Lamentations 2

A sad complaint because of the desolation of the city of Jerusalem and of the people of the Jews, ver 1. whom he again putteth in mind of the causes of these judgments, 14 their enemies derision at their misery, 15 An exhortation to true sorrow and repentances for their sins, 18 with fervent prayer, 19 whereof he giveth them a pattern, 20.

1. ALEPH. How hath the Lord clouded [Or covered with a cloud] the daughter of Zion [That is, the people of Jerusalem, which was wont to be dear to God, as a daughter is to her parents. See Psal. 87. 2.] in his anger? [being provoked against her by reason of her sins and manifold transgressions. The meaning is, whereas God formerly covered his people with a cloud for their good, now he covereth them with a thick cloud of manifold miseries. See above chapter 1. 1.] he hath cast down from heaven (upon) the earth that is from the highest of excellent glory, unto the lowest state of misery. Compare Obad. verse 4. Psal. 102. 11. Matth. 11. 23.] the glory of Israel: that is, the glorious state, wherein he had planted his people. Or understand here by the glory of Israel, the ark of the covenant, as 1 Samuel 4:21, 22.] and he remembered not the foot stool of his feet, [that is, the temple and the divine worship that was therein performed. Or, understand by the foot stool the ark of the covenant. See 1 Chronicles 28:2. See likewise Exodus 25:18, 19, 20.2 Sam. 6. 2. 2 Kings 19:15. Psal. 99. 5. And 132. 5.] in the day of his anger. [to wit, when in his anger he caused Jerusalem to be destroyed by the Chaldeans.]

2. BETH. The Lord hath swallowed, [That is, suddenly confounded, so that they seem to be swallowed up or devoured] all the inhabitants of Jacob, [that, is all the fat dwellings wherein he had placed his people, to wit, the prosterity of Jacob] and hath not spared them: he hath broken down in his wrath being provoked against his people, because of their manifold transgressions] the strong holds of the daughter of Juda, [that is, of Jacobs prosterity. To wit, all the Bulwarks, Castles, Towers, &c. that were reared up in the land of Juda for the defence of the land. Compare Luke 19:44.] he hath made them touch the ground: he hath profaned the kingdome, and the prines thereof. [that is, he hath rejected as unclean the whole nations of the Jews, both high and low, rich and poor, and hath delivered them into the hands of wicked nations, to be misused by them, and to be deprived by them of all glory and beauty. Compare Isaiah 47:6.]

3. GIMEL. He hath cut off in the kindling of (his) anger [That is, in his great wrath, as Deuteronomy 29:24.] all the born of Israel, [that is, all the power and the glory of the people of the Jews. See Deut. 33. On ver 17. And 1 Samuel 2:1. Jerem. 48. 25.] he hath drawn back his right hand, [that is, he hath withdrawn from us his power, assistance, and gracious help] when the enemy came: [Heb.from or before the face of the enemy. The meaning is, that he would not help the Israelites, when they fled from the enemy] and he is incensed against Jacob, [against the posterity of Jacob, but especially against the tribe of Juda] like a flaming fire (which) consumeth round about.

4. DALETH. He hath bent [Heb. troden. See Psal. 7. On ver 13.] bow like an enemy, [The meaning is, the Lord maketh his weapons yet ready, to spoil as yet ready, to spoil as yet more then enemies do, that seek to hurt one another] he hath set himself [to wit, against Zion] (with) his right hand as an adversary , to slay all the desirable things of the eyes: [See 1 Kings. 20 on ver 6. Compare Ezekiel 24:16, 21, 25. Understand here by the desirable things of the eyes, young men, the flower of the people: likewise the Priests, and the Princes, and all that was pleasant and acceptable] he hath poured out [that is, caused to come very plentifully. See the Annotat. On Psal. 79. On ver 6.] his wrath like fire in the tent of the daughter of Zion. [in the midst of the people, or in the city of Jerusalem.]

5. HE. The Lord is become as an enemy, [Men may be resisted, but God cannot] he hath swallowed Israel, [See ver 2.] he hath devoured [See ver 2.] all her palaces, [to wit, the palaces of the daughter of Zion, that is, of Jerusalem] he hath swallowed his[to wit, the Israelites] strongholds:[the meaning is, the Lord hath rased and levelled to the ground all the strong holds & fortresses that are built for the defence of the Israelites] & he hath multiplied the daughter of Judas lamenting & wailing. Or, mourning & sorrow, as Isaiah 29:2.]

6. VAU. And he hath violently [Or with violence] pulled down [The Hebrew word signifieth to pull a thing away with rage or boisterousness. Compare Psal. 80. 13. And 89. 41, &c. and Isaiah 5:5.] his hut [or fence, that is, tabernacle, or temple, Psal. 76. On verse 3. And Psal. 80. 13. And 89. 41. Isaiah 5:5] garden, he hath destroyed his assembling-place: [or the place of his assembly; where his people were wont to gather together to perform the publick worship of God; to wit, the temple, and the Synagogues] the LORD hath caused the high-time & the Sabbath [that is, the keeping of the usual ordinary feasts every year and the Sabbath every week] to be forgotten in Zion, and he hath reproachfully rejected in the indignation of his anger the King and the Priest. [that is, the governours of lands and cities, as also the teachers and ministers of the Church. The meaning is, he hath turned both the ecclesiastical and political state upside down.]

7. ZAIN. The Lord hath cast off his Altar: he hath abolished his sanctuary, [That is, his Temple. Others, abhorred, &c. as if it had been a cursed place, worthy to be abhorred. The meaning is, he cannot at present abide or endure that place wherein he had pleasure and delight. Compare Psal. 89. 40.] he hath given up [or shut up] into the hand of the enemy the walls of her [to wit, the daughter of Zions, that is, Jerusalems] palaces : they have lifted up [Heb. given a voice] in the house of the LORD, as on the day of an appointed high-time. [they, to wit, their enemies, and in particular the Chaldeans, when they had taken and destroyed the city and the temple with great triumph, shouted, cried, and called, as the people of God were wont to do on their feast-daies, especially on their solemn high festivals, praising God with songs of joy in the temple. See Psal. 74. 4.]

8. CHETH. The LORD hath thought [That is, he hath decreed and ordained] to destroy the wall of the daughter of Zion, [that is, the defence of Jerusalem] he hath stretched out the line (over it), [that is, he hath designed the certainity of the city of Jerusalems ruine. See 2 Kings 21:13. Isaiah 34:11. It is a phrase borrowed from bricklayers and masons] he hath not turned away [that is, not kep back] his hand that he should not swallow it: [that is, he ceased not till he had utterly destroyed it] he made the out-wall [or out-work, rampant, bulwark, fort. See Psal. 122. 7.] and the wall sorrowful together, [that is, he hath given the very insensible creatures occasion of mourning] they are weakened. [to wit, by a violent destruction. Others, destroyed, ruined.]

9. TETH. Her gates are sunk into the ground,[So that the enemies have thereby gotten a free passage to come into the city] he hath spoiled and broken her bars: [that is, all strong holds and castles, so that they are not able to present to resist any power] her King and her princes are among the Gentiles, [that is, they must now live and converse among the nations that are enemies to the real religion.] there is no law: [Others, the law is no more. That is, they have no ordinary exercise of their religion, by the ministry of the Priests and Levites: for the prophets are immediately here spoken of] her Prophets also find no vision from the LORD. [that is, they also have not such abundant revelations as they were wont to have. See Psal. 74. On ver 9.]

10. IOD. The Eldest of the daughter of Zion [That is, the wisest and stateliest among the people, that were wont formerly to ride and travel in charets or on horses, or on mules, through city and country] sit upon the ground, they keep silence, [as being astonished and dismaied by reason of their great misery] they cast dust upon their head, [they shew great tokens of dejection and sorrow. See Job 2:12.] they have girded in sacks: [that is, mourning garments; as Joel 1:8, 13. Jona 3. 5, 9. See the Annotat. Genes. 37. On ver 34.] the virgins of Jerusalem let their head hang (down) to the ground [the virgins of Jerusalem that commonly were wont to look up on high (Isaiah 3:17.) and to be proud of their beauty, they now look downward towards the ground, and are ashamed of themselves.]

11. CAPH. Mine eyes are consumed by tears, [That is, I weep so much, as that mine eyes are almost gone by weeping; as if we should say, I doe even cry mine eyes out. See Psal. 6. On ver 6, 7. And the Annotat. there] my bowels are troubled, [see above chap 1. On ver 20.] my liver is shaken out upon the earth, [that is, mine inward parts are melted, and they fail me : or the blood floweth away from my liver See Job 16. On ver 13.] because of the breach of the daughter of my people: [that is, when I consider the miseries and breaches with the Church of God suffereth. See Jer. 4. Ver 6.] because my babe and the suckling swoon [or fail, faint; to wit for hunger and thirst, and want of necessaries. See Psal. 57. 16.] in the streets of the city.

12. LAMED. (When) they [To wit, the little babes] say to their mothers, where is corn [that is, bread, necessary food] and wine? [to chear us in our weakness] when they swoon in the streets of the City, as the slain: when their soul is shaken out into their mothers bosom. [The meaning is, when they surrender their lives again unto their mothers, because they give them no food to preserve them alive.]

13. MEM. What witnesses shall I bring thee? [Or what testimony &c. As if he had said, what example shall I profound unto thee, whereby I might be able to comfort thee? I find no where any nation that was ever so sorely punished as thou art punished. Others take in this sense; what thing shall I take to witness, that thou hast no great cause to cry and soar thus? See Isa. chapter 51. the Annotat on ver 19] what ( thing) shall I compare to thee, [to wit, in this thy misery] thou daughter of Jerusalem? [that is, the people of God] what shall I liken to thee, that I may comfort thee, thou virgin daughter of Zion? For thy breach is (as) great as the sea: [that is, thy miseries are broad, deep, mighty, and almost incomprehensible as the rents and breachers that the sea maketh into the lands: thou art such a spectacle of God’s anger, as never was the like before in the world] who can heal thee? [what means are there to be found in the world to deliver thee? In every mans judgement thy condition is desperate, there is no remedy to be had for thee.]

14. NUN. Thy prophets [Meaning the false Prophets, which the wicked Jews had chosen to themselves; or that pretended to be guides and leaders, but were not sent by God, neither were true prophets. See Jerem. 2. 8.and 5. 31.and 14. 14.and 23. 16.and 27. 10.and 29. 8,9. Ezekiel 13:2.] have seen thee [that is, prophesied. For prophesies are divine visions revealed unto the prophets] vanity[that is, such things, as did not all tend to good nor to godliness: as for example, they prophesy unto you peace and plenty of all things when God threatened the clean contrary. See Jerem. 28.2, 3, 15.and 29.8.] and absurdy. [Heb. unsavoury things. See Job 1. On ver 22. And Jerem. 23. 13.] and they have not recovered their iniquity (unto thee), [that is, they have not sincerely laid thy sins and transgressions open before thee, to convince thy conscience of them] to turn thy captivity:[that is, that they may thereby have brought thee to true sorrow and repentance, that thou mightiest thereby have prevented the judgments of God] but they have seen for thee vain burdens, [that is, prophesies. See Isai. 13. On ver.1. that is, they have as it were in the name of God, taught thee things that were false, and profitable and serviceable for nothing] and castings out. [The meaning is, to hearken unto which was the readiest way to banish you out of your own land. For to teach and believe errours , is the fountain of all sins for which God commonly punisheth the children of men]

15. SAMECH. All that pass by the way, [To wit, of what rank or quality soever they be. But understand those that are strangers from the true religion] clap (their) hands at thee [in scorn and derision of thee. Heb. the palms. See the Annotat. Job27.on ver.23.] they whistle [see 1 Kings 9:8. and 2 Kings 19:21. And Job 16:9. and Jerem.18.16.] and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem; (saying) is this the city, whereof men said that she was perfect in beauty] a joy of the whole earth? [Compare Psal.48.3.and 50.2.]

16. PE. All thine enemies open their mouth against thee, [See Psal.22.14. Others, open their mouth wide, &c.] they whistle and gnash their teeth [or they bite upon the teeth] they say, we have devoured her, that is, we have brought them to such a condition that they shall not rise again] this is indeed the day that we looked for, [the meaning is, have a long while whisht to see this day which we now see and like] we have found (it) we have seen (it) [or we see (it now), to wit, with delight and with joy.]

17. AIN. The LORD hath done that which he had thought, [The Lord hath caused to come upon thee all that he had decreed to bring upon thee. Compare Levit. 26. 17. Deuteronomy 28:15.] he hath fulfilled [so is the Hebrew word also taken , Isaiah 10:26. and Deut. 28.] of ancient daies, [As above chapter 1. Ver. 7. 7.] he hath broken down and not spared: and he hath caused the enemy to rejoyce over thee, [giving him strength and victory over thee] he hath exalted the horn of thine adversaries. [that is, he hath given them that hate thee great strength and power. See of the word horn above vers. 3.]

18. TSADI. Their heart cryed unto the Lord: [To wit, when they, namely the people of God were plagued by the Chaldeans. Others, against the Lord. The meaning is, They, to wit, the wicked Chaldeans, that reproched not you, but the Lord. See 2 Kings 19:22. Isaiah 36:4.] O thou wall of the daughter of Zion, [these are the Prophets words. As if he had said, O ye people that dwell within the walls of Zion, or Jerusalem, whereon Juda relied as on a strong wall] let tears fall own like a brooke day and night:[compare above chap.1.ver.2. and 16.] give thyself no rest, let not the apple of thine eyes cease. [to wit,from shedding of tears. Heb. let not the daughter of thine eye hold her peace; that is, the apple of thine eye. See Psal.17. on ver.8.]

19. KOPH. Get thee up, utter a cry, [That is, complain unto the Lord openly and boldly of thy trouble. A commandment to the godly to pray.] in the beginning of the night-watches, [Heb. at the head of the (night) watches; that is, at the time when the night beginneth] pour out thine heart, [that is, all the grief that thou hast in thine heart] like water, [compare Psal.22.15.and 42.5.and 62.9.and 102. 1.] before the face of the Lord: lift up thine hands, [Heb. palms. So ver.20.and 22.] unto him for the soul [that is, for to pray that God would pity your little children] that are fallen into a swoon [or, that faint] for hunger, in the front of all the streets.[Heb. at the heads of all the streets. [That is, in all the corners, streets, passages of the city. Compare Isaiah 51:20.and below chapter 4.vers.1.]

20. RESH. Behold, LORD, consider, I pray thee, to whom thou hast done thus:[To wit, not to Gentiles, but to thy first-born son, Exod.4. 22. To thy chosen people of Israel, Exod.19.6. Deut.4.7.and 7.6.] shall then the woman eat their fruit? [That is, their children, the fruit of their womb. The Prophet complaineth here of the cruelty of that happened among Gods own people. compare below chapter 4. 10.] the little children that are carried upon the handsSo likewise below vers.22. Others, that are led by the palm. We read twice, that the mothers in the land of Juda di d eat their own children; to wit, in the siege of Samaria, 2 Kings 6:26. An in the siege of Jerusalem by Vespasian and Titus. See Josephus] shall then the Prophet and the priest be slain in the sanctuary of the Lord? [That is, in the Temple, in that place, Lord, which thou hast set apart for an holy use.]

21. SCHIN. The young and the old ly on the ground (in) the streets:my virgins [Whom the very cruel souldiers are wont to spare] and my young men are fallen by the sword, [Are cruelly murdered] thou hast slain them in the day of thine anger, [thou, O Lord, hast done it in thy righteous anger] thou hast killed them (and) not spread.

22. TAU. Thou hast called my terrous [That is, that which might terrefie me] round about, as (for) a day of an appointed feast: [See above chap.1. vers. 15.] and none escaped, or remained in the day of the LORDS nger:those that I have carried upon the hands, brought up, them hath mine enemy slain.