember the People Opening: Verse 1 Loss of Independence: vv. 2-8 Famine and Economic Woe: vv. 9-10 The People’s Suffering: vv. 11-14 The People’s Mourning: vv. 15-18 Part II, vv. 19-22 Appeal to God: Save the People