Charles Ellicott Commentary Lamentations 4:20

"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." — Lamentations 4:20 (ASV)

The breath of our nostrils. —The “breath of life” of Genesis 2:7. The phrase emphasises the ideal character of the king as the centre of the nation’s life. So Seneca (De Clementia 1.4) speaks of a ruler as the spiritus vitalis of his people.

Of whom we said.— The words that follow point to the scheme which was rendered abortive by Zedekiah’s capture. Those who followed him had hoped to find a refuge among some friendly neighbouring nation, where they might at least have maintained the continuity of their national existence, and waited for better days.