By the crown of the head he no doubt understands all those ornaments by which
JEREMIAH AND LAMENTATIONS obliterate by degrees the very name of the people; and hence they were not there formed into a community. So justly does the Prophet deplore their desolation even in exile. It follows, ---
Lamentations 5:15
15. The joy of our heart is ceased; our dance is turned into mourning.
15. Cessavit gandium cordis nortri, versus est luctum chorus noster (sic enium vertunt {}לאבל{ }מחלנו
He pursues the same subject, but he seems more clearly to explain what he had briefly stated in the preceding verse, when he says that all joy of the heart had ceased, and that all the dances were turned into mourning 594 We know that life is more bitter than death when men are in constant mourning; and truly where there is no hilarity, that state of life is worse than death. And this is what the Prophet now means by saying that all joy had ceased, and that all dances were converted into mourning.
Lamentations 5:16
16. The crown is fallen from our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned!
16. Cecidit corona capitis nostri; vae nunc nobis, quia peccavimus.
By the crown of the head he no doubt understands all those ornaments by which that people had been adorned. They had a kingdom and a priesthood, which were like two luminaries or two precious jewels; they had also other things by which the
Lord had adorned them. As, then, they were endued with such excellent things, they are said to have borne a crown on their head But a crown was not only taken for a diadem, --- it was also a symbol of joy and of honor; for not only kings then wore crowns, but men were crowned at weddings and feasts, at games also, and theatres.
The Prophet, in a word, complains, that though many ornaments did belong to the people, yet now they were denuded of them all: The crown, he says, has fallen from our head 595
He then exclaims, Woe to us now, for we have sinned! Here he sets forth an extreme misery, and at the same time shews that all hope of restoration was taken away. He, however, mentions the cause, because they had done wickedly By saying this he did not intend to exasperate their sorrow, so that they who were thus afflicted might murmur against God; but, on the contrary, his object was to humble the afflicted, so that they might perceive that they were justly punished. It is the same as though he had summoned them as guilty before the tribunal of God, and pronounced in one word that they justly suffered or sustained so grievous a punishment; for a just God is an avenger of wickedness.
We hence conclude, that when he said yesterday that the fathers who had sinned were dead, and their iniquity was borne by their children, he did not so speak as to exempt the living from all blame; for here he condemns them and includes himself in the number. But I explained yesterday the meaning of that verse; and here the
594The words ought rather to be thus rendered, — Turned into mourning was our piping. The word does not mean dancing, but playing on some fistular instrument. — Ed.
595The words are, — Fallen has the crown of our head. Then the "woe" in the next line is only declarative, — Woe is now to us, because we have sinned. The particle "now" is omitted in our version. — Ed.