Lamentations 2

Chap. II. Ver. 1-22. The miseries of Jerusalem and Judea bewailed.—The Prophet shows the dire effects of the divine anger in the miseries brought on his country by the subversion of its religion and government; the unparalleled calamities which he charges, and no doubt justly, in a great measure on [the] government and by-word of all who see her, Jerusalem is directed to sue earnestly for mercy and pardon.—Many of the images in this chapter, though objected to by some critics, express [them] very beautifully, as we have observed in our notes below. Professor Jahn supposes this second lament was composed on the storming of Jerusalem by the Chaldean army.

Notes on the verses

Ver. 5. Before the enemy—That is, in subjection to her enemy. Ver. 7. When her people, &c.—Blayney renders this much clearer, by a different punctuation. After placing a semicolon at old; he reads, “* When her people fell into the hand, &c., the adversaries saw, and mocked at her discontinuance,” or, “destruction,” as Boothroyd renders it. Ver. 9. She remembered not her last end—That is, she did not recollect the necessary consequences of her course of sin.—The enemy hath magnified— Instead of ** himself,” Dr. Blayney supplies the word “affliction;’ hath aggravated mine affliction. Ver. 11. To relieve the soul.— Blayney, “To sustain life.” Ver. 12. Is it nothing to you?—This is a beautiful apostrophe to the passing Ver.

15. In a wine-press.—Alluding to the great effusion of blood. Ver. 16. Relieve my soul.—Boothroyd, “Restore my life;” i.e. recover. Ver. 19. Relieve their souls.— Blayney, “Support their life.” Ver. 20. As death.—Blayney, “Pestilence.” See Chap. xiv. 12. Ver. 21. The day that thou hast called.—Blayney, “Pronounced;” i.e. pre-

Chap. II. Ver. 1. His footstool—That is, the ark. See (1 Chronicles 28:2). Ver. 3. Cut off…. the horn.—The horns are the strength and glory of cattle.—Drawn back his right hand from the enemy.— When God stretches forth his right hand, it means an exertion of his power, and the reverse when he withdraws it. Ver. 6. Taken away his tabernacle.—Margin, ‘hedge;’”

Blayney, “He hath done violence to the garden of his own hedging.” So Boothroyd. See (Isaiah 5:1-7). [He hath destroyed the temple, as if it had been no better than a cottage erected in a garden, while the fruit is gathering, and then removed, or suffered to decay.” See Harmer. J—Bagster. Wakes the full lyre, and swells the tide of song} But lawless force and meagre want is there, And the quick darting eye of restless fear; While cold Oblivion, mid the ruins laid, Holds his dark reign beneath the ivy shade.” Chap. II. Ver. 2. The spirit entered into me.—By this it should seem, that the prophet had been overpowered with the vision, and had fainted.