Lamentations 1:7-22

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Lamentations 1:1-11

Those that have any disposition to weep with those that weep, one would think, should scarcely be able to refrain from tears at the reading of these verses, so very pathetic are the lamentations here. I. The miseries of Jerusalem are here complained of as very pressing and by many circumstances very much aggravated. Let us take a view of these miseries. 1. As to their civil state. (1.) A city that was populous is now depopulated, Lam. 2:1. It is spoken of by way of wonder?Who would have... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Lamentations 1:12-22

The complaints here are, for substance, the same with those in the foregoing part of the chapter; but in these verses the prophet, in the name of the lamenting church, does more particularly acknowledge the hand of god in these calamities, and the righteousness of his hand.[ 47a5 /P] I. The church in distress here magnifies her affliction, and yet no more than there was cause for; her groaning was not heavier than her strokes. She appeals to all spectators: See if there be any sorrow like... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Lamentations 1:7

Jerusalem remembered in the days of her affliction and of her miseries ,.... When carried captive, and in exile in a foreign land; when surrounded with distresses and calamities of various kinds; which are a means sometimes of rubbing up and refreshing the memories of persons with those good things they take little notice of in the times of prosperity; the worth of such things being best known and prized by the want of them: even all her pleasant things that she had in the days of old ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Lamentations 1:8

Jerusalem hath grievously sinned ,.... Or, "hath sinned a sin" F18 חטא חטאה "peccatum peccavit", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus. ; a great sin, as the Targum; the sin of idolatry, according to some; or of covenant breaking, as others; though perhaps no particular sin is meant, but many grievous sins; since she was guilty of a multitude of them, as in Lamentations 1:5 ; therefore she is removed ; out of her own land, and carried captive into another: or, is "for commotion"... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Lamentations 1:9

Her filthiness is in her skirts ,.... Her sin is manifest to all, being to be seen in her punishment. The allusion is to a menstruous woman, to whom she is compared, both before and after; whose blood flows down to the skirts of her garments, and there seen; by which it is known that she is in her separation. So the Targum, "the filthiness of the blood of her separation is in her skirts; she is not cleansed from it, nor does she repent of her sins:' she remembereth not her last end ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Lamentations 1:10

The enemy hath spread out his hands on all her pleasant things ,.... Meaning not the wealth and riches, the goods and substance, or the rich furniture in their own houses; but the precious things in the house of God, the ark, the table, the altar, the priests garments, and vessels of the sanctuary, and the gifts of the temple, and everything valuable in it; these the enemy stretched out his hands and seized upon, and claimed them as his own; took them as a booty, prey, and plunder. Jarchi ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Lamentations 1:11

All her people sigh ,.... Not her priests only, Lamentations 1:4 ; but all the common people, because of their affliction, particularly for want of bread. So the Targum, "all the people of Jerusalem sigh because of the famine;' for it follows: they seek bread ; to eat, as the Targum; inquire where it is to be had, but in vain: they have given their pleasant things for meat to relieve the soul : or, "to cause the soul to return" F24 להשיב נפש "ad reducendum animam",... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Lamentations 1:12

Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by ?.... O ye strangers and travellers that pass by, and see my distress, does it not at all concern you? does it not in the least affect you? can you look upon it, and have no commiseration? or is there nothing to be learned from hence by you, that may be instructive and useful to you? Some consider the words as deprecating; may the like things never befall you that have befallen me, O ye passengers; be ye who ye will; I can never wish the greatest... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Lamentations 1:13

From above hath he sent fire into my bones ,.... Which the Targum interprets of her fortified cities, towns, or castles; as Jerusalem, more especially the temple, and the palaces of the king and nobles in it; which, though burnt by the fire of the Chaldeans, yet, this being according to the determination and by the direction of the Lord, is said to be sent from above, from heaven; so that they seemed to be as it were struck with lightning from heaven; unless it should be thought rather to be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Lamentations 1:14

The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand ,.... That is, the punishment of her sins was laid upon her by the Lord himself; his hand was in it; it came from him; the Chaldeans were only instruments; and a heavy yoke this was. So the Targum renders it, "the yoke of my rebellions is made heavy by his hand:' they are wreathed, and come upon my neck ; or, "twisted together" F2 ישתרגו "involutae", Vatablus; "perplexae", Pagninus, Montanus, Calvin; "contortae", Piscator,... read more

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