the entire state of Judah, with the final verse of the book simply adding to the negative atmosphere already created. But on a more careful reading of the book it becomes clear from certain passages that the faith of the poet has not been abandoned, that Yahweh is still his God. Indeed, one may reflect that the very existence of the book speaks of faith rising, Phoenix-like, from the ashes of disaster. One cannot overemphasize the significance of the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BCE for the people of