Chiastic Structure in Lamentations

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David Dorsey (The Literary Structure of the Old Testament, 1999, p 251) suggests a 13 unit chiasmus structure for Lamentations. He offers detailed comparisons between sections. As time permits later, I will try to post some of the sub-structures.

A. She – Zion – is desolate and devastated (Lam 1:1-11)

. . . B. I – Zion – was betrayed and defeated: there is none to help or comfort me (Lam 1:12-22)

. . . . . . C. He – Yahweh – has caused this in his anger (Lam 2:1-8)

. . . . . . . . . D. They – princes, maidens, nurselings, children, mothers – suffer (Lam 2:9-12)

. . . . . . . . . . . . E. You – Zion – should cry out to God (Lam 2:13-22)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F. He – Yahweh – has afflicted me (Lam 3:1-20)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G. Yahweh’s great love (Lam 3:21-32) CENTER or PIVOT

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F^ He – Yahweh – afflicts humans (Lam 3:33-39)

. . . . . . . . . . . . E^ You – Yahweh – to you I cry out (Lam 3:40-66)

. . . . . . . . . D^ They – princes, maidens, nurselings, children, mothers – suffer (Lam 4:1-10)

. . . . . . C^ He – Yahweh – has caused this in his anger (Lam 4:11-16)

. . . B^ We – the people of Zion – were betrayed and defeated (Lam 4:17-22)

A^ We – the people of Zion – are desolate and devastated (Lam 5:1-22)

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