of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street.
Lamentations 4
CHAPTER 4
Lecture Fourteenth
Lamentations 4:1
1. How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street.
1. Quomodo obscuratum est aurum! Mutatum est aurum bonum! Effusi sunt (vel, projecti) lapides sanctuarii in capite omnium platearum.
Here Jeremiah, following the order of the alphabet the fourth time, 566 deplores the ruin of the city, and the destruction of the priesthood and of the kingdom. For they are mistaken who think that the death of Josiah is here lamented; for there are here many things, which we shall see as we proceed, which do not suit that event.
There is no doubt but that this mournful song refers to the destruction of the Temple and city; but when Josiah was killed, the enemy had not come to the city, and the stones of the Temple were not then east forth into the streets and the public roads.
There are also other things which we shall see, which did not then happen. It follows then that here is described the terrible vengeance of God, which we have had already to consider.
He begins by expressing his astonishment, How obscured is the gold! and the precious gold! for {,}כתםcatam, is properly the best gold, though the word good,{}הטוב ethub, is added to it. We may hence conclude that it generally denotes gold only. He mentions, then, gold twice, but they are two different words in Hebrew, {,}זהבzaeb, and {}כתםcatam. 567 Now he speaks figuratively in the former part of the verse; but there is no doubt but that by the gold, and the finest gold, as it is rendered, he
566Here, as in the two first chapters, the verses only begin alphabetically, but instead of having three or six lines, they have only two or four. — Ed.
567This chapter, like the two first chapters, begins with the word {,{`` איכהHow this!'' and the verbs are in the future tense, used for the present. --- How is this! tarnished is gold, Changed is fine gold, the best: Cast forth are the sacred stones At the head of every street. --- Ed