John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Lamentations 1:17
Zion spreadeth forth her hands ,.... Either as submitting to the conqueror, and imploring mercy; or rather as calling to her friends to help and relieve her. The Targum is, "Zion spreadeth out her hands through distress, as a woman spreads out her hands upon the seat to bring forth;' see Jeremiah 4:31 . Some render the words, "Zion breaks with her hands" F6 פרשה ציון בידיה "frangit Sion manibus suis", sub. "panem", Vatablus. ; that is, breaks bread; and Joseph Kimchi... read more
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