Summary Author : Jeremiah Time : 580 B.C. Summary : Lamentation means "to express suffering". In this book, Jeremiah expressed his sorrow regarding the fall of Jerusalem and the captivity of the nation at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar’s army. The book describes and explains the afflictions brought against the city of Jerusalem as well as surrounding nations who scoffed at Jerusalem’s affliction. He emphasises that this is the result of divine judgment for the sins of the people. The book underlines lessons that Jerusalem should learn from to its afflictions: the vanity of glory, leadership and pride. The entire book is poetic. Each of its five laments contains 22 verses (except the third which has 66 = 3 times 22) reflecting the number of letters in the Hebrew alphabet. The first four laments are alphabetic acrostics (the verses of which begin with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet). Key verse : "How deserted lies the city, once so full of people! How like a widow is she, who once was great among the nations! She who was queen among the provinces has now become a slave" (1:1)

Outline 1. Jerusalem's misery and desolation 1:1–22 2. The Lord's anger against his people 2:1–22 3. Judah's complaint—and basis for consolation 3:1–66 4. The contrast between Zion's past and present 4:1–22 5. Judah's appeal for God's forgiveness 5:1–22 (RH)

Author - Jeremiah
Time - 580 B.C.

Summary - Lamentation means "to express suffering". In this book, Jeremiah, who had witnessed the fall of Jerusalem and had himself been taken captive, but later released, expresses his sorrow regarding the fall of Jerusalem and the captivity of the nation at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar’s army. The book describes and explains the afflictions brought against the city of Jerusalem as well as surrounding nations who scoff at Jerusalem’s troubles. It emphasises that this is the result of divine judgement for the sins of the people. It also underlines the lessons that Jerusalem should learn from its troubles. The book also reflects the love and sorrow of God for the very people He is chastening.