Mourning in the Ancient Near East and the Hebrew Bible

Commentators are often disturbed by the presence of various speakers in the three poems of Lamentations 1 and 2, and Isaiah 51.9-52.2, the change of speakers being thought to disrupt the flow of ideas. This study shows that a close reading of all three poems in the light of their mourning ceremony setting displays a clear and consistent flow of thought. Purported cases of 'disruption' now fit into their present context as moments in which different mourners voice their pains and their questions aloud, and bring their incomprehensible sufferings to Yahweh their God and the creator of all.

Product details

• Authors: Xuan Huong Thi Pham, Pham Xuan Huong Thi
• Assisted by: Claudia V. Camp (Editor), Andrew Mein (Editor)
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 01.01.2000
• EAN: 9781841270296
• ISBN: 978-1-84127-029-6
• No. of pages: 226
• Series: Library Hebrew Bible/Old Testa; Library of Hebrew Bible/Old Te; The Library of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Studies; Library Hebrew Bible/Old Testa
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Religion/theology > Christianity; HISTORY / Middle East / General, HISTORY / Ancient / General, RELIGION / Biblical Meditations / General, Middle East, Ancient World, Bible readings, selections & meditations, Middle Eastern history, Ancient History, Ancient history: to c 500 CE, Bible readings, selections and meditations, BCE to c 500 CE, BCE period – Protohistory