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Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Lamentations 4:19

Judah’s enemies swiftly pursued the Jews around the countryside as well, not allowing any of them to escape. They chased them wherever they sought to hide, on the mountains or in the wilderness, like an eagle pursuing its prey. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Lamentations 4:20

The enemy even captured the Davidic king, Zedekiah, who was as the very breath of life to the Judahites. The Judeans had evidently hoped to live under his authority in captivity, but now he was blind and in prison (Jeremiah 52:7-11).This section gives three causes for the siege: the sins of the priests and prophets (Lamentations 4:13-16), reliance on foreign alliances (Lamentations 4:17-19), and the capture of Zedekiah (Lamentations 4:20). read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Lamentations 4:1-22

Zion’s former Glory contrasted with her present HumiliationIn this fourth dirge the poet describes the miseries of the various classes in the sack of Jerusalem, concluding with a warning to Edom. In structure, each alphabetic v. is composed of two rather than of three sub-divisions, the ideas and phrases balancing as in ordinary Hebrew poetry. This is considered the finest poetry of the book. The mourner speaks throughout.1-10. The terrible distress of the people and nobles.1. How is the gold... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Lamentations 4:19

(19) Our persecutors.—Better, Our pursuers, the words referring to the Chaldæan enemies rather than to persecutors in the modern sense of the word. The comparison with eagles has a parallel in Deuteronomy 28:49. If we take the second clause as referring to the flight of Zedekiah, mentioned in the next verse, the mountains would be the heights east of Jerusalem, beginning with the Mount of Olives, and the wilderness that of the Ghor, or Jordan Valley (Jeremiah 39:5). read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Lamentations 4:20

(20) The breath of our nostrils.—The “breath of life” of Genesis 2:7. The phrase emphasises the ideal character of the king as the centre of the nation’s life. So Seneca (Clement. i. 4) speaks of a ruler as the spiritus vitalis of his people.Of whom we said.—The words that follow point to the scheme which was rendered abortive by Zedekiah’s capture. Those who followed him had hoped to find a refuge among some friendly neighbouring nation, where they might at least have maintained the continuity... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Lamentations 4:17-20

VAIN HOPESLamentations 4:17-20THE first part of the fourth elegy was specially concerned with the fate of the gilded youth of Jerusalem; the second and closely parallel part with that of the princes; the third introduced us to the dramatic scene in which the fallen priests and prophets were portrayed; now in the fourth part of the elegy the king and his courtiers are the prominent figures. While all the rest of the poem is written in the third person, this short section is composed in the first... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Lamentations 4:1-22

CHAPTER 4 The Departed Glory and the Cup of Shame This new lament begins with a description of the former glory of Zion and its present wretchedness; the glory is departed: How is the gold become dim! The most pure gold changed! The stones of the sanctuary are poured forth at the top of every street. The precious sons of Zion, just like fine gold-- How are they now esteemed like earthen pitchers: the work of the potters’ hands! Even the jackals draw out the breast, giving suck to their young--... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Lamentations 4:20

4:20 The {m} breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the LORD, was taken in their pits, of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the nations.(m) Our king Josiah, in whom stood our hope of God’s favour and on whom depended our state and life was slain, whom he calls anointed, because he was a figure of Christ. read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Lamentations 4:1-22

The touching significance of this book lies in the fact that it is the disclosure of the love and sorrow of Jehovah for the very people He is chastening a sorrow wrought by the Spirit in the heart of Jeremiah. Compare Jeremiah 13:7 ; Matthew 23:36-38 ; and Romans 9:1-5 . Scofield Reference Bible As regards its external structure, the composition of the book, both as a whole and in its several parts, is so artistic, that anything like it can hardly be found in any other book of Holy Scriptures.... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Lamentations 4:1-22

Dimming of the Gold Lam 4:1 Not changed in a moment, but changed imperceptibly. It evil things would only come at specified times, we should know how to prepare for them and to defend ourselves against them. Had the strong man known at what hour the thief would come, he would not have suffered his house to be broken through. But we cannot tell the time, nor the way, nor the speciality of the attack, nor the exact scope that will be taken by the enemy. "What I say unto you I say unto all,... read more

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