Book Written: Most likely sometime after 180 B.C. or anywhere from 200 to 60 B.C. Baker says the book is "attributed" to Baruch (who of course wasn't living in 180 B.C.), but is the work of 3-4 different authors.
Time Period/Setting: Baruch writes from Babylon both to those left behind in Jerusalem after the second deporation, so after 587 B.C., as well as to those in exile. However, Baruch was thought to have remained behind in Judah with Jeremiah and both are thought to have gone to Egypt.
Title: Baruch is the name of Jeremiah's secretary and friend. The Hebrew meaning is 'he who is blessed.'
The five chapters of Baruch follow Lamentations in the Catholic Bible and include the Letter of Jeremiah as its sixth chapter. Baruch contains a wisdom poem which equates wisdom with the Torah. The Letter of Jeremiah dates to somewhere between the fourth to second century B.C. Its author uses the name of Jeremiah to give credence to the writing and because the letter "developed the venerable prophet's ideas. . ." (HC) The Letter is an exegesis on the evils of idols.
Friday, February 15, 2013
Lamentations
Book Written: After the final destruction of Jerusalem so around 586 B.C.
Time Period/Setting: After the final destruction of Jerusalem so around 586 B.C. The author (or authors?) is thought to be a Judean who was not exiled but remained in Jerusalem. The author is not the prophet Jeremiah.
Title: In Hebrew, the title of the book is 'ekah or 'How!' taken from the first word of the first chapter. The title 'Lamentations' is taken from the Latin threni and Greek threnoi.
The book consists of five chapters all of which are essentially psalms, some sorrowful, some hopeful. The psalms of Lamentations are used during Holy Week in Tenebrae services.
HC says this about Lamentations. It is "an eloquent expression of grief that helped survivors come to terms with the historical calamity they had gone through." And, the author(s) of the book accepted the view of "the great preexilic prophets. . . that the destruction of the holy city was the just judgment of God for Israel's sin." Thus, Lamentations like Jeremiah (and Second Isaiah per Baker) follows the Deuteronomistic view that turning away from God will result in punishment and suffering.
Time Period/Setting: After the final destruction of Jerusalem so around 586 B.C. The author (or authors?) is thought to be a Judean who was not exiled but remained in Jerusalem. The author is not the prophet Jeremiah.
Title: In Hebrew, the title of the book is 'ekah or 'How!' taken from the first word of the first chapter. The title 'Lamentations' is taken from the Latin threni and Greek threnoi.
The book consists of five chapters all of which are essentially psalms, some sorrowful, some hopeful. The psalms of Lamentations are used during Holy Week in Tenebrae services.
HC says this about Lamentations. It is "an eloquent expression of grief that helped survivors come to terms with the historical calamity they had gone through." And, the author(s) of the book accepted the view of "the great preexilic prophets. . . that the destruction of the holy city was the just judgment of God for Israel's sin." Thus, Lamentations like Jeremiah (and Second Isaiah per Baker) follows the Deuteronomistic view that turning away from God will result in punishment and suffering.
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