Lamentations

LAMENTATIONS. A mournful Poem is so called, composed by Jeremiah, upon the Occasion of the pious King Josiah’s Death; it was a long Time in the Mouths of the Singing Men and Singing Women of Israel. 2 Chr. xxxv. 25.This famous Poem is believed to be lost, but we have another of the same Prophet remaining, composed upon the Destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar. The Proofs of this are to be seen in every Chapter of the Lamentations. The Preface, which is very ancient, expresly shews it; Jeremiah speaks throughout of Jerusalem and the Temple, as Things destroyed, laid waste, and prophaned; the Author of Ecclesiasticus says, that after the taking of Jerusalem, the Enemies made the Ways which lead to it quite desolate, alluding to this Passage in the Lamentations, The Ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn Feasts.

In the two first Chapters of the Lamentations, Jeremiah is principally taken up in describing the Calamities of the Siege of Jerusalem. In the third he deplores the Persecutions which he himself had suffered. The fourth turns upon the Ruin and Desolation of the City and Temple, and upon the Misfortune of Zedekiah. See how he speaks of this Lament. iv. 20.unhappy Prince. The anointed of the Lord whom we love as our Life, who was as dear to us as our selves, was taken for our Iniquities: This Prince, so good, to whom we said, We live under thy Shadow among the Heathen. The fifth Chapter is a kind of Form of Prayer for the Jews in their Dispersion and Captivity. At the End of all he speaks of the Cruelty of the Edomites, who had insulted Jerusalem in her Misery, and contributed to the Demolition of it; he threatens them with the Wrath of God. This last Chapter was written probably after the rest, for it supposes the Temple to be so destroyed as to serve for a Retreat to Foxes, and that the People were already in Captivity.

The four first Chapters of the Lamentations are in acrostick Verse, and Abecedary, every Verse or Couplet beginning with one of the Letters of the Hebrew Alphabet, ranged in alphabetical Order. The first and second Chapters contain two and twenty Verses, according to the Number of Letters in the Alphabet. The third Chapter has three Verses together, which begin with the same Letter; and includes in all sixty six Verses. The fourth Chapter is like the two first, and has only two and twenty Verses; the fifth is not an Acrostick.

There is one Thing particular in the second, third, and fourth Chapters, viz. that the Letter Pe is before Ain; whereas in the first Chapter, and in all the Acrostick and Abecedary Psalms, Ain always goes before Pe. The Reason of this disorderly placing of them is not known to us; the Copists have attempted to repair this supposed Defect, but the Sequel of the Discourse requires, that Things should be left as they are.

The Hebrews call the Book of Lamentations Echa, from the first Word in the Text; or Kinnoth, that is to say, Lamentations¹. The Greeks call them Threnoi, which signifies the same Thing in their Language. The Style of Jeremiah’s Lamentations is lively, tender, pathetick and affecting. It was the particular Talent of this Prophet to write melancholy and moving Things. There never was a Subject more worthy of Tears, nor written with more tender and affecting Sentiments. The Hebrews were used to make Lamentations or mournful Songs upon the Death of great Men, Princes, and Heroes, who had distinguished themselves in Arms, and upon any Occasion of publick Miseries and Calamities. They had Collections of these Sorts of Lamentations, as appears from the Chronicles, 2 Chr. xxxv. 25. Behold they are written in the Lamentations. We have those still which were composed by David upon the Death of Absolom and Jonathan. The Prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, after having foretold the Desolation of Egypt, Tyre, Sidon, and Babylon, made Lamentations on the Fall of these Cities or States. It seems by Jeremiah, that they had Women hired on Purpose to weep. Is. xiv. 4, 5. and xv. xvi. Jer. vii. 29. ix. 10. xlviii. 32. Ezek. xix. 1. xxviii. 11. xxxii. 2. Jerem. ix. 17.Call for the mourning Women, that they may come, and send for cunning Women that they may come: And let them make haste and take up a wailing for us, &c.

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