Jeremiah composed laments for Josiah which all the male and female singers use to mourn Josiah to this very day. It has become customary in Israel to sing these; they are recorded in the Book of Laments.
The LORD who rules over all told me to say to this people,“ Take note of what I say. Call for the women who mourn for the dead! Summon those who are the most skilled at it!”I said,“ Indeed, let them come quickly and sing a song of mourning for us. Let them wail loudly until tears stream from our own eyes and our eyelids overflow with water.For the sound of wailing is soon to be heard in Zion. They will wail,‘ We are utterly ruined! We are completely disgraced! For our houses have been torn down and we must leave our land.’”I said,“ So now, you wailing women, hear what the LORD says. Open your ears to the words from his mouth. Teach your daughters this mournful song, and each of you teach your neighbor this lament.‘ Death has climbed in through our windows. It has entered into our fortified houses. It has taken away our children who play in the streets. It has taken away our young men who gather in the city squares.’
When the Canaanites who lived in the land saw them mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, they said,“ This is a very sad occasion for the Egyptians.” That is why its name was called Abel Mizraim, which is beyond the Jordan.
