![]() TgLam in its present form was intended for use within the synagogue, presumably during the ninth of Ab service, and provided the congregation with an explanation of the destruction of the Temple. Where the biblical text depicts graphic scenes such as cannibalism TgLam does not soften the image, but instead intensifies the language and thus increases the dramatic tension while warning the audience of the real, life-threatening dangers of transgressing God’s Commandments. The targumist has also followed the principle of ‰„Ó „‚ðÎ ‰„Ó and interpreted the nature of Israel’s punishment in light of their sin. The first four verses of TgLam are particularly expansive and provide a theological framework within which the audience is to interpret Lamentations. These include the use of aggadic additions and expansions that catalogue the sins of Israel. The targumist used a variety of literary devices in order to convey this message. The people of Judah had transgressed God’s Commandments and refused to repent, therefore God decreed that the nations should enter Jerusalem and destroy the city and the Temple. From the very beginning TgLam presents the argument that Jerusalem was destroyed because Israel had disobeyed God. The final step is an analysis of the targum in order to determine how the targumist has modified the biblical text in order to convey or emphasize his message and address the questions of the date, provenance, and Sitz im Leben of TgLam. This involves a verse by verse analysis of the targum with particular attention paid to the ways in which the targumist has departed from or transformed the biblical text. The second step is a detailed exegetical commentary of TgLam. The first step involves a survey of the Book of Lamentations (as found in the Masoretic Text ) in order to determine the basic text and meaning of the book which the targumist is interpreting. There are three primary steps involved in this study of TgLam. This thesis is an examination of the exegetical intent and the translational methods employed in Targum Lamentations (TgLam).
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