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LAMENTATIONS 1

PARAGRAPH DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS *

* Although they are not inspired, paragraph divisions are the key to understanding and following the original author's intent. Each modern translation has divided and summarized the paragraphs. Every paragraph has one central topic, truth, or thought. Each version encapsulates that topic in its own distinct way. As you read the text, ask yourself which translation fits your understanding of the subject and verse divisions.

In every chapter we must read the Bible first and try to identify its subjects (paragraphs), then compare our understanding with the modern versions. Only when we understand the original author's intent by following his logic and presentation can we truly understand the Bible. Only the original author is inspired - readers have no right to change or modify the message. Bible readers do have the responsibility of applying the inspired truth to their day and their lives.

Note that all technical terms and abbreviations are explained fully in the following documents: Hebrew Grammatical Tems, Textual Criticism, and Glossary.

READING CYCLE THREE (see "Bible Interpretation Seminar")

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT THE PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects. Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

1. First paragraph
2. Second paragraph
3. Etc.

CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS

1. It is hard for us to even imagine the pain and confusion that the descendants of Abraham felt at the fall of Jerusalem, the destruction of the Temple, and the exile of the Judean king. What about God's promise of
   1. the covenant to Abraham, Genesis 12; 15; 22
   2. Judah's reign, Gen. 49:10
   3. Moses' blessing, Deut. 33:26-29
   4. David's descendant on the throne, 2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17

   They had forgotten the conditional nature of God's covenant promises/blessing (i.e., Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28). The "two ways" of Deut. 30:1,15,19; Psalm 1 are both a warning and a call to obedience.

2. This chapter is a lament in 3/2 timing (i.e., funeral dirge).
   
   
3. Notice how God's people move
   1. from a numerous people, great among the nations, Lam. 1:1
   2. to a widow and forced laborer, Lam. 1:1
   
   
4. Notice how her opponents are characterized.
   1. her lovers, Lam. 1:2,19 (i.e., political alliances)
   2. her friends, Lam. 1:2
   3. her enemies, Lam. 1:2,5,10,16,21
   4. her pursuers, Lam 1:3,6
   5. her masters, Lam. 1:5
   6. the adversary, Lam. 1:5,7 (twice), 17
   
   
5. The key theological affirmation is repeated often (cf. Lam. 1:5,8,12,13-15,17d,18,21). The fall of Jerusalem (and the Temple) and the exile of her people were
   1. done by her God (Lam. 1:5,12-15)
   2. because of her sin (cf. Jer. 3:22; Ezek. 39:23)

   All of this was not because of YHWH's weakness or oath-breaking, but His people's violation of His covenant (cf. Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 27-30). See SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT.

6. But there is hope in the character of YHWH. See SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARACTERISTICS OF ISRAEL'S GOD (OT).
   
   
7. The references to
   1. lovers, Lam. 1:2
   2. nakedness, Lam. 1:8
   3. uncleanness of her skirts, Lam. 1:8

   are all imagery of fertility worship. Israel had become idolatrous. See SPECIAL TOPIC: FERTILITY WORSHIP OF THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST.

WORD AND PHRASE STUDY

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 1:1-22
 ¹How lonely sits the city
 That was full of people!
 She has become like a widow
 Who was once great among the nations!
 She who was a princess among the provinces
 Has become a forced laborer!
 ²She weeps bitterly in the night
 And her tears are on her cheeks;
 She has none to comfort her
 Among all her lovers.
 All her friends have dealt treacherously with her;
 They have become her enemies.
 ³Judah has gone into exile under affliction
 And under harsh servitude;
 She dwells among the nations,
 But she has found no rest;
 All her pursuers have overtaken her
 In the midst of distress.
 ⁴The roads of Zion are in mourning
 Because no one comes to the appointed feasts.
 All her gates are desolate;
 Her priests are groaning,
 Her virgins are afflicted,
 And she herself is bitter.
 ⁵Her adversaries have become her masters,
 Her enemies prosper;
 For the Lord has caused her grief
 Because of the multitude of her transgressions;
 Her little ones have gone away
 As captives before the adversary.
 ⁶All her majesty
 Has departed from the daughter of Zion;
 Her princes have become like deer
 That have found no pasture;
 And they have fled without strength
 Before the pursuer.
 ⁷In the days of her affliction and homelessness
 Jerusalem remembers all her precious things
 That were from the days of old,
 When her people fell into the hand of the adversary
 And no one helped her.
 The adversaries saw her,
 They mocked at her ruin.
 ⁸Jerusalem sinned greatly,
 Therefore she has become an unclean thing.
 All who honored her despise her
 Because they have seen her nakedness;
 Even she herself groans and turns away.
 ⁹Her uncleanness was in her skirts;
 She did not consider her future.
 Therefore she has fallen astonishingly;
 She has no comforter.
 "See, O Lord, my affliction,
 For the enemy has magnified himself!"
 ¹⁰The adversary has stretched out his hand
 Over all her precious things,
 For she has seen the nations enter her sanctuary,
 The ones whom You commanded
 That they should not enter into Your congregation.
 ¹¹All her people groan seeking bread;
 They have given their precious things for food
 To restore their lives themselves.
 See, O Lord, and look,
 For I am despised."
 ¹²"Is it nothing to all you who pass this way?
 Look and see if there is any pain like my pain
 Which was severely dealt out to me,
 Which the Lord inflicted on the day of His fierce anger.
 ¹³From on high He sent fire into my bones,
 And it prevailed over them.
 He has spread a net for my feet;
 He has turned me back;
 He has made me desolate,
 Faint all day long.
 ¹⁴The yoke of my transgressions is bound;
 By His hand they are knit together.
 They have come upon my neck;
 He has made my strength fail.
 The Lord has given me into the hands
 Of those against whom I am not able to stand.
 ¹⁵The Lord has rejected all my strong men
 In my midst;
 He has called an appointed time against me
 To crush my young men;
 The Lord has trodden as in a wine press
 The virgin daughter of Judah.
 ¹⁶For these things I weep;
 My eyes run down with water;
 Because far from me is a comforter,
 One who restores my soul.
 My children are desolate
 Because the enemy has prevailed.
 ¹⁷Zion stretches out her hands;
 There is no one to comfort her;
 The Lord has commanded concerning Jacob
 That the ones round about him should be his adversaries;
 Jerusalem has become an unclean thing among them.
 ¹⁸The Lord is righteous;
 For I have rebelled against His command;
 Hear now, all peoples,
 And behold my pain;
 My virgins and my young men
 Have gone into captivity.
 ¹⁹I called to my lovers, but they deceived me;
 My priests and my elders perished in the city
 While they sought food to restore their strength themselves.
 ²⁰See, O Lord, for I am in distress;
 My spirit is greatly troubled;
 My heart is overturned within me,
 For I have been very rebellious.
 In the street the sword slays;
 In the house it is like death.
 ²¹They have heard that I groan;
 There is no one to comfort me;
 All my enemies have heard of my calamity;
 They are glad that You have done it.
 Oh, that You would bring the day which You have proclaimed,
 That they may become like me.
 ²²Let all their wickedness come before You;
 And deal with them as You have dealt with me
 For all my transgressions;
 For my groans are many and my heart is faint."

1:1 Notice the contrast of Jerusalem before and after.

1. before (cf. Lam 1:7)
   1. full of people (Abrahamic promise, Gen. 15:5)
   2. great among the nations
   3. princes among the provinces
2. after (cf. Lam 1:7)
   1. a widow
   2. forced laborer (cf. Isa. 31:8)

▣ "How" This (BDB 32) ADVERB often introduces laments, cf. Lam. 2:1; 4:1 (twice); also note Isa. 1:21; Jer. 2:21; 48:17. A slightly different spelling is used in 2 Sam. 1:19; Jer. 2:21; 9:19.

▣ "full of people" This could refer to

1. those who lived in the city year round
2. those who came for feast days (Lam. 1:4)
3. those from the surrounding villages who fled to the walled Jerusalem in time of invasion

1:2 "She weeps bitterly" This is an intense grammatical form (i.e., INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and IMPERFECT VERB of the same root, BDB 113, KB 129). The rabbis assert this is because of the loss of both the Temple and Jerusalem (cf. Lam. 2:11,18; Jer. 9:1,18; 14:17).

▣ "She has none to comfort her" This was YHWH's task but now no one does it (cf. Lam. 1:2,9,16,17,21).

▣ "all her lovers" This refers to political alliances (some paid for), cf. Jer. 3:1,20; 22:20-23; 30:14; Ezek. 16:28-29,37-41; 23:5-19; Hos. 8:9-10. Political treaties cannot save a faithless nation of privileged knowledge and position. Judah's sins are all the more heinous because of her high standing (i.e., descendant of Abraham and David, cf. Rom. 9:2).

1:3 "Judah has gone into exile" This is referring to Nebuchadnezzar II's siege and destruction of Jerusalem in 586 B.C.

He had conquered Judah earlier and deported many.

1. elite leaders and families in 605 B.C. (i.e., Daniel)
2. large number exiled in 597 B.C. (i.e., Ezekiel)
3. major deportation at the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C.
4. everyone who could be found after the murder of the Babylonian appointed governor, Gedaliah, in 582 B.C.

▣ "she has found no rest" Often "rest" (BDB 629) is an idiom for dwelling safely in one's own land (cf. Deut. 28:65; see NT book of Hebrews, chapters 3-4).

▣ "distress" This is literally "narrow places," which is a Hebrew idiom for distress (i.e., Gen. 42:21; Deut. 4:30; 1 Sam. 26:24; 2 Sam. 4:9; 1 Kgs. 1:29; 2 Chr. 15:4; Job 15:24; 38:23; Ps. 66:14; 107:6,13,19,28; 119:143; Isa. 8:22; 25:4). The opposite Hebrew idiom for joy and freedom is "a wide place" (i.e., Ps. 4:1; 18:19; 31:8; 118:5).

1:4 "Zion" This name for one of the hills within the walls of Jerusalem became the collective title (i.e., Isa. 1:27; Jer. 3:14; Amos 6:1).

For "daughter of Zion" see Lam. 1:6; 2 Kgs. 19:21.

SPECIAL TOPIC: ZION

▣ "her gates" This represented

1. a place of governance
2. a place of justice
3. a place of commerce
4. a place denoting security

▣ "groaning" This root (BDB 58) is found five times in this chapter (i.e., Lam. 1:4,8,11,21,22), but nowhere else in Lamentations. This might be an evidence of several poems by different eyewitness authors, combined later to form Lamentations.

▣ "Her virgins" This could refer to

1. cultic dancers (TEV, cf. Jdgs. 21:19-21; Jer. 31:4,13; Ps. 68:25)
2. normal life of the city (i.e., marriages). All aspects of the normal life:
   1. justice
   2. worship
   3. commerce

   were affected.

This is a Niphal PARTICIPLE (BDB 387, KB 385). The Hiphil is used in Lam. 1:12; 3:32 and is translated "inflicted," "caused grief." The LXX slightly changed the Hebrew word to "dragged away" (RSV). See UBS Text Project, vol. 4, p. 333. It gives "afflicted" a "B" rating (some doubt).

1:5 See full note at Contextual Insights, E.

▣ "her masters" This is literally "head" (BDB 910). Here it is being used in Hebrew idiomatic language. Israel (i.e., God's people) was to be the "head," but now they are the tail (cf. Deut. 28:13,44) because of their rebellion and covenant faithlessness.

SPECIAL TOPIC: HEAD

1:6 This verse's key VERB is "has departed" (BDB 422, KB 425, Qal IMPERFECT with waw). Judah's princes have deserted her and fled for the safety of the country.

Judah's population has been exiled, her allies failed to show up, her worship leaders are in despair, her civil leaders have fled, her military is useless, her Temple is looted, and her children sold into slavery (or even eaten for food during the siege, Lam. 1:11)!

▣ "the daughter of Zion" This is collective imagery (also used in Jeremiah, cf. 2 Kgs. 19:21; Isa. 1:8; 16:1; 52:2; 62:11; Jer. 6:2,23; Lam. 2:13). Also note Lam. 1:5, "the virgin daughter of Judah."

1:7 "homelessness" The MT has the PLURAL, which denotes a Hebrew way of showing intensity (PLURAL OF MAJESTY or INTENSITY).

This NOUN (BDB 992) occurs only here. It is similar to "sabbath" (BDB 992); this is where the Vulgate gets its translation. BDB lists its meaning as "cessation" or "annihilation." The LXX misread the Hebrew VERB ("lease" to "dwell," BDB 442).

1:8 See note at Lam. 1:2d.

This term (BDB 622, KB 696) is found only here. KB suggests "a shaking of the head," as a mocking gesture (see NIDOTTE, vol. 3, p. 53, #6). This would be a good parallel to "despise," which can also denote the shaking of the head (i.e., "mockery"). It is not the same as a similar root (BDB 622) in Lam. 1:17, "an unclean thing."

▣ "despise" This Hebrew root (BDB 272, KB 272) can mean

1. make light of (see usage at Lam. 1:11)
2. shake (idiom for "shake the head in contempt," cf. Jer. 18:16)

▣ "because they have seen her nakedness" The NOUN "nakedness" (BDB 788) can refer to

1. exposed prisoners marched into Assyrian exile (cf. Isa. 20:4; also possibly Jer. 13:22,26; Nah. 3:5)
2. shame of participation in fertility worship (i.e., idolatry, cf. Lam. 1:8-9; Ezek. 22:4,9-11; 23:29)

▣ "turns away" This is an idiom for shame (cf. Isa. 42:17) related to idolatry (cf. Ps. 97:7; Isa. 1:29; 44:9,11; 45:16).

1:9 "uncleanness was in her skirts" This refers to ceremonial pollution by menstrual flow (cf. Lev. 15:25,26,30; 18:19; Ezek. 36:17). Any bodily fluid which came out of the body made one ceremonially unclean.

▣ "fallen astonishingly" As the beginning of Israel was a miracle of God (i.e., Exodus), so too, the fall of Judah was an act of God!

The word "astonishingly" (BDB 810) is PLURAL, denoting intensity. The people of God have fallen and have no Divine comforter!

▣ "See, O Lord" This IMPERATIVE marks a prayer of petition (cf. Lam. 1:11).

"Lord" is the covenant name for Israel's God.

SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, letter D.

1:10a "has stretched out his hand" See SPECIAL TOPIC: HAND.

1:10b "all her precious things" This refers to the treasures of the Temple (i.e., building ornaments, furniture, valuable stored items, cf. 2 Kgs. 25:13-17; 2 Chr. 36:10,19).

The same root (BDB 326) is used in Lam. 1:11 (BDB 327) for a high price of bread during a siege and breach.

▣ The last two lines have been attributed to Deut. 23:3, but this text addresses only Ammonites and Moabites. It is best to see it as an allusion to a well known truth (or proverb) and not a specific quote.

1:11 "They have given their precious things for food" Since the Babylonian invaders would have stolen all the valuables as booty, what does "precious things" refer to? Because of

1. the prophecy of Deut. 28:52-57
2. the references to eating their children in Lam. 2:20; 4:10
3. the historical texts of 2 Kgs. 6:28-29

It is possible it refers to cannibalism or the selling of the children into slavery, which at least gave them a chance for life (cf. Lam. 2:4; Hos. 9:16).

▣ "See, O Lord, and look" The personified Jerusalem calls out to YHWH in prayer to come to her rescue.

1. Lam. 1:9, "see" ‒ BDB 906, KB 1157, Qal IMPERATIVE
2. Lam. 1:11, "see. . .look" ‒ BDB 906, KB 661, Hiphil IMPERATIVE
3. Lam. 1:12, "look" ‒ BDB 613, KB 661, Hiphil IMPERATIVE
4. Lam. 1:12, “see” ‒ BDB 906, KB 1157, Qal IMPERATIVE

The prayer is for YHWH to take notice but the problem is not His lack of attention, rather His close attention to Judah's rebellion! Now Jerusalem asks for mercy amidst YHWH's predicted judgment (i.e., Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28; 30:1,19).

The VERB (BDB 272, KB 272, Qal PARTICIPLE) can be understood in two ways.

1. to be worthless or insignificant
2. JPSOA's footnote, "or (ironically) what a glutton"; cf. Deut. 21:20; 23:20-21. Note the NRSV and REB translations.

1:12 Personified Jerusalem seeks consolation from those who passed by and saw her humiliated condition (imaginative imagery). YHWH gives no sympathy so she seeks it elsewhere, but there is none to comfort.

1. no one to help, Lam. 1:7,19
2. no one to comfort, Lam. 1:9,16,17,21

SPECIAL TOPIC: COMFORT

▣ "Which the Lord inflicted" This follows Lam. 1:8-9! YHWH is no longer Israel's defender; He is her punisher! Babylon is YHWH's chosen instrument (cf. Ezek. 12:13; 17:20; 19:1-14; 21:1-27).

▣ "the day of His fierce anger" Note Isa. 13:13; Joel 2:1; Amos 5:18; Obad. 15.

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE PROBLEMS AND LIMITATIONS OF HUMAN LANGUAGE

SPECIAL TOPIC: DAY OF THE LORD (NT)

SPECIAL TOPIC: JUDGMENT IN THE NT

1:13-15 This is a personification of corporate Israel or Jerusalem, as in Lam. 1:1 and 11-22.

1:13 "fire" See SPECIAL TOPIC: FIRE. YHWH's judgments:

1. fire
2. net (for Moab in Jer. 48:43-44; for Babylon in Jer. 50:34; for Egypt in Ezek. 32:3; and here for Judah, cf. Ezek. 12:13; 17:20)
3. turned back
4. sick/stunned

▣ "bones" This was an idiom for strength and health (cf. Lam. 4:7). Here it denotes weakness of spirit and body.

1:14 This verse in uncertain in the MT.

The MT is reflected in the NASB. The VERB (BDB 974, KB 1350, Niphal PERFECT) is found only here. BDB suggests a slight emendation, שׂ for שׁ, which follows the LXX, "watch is kept upon" (BDB 1052). Robert Gordis' commentary follows this emendation (p. 130).

YHWH made note of (see NIDOTTE, vol. 3, p. 1270 for the VERB) Judah/Jerusalem's rebellions and wove them together (see NIDOTTE, vol. 3, p. 1271 for BDB 974) to make them a yoke placed on Jerusalem's neck (see imagery in Jer. 27:2,8,11,12).

▣ "fail" This VERB (BDB 505, KB 502, Hiphil PERFECT) is literally "to stumble." In Hebrew thought a straight, level, unobstructed road/way was used as an idiom of health and prosperity. To stumble, fall, or slip was used of distress, failure, destruction.

The idea of stumbling steps parallels the stepping into a net/trap of Lam. 1:13.

1:15 "The Lord" This is the word "Adon" (BDB 10). The Expositor's Bible Commentary, vol. 6, pp. 707-708, takes this general title of deity and the NOUN (BDB 417) as referring to a joyful harvest festival to which not Judah, but her enemies are invited. This is imagery of Jerusalem's defeat by pagans.

The NASB has "an appointed time." This NOUN (BDB 417) suggests an appointed time and place for judgment on Judah's defenders. The NET Bible, p. 1459, #1, suggests a legal assembly following the root's use in Num. 16:2.

This VERB (BDB 699, KB 756, Piel PERFECT) is found only here (NIDOTTE, vol. 3, p. 259). The Qal is in Ps. 119:118.

1. The BDB suggests "make light of" or "toss aside."
2. The Aramaic root means "to despise."
3. KB and the NET Bible chose a similar Akkadian or Assyrian root, "to hurl" (away).
4. The NKJV comes from the Arabic cognate "to trample."

▣ "a wine press" This (BDB 387) is imagery of judgment (cf. Isa. 63:1-6; Joel 3:13). It is possible the whole verse is judgment as a harvest (cf. AB, p. 27).

▣ "virgin daughter of Judah" See note at Lam. 1:6.

1:16 This verse vividly expresses the feelings of utter hopelessness and pain in the fall of Jerusalem (i.e., double use of "my eyes, my eyes").

There is no comforter (i.e., Lam. 1:9,16,17,21).

Weeping at Jerusalem's fall is seen in Jer. 9:1; 13:17; 31:16; Lam. 1:2; 2:18. These are tears of

1. sorrow for the consequences of sin
2. sorrow for the sin (repentance)

SPECIAL TOPIC: REPENTANCE IN THE OT

1:17 "Zion stretches out her hands" This is imagery for prayer. The Jews prayed with head lifted, eyes open, hands raised, speaking to God. It was a dialogue!

1:18-19 "virgins. . .young men. . .priests. . .elders" Every category of society will be exiled. There was no level of Judean society that escaped God's judgment by the hands of Babylon.

Personified Jerusalem weeps over the loss of all her people, prestige, power, alliances, and former glory!

1:18 "righteous" Note Deut. 32:4; 2 Chr. 12:6; Ps. 119:137; Jer. 12:1.

SPECIAL TOPIC: RIGHTEOUSNESS

▣ "Hear now, all peoples" The two IMPERATIVES, "hear" and "see," were used in Lam 1:9,11,20 to address YHWH but here they address the nations in witness to YHWH's justice (i.e., judging His own disobedient people). This universal aspect is repeated in Lam. 4:12.

SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN

▣ "I have rebelled against His command" This VERB (BDB 598, KB 632, Qal PERFECT) denotes an intentional violation. Some examples of its usage are Num. 20:24; 27:14; 1 Sam. 12:14-15; Ps. 5:8-10; 105:28; Isa. 1:19-20; 63:10; Lam. 1:18,20; 3:42; Hos. 13:16. This kind of willful behavior always brings judgment from God. To whom much is given much is required (cf. Luke 12:48). With knowledge comes responsibility!

1:20 "See" This IMPERATIVE (BDB 906, KB 1157) marks a prayer request (cf. Lam. 1:9,11). Lamentations 1:12b also has it but there it addresses "passers by."

Lamentations 1:20-22 is a long prayer request of repentance and a call for vengeance.

This is not the word for "spirit" (ruah) nor "soul" (nephesh). This is "inward parts" (BDB 588, i.e., intestines, bowels, belly). This part of the body was viewed as the seat of the emotions (cf. Job 30:27; Isa. 16:11; 63:15; Jer. 4:19; 31:20; Lam. 1:20; 2:11).

▣ "I have been very rebellious" This is an INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and an IMPERFECT VERB (here, a PERFECT form) of the same root (BDB 598, KB 632), which showed intensity. Israel (i.e., corporate lament) admits her guilt.

▣ "My heart is overturned within me" The JPSOA translates this phrase as "I know how wrong I was" or "how very bitter I am." See Jewish Study Bible, p. 1592.

1:21 "All my enemies. . .are glad" This VERB (BDB 965, KB 1314, Qal PERFECT) refers to the rejoicing of Judah's neighbors at her fall (cf. Lam. 4:21; Obad. v. 12).

▣ "That they may become like me" This is one of two IMPERFECTS used in a JUSSIVE sense (i.e., prayer wish).

1. Lam. 1:21f
2. Lam. 1:22a (followed by an IMPERATIVE in v. 22b)

This is connected to the "eye for an eye" justice (cf. Neh. 4:4,5; Ps. 137:7-8).

1:22 "my heart is faint" This is a metaphor for weakness, sickness (cf. Lam. 5:17; Isa. 1:5; Jer. 8:18).

SPECIAL TOPIC: HEART

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.

1. What is the historical setting of the book?
2. Show the stated contrast between Jerusalem before and after.
3. Who are Jerusalem's lovers?
4. Why are Lam. 1:5-6 and 14 so theologically significant?
5. What does Lam 1:8-9 refer to?
6. Is it possible that Lam. 1:11 refers to cannibalism?
7. Was Jerusalem's fall based on the weakness of YHWH compared to Marduk?
8. Did YHWH cause Jerusalem's fall?
9. What is "the day" referred to in Lam. 1:21?

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