Lamentations 5
DortThis is an humble prayer, wherein the Prophet resented unto the Lord the great misery of the people of the Jews, ver.1, & c. confessing their sins and transgressions, 16 and prayeth for mercy and deliverance, 19.
1. Remember, LORD, what hath been done unto us, [This is spoken of God after the manner of men; he forgotteth nothing. See Gen. chap.8. on ver.1. Some conceive that this chapter is acomplaint and prayer, prescribed by the Prophet unto the Jews, yo be daily said and presented unto God] consider and behold our reproach. [that is, the reproach that is put upon us. See of this phrase Jerem. chap.2. the Annotat. ver.2.]
2. Our inheritance is turned to the strangers, our houses to the forreigners. [that is, our lands and houses lying in the land of Canaan, are taken from us and given to others; to wit, to the Chaldeans and Assyrians.]
3. We are Orphans without father, [Our fathers being either killed by the sword, or dead of the pestilence, or carried away into captivity and bondage, and perished in poverty] our mothers are as widows. [that is, it fares with them as it is wont to be with widows.]
4. We are fain to drink our water for money; [That is, the water of our fountains, and of our wells, which properly belongeth to us, we are fain to give money for it. Some understand this of the time during the siege of Jerusalem] our wood cometh to stand (us) in a price. [that is, our own wood that growth on our own ground, we are fain to buy of strangers, or souldiers. Understand this also of other necessaries, as corn, wine, clothes, & c.
5. We suffer persecution upon our necks: [That is, by those that lie upon our necks, as some do here render it: that is, by those that press us sore, and unmercifully drive us to labour and travel. See the contrary, Hos.11.4. Others, upon our necks, to wit, bearing a very heavy yoke of hard bondage upon our necks] if we be weary, [or we are weary] they let us not rest.
6. We have given the hand to the Egyptian, [we have made peace and league with the Egyptians, hoping to be protected or delivered by them] (and) to the Assyrian to be satisfied (with) bread, [that is, that he would but onely grant us thus mush, that we might fill out hungry bellies.]
7. Our fathers [That is, our forefathers] have sinned, & are no (more) [this must be understood that they are no more present, or that they are no more upon the earth, as Jerem.31.15. Psal.39.14. Matth.2.18. and Job.3.16. see the Annotat, there. As if they should say, our forefathers are more tolerably dealt with then we; for when the sinned both in the wilderness, and in the land of Canaan, they were straightway punished for it with death; for either the enemies flew them, or the venomous serpents stung them, or they were swallowed up of the earth, or died of the pestilence. (See I Cor. chap.10.) but we must bear the punishment both of their and our sins, (See above chap.3.39. and 4.6,22.) not onely, by one but by divers sieges, not onely by carrying away into the Babylonian captivity, but by all the miseries that we are fain to suffer and undergoe there: so that it were better and more tolerable for us to die once, then live thus, and to die so many deaths in long lasting misery] and we bear their iniquities. [The meaning is, we being the sinful seed of that sinful generation, bear the punishment of their sins, according to that which is written, Exod.20.5. Jerem.32.18. That which is said Ezek.18.20. to wit, the soul that sinneth shall die, is, and remaineth true; as also that the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father: but that which is said here in this verse, is to be understood of such sons or children as follow their fathers footsteps in sinning, and so fill up the measure of their iniquity.]
8. Servants rule over us, [we must not onely bow under the King and under the great ones of the land, but also under their servants. See Prov. chap.30. on ver.22.] there is none that doth deliver us [see Psal.136. the Annotat. on verse 24.] out of their hand.
9. We must fetch our bread [All that we have need of for the sustentation of our lives] with the peril of our life, [Heb, upon our soul; that is, with the peril or danger of our lives, as 2 Sam.23.17. and I Chro.11,19.] because of the sword of the wilderness. [That is, because of the sword of the enemies, that have subdued the whole land, and made it a wilderness, and there like high-way theeves and robbers lie in wait for us, when we go forth to seek and fetch in necessary provision, or to gather in our fruits.]
10. Our skin is grown black like an oven, [That is, our body is black like an oven, which waxeth black by reason of the smoke. See above chap.4. ver. 4,8.] because of the violent storm of famine [that is, because of the horrible famine: because our bodies are so weakened by the famine. Heb. before the face of the storms, or, tempests of famine.]
11. They ravished the women [see Genes.34. on vers.2.] at Zion, (and the virgins in the cities of Juda.
12. The Princes are hanged up by their hand, [They esteemed the noblest no more then the meanest: they hang up the one as well as the other. It is very credible, that this happened to many noble men, when even the king himself had his eyes put out, or was made blind] the faces of the ancients were not honoured. [As above chap.4.16.]
13. They [To wit, the Chaldeans] took way the young men, to grinde, [that is, that they might grinde; not in wind-mils, or water-mils, as they do now a dayes; but with hand-mils, or by stamping the corn in great mortars. This was a sre labour, which slaves and bond-men were wont to be put to. See Exodus 11:5. Judges 16:21. and Isaiah 47:2.] and the youths stumbled under the wood. [That is, they make young boyes and children that are yet weak in their limbs, carry such great and heavy burthens of wood, that they fail under them, and all down.]
14. The ancients cease from the gate, [That is, the ancient grave, and wise men sit no more in the gates, to administer justice, and to judge between party and party, as was wont to be done aforetime. See Genes. 34,20. and Psal. 127.5.] the young men from their musick-play. [that is, the young men have no joy nor recreation any more: they do not sing nor play any more, as they were used to do in time of peace and prosperity. See Amos 8:10.]
15. The joy of our heart ceaseth, [That is, is at an end] our dance is turned into mourning. [that is, whereas we were wont to be merry and joyful, we have now nothing else but cause of sorrow and mourning. See Exodus 15:20. Job 30:31. Psal.68. on vers.26. that which they here complain to have befallen them, the same God threatens them. Jer.7.34. and 16.9. and 25.10.]
16. The crown of her head is fallen off, [All the honour and glory both of the Ecclesiastical and Political estate is vanishes and come to nothing. See Job 19. on vers.9. See also Prov.4.9. and 12.4. and 14.24. isa.28.5. and 62.3. Ezek.16.12. and I Cor. 11.7. Phil.4.1 I Thess.2.19.] O wo now unto us that we have (so) sinned.
17. Therefore is our heart weary {or, faint; to wit, because we have so abominably provokes thee to anger, O Lord] for these things our eyes are grown dim, [by reason of our daily weeping for our sins, and the great afflictions that are come upon us for our sins, our eyes are grown dim. Compare I Sam.14.28. Job 17:7. Psal.6.8. and 31.10.]
18. Because of the mountain of Zion, which is desolate, [This especially grieveth mine heart, that that place where the worship of God was wont to be performed to the honour of Gods holy name, lieth now so waste and desolate] where the foxes run upon. [that is, because crafty deceitful men, according to their pleasure, do recreate themselves there, and do what they lift. Compare Psal.12.9. and isa.34.11, & c. crafty men are also called foxes, cant. chap.2.5. and Luke 13,32. But it may be hee also taken according to the letter. As if the Prophet should have said, I am exceedingly grieved from my heart, that that beautiful and glorious city of Jerusalem, together with the beautiful Temple, do now lie so waste and desolate, that the foxes, which are otherwise afraid of men, do run and play there freely. Compare herewith Hos.9.6. and 10.8. Psal.102.7,8. concerning horrible desolations.]
19. Thou, O LORD, sittest [Others remainest] for ever, thy throne is from generation to generation [The meaning is, though often changes and alterations do happen in the world, yea even in the Church, yet thou remainest still as the supreme Judge sitting still upon thy judgement-seat for ever and ever: Psal.9.8. and 29.10. and 102.13. and 145.13.]
20. Wherefore shouldest thou forget us [Compare Gen. 8. ver.1. and 31. On vers. 17.] continually? [see Psal.13.2.] (wherefore) shouldest thou forsake us (so) long time? [Heb, in length of days. The meaning is seeing, O Lord, that thou art our God, and we are thy people, how cometh it to pass that thy hand is so heavy upon us, and presseth us so sore, as if we were not thy people? it seemeth that thou hast determined to forget us for ever, and to let us remain for ever in this affliction. Compare Psal.109. vers. 8,9,10, & c.]
21. LORD, convert us unto thee, so shall we be converted: [As Jerem. 31.18. The meaning is, grant that we may have and shew true sorrow and repentance for our great and manifold sins, whereby we have provoked thee to anger] renew our dayes as of old. [as above chap.1.7. and chap.2.17. the meaning is, let it please thee to change our miserable and sad condition, into that happy condition wherein our fathers and we aforetime lived under David, Solomon, and other our Kinga.]
22. For shouldest thou utterly reject us? [Heb. rejecting have rejected us] shouldest thou be so very wroth against us? [as if they had said, Lord, it seemeth thou hast utterly rejected us, in regard thou doest punish us so heavily, and so long: we pray thee have mercy upon us at last, and lessen our miseries, forasmuch as we address our selves unto thee with hearty sorrow and repentance.