View Lamentations 2 in the note window.
Jeremiah laments the misery of Jerusalem, and its causes, and their
enemies derision, ver. 1 - 17.
An exhortation to true sorrow and repentance, and a fervent prayer,
ver. 18 - 22.
1: His footstool - His temple; but suffered the Chaldeans to
destroy it. Cast down - That is, thrown them down from the highest
glory and honour, to the meanest degree of servitude.
2: Polluted - Dealt with them as with a polluted thing; cast them
off, brake them in pieces.
3: The horn - All their beauty and strength. Drawn back - God hath
drawn back his assistance which he was wont to give the Jews against
their enemies. Round about - God consumed them, not in this or that
part, but round about, as a fire seizing an house at once on all sides.
4: He - That is, God, (whom by their sins they had provoked and made
their enemy) behaved himself as an enemy. And slew - All their young men,
and maidens who were pleasant to look upon.
6: His tabernacle - His temple. The places - The synagogues.
The king - By the king and the priests are meant persons of greatest
rank and eminency, though it is thought here is a special reference to
Zedekiah the king of Judah, and Seraiah who was the high priest;
the former of which was miserably handled, the latter slain.
7: They - The enemies with their triumphs and blasphemies, made as
great a noise, as those that sang holy songs, or played on instruments,
were wont to make to the glory of God.
8: The wall - The strength and security of the Jews.
A line - Artificers used with lines not only to mark out places for
building, but also for destruction, to direct them what to cut off;
and such a line is here meant.
9: Among the Gentiles - In miserable captivity. The law - Is no
more read, opened or observed. Her prophets - They had but very few
prophets, from this time to the time of the gospel, and very few of
those at this time alive had any revelation from God.
10: The virgins - The whole city is in a mournful posture.
11: Mine eyes - This whole verse is but expressive of the prophets
great affliction for the miseries come upon the Jews. He wept himself
almost blind. Bowels - His passion had disturbed his bodily humours,
that his bowels were troubled. Liver - His gall lying under his liver.
All these are expressions of great affliction and sorrow. Swoon - During
the famine, occasioned by the long siege.
12: Bosom - When they died in their mother's arms.
13: Who - There was no people whose condition was in any degree
parallel to the misery of the Jews: nor was there any cure for them,
their breach was like a sea breach where the waters come in with such
a torrent, that there is no making any defence against them.
14: The prophets - False prophets told you vain stories.
Not discovered - Whereas they ought to have made you sensible
of your sins, and this might have prevented your captivity.
False burdens - False stories to encourage you in sin, and so
cause your banishment.
18: O wall - That is, those that are upon it.
20: Whom - Not the Heathen, but to thy own people.
Women - Wilt thou suffer women to satisfy their hunger
with the fruit of their own bodies?
22: My terrors - As my people were wont to be called together from
all parts in a solemn day, so now my terrible enemies, or terrible
things are by thee called together.
