Lamentations 4:17

The expectation that Egypt or some other nation might come to the rescue, was cherished throughout the year and a half of the siege, and here is set forth the heart-sickness caused by this hope deferred, together with a vivid description of the last thrilling scenes before the capture of the city. That this hope was not shared by Jeremiah is shewn by Jeremiah 37:5-10. See Intr. p. 324.

do yet fail perhaps we should translate (see last note) did fail(Heb. imperfect of graphic description) and so render the verbs that follow, we watched … they hunted … that we could not go … our end drew near … were fulfilled … was come. But the tenses in R.V. may be justifiable, as historic presents, vividly descriptive of the past.

In our watching or, on our watch-tower.