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Even the jackals draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones: The daughter of my people is become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.
Verse Takeaways
1
A Breakdown of Natural Instincts
Commentators explain that the verse creates a shocking contrast. Even wild animals, like jackals, instinctively nurse their young. However, the suffering in Jerusalem was so severe that mothers were forced into what appeared to be cruel behavior. Like the ostrich, which was known for abandoning its young (a theme also found in Job 39), the mothers of Zion were unable to provide for their starving children, highlighting a complete breakdown of the natural order due to the horrors of the siege.
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Book Overview
Lamentations
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6
18th Century
Presbyterian
Sea monsters - Rather, jackals.
Their young ones - “Their” whelps. The term is applied only to the young of dogs, lions, and th…
19th Century
Anglican
Even the sea monsters ... —Better, jackals. The Authorised Version is intended apparently to apply to cetaceous mammals; …
16th Century
Protestant
This verse is harshly explained by many, for they think that the daughter of the people is called cruel because she acted toward her children as se…
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17th Century
Reformed Baptist
Even the sea monsters draw out the breast Which some interpret of dragons; others of seals, or sea calves; but it is…
What a change is here! Sin tarnishes the beauty of the most exalted powers and the most excellent gifts; but that gold, tried in the fire, which Ch…
13th Century
Catholic
Here he describes their misery in detail.
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