Lamentations 4:17

SIEGE ENDS; THE ENEMY ENTERS; CHASES FUGITIVES

"Our eyes do yet fail in looking for our vain help

In our watching, we have watched for a nation

that could not save.

They hunt our steps,

so that we cannot go in our streets:

Our end is near, our days are fulfilled;

for our end is come.

Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the heavens:

They chased us upon the mountains,

they laid wait for us in the wilderness.

The breath of our nostrils,

the anointed of Jehovah,

was taken in their pits;

Of whom we said,

Under his shadow we shall live among the nations."

"Our eyes do yet fail in looking for our vain help ... a nation that could not save" (Lamentations 4:17). Zedekiah, the last king of Israel to reign in Jerusalem, had violated his oath of loyalty to Nebuchadnezzar and secretly hoped that Egypt would help Israel; but Egypt would not have helped Israel if she could have done it, and could not have done so even if she had desired to do it.

"They hunt our steps ... we cannot go about our streets... our end is come" (Lamentations 4:18) The siege is over. The king has fled; the walls are breached; the soldiers of the enemy are in the streets. Of course, all who are able to do so flee from the city.

"They chase us upon the mountains" (Lamentations 4:19). There is no escape from the enemy. Even those fortunate enough to get out of the city were too weak from hunger to make a successful escape. They were easily captured.

"The anointed of Jehovah was taken in their pits" (Lamentations 4:20). "This is a reference to Zedekiah the king."[3] However, we agree with Dummelow that, "This is rather a strong expression to be applied to Zedekiah."[4] Cook explained it on the basis that, "With the capture of Zedekiah, Israel was robbed of the only rallying point that they had."[5]