Lamentations 1:13-16

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Lamentations 1:12-22

The complaints here are, for substance, the same with those in the foregoing part of the chapter; but in these verses the prophet, in the name of the lamenting church, does more particularly acknowledge the hand of god in these calamities, and the righteousness of his hand.[ 47a5 /P] I. The church in distress here magnifies her affliction, and yet no more than there was cause for; her groaning was not heavier than her strokes. She appeals to all spectators: See if there be any sorrow like... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Lamentations 1:13

From above hath he sent fire into my bones ,.... Which the Targum interprets of her fortified cities, towns, or castles; as Jerusalem, more especially the temple, and the palaces of the king and nobles in it; which, though burnt by the fire of the Chaldeans, yet, this being according to the determination and by the direction of the Lord, is said to be sent from above, from heaven; so that they seemed to be as it were struck with lightning from heaven; unless it should be thought rather to be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Lamentations 1:14

The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand ,.... That is, the punishment of her sins was laid upon her by the Lord himself; his hand was in it; it came from him; the Chaldeans were only instruments; and a heavy yoke this was. So the Targum renders it, "the yoke of my rebellions is made heavy by his hand:' they are wreathed, and come upon my neck ; or, "twisted together" F2 ישתרגו "involutae", Vatablus; "perplexae", Pagninus, Montanus, Calvin; "contortae", Piscator,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Lamentations 1:15

The Lord hath trodden under foot all my mighty men in the midst of me ,.... As a causeway is trodden; or as mire is trodden under foot in the streets; so were the mighty and valiant men, the soldiers and men of war, trodden under foot and destroyed by the Chaldeans in the streets of Jerusalem, and in the midst of Judea; the Lord so permitting it: he hath called an assembly against me to crush my young men ; the army of the Chaldeans, which were brought against Jerusalem by a divine... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Lamentations 1:16

For these things I weep ,.... The congregation of Judah, the godly among them, particularly Jeremiah, who represented them, wept for the sins the people had been guilty of, and for the punishment inflicted on them, or the sore calamities that were brought upon them. The Targum goes into particulars, and paraphrases it thus, "for the little ones that are dashed in pieces, and for the women big with child, whose bellies are ripped up, the congregation of Israel saith, I weep:' mine eye,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Lamentations 1:14

The yoke of my transgressions - I am now tied and bound by the chain of my sins; and it is so wreathed, so doubled and twisted round me, that I cannot free myself. A fine representation of the miseries of a penitent soul, which feels that nothing but the pitifulness of God's mercy can loose it. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Lamentations 1:15

Called an assembly - The Chaldean army, composed of various nations, which God commissioned to destroy Jerusalem. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Lamentations 1:13

Verse 13 The Prophet proceeds with the same subject, that God’s vengeance had raged most dreadfully agsinst Jerusalem. But employing a metaphor she says, that fire had been sent to her bones. They who interpret bones of fortified places, weaken the meaning of the Prophet. I take bones in their proper sense, ss though it was said, that God’s fire had penetrated into the inmost parts. This way of speaking often occurs in Scripture. By bones is denoted strength or valor. Hence David sometimes... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Lamentations 1:14

Verse 14 Here, again, Jerusalem confesses that God had been justly displeased. She had ascribed to God’s vengeance the evils which she suffered; but now she expresses the cause of that displeasure or wrath. Hence she says, that the yoke of her iniquities had been bound in God’s hand. Though interpreters explain the words, yet they touch not the meaning of the Prophet; for they consider not that there is a continued metaphor. We ought then to bear in mind the two clauses, — that God’s hand held... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Lamentations 1:15

Verse 15 She first says, that all her valiant men had been trodden underfoot. Now we know how much the Jews trusted in their men even to the very time when they were wholly subdued. As then they had shewed so much insolence and pride towards the prophets, it hence became a cause of greater sorrow, when Jerusalem herself saw that she was destitute of every protection, and that her valiant men were trodden under foot. She says,in the midst of me. And this ought to be observed; for if they had... read more

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