Albert Barnes Commentary Lamentations 5
Albert Barnes Commentary
Lamentations 5
Albert Barnes Commentary
Lamentations 5
"Remember, O Jehovah, what is come upon us: Behold, and see our reproach." — Lamentations 5:1 (ASV)
What is come upon us - literally, “what” has happened “to us:” our national disgrace.
"Our inheritance is turned unto strangers, Our houses unto aliens." — Lamentations 5:2 (ASV)
Turned - “transferred.” The inheritance was the land of Canaan (Leviticus 20:24).
Aliens - Or, “foreigners”: that is, the Chaldeans upon their conquest of the country.
"We are orphans and fatherless; Our mothers are as widows." — Lamentations 5:3 (ASV)
Our mothers are as widows - The particle “as” suggests that the whole verse is metaphorical. Our distress and desolation is comparable only to that of fatherless orphans or wives just bereaved of their husbands.
"We have drunken our water for money; Our wood is sold unto us." — Lamentations 5:4 (ASV)
Better, as in the margin, it signifies 'price' to us. The rendering of the King James Version spoils the carefully studied rhythm of the original. The bitterness of the complaint lies in this: that they had to buy their own property.
"Our pursuers are upon our necks: We are weary, and have no rest." — Lamentations 5:5 (ASV)
Our necks ... - That is, we were pursued so actively that our enemies seemed to be leaning over our necks, ready to seize us.
We labor - We were wearied, there was no rest for us, being chased incessantly.
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