Lamentations 2:19

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Lamentations 2:10-22

Justly are these called Lamentations, and they are very pathetic ones, the expressions of grief in perfection, mourning and woe, and nothing else, like the contents of Ezekiel's roll, Ezek. 2:10. I. Copies of lamentations are here presented and they are painted to the life. 1. The judges and magistrates, who used to appear in robes of state, have laid them aside, or rather are stripped of them, and put on the habit of mourners (Lam. 2:10); the elders now sit no longer in the judgment-seats,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Lamentations 2:19

Arise, cry out in the night ,.... That is, O daughter of Zion, or congregation of Israel, as the Targum; who are addressed and called upon by the prophet to arise from their beds, and shake off their sleep, and sloth, and stupidity, and cry to God in the night season; and be earnest and importunate with him for help and assistance. Aben Ezra rightly observes, that the word used signifies a lifting up of the voice both in singing and in lamentation; here it is used in the latter sense; and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Lamentations 2:19

Arise, cry out in the night - This seems to refer to Jerusalem besieged. Ye who keep the night watches, pour out your hearts before the Lord, instead of calling the time of night, etc.; or, when you call it, send up a fervent prayer to God for the safety and relief of the place. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Lamentations 2:19

Verse 19 The Prophet now explains himself more clearly, and confirms what I have lately said, that he mentioned not the calamities of the people except for this end, that those who were almost stupid might begin to raise up their eyes to God, and also to examine their life, and willingly to condemn themselves, that thus they might escape from the wrath of God. The Prophet then bids them to rise and to cry. Doubtless they had been by force constrained by their enemies to undertake a long... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Lamentations 2:18-19

The entreaty of anguish. This surely is one of those passages which justify the title of this book; these utterances are "lamentations" indeed; never did human sorrow make of language anything more resembling a wail than this. I. THE SOULS FROM WHICH TEARFUL ENTEATIES ARISE The true language of passion—this utterance is lacking in coherence. The heart of the people cries aloud; the very walls of the city are invoked in their desolation to call upon the Lord. Clearly the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Lamentations 2:19

In the beginning of the watches . This would seem to be most naturally explained as referring to the first watch of the night. When most are wrapped in their first and sweetest sleep, the daughter of Zion is to "arise and cry." Others explain, "at the beginning of each of the night watches;" i.e. all the night through. Previously to the Roman times, the Jews had divided the night into three watches (comp. 3:19 ). Pour out thine heart like water; i.e. give free course to thy... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Lamentations 2:19

A cry to God in the night watches. A fearful picture! Jerusalem is besieged. Famine is becoming fatal. Young children are seen fainting for hunger at the top of every street. The hearts of their parents are rent with anguish, as the little ones beg piteously of their mothers for food and drink ( Lamentations 2:12 ), and none can be had, so that they swoon for very weakness. Suddenly a new turn is taken. The citizens have sunk down in sullen despair. Night has come like a cloak to cover... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Lamentations 2:19

In - (or at) the beginning of the watches “At the beginning of each night-watch” means all the night through. The Hebrews divided the night into three watches. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Lamentations 2:18-19

Lamentations 2:18-19. Their heart cried unto the Lord “The same,” says Blaney, “are the speakers here who are said to have made the foregoing remarks concerning the distressed condition of Jerusalem, namely, the passengers, (Lamentations 2:15,) whose hearts, being deeply affected with what they saw, urged them to break forth into the following passionate exclamation, addressed to the daughter of Zion.” O wall of the daughter of Zion The Vulgate reads the verse, Clamavit cor eorum ad... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Lamentations 2:1-22

Sufferings sent by God (2:1-22)In this poem the main theme is that the calamity that has befallen Judah has been the work of God. He has humbled the exalted nation; he has turned her glory into darkness (2:1). City and field, temple and fortress have been destroyed by him. They expected God to be the defender of his people, but he has been the attacker. Far from showing pity towards them, he has been angry with them (2-5).God has destroyed the temple and left it looking like an old broken-down... read more

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