1Wie umwölkt der HerrH136 in seinem Zorne die TochterH1323 ZionH6726! Er hat die HerrlichkeitH8597 IsraelsH3478 vom HimmelH8064 zur ErdeH776 geworfenH7993, und hat des Schemels seiner FüßeH7272 nicht gedachtH2142 am TageH3117 seines ZornesH639. 2Der HerrH136 hatH1104 schonungslos vernichtet alle Wohnstätten JakobsH3290; erH2550 hatH2040 in seinem Grimme niedergerissen die FestenH4013 der TochterH1323 JudaH3063; zu Boden geworfen, entweihtH2490 hatH4467 erH5060 dasH776 Königtum und seine FürstenH8269. 3In Zornesglut hatH1197 er abgehauenH1438 jedes HornH7161 IsraelsH3478; er hat seine RechteH3225 zurückgezogen vorH2750 dem FeindeH341, undH268 hat JakobH3290 in Brand gesteckt wie einH3852 flammendes FeuerH784, das ringsum frißtH398. 4Seinen BogenH7198 hatH2026 er gespanntH1869 wie ein FeindH341, hatH8210 mit seiner RechtenH3225 sichH6862 hingestellt wie ein Gegner undH5324 alle LustH4261 der AugenH5869 getötet; in das ZeltH168 der TochterH1323 ZionH6726 hat er seinen GrimmH2534 ausgegossen wie FeuerH784. 5Der HerrH136 ist wie ein FeindH341 geworden, er hatH1104 IsraelH3478 vernichtet, vernichtet alle ihre PalästeH759, seine FestenH4013 zerstört; undH7843 bei der TochterH1323 JudaH3063 hatH1104 er Seufzen und Stöhnen gemehrtH7235. 6UndH7843 er hatH4150 sein Gehege zerwühltH2554 wie einen GartenH1588, hat den OrtH4150 seiner Festversammlung zerstört; JehovaH3068 machte in ZionH6726 Fest undH7676 Sabbath vergessenH7911; und in seines ZornesH639 GrimmH2195 verschmähte er KönigH4428 und PriesterH3548. 7Der HerrH136 hatH4150 seinen AltarH4196 verworfenH2186, sein HeiligtumH4720 verschmäht; erH5414 hat die MauernH2346 ihrer Prachtgebäude der HandH3027 des FeindesH341 preisgegeben: Sie habenH5462 im HauseH1004 JehovasH3068 Lärm erhoben wie anH3117 einem Festtage. 8JehovaH3068 hatH1104 sichH5186 vorgenommen, die MauerH2346 der TochterH1323 ZionH6726 zu zerstören; er zogH7725 die MeßschnurH6957, wandte seine HandH3027 vom VerderbenH7843 nicht ab; und Wall und MauerH2426 hat er trauern lassen: Zusammen liegen sie kläglichH56 da. 9In die ErdeH776 gesunken sindH4672 ihre ToreH8179, zerstörtH6 undH7665 zerschlagen hat er ihre RiegelH1280; ihr KönigH4428 und ihre FürstenH8269 sind unter den Nationen, kein GesetzH8451 ist mehr; auch ihre ProphetenH5030 erlangen kein GesichtH2377 von JehovaH3068. 10Verstummt sitzen aufH5927 der ErdeH776 dieH3381 ÄltestenH2205 der TochterH1323 ZionH6726; sie haben Staub auf ihr HauptH7218 geworfen, Sacktuch sichH3427 umgegürtet; die JungfrauenH1330 JerusalemsH3389 haben ihr HauptH7218 zur ErdeH6083 gesenkt. 11Durch TränenH1832 vergehen meine AugenH5869, meine EingeweideH4578 wallen, meine LeberH3516 hatH8210 sichH5848 zur ErdeH776 ergossen: wegen der Zertrümmerung der TochterH1323 meines VolkesH5971, weil KindH5768 und SäuglingH3243 aufH3615 den StraßenH7339 der StadtH7151 verschmachten. 12Zu ihren MütternH517 sagenH559 sie: Wo ist KornH1715 und WeinH3196? indem sie wie tödlich Verwundete hinschmachten auf den StraßenH7339 der StadtH5892, indem ihre SeeleH5315 sichH5848 ergießt in den BusenH2436 ihrer MütterH517. 13WasH4100 soll ichH5749 dir bezeugen, was dir vergleichenH7737, TochterH1323 JerusalemH3389? Was soll ichH5749 dir gleichstellen, daß ich dich tröste, du JungfrauH1330, TochterH1323 ZionH6726? Denn deine Zertrümmerung istH7495 großH1419 wieH1819 das MeerH3220 : Wer kann dich heilen? 14Nichtiges und Ungereimtes haben deine ProphetenH5030 dir geschaut; und sie deckten deine UngerechtigkeitH5771 nichtH7723 aufH1540, um deine Gefangenschaft zu wendenH7725; sondern sie schauten dir Aussprüche der Nichtigkeit und der Vertreibung. 15Alle, die des WegesH1870 ziehen, schlagen überH5674 dich die HändeH3709 zusammen, sieH5128 zischenH8319 und schütteln ihren KopfH7218 über die TochterH1323 JerusalemH3389 : "Ist das die StadtH5892, von der man sagteH559 : Der Schönheit Vollendung, eine FreudeH4885 der ganzen ErdeH776? " 16Alle deine FeindeH341 sperrenH6475 ihren MundH6310 über dich auf, sieH2786 zischenH8319 und knirschen mit den ZähnenH8127; sieH389 sprechenH559 : Wir habenH6960 sie verschlungenH1104; fürwahr, dies ist der TagH3117, den wir erhofft habenH4672 : Wir haben ihn erreicht, gesehenH7200! 17JehovaH3068 hatH1214 getanH6213, was erH2550 beschlossenH2161, hatH6680 sein WortH565 erfüllt, das er von den TagenH3117 der Vorzeit her entboten hatH2040. Er hat schonungslos niedergerissen undH6924 den FeindH341 sichH6862 über dich freuenH8055 lassen, hat das HornH7161 deiner Bedränger erhöhtH7311. 18Ihr HerzH3820 schreitH6817 zu dem HerrnH136. DuH5414 MauerH2346 der TochterH1323 ZionH6726, laß, einem Bache gleich, TränenH1832 rinnenH3381 TagH3119 undH5158 NachtH3915; gönne dir keine Rast, deinem AugapfelH5869 keine Ruhe! 19Mache dich aufH6965, klage in der NachtH3915 beim Beginn der Nachtwachen, schütte dein HerzH3820 ausH8210 wie WasserH4325 vorH2351 dem AngesichtH6440 des HerrnH136; hebeH5375 deine HändeH3709 zu ihm empor fürH5227 dieH5848 SeeleH5315 deiner KinderH5768, die vor HungerH7458 verschmachten an allen Straßenecken! 20SiehH5027, JehovaH3068, und schaue, wem du alsoH3541 getan hastH5953! Sollen WeiberH802 ihre Leibesfrucht essenH398, die KindleinH5768, welche sieH2026 auf den Händen tragen? Sollen im HeiligtumH4720 des HerrnH136 ermordet werdenH7200 PriesterH3548 und ProphetH5030? 21KnabenH5288 undH2026 Greise liegenH7901 am BodenH776 auf den Straßen; meine JungfrauenH1330 und meine JünglingeH970 sind durchs SchwertH2719 gefallenH5307; hingemordet hastH2873 du am TageH3117 deines ZornesH639, geschlachtet ohneH2351 Schonung. 22Meine Schrecknisse hast du vonH5439 allen Seiten herbeigerufen wie anH3117 einem Festtage, und nicht einer entrann oder blieb übrig am TageH3117 des ZornesH639 JehovasH3068; die ich aufH3615 den Händen getragenH2946 und erzogen habeH7235, mein FeindH341 hatH4150 sieH7121 vernichtet.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 (Lam. 2:1-22)
How--The title of the collection repeated here, and in
Lam 4:1.
covered . . . with a cloud--that is, with the darkness of ignominy.
cast down from heaven unto . . . earth-- (
Matt 11:23); dashed down from the highest prosperity to the lowest misery.
beauty of Israel--the beautiful temple (
Ps 29:2;
Ps 74:7;
Ps 96:9, Margin;
Isa 60:7;
Isa 64:11).
his footstool--the ark (compare
1Chr 28:2, with
Ps 99:5;
Ps 132:7). They once had gloried more in the ark than in the God whose symbol it was; they now feel it was but His "footstool," yet that it had been a great glory to them that God deigned to use it as such.
2 polluted--by delivering it into the hands of the profane foe. Compare
Ps 89:39, "profaned . . . crown."
3 horn--worn in the East as an ornament on the forehead, and an emblem of power and majesty (
1Sam 2:10;
Ps 132:17; see on
Jer 48:25).
drawn back . . . fight hand-- (
Ps 74:11). God has withdrawn the help which He before gave them. Not as HENDERSON, "He has turned back his (Israel's) right hand" (
Ps 89:43).
4 (
Isa 63:10).
stood with . . . right hand--He took His stand so as to use His right hand as an adversary. HENDERSON makes the image to be that of an archer steadying his right hand to take aim. Not only did He withdraw His help, but also took arms against Israel.
all . . . pleasant to . . . eye-- (
Ezek 24:25). All that were conspicuous for youth, beauty, and rank.
in . . . tabernacle--the dwellings of Jerusalem.
5 an enemy-- (
Jer 30:14).
mourning and lamentation--There is a play of similar sounds in the original, "sorrow and sadness," to heighten the effect (
Job 30:3, Hebrew;
Ezek 35:3, Margin).
6 tabernacle--rather, "He hath violently taken away His hedge (the hedge of the place sacred to Him,
Ps 80:12;
Ps 89:40;
Isa 5:5), as that of a garden" [MAURER]. CALVIN supports English Version, "His tabernacle (that is, temple) as (one would take away the temporary cottage or booth) of a garden."
Isa 1:8 accords with this (
Job 27:18).
places of . . . assembly--the temple and synagogues (
Ps 74:7-
Ps 74:8).
solemn feasts-- (
Lam 1:4).
7 they . . . made a noise in . . . house of . . . Lord, as in . . . feast--The foe's shout of triumph in the captured temple bore a resemblance (but oh, how sad a contrast as to the occasion of it!) to the joyous thanksgivings we used to offer in the same place at our "solemn feasts" (compare
Lam 2:22).
8 stretched . . . a line--The Easterns used a measuring-line not merely in building, but in destroying edifices (
2Kgs 21:13;
Isa 34:11); implying here the unsparing rigidness with which He would exact punishment.
9 Her gates cannot oppose the entrance of the foe into the city, for they are sunk under a mass of rubbish and earth.
broken . . . bars-- (
Jer 51:30).
her king . . . among . . . Gentiles-- (
Deut 28:36).
law . . . no more-- (
2Chr 15:3). The civil and religious laws were one under the theocracy. "All the legal ordinances (prophetical as well as priestly) of the theocracy, are no more" (
Ps 74:9;
Ezek 7:26).
10 (
Job 2:12-
Job 2:13). The "elders," by their example, would draw the others to violent grief.
the virgins--who usually are so anxious to set off their personal appearances to advantage.
11 liver is poured, &c.--that is, as the liver was thought to be the seat of the passions, "all my feelings are poured out and prostrated for," &c. The "liver," is here put for the bile ("gall,"
Job 16:13; "bowels,"
Ps 22:14) in a bladder on the surface of the liver, copiously discharged when the passions are agitated.
swoon--through faintness from the effects of hunger.
12 as the wounded--famine being as deadly as the sword (
Jer 52:6).
soul . . . poured . . . into . . . mothers bosom--Instinctively turning to their mother's bosom, but finding no milk there, they breathe out their life as it were "into her bosom."
13 What thing shall I take to witness--What can I bring forward as a witness, or instance, to prove that others have sustained as grievous ills as thou? I cannot console thee as mourners are often consoled by showing that thy lot is only what others, too, suffer. The "sea" affords the only suitable emblem of thy woes, by its boundless extent and depth (
Lam 1:12;
Dan 9:12).
14 Thy prophets--not God's (
Jer 23:26).
vain . . . for thee--to gratify thy appetite, not for truth, but for false things.
not discovered thine iniquity--in opposition to God's command to the true prophets (
Isa 58:1). Literally, "They have not taken off (the veil) which was on thine iniquity, so as to set it before thee."
burdens--Their prophecies were soothing and flattering; but the result of them was heavy calamities to the people, worse than even what the prophecies of Jeremiah, which they in derision called "burdens," threatened. Hence he terms their pretended prophecies "false burdens," which proved to the Jews "causes of their banishment" [CALVIN].
15 clap . . . hands--in derision (
Job 27:23;
Job 34:37).
wag . . . head-- (
2Kgs 19:21;
Ps 44:14).
perfection of beauty . . . joy of . . . earth-- (
Ps 48:2;
Ps 50:2). The Jews' enemies quote their very words in scorn.
16 For the transposition of Hebrew letters (Pe and Ain,
Lam 2:16-
Lam 2:17) in the order of verses, see Introduction.
opened . . . mouth--as ravening, roaring wild beasts (
Job 16:9-
Job 16:10;
Ps 22:13). Herein Jerusalem was a type of Messiah.
gnash . . . teeth--in vindictive malice.
we have seen it-- (
Ps 35:21).
17 Lord--Let not the foe exult as if it was their doing. It was "the Lord" who thus fulfilled the threats uttered by His prophets for the guilt of Judea (
Lev 26:16-
Lev 26:25;
Deut 28:36-
Deut 28:48,
Deut 28:53;
Jer 19:9).
18 wall-- (
Lam 2:8). Personified. "Their heart," that is, the Jews'; while their heart is lifted up to the Lord in prayer, their speech is addressed to the "wall" (the part being put for the whole city).
let tears, &c.-- (
Jer 14:17). The wall is called on to weep for its own ruin and that of the city. Compare the similar personification (
Lam 1:4).
apple--the pupil of the eye (
Ps 17:8).
19 cry . . . in . . . night-- (
Ps 119:147).
beginning of . . . watches--that is, the first of the three equal divisions (four hours each) into which the ancient Jews divided the night; namely, from sunset to ten o'clock. The second was called "the middle watch" (
Judg 7:19), from ten till two o'clock. The third, "the morning watch," from two to sunrise (
Exod 14:24;
1Sam 11:11). Afterwards, under the Romans, they had four watches (
Matt 14:25;
Luke 12:38).
for . . . thy . . . children--that God, if He will not spare thee, may at least preserve "thy young children."
top of . . . street-- (
Isa 51:20;
Nah 3:10).
20 women eat . . . fruit--as threatened (
Lev 26:29;
Deut 28:53,
Deut 28:56-
Deut 28:57;
Jer 19:9).
children . . . span long--or else, "children whom they carry in their arms" [MAURER].
21 (
2Chr 36:17).
22 Thou hast called as in . . . solemn day . . . terrors--Thou hast summoned my enemies against me from all quarters, just as multitudes used to be convened to Jerusalem, on the solemn feast days. The objects, for which the enemies and the festal multitude respectively met, formed a sad contrast. Compare
Lam 1:15 : "called an assembly against me."
Jeremiah proposes his own experience under afflictions, as an example as to how the Jews should behave under theirs, so as to have hope of a restoration; hence the change from singular to plural (
Lam 3:22,
Lam 3:40-
Lam 3:47). The stanzas consist of three lines, each of which begins with the same Hebrew letter.