In 1901, Bernhard Duhm published a commentary on Jeremiah where he isolated a series of “laments” from the surrounding text. In case you’re curious, here they are:

1. Jeremiah 11:18–23
2. Jeremiah 12:1–6
3. Jeremiah 15:15–21
4. Jeremiah 17:14–18
5. Jeremiah 18:19–23
6. Jeremiah 20:7–13

These laments function as a defense of Jeremiah’s vocation as a prophet in the face of resistance. They contain some of the most personal and autobiographical notes in the whole of the Book of Jeremiah.

Mark S. Smith’s brief book is a scholarly study of these six laments. He argues that the meaning of the laments can be discovered within the context of the divine speeches which develop the themes. In the laments, Jeremiah’s relationship with God becomes a “sign and symbol” of Israel’s relationship with Yahweh (64).

Obviously, this book will be of interest primarily to Jeremiah scholars. Smith’s scholarship while technical and dense, is clearly written. His reading of the laments in context is valuable.

Smith, Mark S. The Laments of Jeremiah and Their Contexts: A Literary and Redactional Study of Jeremiah 11–20. Scholars, 1990. The Society of Biblical Literature Monograph Series 42.