ABSTRACT
The two major Biblical sagas, the Exodus and the Exile, can be seen as exercises in collective memory. They give a vivid impression of oppression and its effects, both political and personal. The Exodus narrative invites solidarity with the oppressed. The physical, psychological, and spiritual trauma suffered especially by women in warfare is evoked in poetry and prophecy. The suffering of forced migration and the challenges of resettlement have obvious human resonance with the plight of many refugees and asylum-seekers. The slaves of the southern plantations expressed their faith and longing in spirituals that continually returned to the theme of Exodus deliverance. Much of the Old Testament relates to the crisis of exile, the pain and suffering of forced migration, and the consequent challenges of resettlement. When combined with motifs from the mourning dirge, Lamentations gives voice to timeless pain and suffering. Although Ezekiel's ministry is set in exile, a significant amount of the content addresses Jerusalem and its inhabitants.
