Guide
Noncanonical Laments of Biblical Characters
1st Century BCE–2nd Century CE
Restricted
By Carol Bakhos
Although many Jewish laments were communal in nature and were likely recited liturgically (see Communal Laments), some were purely literary. The laments in this section appear in narrative contexts and are attributed to individuals. For more examples of personal laments, see Prayers of and about Women.
Related Primary Sources
Primary Source
Laments of Baruch for the Destruction of Jerusalem
[ . . . ] I, Baruch, came back and sat in front of the doors of the Temple, and I raised the following lamentation over Zion and said:
Ble…
Primary Source
Laments of Eliphas and Nereus for Job
And so, after he [Eliphas] had wept with a loud wailing, he called out a royal lament while both the other kings and their troops sang in…