Lamentations 1:17

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.

Ver. 17. Zion spreadeth forth her hands.] But to whom? To God? She should have done it sooner - namely, while he stretched out his hands to her all the day long. To the Babylonian? At barbarus nil nisi iras spirat, but his tender mercies are mere cruelties. God will not take the wicked by the hand, saith Bildad; Job 8:20 men may not, whenas God will not. No better course can be taken in this case than that prescribed, Lamentations 3:40,41; then God will repent, and men shall relent, toward a distressed creature.

And there is none to comfort her.] See Lamentations 1:16. This is oft complained of as a most heavy affliction.

The Lord hath commanded.] What marvel, then, that their hearts were so set off from him, Who had been so careless of keeping God's commands?

Jerusalem is as a menstruous woman among them.] Or, As an abomination, tanquam quisquiliae, vel tanquam foetidae aliquae sordes. God's people are more shamefully slighted and reproached in the world than any else, and the godliest most of all.