Thomas Aquinas Commentary Lamentations 4

Here, the prophet weeps especially over the misery of the siege. This section is divided into two parts. In the first, he weeps over the misery of the people; in the second, he laments the joy of those who insult them: rejoice, and be glad, O daughter of Edom (Lamentations 4:21).

Regarding the first part, the affliction of the people, the prophet does two things. First, he weeps over their general affliction. Second, he describes their helplessness to resist, as seen in the verse, while we were yet standing, our eyes failed (Lamentations 4:17).

This first point on their general affliction is itself divided into two parts. First, the prophet weeps over the misery of the people in general. Second, he describes it in detail, beginning with, even the sea monsters have drawn out (Lamentations 4:3).

Regarding the misery of the people in general, he again does two things. First, he presents a metaphor (Lamentations 4:1). Second, he explains it, starting with the verse, the noble sons of Zion (Lamentations 4:2).

The Jews were eminent in three things:

1. In the subtlety of their knowledge of God. He has not dealt in this way with every nation, and He has not made His judgments known to them (Psalms 147:20). Therefore, the prophet says, gold. There is gold, and a multitude of jewels: but the lips of knowledge are a precious vessel (Proverbs 20:15). And this gold has become dim through the shame of their unfaithfulness. Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge (Isaiah 5:13).
2. In their moral beauty. Rich men in virtue, studying beauty: living at peace in their homes . And therefore he says, the finest color, is corrupted, as it were, into the blackness of sin and sorrow. For his face, and the changing of his color .
3. In their religious worship. Therefore, he says, the stones of the sanctuary are scattered in the top of every street, among the various nations. They took away the stones that had been defiled into an unclean place .

Here he explains what he said above: noble, because from a holy race; with the first, that is, the best, gold, namely, wisdom. All gold in comparison of her is as a little sand . As earthen vessels, that is, a weak and lowly people. And now, O Lord, you are our father, and we are clay (Isaiah 64:8).

Here he describes their misery in detail.

1. The affliction of the siege regarding their hunger.
2. The capture and destruction of the city, as described in the verse: the Lord has accomplished his wrath (Lamentations 4:11).
3. The mockery of their captors against the citizens, as described in the verse: depart you that are defiled (Lamentations 4:15).

Regarding the first point, he addresses four things:

1. The hunger of the children.
2. The hunger of refined people, as described in the verse: they that were fed delicately have died in the streets (Lamentations 4:5).
3. The hunger of those consecrated to God, as described in the verse: her Nazarites were whiter than snow (Lamentations 4:7).
4. The immense hunger of mothers, as described in the verse: the hands of the pitiful women have boiled their own children (Lamentations 4:10).

Regarding the first of these, he addresses two groups:

1. The hunger of infants.
2. The hunger of young children and adolescents, as described in the verse: the little ones have asked for bread (Lamentations 4:4).

Regarding the first of these, he addresses two aspects:

1. The lack of milk.
2. The effect of this lack, as described in the verse: the tongue of the sucking child has stuck to the roof of his mouth (Lamentations 4:4).

The term Sea monsters (Latin: lamiae) refers to mythical creatures with a woman's body and a horse's feet. Their name comes from laniando,Lanius, “butcher.” meaning “to tear,” because they were said to tear their children to pieces (laniant).

They are called cruel like the ostrich, of which Job speaks: She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers; she has labored in vain, no fear constraining her (Job 39:16).

The women of Jerusalem are compared to ostriches not because of cruel feelings, but because of a similarity in action: they did not give milk to their children because they themselves lacked nourishment.

Here he describes the effect, specifically the thirst of the children: the tongue of the sucking child has stuck to the roof of his mouth because of its dryness. The little ones are those who were old enough to eat solid food and did not need milk. As it says in Amos, Fair virgins, and the young men shall faint for thirst (Amos 8:13). As was written above: they said to their mothers: where is corn and wine? (Lamentations 2:12).

Here, the author describes the hunger of those who once ate luxuriously.

1. He presents the affliction of their hunger.
2. He presents a comparison: and the iniquity of the daughter of my people is made greater than the sin of Sodom (Lamentations 4:6).

Their hunger is shown by two signs: death (they have died) and the consumption of coarse foods. Those who were brought up in scarlet, when food was withdrawn from their mouths, have embraced the dung—that is, they threw themselves on coarse food. This can be understood literally (2 Kings 6:24–29) or as a simile, as in the proverb: a soul that is hungry shall take even bitter for sweet (Proverbs 27:7).