Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Lamentations 1:13
From above hath he sent fire into my bones, and it prevaileth against them: he hath spread a net for my feet, he hath turned me back: he hath made me desolate [and] faint all the day.
13. Zion likens herself to one whose inmost parts are being consumed, as with flame. Cp. Jer 20:9; Job 30:30; Psa 102:3.
it prevaileth against ] it subdueth, or, in the sense of the cognate root in Syriac, chastiseth.
He hath spread a net for my feet ] Cp. Jer 50:24; Eze 12:13; Job 18:8 ff.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
13 15. Notice the accumulation of figures under which the destruction of the city is represented, fiery rain, toils of a net, a blocking of the way, a yoke laid on the neck, a sacrificial banquet, the treading of grapes in a winepress.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Lam 1:13
From above hath He sent fire into my bones.
Penetrating sorrows
1. This often mention of Gods hand teacheth this doctrine: When God punisheth us by the hands of the wicked, we are hardly brought to ascribe it to Him alone; and they from thinking that their own hand and power hath done it.
2. When God layeth afflictions upon us, they ransack the most secret parts that are in us.
3. God often bringeth His servants to the greatest misery that can be sustained by man.
4. God doth govern, and that in special manner, the particular course of all those afflictions which He layeth upon His people.
5. We can no more wind ourselves out of those afflictions that God layeth upon us, than the entangled soul can escape the net that compasseth him.
6. Nothing can go forward, or come to any good issue, but that only which the Lord furthereth.
7. It is God that giveth friends, health, etc.; and taketh all away at His pleasure.
8. According to the measure and continuance of Gods afflicting hand upon us, so must the measure and continuance of our sorrows be. (J. Udall.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
By
fire he means a judgment as consuming and as afflictive as fire in the bones, which had consumed the strength of the Jews.
He hath spread a net for my feet; that is, God had brought them into a condition wherein they were entangled, and could not get out. The holy man owneth God as the first cause of all the evil they suffered, and entitles God to their various kinds of afflictions, both in captivity and during the siege, looking beyond the Babylonians, who were the proximate instrumental cause.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
13. bonesa fire which notonly consumes the skin and flesh, but penetrates even to my “bones”(that is, my vital powers).
prevaileth againstnotas ROSENMULLER, “He(Jehovah) hath broken them”; a sense not in the Hebrew.
net (Eze12:13); image from hunting wild beasts. He has so entangled me inHis judgments that I cannot escape.
turned me backso thatI cannot go forward and get free from His meshes.
Nun.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
From above hath he sent fire into my bones,…. Which the Targum interprets of her fortified cities, towns, or castles; as Jerusalem, more especially the temple, and the palaces of the king and nobles in it; which, though burnt by the fire of the Chaldeans, yet, this being according to the determination and by the direction of the Lord, is said to be sent from above, from heaven; so that they seemed to be as it were struck with lightning from heaven; unless it should be thought rather to be understood of the fire of divine wrath, of which the people of the Jews had a quick sense, and was like a burning fever in them:
and it prevails against them; or “it” z; that is, the fire prevails against or rules over everyone of the bones, to the consumption of them: or rather, “he rules over it” a; that is, God rules over the fire; directs it, and disposes of it, according to his sovereign will and pleasure, to the destruction of the strength of the Jewish nation:
he hath spread a net for my feet; in which she was entangled, so that she could not flee from the fire, and escape it, if she would. The allusion is to the taking of birds and wild beasts in nets; if God had not spread a net for the Jews, the Chaldeans could never have taken them; see Eze 12:13;
he hath turned me back; her feet being taken in the net, she could not go forward, but was obliged to turn back, or continue in the net, not being able to extricate her feet: or, “turned me upon my back”; as the Arabic version; laid me prostrate, and so an easy prey to the enemy; or, as the Targum,
“he hath caused me to turn the back to mine enemies:”
he hath made me desolate [and] faint all the day; the cities being without inhabitants; the land uncultivated; the state in a sickly and languishing condition; and which continued so to the end of the seventy years’ captivity.
z “et desaeviit in ea”, Munster, Tigurine version; “et contrivit ipsum”; so some in Vatablus. a “Et dominatus est ea”, Montanus, Vatablus, Piscator.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The Prophet proceeds with the same subject, that God’s vengeance had raged most dreadfully agsinst Jerusalem. But employing a metaphor she says, that fire had been sent to her bones. They who interpret bones of fortified places, weaken the meaning of the Prophet. I take bones in their proper sense, ss though it was said, that God’s fire had penetrated into the inmost parts. This way of speaking often occurs in Scripture. By bones is denoted strength or valor. Hence David sometimes deplored, that his bones were vexed or troubled. (Psa 6:2.) And Hezekiah said in his song
“
As a lion he hath broken my bones.” (Isa 37:13.)
In the same sense the Prophet now says, that fire had been sent by God, which ruled in his bones, that is, which not only burnt the skin and the flesh, but also consumed the bones. רדה, rede, means also to take away or to receive: but as the former rendering is most commonly taken, I am disposed to follow it — that fire ruled in his bones
There is another similitude added, that God had spread a net before her feet; and thus he had taken away every means of escape. She intimates (for it is Jerusalem who speaks) that she had been ensnared by God’s judgments, so that she was bound over to ruin, as though she had fallen into toils or snares. It is stated in the third place, that she was desolate all the day, so that she sorrowed perpetually. By all the day is meant continually. It is then said, that she sorrowed without end, beyond measure, because she had been turned back by the nets of God, and her bones had been consumed by celestial fire: for the expression from above, ממרום, memerumn, is emphatical, for the Prophet means that it was no common or human burning; because what is ascribed to God exceeds what is human or earthly. It is, then, as though he had said, that it had been such a vengeance as betokened the dreadful power of God; for it was the same as though God had thundered from heaven. We now perceive the import of the words. It follows, —
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(13) From above . . .The words are probably figurative. The judgments that had fallen on Jerusalem were as a fire from heaven, piercing even to the joints and marrow, the innermost recesses of life.
He hath turned me back . . .The phrase points not to the defeat and flight of battle, but, completing the figure of the net, paints the failure of every effort to escape. The word for desolate implies, as in the case of Tamar (2Sa. 13:20), an utter, hopeless misery.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
13. From above It is the fire of God, and so penetrates even to the bones.
Hath turned me back Hath hedged up every avenue of escape, so that the poor victim recoils in sheer hopelessness.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
From above hath he sent fire into my bones, and it prevaileth against them: he hath spread a net for my feet, he hath turned me back: he hath made me desolate and faint all the day. The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand: they are wreathed, and come up upon my neck: he hath made my strength to fall, the Lord hath delivered me into their hands, from whom I am not able to rise up. The Lord hath trodden under foot all my mighty men in the midst of me: he hath called an assembly against me to crush my young men: the Lord hath trodden the virgin, the daughter of Judah, as in a winepress. For these things I weep; mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water, because the comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me: my children are desolate, because the enemy prevailed. Zion spreadeth forth her hands, and there is none to comfort her: the LORD hath commanded concerning Jacob, that his adversaries should be round about him: Jerusalem is as a menstruous woman among them. The LORD is righteous; for I have rebelled against his commandment: hear, I pray you, all people, and behold my sorrow: my virgins and my young men are gone into captivity. I called for my lovers, but they deceived me: my priests and mine elders gave up the ghost in the city, while they sought their meat to relieve their souls. Behold, O LORD; for I am in distress: my bowels are troubled; mine heart is turned within me; for I have grievously rebelled: abroad the sword bereaveth, at home there is as death. They have heard that I sigh: there is none to comfort me: all mine enemies have heard of my trouble; they are glad that thou hast done it: thou wilt bring the day that thou hast called, and they shall be like unto me. Let all their wickedness come before thee; and do unto them, as thou hast done unto me for all my transgressions: for my sighs are many, and my heart is faint.
I forbear to enlarge by way of commentary; the Chapter is too plain to need any, and too sublime to receive benefit from any. I only pray the Reader to look over the several passages, and examine, under the Spirit’s teaching, whether in a general sense, as referring to the Church at large, or in a more confined point of view, as directed to individuals, as forming part of the whole, the subject may riot he supposed to have an eye to the state of the gospel dispensation. And if so, I venture to observe, that without any special or particular application of the several parts of it, the Prophet may be supposed to he treating of the sad cause, and effects of sin, and from thence was thus teaching, and preparing the Church for the after corning of the Lord Jesus Christ. In this sense, if the whole be read, and with an eye to Jesus, it will be most blessed indeed.
REFLECTIONS.
READER! who can contemplate the dreadful state of the Church at that season, when the Prophet thus mourned, without feeling the most sensible and sorrowful impression? Who that loves Zion, can thus behold Zion, and not take part? And yet, if in the days of Jeremiah there was sad cause for taking up lamentation, surely now there is still greater reason for mourning. It is true indeed, Zion is not gone into national captivity: but what of that, spiritual captivity is an infinitely greater evil. So few are there now seeking the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, that the language of the Prophet will hold good; there is none to guide her, among all the sons whom she hath brought forth: neither is there any that taketh her by the hand of all the sons that she hath brought up. And in a day of such degeneracy in Zion, may we not well suppose, that Jesus is looking on, and feels sensibly for the defections of his people! Lord raise up thy power and come among us. Take to thyself thy great name, and go forth conquering and to conquer, until that thou hast converted the nations to the sceptre of thy grace, and called home thy banished ones to thy glory. Thou wilt arise to have mercy upon Zion, to comfort all that mourn, and to take to thyself a pure people, with one consent to call upon the Lord. Amen.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Lam 1:13 From above hath he sent fire into my bones, and it prevaileth against them: he hath spread a net for my feet, he hath turned me back: he hath made me desolate [and] faint all the day.
Ver. 13. From above hath he sent fire into my bones. ] Like as when the marrow and natural moisture is dried up by a violent fever; or rather, as when the solid parts of bodies below are lightning-struck from above, and scorched by these sulphurous flames that pierce into them.
And it prevailed against them.
He hath spread a net for my feet.
He hath turned me back.
He hath made me desolate and faint.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
above: Lam 2:3, Lam 2:4, Deu 32:21-25, Job 30:30, Psa 22:14, Psa 31:10, Psa 102:3-5, Nah 1:6, Hab 3:16, 2Th 1:8, Heb 12:29
he hath spread: Lam 4:17-20, Job 18:8, Job 19:6, Psa 66:11, Eze 12:13, Eze 17:20, Eze 32:3, Hos 7:12
he hath turned: Psa 35:4, Psa 70:2, Psa 70:3, Psa 129:5, Isa 42:17
desolate: Lam 1:22, Lam 5:17, Deu 28:65, Jer 4:19-29
Reciprocal: Exo 12:9 – but roast with fire Deu 28:66 – General 2Ch 35:13 – roasted Pro 29:5 – spreadeth Isa 30:27 – burning Jer 38:22 – they are Jer 45:3 – I fainted Lam 3:11 – he hath made Lam 3:47 – desolation Mic 6:13 – in 1Ti 5:5 – and desolate
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Lam 1:13. We know that Jeremiah was a righteous man and was never the direct target of the Lord’s shafts Of anger. Hence, while he was personally affected by the situation, most or his remarks were made on behalf of the people.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Lam 1:13-16. From above hath he sent fire into my bones Calamities as consuming and as afflictive as fire in the bones. He hath spread a net for my feet Hath brought me into a most miserable condition, in which I am so entangled that I cannot extricate myself nor escape from it. Thus the prophet teaches Jerusalem to look beyond the Babylonians, and to see the sin-avenging hand of God in her sufferings. As if he had said, It is God himself that hath sent these evils upon me; he hath stirred up my enemies against me, and they are no more than the rod of his anger. The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand, &c. He has, as it were, gathered my iniquities and the iniquities of my people together, and made a yoke of them to put upon me, so that I am weighed down by them, and by the judgments inflicted on account of them. They are wreathed, and come up upon my neck My punishments are twisted with my sins as cords to make them strong: I have a complication of judgments upon me, sword, famine, pestilence, captivity; and they are not only prepared for my neck, but are already put upon it. He hath made my strength to fall, &c. All my valiant men, the strength of my nation, is broken, and I am so fallen that I am not able to rise again. The Lord hath trodden under foot all my mighty men, &c. The destruction which is made by war is frequently expressed by treading under foot: see note on Jer 50:26. He hath called an assembly against me to crush, &c. Instead of those solemn assemblies that were wont to be called together in the midst of me by the sound of trumpet, to celebrate my solemn feasts, God hath called an assembly of Chaldeans to lay me in ruins, and crush my people. The Lord hath trodden the daughter of Judah as in a wine-press That people, which was formerly chosen by Jehovah, and secured against all violent attempts by his immediate and almighty protection, he has now given up to the fury of their enemies, to afflict them with such severity that their blood has been shed in the streets of Jerusalem as wine from the wine-press. For these things I weep, &c. For these sore afflictions, and for my sins which have caused them, and for these tokens of divine wrath which I see in them I weep so plentifully, and am in such distress, that mine eye runneth down with water, because the comforter that should relieve my soul Namely, God; is far from me Hath withdrawn himself, is departed from me in displeasure, and beholds me afar off. My children are desolate The other cities of Judah, under Jerusalem, the mother city, or my people, are wasted, destroyed, and made desolate, because the enemy hath prevailed And effected his purpose.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1:13 From above hath {o} he sent fire into my bones, and it prevaileth against them: he hath spread a net for my feet, he hath turned me back: he hath made me desolate [and] faint all the day.
(o) This declares that we should acknowledge God to be the author of all our afflictions to the intent that we might seek him for remedy.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
The Lord had sent fire into the city’s bones when he allowed the Babylonians to burn it. He had captured Jerusalem as a bird in His net. He had thoroughly desolated and demoralized her by removing all sustenance from her.