Jeremiah in Lamentations

The prophetic figure of Jeremiah has long been associated with the book of Lamentations. The earliest known attribution of Lamentations to Jeremiah dates to the time of the Septuagint, an attribution that is repeated in other early translations and rabbinic commentary. Since the rise of critical scholarship, however, the authenticity of Jeremiah as author has been questioned, with few contemporary scholars continuing to argue that the prophet was the actual author of the Lamentations. Despite this, the prophet figure/persona continues to be identified within Lamentations, albeit in ways far removed from the direct attribution expressed in earlier periods. This chapter traces the rise and fall of Jeremiah as author of Lamentations, exploring possible reasons why the prophetic figure has been so important in the history of interpretation within Lamentations studies, with a particular focus on the way that Jeremianic authorship has contributed to the theological understanding of the book. The ever-changing understanding of the relationship of Jeremiah with Lamentations has been influenced by the interpretive lenses and needs of successive communities, a trend which will continue into the future as new methods and approaches emerge.