Lamentations 1:3

is gone into captivity because of affliction The better rendering is, is gone into exile (so mg.) because of affliction, i.e. the long sufferings of the Jews at the hands of Egypt and Chaldaea had induced many of them to go voluntarily to dwell in other lands. That this frequently took place we gather from Jeremiah 40:11. This is better than the alternative rendering (taken) out ofaffliction (into Babylon), as this would be a lightening of the picture hardly in consonance with the purpose of the writer. If, however, this latter be the sense, the word "servitude" will be illustrated by the "hard service" inflicted on exiles in Babylon according to Isaiah 14:3.

within the straits distresses, oppression. The Jews have been hemmed in and harassed by their foes.