Reading Lamentations Intertextually

## Co ntents List of Tables and Figures ix List of Contributors xi Preface xiii Abbreviations xv ## P reface We, the editors, are indebted to the fine work of Katharine Dell and Will Kynes on the previous volumes in this Reading Intertextually series. They graciously entrusted the continuation of the series to us once the traditional wisdom books had been completed. We would also like to thank them especially for the contributions they made to the present volume to maintain continuity with the other volumes. The remaining contributors to the volume we would like to warmly thank for their time and insights. We are grateful to Andrew Mein and Claudia Camp, the previous co-editors for the LHBOTS series, for their enthusiasm to continue the series and patience while we composed the present volume, and to Laura Quick and Jacqueline Vayntrub for bringing it to completion as the current co-editors. Finally, special thanks should be given to Dylan Watson for his careful editing assistance. The book of Lamentations has engendered many responsive texts, those referred to within this book, those composed for this book, and it is hoped those produced as a result of reading this book. In dedication to our supervisors, Gordon McConville, Katharine Dell, and Paul Joyce, for their inspiration and friendship. Introduction / Brittany N. Melton (Palm Beach Atlantic University, USA) and Heath A. Thomas (Oklahoma Baptist University, USA) -- Part One: Lamentations in Dialogue with the Torah -- 1. Exodus 32-34 and Lamentations: A Comparison of Sin, Punishment, and Confession / Alison Lo (Bethel Seminary, USA) -- 2. 'Away! Unclean! Do not Touch!': Defiled and Defiling Priests in Lamentations, Samuel E. Balentine (Union Presbyterian Seminary, USA) -- 3. The Ostrich and the Sword: Reading the City-Lament of Lamentations Intertextually with the Wilderness Wanderings of the Book of Numbers / Richard S. Briggs (Durham University, UK) -- 4. Chaos and Order: Lamentations and Deuteronomy as Responses to Destruction and Exile / Elizabeth Boase (University of Divinity, Australia) -- Part Two: Lamentations in Dialogue with the Prophets -- 5. Out of Sight, but not out of Mind (2 Kings 23:27): Reading 1-2 Kings with Lamentations / J. Andrew Dearman (Fuller Theological Seminary, USA) -- 6. 'I am He, Your Comforter': Second Isaiah's Pervasive Voice as Intertextual 'Answer' to Lamentations' Divine Silence / Katie M. Heffelfinger (Church of Ireland Theological Institute, the Republic of Ireland) -- 7. The Afflicted Man in Lamentations 3 as Comrade to Jeremiah, Christl M. Maier (Philipps University of Marburg, Germany & Stellenbosch University / South Africa) -- 8. The Sound and the Fury: Women and Suffering in Ezekiel and Lamentations / Amy Kalmanofsky (Jewish Theological Seminary, USA) -- 9. Zechariah's Intertextual Reversal of Lamentations / Michael R. Stead (Moore Theological College, Australia) -- Part Three: Lamentations in Dialogue with the Writings -- 10. Models for Prayer in Lamentations and Psalms / John Goldingay (Fuller Theological Seminary, USA) -- 11. Verse and Voice in Lamentations 3 and Psalm 119 / David Reimer (University of St Andrews, UK) -- 12. Debating Suffering: The Voices of Lamentations Personified in Job's Dialogue / Will Kynes (Samford University, USA) -- 13. All is Decay: Intertextual Links between Lamentations 5 and Ecclesiastes 12:1-7 / Katharine J. Dell (University of Cambridge, UK) -- 14. Conspicuous Females and an Inconspicuous God: The Distinctive Characterization of Women and God in the Megilloth / Brittany N. Melton (Palm Beach Atlantic University, USA) -- Part Four: Lamentations in Dialogue Beyond the Hebrew Bible -- 15. Lamentations at Qumran / Gideon R. Kotzé (North-West University, South Africa) -- 16. From Anonymity to Biography: Jeremiah as a Character Memorizing the Past in LamLXX / Antje Labahn (North-West University, South Africa and Privatdozentin at College of Theology Wuppertal/Bethel, Germany) -- 17. 'Let us Test and Examine our Ways, and Return to the Lord': Josephus' Interpretations of Lamentations / Honora Howell Chapman (California State University, Fresno, USA) -- 18. Jesus and Jerusalem: Christological Interpretation and Lamentations in the Church / Robin A. Parry (Wipf & Stock Publishers, USA) -- 19. The Rabbis Talk Back Through the Prophets: Intertextuality, Lamentations, and Divine Mourning / Heath A. Thomas (Oklahoma Baptist University, USA) -- 20. Reading Lamentations After the Shoah: A Mandate to Question / Hemchand Gossai (Northern Virginia Community College, USA) -- Bibliography -- Index Cover Title Copyright Contents List of Tables and Figures List of Contributors Preface Abbreviations A Sea of Intertexts: Introduction to Reading Lamentations Intertextually / Brittany N. Melton and Heath A. Thomas Part I Lamentations in Dialogue with the Torah Chapter 1 Exodus 32–34 and Lamentations: Comparison of Sin, Punishment, and Confession / Alison Lo Chapter 2 “Away! Unclean! Do Not Touch!” : Defiled and Defiling Priests in Lamentations / Samuel E. Balentine Chapter 3 The Ostrich and the Sword: Reading the City-Lament of Lamentations Intertextually with the Wilderness Wanderings of the Book of Numbers / Richard S. Briggs Chapter 4 Chaos and Order: Lamentations and Deuteronomy as Responses to Destruction and Exile / Elizabeth Boase Part II Lamentations in Dialogue with the Prophets Chapter 5 Out of Sight, But Not Out of Mind (2 Kings 23:27): Reading 1–2 Kings with Lamentations / J. Andrew Dearman Chapter 6 “I am He, Your Comforter”: Second Isaiah’s Pervasive Divine Voice as Intertextual “Answer” to Lamentations’ Divine Silence / Katie M. Heffelfinger Chapter 7 The Afflicted Man in Lamentations 3 as Comrade to Jeremiah / Christl M. Maier Chapter 8 The Sound and the Fury: Women and Suffering in Ezekiel and Lamentations / Amy Kalmanofsky Chapter 9 Zechariah’s Intertextual Reversal of Lamentations / Michael R. Stead Part III Lamentations in Dialogue with the Writings Chapter 10 Models for Prayer in Lamentations and Psalms / John Goldingay Chapter 11 Verse and Voice in Lamentations 3 and Psalm 119 / David J. Reimer Chapter 12 Debating Suffering: The Voices of Lamentations Personified in Job’s Dialogue / Will Kynes Chapter 13 All Is Decay: Intertextual Links between Lamentations 5 and Ecclesiastes 12:1-7 / Katharine J. Dell Chapter 14 Conspicuous Females and an Inconspicuous God: The Distinctive Characterization of Women and God in the Megilloth / Brittany N. Melton Part IV Lamentations in Dialogue Beyond the Hebrew Bible Chapter 15 Lamentations at Qumran / Gideon R. Kotzé Chapter 16 From Anonymity to Biography: Jeremiah as a Character Memorizing the Past in the Septuagint Version of Lamentations / Antje Labahn Chapter 17 “Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord”: Josephus’ Interpretations of Lamentations / Honora Howell Chapman Chapter 18 Jesus and Jerusalem: Christological Interpretation of Lamentations in the Church / Robin A. Parry Chapter 19 The Rabbis Talk Back Through the Prophets: Intertextuality, Lamentations, and Divine Mourning / Heath A. Thomas Chapter 20 Reading Lamentations after the Shoah: A Mandate to Question / Hemchand Gossai Bibliography Index of References Index of Authors "This book addresses intertextual connections between Lamentations and texts in each division of the Hebrew Bible, along with texts throughout history. Sources examined range from the Dead Sea Scrolls to modern Shoah literature, allowing the volume's impact to reach beyond Lamentations to each of the 'intertexts' the chapters address. By bringing together scholars with expertise on this diverse array of texts, the volume offers a wide range of exegetical insight. It also enables the reader to appreciate the varying intertextual approaches currently employed in Biblical Studies, ranging from abstract theory to rigid method. By applying these to a focused analysis of Lamentations, this book will facilitate greater insight on both Lamentations and current methodological research."-- Provided by publisher