Topical Encyclopedia The term "Wailing-place" is often associated with the Western Wall in Jerusalem, a site of profound historical and religious significance for the Jewish people. However, within the context of the Bible, the concept of a wailing-place can be understood more broadly as a location or occasion where lamentation and mourning occur, often in response to sin, judgment, or loss.Biblical Context In the Bible, wailing is frequently depicted as a response to divine judgment or personal and communal tragedy. The act of wailing is a deep expression of sorrow and repentance, often accompanied by fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. For instance, in the book of Joel, the prophet calls for a time of mourning and wailing in response to a devastating locust plague, which serves as a precursor to the coming "day of the LORD" (Joel 1:13-14). The call to wail is a call to repentance and turning back to God. Old Testament References The Old Testament provides numerous instances where wailing is a significant response to calamity or divine judgment. In the book of Jeremiah, the prophet laments the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, urging the people to mourn: "Call for the wailing women to come; send for the most skillful among them" (Jeremiah 9:17). This passage highlights the cultural practice of hiring professional mourners to express collective grief. In the book of Lamentations, traditionally attributed to Jeremiah, the entire text serves as a wailing-place in literary form, capturing the profound sorrow over the fall of Jerusalem: "How lonely lies the city, once so full of people! She who was great among the nations has become a widow" (Lamentations 1:1). The book is a poignant expression of national mourning and a plea for God's mercy. New Testament Insights While the New Testament does not explicitly mention a "wailing-place," the theme of mourning and lamentation continues. Jesus Himself acknowledges the reality of mourning, offering comfort to those who grieve: "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted" (Matthew 5:4). This beatitude reflects the promise of divine consolation and the hope of restoration. In the book of Revelation, the imagery of wailing is used to describe the response of the nations to the fall of Babylon: "And they will weep and mourn over her when they see the smoke of her burning" (Revelation 18:9). This prophetic vision underscores the ultimate judgment of God upon the wicked and the lamentation that follows. Cultural and Historical Significance The concept of a wailing-place extends beyond the biblical text to encompass cultural and historical practices of mourning. The Western Wall, often referred to as the "Wailing Wall," is a remnant of the Second Temple and a site of Jewish prayer and lamentation. It serves as a physical and spiritual focal point for expressing grief over the temple's destruction and the longing for its restoration. In summary, the notion of a wailing-place in the Bible is deeply intertwined with themes of repentance, judgment, and hope. It reflects the human response to divine action and the enduring hope for redemption and restoration through God's mercy and grace. Easton's Bible Dictionary Wailing-place, Jews'A section of the western wall of the temple area, where the Jews assemble every Friday afternoon to bewail their desolate condition (Psalm 79:1, 4, 5). The stones in this part of the wall are of great size, and were placed, as is generally believed, in the position in which they are now found in the time of Solomon. "The congregation at the wailing-place is one of the most solemn gatherings left to the Jewish Church, and as the writer gazed at the motley concourse he experienced a feeling of sorrow that the remnants of the chosen race should be heartlessly thrust outside the sacred enclosure of their fathers' holy temple by men of an alien race and an alien creed. Many of the elders, seated on the ground, with their backs against the wall, on the west side of the area, and with their faces turned toward the eternal house, read out of their well-thumbed Hebrew books passages from the prophetic writings, such as Isaiah 64:9-12" (King's Recent Discoveries, etc.). The wailing-place of the Jews, viewed in its past spiritual and historic relations, is indeed "the saddest nook in this vale of tears." (see LAMENTATIONS, BOOK OF.) Library The Bible Thesaurus Wailingplace... Easton's Bible Dictionary Wailing-place, Jews'. A section of the western wall of the temple area, where the Jews assemble every Friday ... /w/wailingplace.htm - 7k Wailing-place Wailing (44 Occurrences) Lamentations (6 Occurrences) Wailings (1 Occurrence) Machpelah (6 Occurrences) Jerusalem (782 Occurrences) Resources What is the Wailing Wall / Western Wall? | GotQuestions.orgIs hell literally a place of fire and brimstone? | GotQuestions.org What does the Bible mean when it refers to the gnashing of teeth? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus |
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