Thomas Aquinas Commentary Lamentations 2

Here, he weeps over the destruction of the city, the people, and the whole region.

This commentary is divided into two parts. In the first, he laments the destruction; in the second, he counters the despair of the people, beginning at I am the man that sees my poverty (Lamentations 3:1).

The first part is itself in two parts. First, he weeps over the misery of destruction; second, he turns to implore divine mercy, beginning at their heart cried to the Lord (Lamentations 2:18).

Regarding the first of these, he does two things. First, he weeps over the destruction in general; second, he weeps over it in particular, beginning at the Lord has cast down headlong (Lamentations 2:2).

Regarding this first point, he is astonished at the destruction because of the manifold glory that preceded it. He considers this in three ways:

1. First, with regard to the prerogative of divine knowledge, of which it is said, he has not done in like manner to every nation (Psalms 147:9). Against this, he says, how has the Lord covered with obscurity—that is, with the obscurity of ignorance or sadness. As it is written, We have stumbled at noonday as in darkness; we are in dark places as dead men (Isaiah 59:10).

2. Second, with regard to the power of the royal dignity, against which it is said, there have been powerful kings in Jerusalem, who have had dominion over all the country that is beyond the river (Ezra 4:20). Against this, he says, he has cast down from heaven—that is, from the summit of dignity and power, or from heavenly attendance. As it is written, The stars of heaven fell from heaven (Revelation 6:13).

3. Third, with regard to the worship of divine religion, of which it is said, Blessed is that people whose God is the Lord (Psalms 143:15). Against this he says, he has not remembered—that is, not thought well of—his footstool, meaning the temple, where he was worshiped like a king at his footstool. As it is written, The place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I dwell in the midst of the children of Israel forever (Ezekiel 43:7).

Here he describes in particular what happened regarding the destruction.

1. He weeps over the things connected to the destruction.
   1. He weeps over the destruction of ordinary buildings.
      1. He weeps over the destruction of buildings related to the strength of the king.
         1. He weeps over the destruction itself.
            1. He weeps over the destruction of those things which are for beauty: all that was beautiful. Fire has devoured the beautiful places of the wilderness (Joel 1:19).
            2. He weeps over the destruction of those things pertaining to strength: he has destroyed the strongholds. And the bulwarks of your high walls shall fall and be brought low and shall be pulled down to the ground, even to the dust (Isaiah 25:12). For thus says the Lord the God of Israel to the houses of this city, and to the houses of the king of Judah, which are destroyed (Jeremiah 33:4).
            3. He concludes by weeping over the defilement of the kingdom: he has made the kingdom unclean. They shall defile your beauty. They shall kill you, and bring you down: and you shall die the death of them that are slain in the heart of the sea (Ezekiel 28:7–8).
         2. He weeps over the powerlessness of the defenders, at he has broken in his fierce anger (Lamentations 2:3).
      2. He weeps over the destruction of those pertaining to the use of the people, at he has bent his bow (Lamentations 2:4).
   2. He weeps over the destruction of prominent buildings, at he has destroyed his tent as a garden (Lamentations 2:6).
2. He weeps over what followed the destruction, at to what shall I compare you? (Lamentations 2:13).

Here he shows the impossibility of resisting.

1. He excludes human strength: the horn, that is, power. And I will break all the horns of sinners (Psalms 74:11).
2. He excludes divine help: he has drawn back, as it were, from the defense by which he had previously defended them. Why do you turn away your hand even your right hand? (Psalms 73:11).
3. He concludes by showing the burning of the earth: and he has kindled. He set him on fire, and he understood not (Isaiah 42:25).

Here the prophet weeps over the destruction of the things that were for the people's use.

First, he weeps over what relates to beauty.

Second, he weeps over what relates to defense, as seen in the verse, the Lord has become as an enemy (Lamentations 2:5).

Regarding the first point on the loss of beauty, he makes three observations.

1. First, he shows God's indignation. God has bent his bow—that is, His judgment, or the Chaldean army—to strike from a distance. He has also fixed his right hand to strike a blow up close. As the psalmist says, Except you will be converted, he will brandish his sword: he has bent his bow and made it ready (Psalms 7:13).
2. Second, he describes the infliction of the punishment: God has killed and destroyed all that was fair—men, buildings, and so on. This was a tragic end for what was once praised: How beautiful are your tabernacles, O Jacob! (Numbers 24:5).
3. Third, he shows the magnitude of the punishment. Regarding its immeasurable abundance, His wrath has poured out; and regarding its severity, it was like fire. This also refers to the type of punishment, because the city was burned. As Scripture says, A fire is kindled in my wrath, and shall burn even to the lowest hell (Deuteronomy 32:22), and, Pour out your indignation upon them (Psalms 68:25).

Here he weeps over the destruction of the buildings used for defense, and he addresses this in three ways.

1. He touches on God's indignation: he has become as an enemy, as if God were helping their enemies in the fight. He was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them (Isaiah 63:10).
2. He discusses the destruction of the buildings: he has overthrown all the walls. You have broken down all his hedges (Psalms 89:40).
3. He concludes with the humiliation of the people: he has filled, that is, multiplied, their humiliation. Our soul is humbled down to the dust: our belly cleaves to the earth (Psalms 44:25).