Lamentations 4:12-22

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Lamentations 4:1-12

The elegy in this chapter begins with a lamentation of the very sad and doleful change which the judgments of God had made in Jerusalem. The city that was formerly as gold, as the most fine gold, so rich and splendid, the perfection of beauty and the joy of the whole earth, has become dim, and is changed, has lost its lustre, lost its value, is not what it was; it has become dross. Alas! what an alteration is here! I. The temple was laid waste, which was the glory of Jerusalem and its... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Lamentations 4:13-20

We have here, I. The sins they were charged with, for which God brought this destruction upon them, and which served to justify God in it (Lam. 4:13, 14): It is for the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests. Not that the people were innocent; no, they loved to have it so (Jer. 5:31), and it was to please them that the prophets and priests did as they did; but the fault is chiefly laid upon them, who should have taught them better, should have reproved and admonished them, and... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Lamentations 4:21-22

David's psalms of lamentation commonly conclude with some word of comfort, which is as life from the dead and light shining out of darkness; so does this lamentation here in this chapter. The people of God are now in great distress, their aspects all doleful, their prospects all frightful, and their ill-natured neighbours the Edomites insult over them and do all they can to exasperate their destroyers against them. Such was their violence against their brother Jacob (Obad. 1:10), such their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Lamentations 4:12

The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world ,.... Not only the neighbouring nations, and the kings of them, but even such in all parts of the world that knew anything of Jerusalem: would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy would have entered into the gates of Jerusalem ; when it was besieging, they did not believe it would be taken; and when they heard it was, it was incredible to them; it being so strongly fortified by art and nature, with mountains and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Lamentations 4:13

For the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests ,.... Aben Ezra interprets this of the prophets of Baal, and the priests of the high places; but though false prophets and wicked priests are meant, yet such as were among the Jews, made choice of and approved of by them: see 2 Chronicles 36:14 ; not that the people were faultless, but these were the principals, who by their examples led on and encouraged the common people in sin: that have shed the blood of the just in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Lamentations 4:14

They have wandered as blind men in the streets ,.... That is, the false prophets and wicked priests; and may be understood either literally, that when the city was taken, and they fled, they were like blind men, and knew not which way to go to make their escape, but wandered from place to place, and could find no way out; or spiritually, though they pretended to great light and knowledge, yet were as blind men, surrounded with the darkness of ignorance and error, and were blind leaders... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Lamentations 4:15

They cried unto them, depart ye, it is unclean ,.... Or, O ye "unclean" F5 טמא "immunde", Montanus; "immundi", Strigelius. "gens polluta", Vatablus; "discedite polluti", Gataker. ; that is, the people said so to the priests, being polluted with blood; they abhorred them, did not care they should come nigh them, but bid them keep at distance; they that cleansed others of leprosy were treated as leprous persons themselves, and proclaimed unclean, and shunned as such: and, to show... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Lamentations 4:16

The anger of the Lord hath divided them ,.... Or, "the face of the Lord" F6 פני יהוה "facies Domini", V. L. Montanus, Piscator. ; the anger that appeared in his face, in the dispensation of his providence, removed them out of their own land, and dispersed them among several countries and nations of the world, and as they now are: these are not the words of the Heathens continued, but of the prophet: he will no more regard them ; or, "he will not add to look on them" F7 ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Lamentations 4:17

As for us, our eyes as yet failed for our vain help ,.... Or, "while we were yet" F8 עודינה "quum adhuc essemus", Munster: Piscator. ; a nation, a people, a body politic, in our own land, before the city of Jerusalem was taken, we were looking for help, as was promised us; but it proved a vain help, none was given us; for which we kept looking to the last, till our eyes failed, and we could look no longer; no help appeared, nor was there any prospect or probability of it, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Lamentations 4:18

They hunt our steps, that we cannot go in our streets ,.... The Chaldeans, from their forts and batteries, as they could see, they watched the people as they came out of their houses, and walked about the streets, and shot their arrows at them; so that they were obliged to keep within doors, and not stir out, which they could not do without great danger: our end is near, for our days are fulfilled; for our end is come ; either the end of their lives, the days, months, and years appointed... read more

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