Albert Barnes Commentary Lamentations 2
Albert Barnes Commentary
Lamentations 2
Albert Barnes Commentary
Lamentations 2
"How hath the Lord covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in his anger! He hath cast down from heaven unto the earth the beauty of Israel, And hath not remembered his footstool in the day of his anger." — Lamentations 2:1 (ASV)
How ... - Or, “How” does “אדני 'ădonāy cover.” He has cast down etc. By God’s footstool seems to be meant the ark. See Psalms 99:5 note.
"The Lord hath swallowed up all the habitations of Jacob, and hath not pitied: He hath thrown down in his wrath the strongholds of the daughter of Judah; He hath brought them down to the ground; he hath profaned the kingdom and the princes thereof." — Lamentations 2:2 (ASV)
Habitations - The dwellings of the shepherds in the pastures (Jeremiah 49:19). These are described as swallowed up by an earthquake, while the storm itself throws down the fortified cities of Judah.
Polluted - That is, profaned it, made common or unclean what was holy before.
"He hath cut off in fierce anger all the horn of Israel; He hath drawn back his right hand from before the enemy: And he hath burned up Jacob like a flaming fire, which devoureth round about." — Lamentations 2:3 (ASV)
Since the horn is the symbol of power, the cutting off of every horn means depriving Israel of all power of resistance. The drawing back of God’s right hand signifies the withdrawal of that special Providence which used to protect the chosen people.
And he burned ... - Or, “and” he kindled a fire in Jacob: as the active enemy of “Jacob,” Himself applying the torch.
"He hath bent his bow like an enemy, he hath stood with his right hand as an adversary, And hath slain all that were pleasant to the eye: In the tent of the daughter of Zion he hath poured out his wrath like fire." — Lamentations 2:4 (ASV)
He stood with his right hand ... - that is, that right hand so often stretched out to help now grasped a weapon ready for Judah’s destruction.
Were pleasant - Or, it was “pleasant.” Put a full stop after “eye.” Begin the third couplet thus:
In the tabernacle - (or, tent) of the daughter of Zion.
"The Lord is become as an enemy, he hath swallowed up Israel; He hath swallowed up all her palaces, he hath destroyed his strongholds; And he hath multiplied in the daughter of Judah mourning and lamentation." — Lamentations 2:5 (ASV)
Literally, אדני 'ădonāy has become “as an enemy.”
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