Thomas Aquinas Commentary Lamentations 1:15

"The Lord hath set at nought all my mighty men in the midst of me; He hath called a solemn assembly against me to crush my young men: The Lord hath trodden as in a winepress the virgin daughter of Judah." — Lamentations 1:15 (ASV)

Here, the prophet describes in detail the misery of their servitude.

He addresses this in two parts:

1. First, concerning the initial captivity under Jeconiah, the grandson of Josiah (2 Kings 24:13–14).
2. Second, concerning the final captivity under Zedekiah (2 Kings 25:1, 20–21; Jeremiah 52:28–30), which is referenced in the phrase Zion has spread forth her hands (Lamentations 1:17).

Regarding the first point, he does two things:

1. First, he weeps over the captivity of the people.
2. Second, he weeps over the withdrawal of consolation, as seen in therefore am I weeping, and my eyes run down with water (Lamentations 1:16).

Regarding the captivity of the people, he makes three points, describing the capture of those who were eminent in dignity, virtue, and purity.

1. First, he presents the captivity of those who were eminent in dignity: the mighty men, who were princes, whose role it is to do great things. These were taken into captivity while the others were left behind. As Isaiah says, The Lord of hosts shall take away from Jerusalem, and from Judah the valiant and the strong (Isaiah 3:1).
2. Second, he describes the capture of those who were eminent in virtue: he has called against me the time, a time suitable for destruction, to destroy my chosen men, who were preeminent in virtue. Scripture says, When I shall take a time, I will judge justices (Psalms 74:3), and, In the day of revenge I will visit this sin also of theirs (Exodus 32:34). For, All things have their season (Ecclesiastes 3:1).
3. Third, he describes the affliction of those who were preeminent in purity or piety. He uses the image of the winepress, which signifies affliction, for the virgin daughter. This refers either to a literal virgin or to the people themselves, who until then were like a virgin and were also taken captive. As Jeremiah says, The shout, as it were, of them that tread grapes shall be given out against all the inhabitants of the earth (Jeremiah 25:30).

According to the Gloss, this is where the letterI.e., the letter that precedes each new verse. There is not always agreement as to the proper division of the verses. should be placed. However, it is better placed in what follows, because the passage proceeds in groups of three.