Children of the night: The portrayal of children in the book of Lamentations

Abstract

Children are often mentioned in the book of Lamentations. They are carried away in captivity (1.5), found begging for food on the streets (2.11–12, 4.4), starved (2.19), parched (4.4), and eaten by their mothers (2.20; 4.10). Despite their presence, the children in Lamentations have never been the focus of research. This article argues that though the future of children is not promising, children are not just caricatures within the book. The children in Lamentations are actively trying to survive in the famine. Despite the horror of being betrayed by their own mothers, Lamentations reminds its readers that the children are not entirely orphaned. In lieu of their mother’s protection and nurture, the children are fostered by the solidarity and tears of Daughter Zion and Mother Zion respectively.