Thomas Aquinas Commentary Lamentations 2:1

"How hath the Lord covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in his anger! He hath cast down from heaven unto the earth the beauty of Israel, And hath not remembered his footstool in the day of his anger." — Lamentations 2:1 (ASV)

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).