night. £«f (continued)
Jerusalem Coniplainelh ti, God. LAMENTATIONS II. Jeremiah Larncn'c'h Jicr Misery, enemy of God, and If our concern be not for our own personal feeling, but for the glory of God and tlie welfare of His people, come before tliee—so Revelation Ki. 19, " Uaby- 'on came in remembrance before God" (cf. Psalm 109,15.) ht'iithen, as such, were not allowed to enter the sanctuary lor wonsliip, much less were they allowed to enter in order to lob and destroy. Caph, J. 11. (Jeremiah 37.21; ?8. 9; 52. (i.) given . . . pleasant tilings for meat— (2 Kings 6. 25; Job 2.4.) relieve . . . soul lit., to cause the soul or life to return, for I at« become vile—Her sins and consequent sorrows are made the plea in craving God's mi Tcj'. Cf. the like plea in Psalm 25. 11. Lamed, j. 1^. The pathetic appeal of Jerusalem, not only to her neighbours, but even to the strangers " passing by," as her sorrow is sucli as sliould excite the compassion even of those unconnected with her. She here prefigures Christ, whom CHAPTER (ELEGY) II.
Ver. 1-22. AlciJh, X. 1. How—The title of the collection repeated here, and Elegy 4. 1. covered . . . witli a eloud — i. e., with the darkness of ignominy, cast down from heaven nnto . . . eartlk—(Mattliew U. 2:!.) Dashed down from the highest prosperity tollie lowest misery, beanty of Israel—the beautiful temple (Psalm 29. 2; 74.7; 9ti. 9, Mary in; Isaiah 60.7; 64.11). liis footstool—the ark (cf. 1 Chronicles 2vS. 2, with Psalm 99. 5; 132. 7). They once had gloried more in the ark than in the God whose symbol it was; they now feel it was but His "footstool," yet that it had been a great glory to them that God deigned to use it as such. Beth, 22. polluted—b.v delivering it into the hands of the profane foe. Cf. Psalm 89. 39, "profaned . . . crown." Gimel, J. 3. horn—worn in the East as an ornament on the forehead, and an emblem of power and majesty (1 Samuel 2. 10; PsaUn 132. 17; Jcremiali 48. tlie language is prophetically made to suit, more than Jerusalem. Cf. Israel, i. e., Messiah, Isaiah 49. 3. Cf. with " pass b.v,'' Matthew 27. 39; Mark 15. 29. As to Jerusalem, Daniel 9. 12. Maukkk, from the Arabic idiom, translates, " do not go off on your way," i. e., stop, whoever ye are that pass by. English Version is simpler. Meyn, D. 13. bones—a Arc which not oulj' consumes the skin and flesh, but penetrates even to my " bones" ( i. e., my vital powers), preva iletli aga inst—not as RosENMULLEK, " He (Jeh ovah hatli broken, them;" a sense not in the Hebrew, net (Ezekiel 12. 13.) Image from hunting wild beasts. He has BO entangled me in His judgments that I cannot escape, tnrned me back—so that I cannot go forward, and get
25, Note), drawn back . . . rigitt hand—(Psalm 74. 11.) God has withdrawn the help which He before gave them. Kot as Hendersgji, "He has turned back his free from His meshes. Nun, J. 14. yoke ... is bound by Ills hand—(Deuteronomy 28. 48.) Metaphor from husbandmen, who, after they have bound the yoke to the neck of oxen, hold the rein firmly twisted round the hand. Thus the translation will be, " in His hand." Or else, " the yoke of my transgressions" (i. e., of punishment for my transgressions) is held so fast fixed on me "by" God, that there is no loosening of it; thus English Version, "by His hand." wreatlied—my sins are like the withes entwined about the neck to fasten the yoke to. Into tlielr hands, from whom—into the hands of those, from whom, etc. Maurer translates, " be/ore whom I am not able to stand." Samech, 0. 15. trodden, &c.—MAURER, from Syriac root, (Israel's) right hand " (Psalm 89. 43). Valelh, ^. 4. (Isaiah
63. 10.) stood witli . . . riglit Jiand—He took His stand so as to use His right hand as an adversary. Henderson makes the image to be that of an archer steadying liis right hand to take aim. Not only did He withdraw His help, but also took arms against Israel, all . . . pleasant to . . . eye—(Ezekiel 24. 25.) All that were conspicuous for youth, beauty, and rank, in . . . tabernacle— the dwellings of Jerusalem. He, H5. «>» enemy—(Jeremiah 30. 14.) mourning and lamentation—There is a play of similar sounds in the original, "sorrow and sadness," to heighten the effect (Job 'M. A, Hebrew ; Ezekiel
35. 3, JV/arjrin). Van,). 6. taberikacle—rather, " He hath violently taken away His hedge (the liedge of the place sacred to Him, Psalm 80. 12; 89. 40; Isaiah 5. 5), as that of a garden." [Maurer.] Calvin supports i/rtyii's/i Version "His tabernacle (i. e., temple) as (one would take away the temporary cottage or booth) ol a garden." Isaiali 1. 8, accords with this (Job 27. 18). places of . . . assembly— the temple and synagogues (Psalm 74. 7, 8). solemn feasts —(Ch. 1. 4.) Zain, T. they . . . made a noise in . . . Iionse of . . . Lord, as in . . . feast—The foe's shout of triumph in the captured temple bore a resemblance (but <ra»s<a?t'«, "cast away ;" so 2 Kings 23. 27. But Psalm 119. lis, supports ^(it/J/i/t Version, in . . . midst of me—They fell not on the battle-field, but in the heart of the city; a sign of the Divine wrath, assembly—the collected forces of Babylon; a very different "assembly" from the solemn ones which once met at Jerusalem on the great feasts. The Hebreiv means, lit., such a solemn " assembly" or feast (cf. ch. 2. 22^. trodden . . . virgin ... In a wine-press —hath forced her blood to burst forth, as the red wine from the grapes trodden in the press (Isaiah &i.Z; Revelation 14. 19, 20; 19. 15.) Ain, 10. (Jeremiah 13. 17; 14. 17.) Jerusalem is the speaker, mine eye, mine eye—so ch. 4. oil how sad a contrast as to the occcuiion of it !) to the joyous thanksgivings we used to offer in the same place at our "solemn feasts" (cf. f. 22). Cheth, n. 8. stretched ... a line — The Easterns used a nieasuring-line not merely in building, but in destroying edifices (2 Kings 21.
18, "our end . . . our end;" repetition for emphasis. Pe, £). 17. IJke a woman in labour-throes (Jeremiah 4. 31). menstruoMs woman—held unclean, and shunned by all; separated from her husband and from the temple (cf. f. 8; Leviticus 14. 19, &c.). Tzaddi,)!. 18. The sure sign of repentance ; justifying God, condemning herself (Nehemiah
13; Isaiah 31. 11). Implying here the unsparing rigiitness with which he would exact punishment Teth, 0. S>. Her gates cannot oppose the entrance of the foe into the
9. 33; Psalm 51.4; Daniel 9.7-14). his commandment lit., mouth; His word in the mouth of the prophets. Koph, p. 19. lovers {v. 2; Jeremiah 30. 14.) ciders—In dignity, not merely age. souglit . . . meat—their dignity did not exempt them from having to go and seek bread city, for they are sunk under a mass of rubblsli and earth, broken . . . bai-s—(Jeremiah 51. 30.) lier king . . . among. . . Gentiles—(Deuteronomy 28. 36.) law . . . no more (2 Chronicles 15. 3.) The civil and religious laws were one under the theocracy. " All the legal ordinances (propliet- (v. 11). Itesch, 1. 20. bowels . . . tronbled—(Job 30. 27; Isaiah 16. 11 ; Jeremiah 4. 19; 31. 20.) Extreme mental disical as well as priestly) of the theocrac.y, ai'e no more" (Psalm 74. 9; Ezekiel 7. 26). Jod,\ 10. (Job 2. 12, 13.) The "elders," by their example, would draw the others to violent grief, the virgins—who usually are .so anxious to set off their personal appearances to advantage. Caph, J. 11. liver is poured, Ac—i.e., as the liver was thought to be the seat of the passions, all my feelings are poured oitt and prostrated for, Ac. The "liver," is here put for the bile tress affects the bowels and the whole Internal frame, heart . . . tnrned—(Hosea 11. 8.) Is agitated or fluttered, abroad . . . sword ... at home ... as death—(Deuteronomy 32.25; Ezeklol 7.15.) The "as" does not modify, but intensifies. "Abroad the sword bereaveth, at home as it were death itself" (personified), In the form of famine and pestilence (2 kings 2.5.3; Jeremiah 14. 18 ; 52. (i). Ho Habakkuk 2. 5, "as death." [Michaeli.s.] »Vc/ini, Bf. 'Zl. tlioy are glad tlint tlion hast done it — because they thouglit tlial therefore Judah Is Irretrievably ruined (Jere- (see Job 16. 13, "gall;" Psalm 22. 14) in a bladder on the surface of the liver, copiously discharged when the passions are agitated, swoon—thr#ugh lalntness from the effects of hunger. Lamed, S. 12. as tlie wonnded— Famine being as deadly as the sword (Jeremiah 52. 6). aonl . . . poured . . . into . . . mother's bosom—Instinctively turning to their mother's bosom, but finding no milk there, Ihoy (jrca^/ie out their Ufeixa it were "into inliili 40. 3). tlic day . . . called—(but) thou wilt bring on tlicin the da.v of calamity which thou hast announced, viz., by the prophets (Jeremiah 50.; 48. 27). like . . . me— in ea Wimltles (Psalm 137.8.9; Jeremiah 51. 25, Ac). Tau, n. 82. .Sucli i>ra.yers against foes are lawful, If the foe be an The Faithful Bewail their Calamities. LAMENTATIONS III. They Nourish their Hope throvjh God. her bosom. ' Mem, 0. 13. What thing shall I take to SON refers this to the custom of placing the dead in a sitting posture, dark places—sepulchres. As those "dead long since:" so Jeremiah and his people are consigned ivitniess—What can I bring forward as a witness, or in- Ktaiice, to prove that others have sustained as grievous to oblivion (Psalm 88. 5, 6; 143.3; Ezekiel 37. 13). Oituel, ills as thou ? I cannot console thee as mourners are often
J. 7-9. hedged—(Job .3. 23; Hosea 2. 6.) chain — ?(Y., chain of brasx. S. slintteth outimage from a door shutting out any entrance (Job 31). 20). So the antilypo, Christ (Psalm 22. 2). 9. hewn stone—which colieres so closely as not to admit of being broken through, paths crooked—thwarted our plans and et Torts so that none went right. Dalelh, 1. 10-13. (Job 10. 16; Ilosea consoled by showing tiiat thy lot is only what others, too, sutrer. The "sea" affords the only suitable emblem of thy woes, by its boundless extent and depth (eh. 1.12; U-.ini« 1 !). 12). ^^'l(n, }. 1*. Thy prophets—not God's (Jeremiah 2:). 'Ji.) vuln . . . for tl>ee—to gratify thy appetite, not for truth, but for false things, not discovered thine Iniquity—in op)iosition to God's command to the true prophets (Isaiali 5><. 1). Lit., Theij have not taken off the veil
13.7, R). 11. tnrned aside—made me wander out of tlie right way, so as to become a prey to wild beasts, pnlled ... in pieces—(Hosea 6. 1,) as a "bear" or a "lion" (c. 1(1/. 12. (Job 7. 20.) He,V\. 13-15. 13. ari-ows—K/., «o/u-of His whif h Htx nil Ihiiie iniquity, so as to set it before thee, burdens—Tlieir prophecies were soothing and flattering; but the re.'.ult of them was hcav]/ calamities to the people, worse tlum even what the prophecies of Jeremiah, which they in derision called "burdens," threatened. Hence he terms their pretei Kled prophecies "false burdens," -which proved to tlie Jews "causes of their banishment." [Caltjuiver (cf. Job 6.4). 14. (Jeremiah 20.7.) their song-- (Psalm 69. 12.) Jeremiah herein was a type of Messiah. "All my people" (John 1.11). 15. wormwood—(.Jeremiah 9. 15.) There it is regarded as food, viz., the leaves: here as dnn/c, Viz., tlie juice. F«m, 1. 16-18. gravel—referring to the f/crt that often mixes with bread baked in ashes, as is the custom of baking iu the East (Proverbs 20. vin.] imech.O15. clap . . . hands—in derision (Job
27.2": :U.'A7). wag . . . head—(2 Kings 19. 21 ; Psalm 44. U). pei-<ec«ion of l»eanty . . . joy of . . . earth—(Psalm 48.
17). We fare as hardl.v as those who eat such bread. The same allusion is in "Covered me with aslies," vz., u» bread. 17. Not only present, but all hope of future pros-
2; 50.2.) The Jews' enemies quote their very words in scorn. Pc, D. IB, 17. For the transposition of //fhrew letters (/>eand A in) in the order of verses, see Introduction. opened . . . mouth—as ravening, roaring wild beasts (Job It), il, 10; I'salm 22. 13). Herein Jerusalem was a type jierity is removed ; so much so, that I am as one who never was prosperous ("I forgat prosperity"). 18. from tlie Lord—i. e., my hope derived from Him (Psalm 31. 22). Zain, 1. 19-21. (Jeremiah 9. 15.) Remembering. &<•.— This gives the reason why he gave way to the temptation to despair. The il/«)v//M, " Remember," does not suit the sense so well. 20. As often as my soul calls them to remembrance, it is humbled or bowed down in me. 21. Tlil« —viz., what follows; the view of the Divine character (v. of Messiah, ^itash . . . teeth—in vindictive malice, ive have seen it—(Psalm 3"). 21.) Ain,'^. 17. Lord—Let not tlie foe exult as if it was their doing. It was "the Lord" who tluis tullilled the threats uttered by His propliets for the guilt of Judea (Leviticus 26. 16-2.5; Deuteronomy 28.
3(i-4K. .5!; Jeremiah 19. 9). Tzaddi, H. 18. wall—(n. 8.) Personified. '•Their heart, i.e., the Jews'; whilst their heart Is lifted up to the Lord in prayer, their speech is addressed to the " wall " (the part being put for the ivhole city).
22, 23). Calvin makes "this" refer to Jeremiah's iLfirmity. His very weakness {v. 10, 20) gives him hoiie of God interposing His strength for him (cf. Psalm 25. U, 17; let tears, &c.—CJeremiah 14. 17.) The wall is called on to weep for its own ruin and that of the cit.v. Cf. tlie similar
42. 5, 8; 2 Corinthians 12. 9, 10). Cheth,Y\. 22-24. (Malachi personification (ch. 1. 4). apple—the pupil of the eye
3. 6.) 23. (Isaiah .33. 2.) 24. (Numbers 18. 20; Psalm 16. 5; (Psitliu 17. 8). Koph, p. 19. cry . . . in . . . night —
73. 26; 119. 57; Jeremiah 10. 16.) To have God for our portion is the one only foundation of hope. Tet.li, (2. 25-27. The repetition of "good" at the beginning of each of the three verses heightens the et Tect. wait—(Isaiah 30. 18.) 26. quietly wait lit., be in silence. Cf. v. 28 and Psalm 39.
119. 1 17.) beginning of . . . watches—i. e., the first of the three equal divisions (four hours each) into which the ancient Jews divided the night, viz., from sunset to ten o'clock. The second was called " the middle watch ",'Jiidges 7. 19), from ten till two o'clock. The third "the morning watch," from two to sunrise (Exodus 14.24; 1 Samuel 11. U). Afterwards, under the Romans, they had four wjilches (Matthew 14. 25; Luke 12. 88). for . . . thy
2, 9, i. e., to be patiently quiet under afflictions, resting in the will of God (Pr,alm 37. 7). So Aaron, Leviticus 10. 2, 3; and Job 40. 4, 5. 27. yoke— of the Lord's disciplinary teaching (Psalm 90. 12; 119. 71). Calvin interprets it. The Lord's doctrine (Matthew 11. 29, SO), which is to be received in a docile spirit. The earlier the better; for the old are . . . clilldren—that God, if He will not spare thee, may at leant preserve "thy .young children." top of . . . street —(Zsaiah 51. '20; Nahum 3. 10). Besch, 20. women eat
Cull of prejudices (Proverbs 8. 17; Ecclesiastes 12. 1). Jeremiah himself received the yoke, both of doctrine and chastisement in his youth (Jeremiah 1. 6, 7). Jod, \ 2830. The fruit of true docility and patience. He does not fight against the .yoke (Jeremiah 31. 18; Acts 9. 5), but accommodates himself to it. alone—The heathen applauded magnanimity, but they looked to display, and tlie praise of men. The child of God, in the absence of any witness, "alone," sileiitl.v submits to the will of God. borne it npon him i. e., because he is used to bearing it on him. Rather, " Because He (the Lord, v. 26) hath laid it on him." [Vatablus.] 29. (Job 42. 6.) The mouth in the dust is the attitude of suppliant and humble submission to God's dealings as righteous and loving in design (cf. Ezra 9. 6; 1 Corinthians 11.25). if so be tliere may b« hope—Tliis docs not express doubt as to whether GoD be willing t(; receive the penitent, but the penitent's doubt as to him- '. . . fruit—as threatened (Leviticus 26.29; Deuteronomy
Jeremiah 19.9). childx-en . . . span long or else, "children whom they carry in their arms." [Maukkk.1 Hchin.Tff. 21. (2 Chronicles SC. 17.) 22. Thou hast called as in . . . solemit day . . , terrors—thou hast summoned my enemies against me from all quarters, just as multitudes used to be convened to Jerusalem, on the soletnn feast-days. The objects for which the enemies and the festal multitude respectively met, formed a sad contrast. Cf. ch. I. 15: "called an assembly against me."
CIIAPTER (ELEGY) III.
Ver. 1-6(5. Teremiah proposes his own experience under afflictions, as an example how the Jews should behave under theirs, so as to have hope of a restora,tion; hence the change from «inr/H/i-(r to /)to-<77 (v. 2'2, 40-47). Thestanzas consist of three lines, each of which begins with the same Helirew letter. Aleph, H. 1-3. seen atllief ion-his own In the dungeon of Malcliiah (Jeremiah .'5S. G): that of his countrymen also in the siege. Both were types of that of Christ. 2. darkness—(kilamity. light—prosperity. 3. tnrneth . . . hantl—to inllic.lagain and again new strokes. " His hand : svhich once used to protect me. " Turned . . self; he whispers to himself this consolation, "I'erhaps there may be hope for me." 30. Messiah, tlie Antitype, ful Hlled this; His practice agreeing with His precept (Isaiah 50. S; Matthew 5. 39). Many take patiently alllictions from God, but when man wrongs them, they take it impatiently. The godly bear resignedly the latter, like the former, assent by God (Psalm 17. 13.) Caph, 3. 31-33. 31. True repentance is never without hope (Psalm 91. lli. 32. The punishmenls of the godly are but for a time. 33. He doth not atllirt any willingly (/ti.. from llisheart, i. e..as turneth " implies J cpeci/^-rf inllictions. Beth, ^. 4-0. (Job
16. 8.) 5. hnildcd-mounds, as against a besieged city, so as to allow none to escape (so v. 7, 9). 6. set me—Hkxdkk-
If He had any pleasure in it (Ezekiel 33. H), much less, the