5:18 the haunt of foxes: See“ Fox sposed along walls of Temple Mount sparks talk of prophecy,” Jerusalem Post, July 27, 2023( Tisha B’ Av 5783).
5:20 How could You... evincing indignant incredulity, as in Henrik Ibsen’ s Hedda Gabler:“ How could you do such a thing! To that harmless old soul!” The rhetorical question here introduces the interrogative voice with which the book concludes: see 5:22.
5:21 Allow us to return to You... Recited at the conclusion of the weekday, Sabbath, and holiday Torah Service liturgy.
5:22 have You... Are You...? The final verse is rendered in the interrogative. This befits the devastated bewilderment of a nation stripped of its land, sovereignty, and religious cult. It also reflects the pained and perplexed refrain of Lamentations, the only book of the Hebrew Bible whose very name is a question: Eichah?!“ How can this be? How could this possibly have befallen us?” So, too, the incredulous“ Are You that thoroughly infuriated with us?” Understanding this verse as a question places Lamentations in the rarified scriptural company of Jonah and Nahum, both of which conclude with questions. Furthermore, ending a book with a question so as to dramatize the tragic nature, dystopian vision, or social criticism of the work is a well-established literary pattern. Examples include Ralph Ellison’ s Invisible Man(“ And it is this which frightens me: Who knows but that, on the lower frequencies, I speak for you?”). See also Margaret Atwood’ s The Handmaid’ s Tale(“ Are there any questions?”). Ernest Hemingway’ s biblically allusive The Sun Also Rises concludes:“‘ Yes,’ I said.‘ Isn’ t it pretty to think so?’”
5:21 [ reprise ] Allow us to return to You... In the liturgical chanting of Lamentations on Tisha B’ Av, the entire verse is customarily repeated in unison following 5:22 to conclude the reading. This avoids concluding with the more discouraging strains of 5:21.
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