Book of lamentations matthew henrys bible commentary concise. The book of lamentations is book of sorrowful songs or poems. The book is composed of five poems that mourn the catastrophe. Each chapter, however, does not stand on its own, but falls into a series making the book one complete, progressive thought. The entire book of lamentations is poetic in its form. The basic theme of the book is a lament over the terrible woes which have befallen sinful judah and the destruction of the holy city and the temple of god. The name implies that the topic is expressing grief over something to lament. Theology of work bible commentary one volume edition. Empathize with israels grief in the book of lamentations. This special book is a collection of five lament poems recounting the tragic fall of jerusalem to babylon. It waxes and wanes, goes away, and returns again unexpectedly. The main characteristic of the book is indicated by its title, lamentations in greek threnoi threnos song expressing grief for one who has died cp mt 2. Top 5 commentaries on the book of lamentations ligonier ministries.
Where do they turn when theres nothing but misery all around them. Lamentations 1 bible commentary matthew henry concise. The book of lamentations has been billed as a natural supplement to the book of jeremiah. Matthew henrys commentary on the whole biblebook of lamentations kindle edition by henry, matthew. Jeremiah, also known as the weeping prophet writes this after the destruction of jerusalem by the babylonians. It was written soon after the fall of jerusalem in 586 b. If you are familiar with any of berlins other works, this one fits the mold exactly. An overview of the book of jeremiah bible commentary. This accs volume on these two biblical books will give you insight and encouragement in the life of faith. The theology of work bible commentary is an indepth bible study tool put together by a group of biblical scholars, pastors, and workplace christians to help you discover what the whole biblefrom genesis to revelationsays about work. The author of the book of lamentations was attempting to show the fulfillment of the curses presented in deuteronomy 28.
The book of lamentations was written soon after the fall of jerusalem in 586 b. Although the poems are traditionally ascribed to the prophet jeremiah. The jews read it in their synagogues on the ninth of the month ab, which is a fast for the destruction of their holy city. Book of lamentations overview insight for living ministries. Matthew henrys commentary on the whole biblebook of. Business, education, law, service industries, medicine, governmentwherever. The description shows the miseries of the jewish nation. Judah a part of the country that god gave to his people. The book of lamentations kjv audio holy bible high quality and best speed book 25 duration. The book of lamentations is a collection of five poems that serve as an anguished response to the destruction of jerusalem in 587 b. As a result of judahs continued and unrepentant idolatry, god allowed the babylonians to besiege, plunder, burn, and destroy the city of jerusalem. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading matthew henrys commentary on the whole biblebook of lamentations.
Best commentaries and books on lamentations logos bible. Lamentations matthew henrys commentary bible gateway. There are a number of helpful commentaries on this book, and the following are five of the best. Still, many of the volumes are excellent, and the volume on lamentations is said to be one of them garrett prepared the commentary on song of songs and house prepared the commentary on lamentations. Read lamentations commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete.
His job description was to carry gods messages over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to pull down, to. Duane garrett and paul house song of songs lamentations word biblical commentary, 2004. How like a widow is she, who was great among the nations. In the book that bears his name, jeremiah had predicted the calamity in chapters 129. At the conclusion of the book of lamentations, jeremiah put the focus upon gods eternal and unchanging nature. In most of the modern bible editions the lamentations follow upon the book of jeremiah. Study lamentations using matthew henrys bible commentary concise to better understand scripture with full outline and verse meaning. In lamentations, he concentrates in more detail on the bitter suffering and heartbreak that was felt over.
Enduring word bible commentary lamentations chapter 3. Each chapter of the book is comprised of a poem making five poems in all. At various times, he had the unenviable tasks of challenging the religious hypocrisy, economic dishonesty and oppressive practices of judahs leaders and those who followed them. We have here the first alphabet of this lamentation, twentytwo stanzas, in which the miseries of jerusalem are bitterly bewailed and her present deplorable condition is aggravated by comparing it with her former prosperous state. The book ends the way god intended it to end, with the kind of unresolved anguish we have come to expect from the weeping prophet. While the author of lamentations remains nameless within the book, strong.
Yet lamentations was never intended to have the last word. A free bible version and commentary on the book of lamentations in easyenglish. This accs volume on these two biblical books will give you insight and encouragement in the life of faith as seen through ancient. Because this last verse of the book is so negative, many hebrew manuscripts of lamentations end by repeating lamentations 5. The book of lamentations is a memorial, and you should preach this. Consider performing your own inductive bible study of the book of lamentations begin by downloading lesson 1 on lamentations from precept ministries this will get you started and give you a good overview of the book if you want to purchase the remaining lessons lamentations workbook 3 lessons.
But at the heart of this book, at the center of this lament over the effects of sin in the world, sit a few verses devoted to hope in the lord lamentations 3. An easyenglish bible version and commentary 2800 word vocabulary on the book of lamentations. In the hebrew bible it appears in the ketuvim writings, beside the song of songs, book of ruth, ecclesiastes and the book of esther the megilloth or five scrolls, although there is no set order. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, prophesied for four decades under the last five kings of judahfrom 627 to 587 b. Dearman holds that the prophetic books, unlike many modern scholars, are in fact prophetic and reflect their own culture while pointing towards the fulfillment of the covenant in jesus christ. Keith mathison says, he deals with every aspect of the text and digs into the theology of the book. It also became customary, when the jews read the book in synagogue worship, for them to repeat lamentations 5.
Jun 30, 2016 watch our overview video on the book of lamentations, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. It mourns the destruction of jerusalem and the holy temple. Lamentations relates closely to the book of jeremiah, describing the anguish over jerusalems receiving gods judgment for unrepentant sins. Lamentations with book summary versebyverse bible commentary.
Study the bible online using commentary on lamentations. Enduring word bible commentary lamentations chapter 1. Book of lamentations matthew henrys bible commentary. Both jewish and christian tradition ascribe authorship to jeremiah, and the septuagintthe greek translation of the old testamenteven adds a note asserting jeremiah as the writer of the book. Judahs been caught for centuries between powerful countries in the middle east, and this time they backed the wrong guys. A word list at the end explains words with a star by them. Chapter 1a all verse 1b all verse 2 twentytwo verses. It is an elegy, a dirge, written over the desolation of jerusalem by one whose love for it, guilty as he knew it to be. Lament 1 jerusalems plight the prophet bewails it 111 the city. He deals with every aspect of the text and digs into the theology of the book. In the hebrew bible however they are set in the third part, the socalled writings hebr. The poems use the literary style of an acrostic where the poem is built around the alphabet 16. The book of lamentations was likely written between 586 and 575 b. Jan 01, 2002 this commentary on lamentations is just fantastic.
The book of lamentations is sandwiched between the books of ezekiel and jeremiah. Lamentations features six major themes, all linked with the concept of suffering. The reading of the lamentations happens on the 9th day of the month of ab julyaugust that is the fastingday on the occasion of jerusalems destruction compare jeremiah 52. The book of lamentations is the collection of five poems or songs mourning the conquest of jerusalem and the kingdom of judah.
You can find the best commentary on lamentations for you using the tools on the right side. The septuagint the greek translation of the old testament gives this prefix. Book of lamentations read, study bible verses online. Lamentations fits into the prophetic section of the bible by describing the theological backdrop of judahs exile. The book of lamentations may not be the most popular book in the bible, but it is an essential ingredient for helping humans to understand an important aspect of their relationship with god the expression of grief and distress.
Aside from the standard drawbacks of the wbc format, the commentary by house on the book of lamentations is the best place to begin. Ryken 2017 david guzik no distribution beyond personal use without permission. The introduction to the commentary discusses the poetry of lamentations, gender and suffering, mourning as a religious concept, the theology of destruction and exile, the literary context of lamentations, authorship, date and purpose, and lamentations at qumran. He wrote this biblical poem after the destruction of the city of jerusalem that he attempted to prevent. In the middle of the book, the theology of lamentations reaches its apex as it focuses on the goodness of god. The book of jeremiah reflects the everworsening situation jeremiah encountered. This commentary has been through advanced theological checking. The reluctant prophets call and job description jeremiah and lamentations in his early twenties, jeremiah received gods call to be a prophet. The book of lamentations is a poetic book of the old testament that was written by the jewish prophet jeremiah. The jewish people read lamentations every year on the date commemorating the destruction of the temple in jerusalem. The chief focus of lamentations is on gods judgment in response to judahs sin. Oct 06, 20 the book of lamentations kjv audio holy bible high quality and best speed book 25 duration.
Lamentations free bible commentary in easy english. It is composed of five chapters or poems lamenting on the siege and destruction and fall of jerusalem and the captivity of the nation at the hands of nebuchadnezzars army. It begins with a 37 page introduction which, in my opinion, is itself worth the price of the book or the price of several books. This summary of the book of lamentations provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of lamentations. His reign is eternal, with his throne enduring from generation to generation. Study the bible online using commentary on lamentations and more.
Watch our overview video on the book of lamentations, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. God told king solomon to build gods sacred temple there. While the author of lamentations remains nameless within the book, strong evidence from both inside and outside the text points to the prophet jeremiah as the author. Dyer, lamentations, in the bible knowledge commentary.
The lamentations naturally follow the book which sets forth the circumstances forming the subject of the elegies. The apostolic fathers saw lamentations as a description of the challenges that face christians in a fallen world. The commentary proper includes berlins translation, accompanied by technical. An exposition, with practical observations, of the lamentations of jeremiah chapter 1. The book itself is a collection of five funeral poems offered on. Their former allies but now sworn enemies, the babylonians, have stormed the town and taken over. Jew a person who is born from abraham, isaac and jacob and their children. In lamentations, the poet grieves, yet still has faithcrying out to god for mercy. Although the poems are traditionally ascribed to the prophet jeremiah, this is unlikely. Some view the last chapter of jeremiah as an introduction to lamentations. See 2 kgs 25 for a prose account of the fall of jerusalem. This statement of faith standing strong in the midst of the surrounding darkness shines as a beacon to all those suffering under the consequences of their own sin and disobedience. Jeremiah was the voice of warning, the watchman who brings attention to hard truths. Lamentations commentary matthew henry commentary on the.