CHAPTER V _This chapter is, as it were, an_ epiphonema, _or conclusion to_ _the four preceding, representing the nation as groaning under_ _their calamities, and humbly supplicating the Divine favour_, 1-22. NOTES ON CHAP. V Verse Lamentations 5:1. _REMEMBER, O LORD_] In the _Vulgate, Syriac_,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Lamentations 5:2. _OUR INHERITANCE IS TURNED TO STRANGERS_] The greater part of the Jews were either slain or carried away captive; and even those who were left under _Gedaliah_ were not _free_, for they were vassals to the _Chaldeans_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Lamentations 5:4. _WE HAVE DRUNKEN OUR WATER FOR MONEY_] I suppose the meaning of this is, that every thing was taxed by the Chaldeans, and that they kept the management in their own hands, so that _wood_ and _water_ were both sold, the people not being permitted to help themselves. They were... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Lamentations 5:5. _OUR NECKS_ ARE _UNDER PERSECUTION_] We feel the yoke of our bondage; we are driven to our work like the _bullock_, which has a yoke upon his neck.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 6. _WE HAVE GIVEN THE HAND_ TO _THE EGYPTIANS_] We have sought alliances both with the Egyptians and Assyrians, and made covenants with them in order to get the necessaries of life. Or, wherever we are now driven, we are obliged to submit to the people of the countries in order to the preserva... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 7. _OUR FATHERS HAVE SINNED_, AND ARE _NOT_] _Nations_, as such, cannot be punished in the _other world_; therefore national judgments are to be looked for only in this life. The punishment which the Jewish nation had been meriting for a series of years came now upon them, because they copied... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 8. _SERVANTS HAVE RULED OVER US _] To be subject to such is the most painful and dishonourable bondage: - Quio domini faciant, audent cum talia fures? _Virg_. Ecl. iii. 16. "Since slaves so insolent are grown, What may not masters do?" Perhaps he here alludes to the Chaldean _soldiers_, w... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 9. _WE GAT OUR BREAD WITH_ THE PERIL OF _OUR LIVES_] They could not go into the wilderness to feed their cattle, or to get the necessaries of life, without being harassed and plundered by marauding parties, and by these were often exposed to the peril of their lives. This was predicted by Mose... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 10. _OUR SKIN WAS BLACK - BECAUSE OF THE TERRIBLE FAMINE._] Because of the _searching winds_ that burnt up every green thing, destroying vegetation, and in consequence producing a famine.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 11. _THEY RAVISHED THE WOMEN IN ZION_, AND _THE MAIDS IN THE_ _CITIES OF JUDAH._] The evil mentioned here was predicted by Moses, Deuteronomy 28:30; Deuteronomy 28:32, and by Jeremiah, Jeremiah 6:12.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 12. _PRINCES ARE HANGED UP BY THEIR HAND_] It is very probable that this was a species of punishment. They were suspended from hooks in the wall by their hands till they died through torture and exhaustion. The body of Saul was fastened to the wall of Bethshan, probably in the same way; but hi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 13. _THEY TOOK THE YOUNG MEN TO GRIND_] This was the work of female slaves. Isaiah 47:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 14. _THE ELDERS HAVE CEASED FROM THE GATE_] There is now no more justice administered to the people; they are under military law, or disposed of in every sense according to the caprice of their masters.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 16. _THE CROWN IS FALLEN_ FROM _OUR HEAD_] At feasts, marriages, c., they used to crown themselves with garlands of flowers all festivity of this kind was now at an end. Or it may refer to their having lost all _sovereignty_, being made _slaves_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 18. _THE FOXES WALK UPON IT._] _Foxes_ are very numerous in Palestine, see on Judges 15:4. It was usual among the Hebrews to consider all desolated land to be the resort of wild beasts; which is, in fact, the case every where when the inhabitants are removed from a country.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 19. _THOU, O LORD, REMAINEST FOR EVER_] THOU sufferest no _change_. Thou didst once _love_ us, O let that love be renewed towards us!... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Lamentations 5:21. _RENEW OUR DAYS AS OF OLD._] Restore us to our former state. Let us regain our country, our temple, and all the Divine offices of our religion; but, more especially, thy favour.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Lamentations 5:22. _BUT THOU HAST UTTERLY REJECTED US_] It appears as if thou hadst sealed our final reprobation, because thou showest against us _exceeding great wrath_. But _convert us, O Lord, unto_ _thee, and we shall be converted_. We are now greatly humbled, _feel_ our _sin_, and _see_ o... [ Continue Reading ]