Lamentations 2 - Introduction

Lamentations 2:1-22. God's judgements upon the city. Lamentation. Supplication

This ch., together with ch. 4, stands on a higher level of poetic merit than ch. 1, and the writer is almost certainly shewn by the graphic character of his language to have been an eye-witness of the wretchedness which he paints in vivid colours. As Pe. says, "It is less made up of generalities, and deals far more with concrete realities" than did the previous ch. It is an acrostic, like chs. 1, 3, 4, and is of triple character (see Intr. p. 321). The comparatively early date which we may assign to its composition (c.b.c. 580, see Intr. p. 326) fits in with its linguistic affinities to Ezekiel. Another marked feature of this ch. is its coincidences in language and thought with Psalms 74. Cp. Lamentations 2:2 "he hath thrown … to the ground" with Lamentations 2:7 in the Ps.; Lamentations 2:3 "he hath drawn back his right hand" with Lamentations 2:11; Lamentations 2:3 "he hath burned up, etc." with Lamentations 2:1 ("Why doth thine anger smoke, etc."); Lamentations 2:6 "he hath destroyed his place of assembly" with Lamentations 2:8; ib."he hath caused solemn assembly and sabbath to be forgotten in Zion" with Lamentations 2:9; Lamentations 2:7 "they have made a noise, etc." with Lamentations 2:4; Lamentations 2:9 "her prophets find no vision from the Lord" with Lamentations 2:9.

The ch. may be subdivided as follows. Lamentations 2:1 describe in detail the punishment sent upon Jerusalem by reason of Jehovah's anger, 11 17 bewail the same together with the cruelty of the lookers on, 18, 19 call upon the city to address herself to God, and 20 22 give us the supplication which she accordingly offers. In this ch. we have not simply a renewed setting forth of miseries, but rather the same viewed now more in the light of a judgement sent from God, and therefore as the consequences of sin. It has close affinity as to subject matter with Jeremiah 14:15-18.