Bible Commentaries
Lamentations 2

Verse 1

Obscurity. He continues to bewail the misery of Jerusalem. --- Heaven, the highest glory, Isaias xiv. 12. --- Stool; the temple, and the land. The ark fell not into the hands of the enemy. (Calmet) --- The punishment which the Lord permits, is justly ascribed to Him. (Worthington)

Verse 2

Unclean, or treated it as such. (Calmet) --- Septuagint, "he hath accounted profane the kings." (Haydock) --- Joakim, Jechonias, Sedecias, and the royal family, were exposed to the greatest ignominy and sufferings. (Calmet)

Verse 3

Horn: beauty and power, (Haydock) the two kingdoms, the fortresses, (Calmet) and all their strength, denoted by horns. (Worthington) --- Hand; refusing us protection, and aiding the Chaldeans.

Verse 5

Women, suffering them to be abused, chap. v. 11, 13.

Verse 6

Tent: the temple, with the same indifference as if it had been a hut, built to guard the fruit of a garden, Isaias v. 5., and Psalm lxxix. 13. --- Sabbaths. The Jews rested, but could offer no sacrifices in captivity. --- Priest. Saraias was slain, and Sedecias imprisoned, &c., chap. lii. 10. (Calmet)

Verse 7

Cursed, or suffered it to be polluted, (Worthington) as he looked on it with horror, after it had been profaned by Achaz, &c. --- Towers. Septuagint, "palaces;" Greek: bareon. --- Feast. What a contrast! The temple used to resound with songs of praise and music: the Chaldeans fill it with insolent shouts of victory.

Verse 8

Line, to level it with the ground, (Isaias xxxiv. 11.; Calmet) or to treat it with just severity. (Theodoret) --- Bulwark. Literally, "the first wall," (Haydock) or ditch, lined with palisades. Alexander [the Great] ordered the towers to be levelled, and the horses’ manes to be cut, when Hephæstion died, to denote the general sorrow.

Verse 9

Among, as slaves, or in prison. --- Law has been neglected; and now it cannot be observed, as to the ceremonial part. There are no public instructions. --- No vision. When Jeremias was consulted, he had to pray for ten days, chap. xlii. 7.

Verse 10

Ancients, even magistrates. (Calmet) --- Canitiem multo deformat pulvere. (Virgil, Æneid x.)

Verse 11

Earth, by an overflowing of the bile, occasioned by grief, Job xvi. 14. (Calmet)

Verse 13

Sea. This is an hyperbole, to express the greatness of sorrow, as the sea surpasses all other waters. (Worthington)

Verse 14

Revelations. Hebrew Masoth, "burdens" for the enemy. This sentence ought to come before and they, &c., as it is in the Vulgate. (Haydock)

Verse 16

Mouth, with scorn, Isaias lvii. 4., and Psalm xxxiv. 21.

Verse 17

Old, by Moses, (Deuteronomy xxviii. 15, 49., and Leviticus xxvi. 14.) Micheas, (chap. xxvi. 18.) Holda, &c. (Calmet)

Verse 18

Upon. Hebrew and Septuagint, "O wall," &c., ver. 8. (Haydock)

Verse 19

Watches. Jerusalem is here represented in the midst of danger and misery. (Calmet)

Verse 20

Dealt. Literally, "gathered grapes," chap. i. 12. (Haydock) --- Long; quite small, Psalm xxxviii. 9. This has been denounced, chap. xix. 9., and Deuteronomy xxviii. 53. (Calmet) It took place at Samaria, and in the last siege of Jerusalem, (Josephus, Jewish Wars vii., and viii.; Worthington) as well as at this time. (Haydock)

Verse 21

Killed. Literally, "stricken" (Haydock) with unusual severity. (Worthington)

Verse 22

CHAPTER II.

About. The troops of the enemy resemble those multitudes, which come from all parts to Jerusalem. Many kings could not raise such an army. (Calmet)