Lamentations 2

1. His footstool. The ark of the covenant; see 1 Chron. xxviii. 2.

2 the habitations . . . the strong holds. The rural homes and city fortresses.

3 all the horn of Israel. All her power and glory: see note on 1 Sam. ii. 1.

6. His tabernacle, as if it were of a garden. Rather, “His booth, as of a garden”; the allusion being to the lodge in a garden where the vine-dresser or watchman lodged; hence, “the tabernacle.”

11. My liver is poured, etc. See note on i. 20. The liver was regarded as the seat of emotion. “My soul is wretched” (Moffatt).

13. What thing shall I take to witness for thee? Rather, as R.V., “What shall I testify unto thee?” to relieve thy sorrow.

thy breach is great like the sea. Thy destruction is as vast as the sea.

14 have seen. Foreseen; foretold.

false burdens. “Burden” is used, as so often in Isaiah, for the vision or message of a prophet.

15. The perfection of beauty, etc. For these epithets, see Psa. l. 2; xlviii. 2.

18. Their heart. The heart of the Jews.

O wall of the daughter of Zion. The wall of Jerusalem, like the city itself, is personified: cp. ver. 8.

19 in the beginning of the watches. i.e., all the night through.

20. Shall the women eat their fruit? See note on 2 Kings vi. 29.

[and] children of a span long. Rather, as R.V., “the children that are dandled in the hands.”

22 my terrors round about. Thou hast collected all kinds of fear and suffering in great numbers around me. The Heb. here recalls Jeremiah’s frequent phrase, “magor-missabib”: see Jer. vi. 25.