Lamentations 2:20

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 2:20

Behold, O Lord, and consider to whom thou hast done this ,.... On whom thou hast brought these calamities of famine and sword; not upon thine enemies, but upon thine own people, that are called by thy name, and upon theirs, their young ones, who had not sinned as their fathers had: here the church does not charge God with any injustice, or complain of hard usage; only humbly entreats he would look upon her, in her misery, with an eye of pity and compassion; and consider her sorrowful... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Lamentations 2:20

Consider to whom thou hast done this - Perhaps the best sense of this difficult verse is this: "Thou art our Father, we are thy children; wilt thou destroy thy own offspring? Was it ever heard that a mother devoured her own child, a helpless infant of a span long?" That it was foretold that there should be such distress in the siege, - that mothers should be obliged to eat their own children, is evident enough from Leviticus 26:29 ; Deuteronomy 28:53 , Deuteronomy 28:56 , Deuteronomy... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Lamentations 2:20

Verse 20 Here, also, Jeremiah dictates words, or a form of prayer to the Jews. And this complaint availed to excite pity, that God had thus afflicted, not strangers, but the people whom he had adopted. Interpreters do, indeed, give another explanation, “See, Jehovah, To whom hast thou done this?” that is, Has any people been ever so severely afflicted? But I do not think that the comparison is made here, which they seek to make, but that the people only set before God the covenant which he had... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Lamentations 2:20

To whom thou hast done this; viz. to Israel, the chosen people. And children ; rather, ( even ) children. The children are the "fruit" referred to. Comp. the warnings in Le 26:26; Deuteronomy 28:56 ; and especially Jeremiah 19:9 ; also the historical incident in 2 Kings 6:28 , 2 Kings 6:29 . Of a span long; rather, borne in the hands. The word is derived from the verb renders to swaddle'' in 2 Kings 6:22 (see note). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Lamentations 2:20

Consideration besought. How truly human is this language! How real was the eternal Lord to him who could shape his entreaty thus! As if to urge a plea for pity, the prophet implores him who has been offended by the nation's sins, who has suffered the nation's misery and apparent ruin, to consider; to remember who Judah is, and to have mercy, I. THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT CALL FOR CONSIDERATION . 1 . Famine and the inhuman conduct to which famine sometimes leads. 2 .... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Lamentations 2:20

The sense is: “See, Yahweh, and look! whom hast Thou treated thus? Shall women eat their fruit - children whom they must still carry?” the swaddled child being one still needing to be nursed and borne in their arms. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Lamentations 2:20-22

Lamentations 2:20-22. Behold, O Lord, to whom thou hast done this To thy people, for whom thou hast formerly expressed so much tenderness and affection. Jerusalem seems to be here introduced speaking. Shall the women eat their fruit We find by comparing this verse with chap. Lamentations 4:10, that God brought upon them that terrible judgment which he had denounced against them, if they continued to provoke him, namely, that they should eat the flesh of their own sons and daughters. See... 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

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Lamentations 2:20

consider. Put a colon after "consider", and an"? "after "this". Shall . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 . Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:29 . Deuteronomy 28:53 ). App-92 . span. See App-51 . read more

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