Albert Barnes Commentary Lamentations 1
Albert Barnes Commentary
Lamentations 1
Albert Barnes Commentary
Lamentations 1
"How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! She is become as a widow, that was great among the nations! She that was a princess among the provinces is become tributary!" — Lamentations 1:1 (ASV)
In these two verses is the same sad image as appears in the well-known medal of Titus, struck to celebrate his triumph over Jerusalem. A woman sits weeping beneath a palm-tree, and below is the legend “Judaea capta.”
Translate (Lamentations 1:1):
How sitteth solitary the city that was full of people:
She is become as a widow that was great among the nations:
A princess among provinces she is become a vassal.
Tributary - In the sense of personal labor (Joshua 16:10).
"She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks; Among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her: All her friends have dealt treacherously with her; they are become her enemies." — Lamentations 1:2 (ASV)
Lovers ... friends - that is, the states in alliance with Judea, and all human helpers.
"Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude; She dwelleth among the nations, she findeth no rest: All her persecutors overtook her within the straits." — Lamentations 1:3 (ASV)
Because of ... – that is, the people, not of Jerusalem only, but of the whole land, is gone into exile to escape from the affliction and laborious servitude, to which they are subject in their own land.
Persecutors ... between the straits – Rather, pursuers ... in the midst of her straits. The Jews flee like deer to escape from the invading Chaldeans, but are driven by them into places from where there is no escape.
"The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn assembly; All her gates are desolate, her priests do sigh: Her virgins are afflicted, and she herself is in bitterness." — Lamentations 1:4 (ASV)
Zion, as the holy city, is the symbol of the religious life of the people, just as Judah in the previous verse represents their national life. The “virgins” took a prominent part in all religious festivals (Jeremiah 31:13; Exodus 15:20).
"Her adversaries are become the head, her enemies prosper; For Jehovah hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: Her young children are gone into captivity before the adversary." — Lamentations 1:5 (ASV)
Are the chief ... prosper - Or, “have become the head”... are at rest. Judea is so entirely crushed that her enemies did not need to take precautions against resistance on her part.
Children - That is, “young children,” who are driven before the enemy (literally the adversary), not as a flock of lambs that follow the shepherd, but for sale as slaves.
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