Lamentations 5 - Introduction
_A PITIFUL COMPLAINT OF ZION IN PRAYER UNTO GOD._ _Before Christ 588._... [ Continue Reading ]
_A PITIFUL COMPLAINT OF ZION IN PRAYER UNTO GOD._ _Before Christ 588._... [ Continue Reading ]
REMEMBER, O LORD— In the Vulgate, Arabic, and Syriac, this chapter is intitled, "The prayer of Jeremiah." It is rather to be understood as the earnest supplication of the whole body of the Jews in their captivity. See the introductory note to this book.... [ Continue Reading ]
OUR WOOD IS SOLD UNTO US— _Our wood came at a price upon our necks;_ Lamentations 5:5. _We are under persecution,_ &c. Houbigant. That numbers of the Israelites had no wood growing on their own lands for their burning, must be imagined from the openness of their country. See Judges 5:6. It is certai... [ Continue Reading ]
WE HAVE GIVEN THE HAND— _We have submitted._... [ Continue Reading ]
OUR FATHERS HAVE SINNED— That is, "Though our fathers have been guilty of great sins, they have died without signal punishment and calamities; which are come upon us their children, who thus bear the punishment of theirs, as well as of our own iniquities." See Daniel 8:11; Daniel 8:27. This seems to... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH THE PERIL OF OUR LIVES, &C.— I can no otherwise understand this, than that on account of their weak and defenceless state the people were continually exposed, while they followed their necessary business, to the incursions of the Arabian freebooters, who might not be improperly styled, "the swo... [ Continue Reading ]
BY THEIR HAND— That is to say, by the hands of the Chaldeans.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CROWN IS FALLEN FROM OUR HEAD— At their fears, at their marriages, and other seasons of festivity, they used to crown themselves with flowers. The prophet probably alludes to this custom, as we may gather from the preceding verses. The general meaning is, "All our glory is at an end, together wi... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE OF THE MOUNTAIN OF ZION— Houbigant connects this with the preceding verse; _For these things our eyes are dim; for mount Zion, because it is desolate, and the foxes walk upon it._ See Judges 15:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
RENEW OUR DAYS, &C.— _Renew our days as of old;_ Lamentations 5:22. _After thou hast rejected us and hast been very wroth against us._ Houbigant. REFLECTIONS.—1st, The prophet, in the name of his afflicted people, presents their miserable case before the God of all mercy, intreating him to regard,... [ Continue Reading ]