The genre of communal lament in the Bible and the ancient Near East / Paul Wayne Ferris, Jr. [print]

I. Introduction -- Current state of lament study -- Recent developments -- Gunkel and form-critical studies -- Genre categorization -- Sitz im Leben -- Thought and mood content -- Influence of form-critical studies -- Sigmund Mowinckel -- Claus Westermann -- Problem of generic classification -- Question of priority -- Question of methodology -- Purpose -- Working definitions -- Genre -- Communal lament -- Individual lament -- Funeral dirge -- Descriptive terms -- Delimitations -- Literary data -- Format -- Purpose -- Laments to be studied -- II. Basic forms of communal lament -- Introduction -- Terms for lament -- Balag -- Er -- Brief description of Lamentations available in translation -- Stephen Langdon -- Samuel N. Kramer -- Joachim Krecher -- Raphael Kutscher -- Mark Cohen -- Margaret Green -- Early Sumerian laments -- "The lamentation over the destruction of Ur" -- "The lamentation over the destruction of Sumer and Ur" -- "Lamentation over the destruction of Eridu" -- Other classic city laments -- Summary -- Later Sumerian laments -- Akkadian laments -- Language of the laments -- Structure of the Sumero-Akkadian lament -- Classical city laments -- Structure of the Ur lament -- Structural model of the city-lament -- Detailed complaint -- Lament proper -- Intercession of a patron deity -- Appeal -- Balags -- Structure of balag -- "The steer in his fold" -- Introduction -- Complaint -- Structure of balag -- "Elevated warrior of the land" -- Structural model of balag Type-B -- Praise -- Accusatory complaint -- Appeal -- Lament proper -- Summary -- Ersemmas -- Structure of an Old Babylonian ersemma -- Structural model of Old Babylonian ersemma -- Structure of a first millennium ersemma -- Model of first millennium ersemmas -- Complaint -- Lament -- Praise -- Appeal -- Summary -- Sitz im Leben -- Introduction -- Related literature -- Classic city laments -- Balags -- Ersemmas -- Development of the Sumero-Akkadian lament -- Thematic elements of the communal lament -- Methodology -- The anger of the gods -- The decision of deity to act -- The actions of deity -- The identity and actions of the political enemy -- Remonstration -- Protestation of innocence -- Appeal -- Praise -- Summary.

III. The lament phenomenon in the Ancient Near East as it related to the Hebrew communal laments -- Introduction -- Individual lament -- Suilla -- Invocation and eulogy -- Complaint -- Entreaty -- Praise -- Ersahunga -- Introduction -- Lamentation -- Hebrew individual laments -- Funeral dirge -- Elegy for a god -- FUneral dirge -- Prologue -- Lamentation -- Curses -- Prayers -- Funeral ceremony -- Mourners guild -- Formal weeping and lament -- Sitz im Leben -- Musical instrumentation -- IV. Basic forms of communal lament -- Introduction -- The structure of the communal lament in the Psalter -- Invocation -- Hymn of praise -- Expression of confidence and trust -- Lament -- Appeal and motivation for response -- Appeal for deliverance -- Appeal for cursing -- Motivation for response -- Protestation of innocence -- Expression of confidence and hope -- Vow of praise -- The structure of the communal lament in Lamentations -- Sitz im Leben -- Historical setting -- Temple singers -- Liturgical terms in the psalms -- National mourning rites -- Occasion of the service -- Description of the service -- Summary -- Thematic elements of the communal lament Psalms -- Direct address -- Complaint or lament proper -- Political enemy -- Moral, ethical and spiritual enemy -- Political calamity -- Spiritual calamity -- Scope of complaint -- Appeal -- Appeal for deliverance from calamity -- Appeal for cursing the cause of the calamity -- Motivation -- Expression of confidence/hope -- Thanksgiving and praise -- Summary -- Thematic elements in the Book of Lamentations -- Direct address -- Complaint or lament proper -- Enemies -- Calamity -- Divine adversary -- Scope of complaint -- Appeal -- Appeal for deliverance from the calamity -- Motivation -- Expression of confidence and hope -- Thanksgiving and praise -- Summary -- Analysis of the thematic elements in the Hebrew laments -- Speaking voice -- Direct address -- Complaint or lament proper -- Enemy -- Calamity -- Abandonment/isolation -- Expression of confidence/hope -- Thanksgiving and praise -- Summary -- V. Comparisons and contrasts between the Sumero-Akkadian and th Hebrew communal laments -- Introduction -- Theoretical origins of the communal laments -- Individual lament -- Funeral dirges -- Community crises -- Fall of the city-state -- Types of Hebrew communal laments -- Types of communal lament -- Demise of city-states -- Other community crises -- Lament for a prospective crisis -- Lament for present crisis -- Lament for crisis in retrospect -- Structure -- Persona -- The question of influence between -- The question of influence among -- The question of influence among the Hebrew laments -- The question of influence between -- Conclusion.

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