John Calvin Commentary Lamentations 1:6

"And from the daughter of Zion all her majesty is departed: Her princes are become like harts that find no pasture, And they are gone without strength before the pursuer." — Lamentations 1:6 (ASV)

He continues the same subject. He says here that the daughter of Zion was stripped of all her ornaments. Now, we know what the honor or dignity of that people was; for Moses, in order to set forth the greatness of God’s grace, exclaims:

“What nation so illustrious under heaven!” (Deuteronomy 4:7).

Since, then, the unique gifts of God had been conferred on that people, it was a very sad spectacle to see that city, which once possessed the highest glory, robbed of all its honor and covered with disgrace, as we shall later see. He then says that all her glory was taken away from the daughter of Zion.

Now, there is no need to enumerate all the kinds of honor or glory that belonged to the city of Jerusalem. But it may be said, first, that God had chosen it as a habitation for himself.

Furthermore, a priestly kingdom was there: the people were holy to God; they were his heritage; God had deposited his covenant there; he considered all the Jews his children, and his will was that they, in return, should regard him as their Father.

Since, then, they had been enriched with so many ornaments and were so exalted, it is no wonder that the Prophet deplored the state of the city when stripped of all its glory.

He then adds that her princes were like famished harts. For harts, being naturally swift, run as if flying when pressed by hunger. Since the swiftness of that animal is so great, the Prophet says that the princes, who were accustomed to walk with such gravity and to project great authority, had become swift like harts oppressed by hunger, for they also suffered from a lack of everything.

He adds that eventually they went away, that is, they fled before their pursuers without strength. By these words, he intimates that they did not dare to contend with their enemies, but were so frightened that they fled, thus proving they were completely disheartened and lifeless.