_How is the gold become dim_ “How is the glory of the temple obscured! The sanctuary, which was overlaid with gold, (2 Chronicles 3:8,) now lies in ruins; and the stones of it are not distinguished from common rubbish. It is probable that the prophet, in these words, alluded to the priests, princes,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Even the sea-monsters draw out the breast The very dragons have drawn out the breast:_ so Blaney. Even these fierce and destructive animals are not so unnatural as to neglect the care of their young ones; whereas the women of Jerusalem have been reduced to that miserable necessity as to disregard t... [ Continue Reading ]
_For the punishment, &c., is greater than the punishment of Sodom_ The fate of Sodom was less deplorable than that of Jerusalem; for Sodom was destroyed in an instant; but Jerusalem endured a long siege, and suffered all the miseries of famine, sickness, and hostile arms. In Sodom all were destroyed... [ Continue Reading ]
_Her Nazarites were purer than snow_ It seems the word, נזיריה, ought not to be translated here _Nazarites_, or those who were _separated_ by a vow to God; but _princes_, or _chief men:_ so Waterland understands the word, as also Blaney, who renders it, _her nobles._ We find the same term applied to... [ Continue Reading ]
_The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children_ The affection of a mother toward her children is the strongest of all natural affections, and yet the famine hath forced that tender sex to divest themselves of it, and to boil and eat their own children. Thus was the prophecy of Moses,... [ Continue Reading ]
_The kings of the earth, &c., would not have believed_ “The city was so well fortified, and had been so often miraculously preserved by God from the attempts of its enemies, that it seemed incredible that it should at last fall into their hands.” Lowth.... [ Continue Reading ]
_For the sins of her prophets_, &c. That is, of the false prophets, to whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem chiefly hearkened; _and the iniquities of her priests_ Who _bore rule by their means, Jeremiah 5:31_; and instead of discountenancing and reproving sin in the people, as was their indispensable d... [ Continue Reading ]
_They have wandered as blind men in the streets_ They strayed from the paths of righteousness, and were blind to every thing that was good, but to do evil they were quick-sighted; _they have polluted themselves with blood_ The blood of the saints and servants of the Lord; _so that men could not touc... [ Continue Reading ]
_As for us_, &c. The prophet, after having digressed in the last five verses to make observation on the wickedness of those who had been the principal cause of the national ruin, here returns again to the lamentable description of the particulars. _Our eyes as yet failed for our vain help_ The help... [ Continue Reading ]
_They hunt our steps that we cannot go in our streets_ The Chaldeans, employed in the siege, are so close upon us, that we cannot stir a foot, nor look out at our doors, nor walk safely in the streets. _Our end is near_ The end of our church and state; we are just at the brink of the ruin of both. _... [ Continue Reading ]
_Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom_ A sarcastical expression, as if the prophet had said, Rejoice while thou mayest, O Edom, over the calamities of the Jews; but thy joy shall not last long, for in a little time it shall come to thy turn to feel God's afflicting hand; _the cup_ of affliction _... [ Continue Reading ]