Bible Commentary

All that pass by clap [their] hands at thee; they hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, [saying, Is] this the city that [men] call The perfection of beauty, The joy of the whole earth? 15. They hiss and wag their head ] expressions denoting amazement mixed with contempt. Cp. Jer 18:16; … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Lamentations 2:15”

Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee: and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for thee false burdens and causes of banishment. 14. The thought that the false prophets are worthy of condemnation for buoying the people up with vain hopes is distinctly in … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Lamentations 2:14”

What thing shall I take to witness for thee? what thing shall I liken to thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? what shall I equal to thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? for thy breach [is] great like the sea: who can heal thee? 13. shall I testify unto thee ] … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Lamentations 2:13”

They say to their mothers, Where [is] corn and wine? when they swooned as the wounded in the streets of the city, when their soul was poured out into their mothers’ bosom. 12. corn and wine ] Omit “and wine,” not only from the nature of the case, and for the sake of correct metre, … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Lamentations 2:12”

Mine eyes do fail with tears, my bowels are troubled, my liver is poured upon the earth, for the destruction of the daughter of my people; because the children and the sucklings swoon in the streets of the city. 11. my bowels are troubled ] See on ch. Lam 1:20. My liver is poured upon … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Lamentations 2:11”

The elders of the daughter of Zion sit upon the ground, [and] keep silence: they have cast up dust upon their heads; they have girded themselves with sackcloth: the virgins of Jerusalem hang down their heads to the ground. 10. In this and the two following vv. we have the picture of the state of … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Lamentations 2:10”

Her gates are sunk into the ground; he hath destroyed and broken her bars: her king and her princes [are] among the Gentiles: the law [is] no [more]; her prophets also find no vision from the LORD. 9. Her gates, etc.] The Targ. preserves a tradition that the enemy slew a pig and sprinkled the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Lamentations 2:9”

The LORD hath purposed to destroy the wall of the daughter of Zion: he hath stretched out a line, he hath not withdrawn his hand from destroying: therefore he made the rampart and the wall to lament; they languished together. 8. stretched out the line ] i.e. marked for destruction. Cp. 2Ki 21:13; Isa 34:2; … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Lamentations 2:8”

The Lord hath cast off his altar, he hath abhorred his sanctuary, he hath given up into the hand of the enemy the walls of her palaces; they have made a noise in the house of the LORD, as in the day of a solemn feast. 7. her palaces ] As this word is nowhere … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Lamentations 2:7”

And he hath violently taken away his tabernacle, as [if it were of] a garden: he hath destroyed his places of the assembly: the LORD hath caused the solemn feasts and sabbaths to be forgotten in Zion, and hath despised in the indignation of his anger the king and the priest. 6. And he hath … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Lamentations 2:6”