Why?. How Long?: Studies on Voice(s) of Lamentation Rooted in Biblical Hebrew Poetry

This volume is born out of two years of academic presentations on laments in the Biblical Hebrew Poetry Section at the Society of Biblical Literature (2006-2007). The topics of these papers are gathered around the theme of "voice." The two parts to this volume: 1) provide fresh readings of familiar texts as they are read through the lens of lamentation, and 2) deepen our understanding of Israel and God as lamenter and lamentee. In the second section the focus on topics such as Israel's "unbelieving faith" (i.e., strong accusations against the God on whom they have complete reliance and trust), the unrighteous lamenter, and God's acceptance and rejection of the people's lament(s), deepens our understanding of Israel's culture and practice of lamentation. The final essay notes how the expression of despair is in tension with the poetic devices that contain it.

LeAnn Snow Flesher, M.Div, Ph.D., is an ordained minister with the American Baptist Churches, USA (since 1993) and is currently working as Professor of Old Testament at the American Baptist Seminary of the West (a member school of the Graduate Theological Union) in Berkeley, California.

Carol Dempsey, OP, is Professor of Theology (Biblical Studies/Old Testament) at the University of Portland in Oregon

Mark J. Boda is Professor of Old Testament at McMaster Divinity College, Professor, Faculty of Theology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Andrew Mein is Director of Research at the Queen's Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education, UK

Claudia V. Camp is Professor of Religion at Texas Christian University, USA and was on the steering committee of the Seminar. She is currently co-general editor of the LHBOTS series, as well as the author or editor of 4 books and numerous articles.