Lamentations, Song of Songs

Lamentations, Song of Songs by Wilma Ann Bailey and Christina Bucher covers the full emotional register of biblical literature: from the anguished sorrow songs of ancient Israel to the passionate, lyric poems of lovers. Wilma Bailey plumbs the interpretive depths of Lamentations, including questions about authorship, images of God, and depiction of a community's response to exile and its development of an identity in the wake of catastrophe. Christina Bucher then offers multiple perspectives on the Song of Songs and its imagery, characters, and allegorical and literal interpretations by readers and communities across the centuries. Both scholars build sturdy theological scaffolding to help lay readers, pastors, and scholars understand and apply the wisdom contained by these Hebrew writings of desire and exile, love and lament. 304 Pages.

Wilma Bailey is the Minnie Vautrin Professor of Christian Witness and Professor of Hebrew and Aramaic Scripture, Emerita, at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, Indiana. Bailey earned her PhD from Vanderbilt University. Her scholarly publications and popular publications have usually focused on issues of peace and justice, women, and ecology.

Christina Bucher is professor of biblical studies at Elizabethtown College, where she has served as chair of the department of religious studies and as dean of the faculty. Bucher earned her PhD from Claremont Graduate University. She is the author of several books and journal articles and serves on the editorial council of the Believers Church Bible Commentary series.