Lamentations Quiz

Comprehensive

Introductory Note: The book of Lamentations was written by the prophet Jeremiah, and each of the five chapters is a separate lamentation. The literary genre is Hebrew poetry. In fact, chapters 1, 2, and 4 are acrostic poems with each verse beginning with the successive letters of the 22-letter Hebrew alphabet. Chapter 3 is also an acrostic poem in which the verses of each stanza begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet, and the verses within each stanza begin with the same letter.

1. The word "lamentation" is from the verb "to lament," meaning "to sorrow." What was Jeremiah lamenting?

2. What was the result of the destruction?

3. What is the taunt that gloating nations made over Jerusalem's fall?

4. In destroying Jerusalem, Yahweh "has thrown down and has not pitied." By this action, what has Yahweh done?

5. A great hymn of the faith is based on 3:22-24. Do you know what it is?

6. Why does Jeremiah in witnessing the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple say that God's faithfulness is great?

7. In view of the destruction of Jerusalem, Jeremiah gives three wise pieces of advice to the survivors of Israel. One is that nothing happens unless God decrees it. Can you give one of the remaining two?

8. The destruction of Jerusalem was total. This punishment brought upon Judah was greater than the punishment of the sin of which city?

   Babel
   Sodom
   Gomorrah
   Samaria

9. Before the destruction, the princes (some versions have Nazirites) were described as brighter than snow. How is their appearance described now?

10. During the siege of Jerusalem, to what abhorrent behavior were the once compassionate women now drawn?

    To abandon their own children
    To beat their own children
    To sell their own children
    To eat their own children

11. Jeremiah mentions two specific sins that brought this great calamity on Jerusalem, What were they?

12. One nation greatly rejoiced at Israel's judgment, but Jeremiah assures them that their time will also come. What nation was this?

13. In the midst of terrible change, with what should we comfort ourselves?

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