1Alef. Oj, ako sedí samotné mesto, nedávno veľké čo do množstva ľudu! Je ako vdova. Mesto, predtým veľké medzi národami, kňažna medzi krajinami, dnes je poplatné! 2Béth. Kňažna, ustavične plače, vnoci, a jej slzy tečú po jej lícach. Nemá nikoho, kto by potešil, nikoho zpomedzi všetkých svojich milovníkov. Všetci jej priatelia sa jej stali nevernými; obrátili sa jej v nepriateľov. 3Gimel. Judea sa prestehovala do vyhnanstva pre horké trápenie a pre veľkú porobu. Ona býva medzi pohanmi! Nenachodí odpočinku. Všetci tí, ktorí ju honia, ju dostihujú medzi úzkosťami. 4Daleth. Cesty dcéry Siona smutné, pretože niet tých, ktorí by prišli na slávnosť. Všetky jej brány spustlé. Jej kňazi vzdychajú. Jej panny sú strápené, a ona sama je plná horkosti. 5Hé. Jej protivníci sú hlavou; jej nepriatelia sa majú dobre, lebo ju strápil JeHoVaH pre množstvo jej prestúpení. Jej malé deti odišly do zajatia pred tvárou a zrakmi protivníka. 6Vav. A tak vyšla od dcéry Siona všetka jej sláva. Jej kniežatá sú jako jeleni, ktorí nenachodia paše a tak idú bez sily pred tým, ktorý prenasleduje. 7Zajin. Dcéra Jeruzalema sa rozpomína vo dňoch svojho trápenia a vo svojom zmietaní na všetky svoje vzácne veci, ktoré boly jej od pradávnych dní, teraz keď upadol jej ľud do ruky protivníka, a keď nemá nikoho, kto by jej pomohol. Protivníci sa dívajú na ňu; smejú sa jej všestrannej zkaze. 8Cheth. Ťažko hrešila dcéra Jeruzalema, preto sa stala nečistou odlúčenou; všetci, ktorí ju ctili, opovrhujú ňou, pretože vidia jej nahotu. Aj ona vzdychá a obrátila sa nazpät. 9Teth. Jej nečistota je na jej podolkoch; nepamätala na svoj koniec a preto klesla predivne, hlboko; nemá nikoho, kto by ju potešil. Vidz, ó, JeHoVaHu, moje trápenie, lebo sa veličí nepriateľ. 10Jod. Protivník siahol svojou rukou na všetky jej vzácne veci, lebo sa musí dívať, ako pohania vchádzajú do jej svätyne, o ktorých si bol prikázal, aby ti nevošli do shromaždenia. 11Kaf. Všetok jej ľud vzdychá; hľadajú chlieb; dávajú svoje vzácne veci za pokrm, aby občerstvili dušu. Vidz, ó, JeHoVaHu, a hľaď, že som znevážená! 12Lamed. Či vám nič do toho, vy všetci, ktorí idete cestou pomimo? Hľaďte a vidzte, či je niekde bolesť ako moja bolesť, ktorá je spôsobená mne, ktorú strápil JeHoVaH v deň pále svojho hnevu?! 13Mem. S výsosti poslal oheň do mojich kostí a pošliapal to; roztiahol mojim nohám sieť a obrátil ma nazpät; učinil ma pustinou, neduživou deň ako deň. 14Nun. Jarmo mojich prestúpení mi je uviazané jeho rukou; splietly sa jako húžvy; vystúpily na moju šiju; spôsobil to, aby klesla moja sila. Pán ma vydal do rúk, z ktorých nemôžem povstať. 15Samek. Pán pošliapal všetkých mojich udatných v mojom strede; svolal proti mne slávnostné shromaždenie, aby skrúšil mojich mládencov. Pán šliapal čereň panne dcére Júdovej. 16Ajin. Pre tie veci ja plačem. Moje oko, moje oko tečie vodami, lebo je ďaleko odo mňa ten, ktorý by potešil, ten, ktorý by občerstvil moju dušu. Moji synovia sú vypustošení, lebo sa zmohol nepriateľ. 17Pe. Dcéra Siona rozprestiera svoje ruky; nemá nikoho, kto by ju potešil. JeHoVaH prikázal o Jakobovi vôkol neho jeho protivníkom, aby ho sovreli. Dcéra Jeruzalema je ako nečistá, oddelená pre svoj neduh, medzi nimi. 18Tsadé. JeHoVaH je spravedlivý, lebo som sa protivila jeho ústam. Nože počujte, všetky národy, a vidzte moju bolesť! Moje panny a moji mládenci odišli do zajatia! 19Khof. Volala som na svojich milovníkov; oklamali ma. Moji kňazi a moji starci pomreli v meste, keď si hľadali pokrm, aby občerstvili svoju dušu. 20Reš. Vidz, ó, JeHoVaHu, lebo mi je úzko. Moje vnútornosti sú rozbúrené; moje srdce sa prevrátilo vo mne, pretože som sa veľmi protivila. Vonku sirotí meč; vnútri jako smrť. 21Šin. Čujú, že vzdychám, ale nemám nikoho, kto by potešil. Všetci moji nepriatelia počujúc o mojom nešťastí radujú sa, že si to ty učinil; uviedol si deň, ktorý si bol vyhlásil, ale budú podobní mne. 22Tav. Nech prijde všetka ich zlosť pred tvoju tvár, a učiň im, ako si učinil mne pre všetky moje prestúpenia, lebo je mnoho mojich vzdychov, a moje srdce je neduživé.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 (Lam. 1:1-22)
how is she . . . widow! she that was great, &c.--English Version is according to the accents. But the members of each sentence are better balanced in antithesis, thus, "how is she that was great among the nations become as a widow! (how) she who was princess among the provinces (that is, she who ruled over the surrounding provinces from the Nile to the Euphrates,
Gen 15:18;
1Kgs 4:21;
2Chr 9:26;
Ezra 4:20) become tributary!" [MAURER].
sit--on the ground; the posture of mourners (
Lam 2:10;
Ezra 9:3). The coin struck on the taking of Jerusalem by Titus, representing Judea as a female sitting solitary under a palm tree, with the inscription, Judća Capta, singularly corresponds to the image here; the language therefore must be prophetical of her state subsequent to Titus, as well as referring retrospectively to her Babylonian captivity.
2 in the night--even in the night, the period of rest and oblivion of griefs (
Job 7:3).
lovers . . . friends--the heathen states allied to Judah, and their idols. The idols whom she "loved" (
Jer 2:20-
Jer 2:25) could not comfort her. Her former allies would not: nay, some "treacherously" joined her enemies against her (
2Kgs 24:2,
2Kgs 24:7;
Ps 137:7).
3 (
Jer 52:27).
because of great servitude--that is, in a state "of great servitude," endured from the Chaldeans. "Because" is made by VATABLUS indicative of the cause of her captivity; namely, her having "afflicted" and unjustly brought into "servitude" the manumitted bond-servants (
Jer 34:8-
Jer 34:22). MAURER explains it, "Judah has left her land (not literally 'gone into captivity') because of the yoke imposed on it by Nebuchadnezzar."
no rest-- (
Deut 28:64-
Deut 28:65).
overtook her between . . . straits--image from robbers, who in the East intercept travellers at the narrow passes in hilly regions.
4 feasts--the passover, pentecost (or the feast of weeks), and the feast of tabernacles.
gates--once the place of concourse.
5 the chief--rule her (
Deut 28:43-
Deut 28:44).
adversaries . . . prosper; for the Lord--All the foes' attempts would have failed, had not God delivered His people into their hands (
Jer 30:15).
6 beauty . . . departed--her temple, throne, and priesthood.
harts that find no pasture--an animal timid and fleet, especially when seeking and not able to "find pasture."
7 remembered--rather, "remembers," now, in her afflicted state. In the days of her prosperity she did not appreciate, as she ought, the favors of God to her. Now, awakening out of her past lethargy, she feels from what high privileges she has fallen.
when her people fell, &c.--that is, after which days of prosperity "her people fell."
mock at her sabbaths--The heathen used to mock at the Jews' Sabbath, as showing their idleness, and term them Sabbatarians [MARTIAL, 4.4]. Now, said they ironically, ye may keep a continuous Sabbath. So God appointed the length of the captivity (seventy years) to be exactly that of the sum of the Sabbaths in the four hundred ninety years in which the land was denied its Sabbaths (
Lev 26:33-
Lev 26:35). MAURER translates it "ruin." But English Version better expresses the point of their "mocking," namely, their involuntary "Sabbaths," that is, the cessation of all national movements. A fourth line is added in this stanza, whereas in all the others there are but three. So in
Lam 2:19.
8 (
1Kgs 8:46).
is removed--as a woman separated from the congregation of God for legal impurity, which is a type of moral impurity. So
Lam 1:17;
Lev 12:2;
Lev 15:19, &c.
her nakedness--They have treated her as contumeliously as courtesans from whom their clothes are stripped.
turneth backward--as modest women do from shame, that is, she is cast down from all hope of restoration [CALVIN].
9 Continuation of the image in
Lam 1:8. Her ignominy and misery cannot be concealed but are apparent to all, as if a woman were suffering under such a flow as to reach the end of her skirts.
remembereth not . . . last end-- (
Deut 32:29;
Isa 47:7). She forgot how fatal must be the end of her iniquity. Or, as the words following imply: She, in despair, cannot lift herself up to lay hold of God's promises as to her "latter end" [CALVIN].
wonderfully--Hebrew, "wonders," that is, with amazing dejection.
O Lord, behold--Judah here breaks in, speaking for herself.
for the enemy hath magnified himself--What might seem ground for despair, the elated insulting of the enemy, is rather ground for good hope.
10 for--surely she hath seen, &c.
heathen . . . command . . . not enter . . . congregation--for instance, the Ammonites and Moabites (
Deut 23:3;
Neh 13:1-
Neh 13:2). If the heathen, as such, were not allowed to enter the sanctuary for worship, much less were they allowed to enter in order to rob and destroy.
11 (
Jer 37:21;
Jer 38:9;
Jer 52:6).
given . . . pleasant things for meat-- (
2Kgs 6:25;
Job 2:4).
relieve . . . soul--literally, "to cause the soul or life to return."
for I am become vile--Her sins and consequent sorrows are made the plea in craving God's mercy. Compare the like plea in
Ps 25:11.
12 The pathetic appeal of Jerusalem, not only to her neighbors, but even to the strangers "passing by," as her sorrow is such as should excite the compassion even of those unconnected with her. She here prefigures Christ, whom the language is prophetically made to suit, more than Jerusalem. Compare Israel, that is, Messiah,
Isa 49:3. Compare with "pass by,"
Matt 27:39;
Mark 15:29. As to Jerusalem,
Dan 9:12. M AURER, from the Arabic idiom, translates, "do not go off on your way," that is, stop, whoever ye are that pass by. English Version is simpler.
13 bones--a fire which not only consumes the skin and flesh, but penetrates even to my "bones" (that is, my vital powers).
prevaileth against--not as ROSENMULLER, "He (Jehovah) hath broken them"; a sense not in the Hebrew.
net-- (
Ezek 12:13); image from hunting wild beasts. He has so entangled me in His judgments that I cannot escape.
turned me back--so that I cannot go forward and get free from His meshes.
14 yoke . . . is bound by his hand-- (
Deut 28:48). Metaphor from husbandmen, who, after they have bound the yoke to the neck of oxen, hold the rein firmly twisted round the hand. Thus the translation will be, "in His hand." Or else, "the yoke of my transgressions" (that is, of punishment for my transgressions) is held so fast fixed on me "by" God, that there is no loosening of it; thus English Version, "by His hand."
wreathed--My sins are like the withes entwined about the neck to fasten the yoke to.
into their hands, from whom--into the hands of those, from whom, &c. MAURER translates, "before whom I am not able to stand."
15 trodden, &c.--MAURER, from Syriac root, translates, "cast away"; so
2Kgs 23:27. But
Ps 119:118, supports English Version.
in . . . midst of me--They fell not on the battlefield, but in the heart of the city; a sign of the divine wrath.
assembly--the collected forces of Babylon; a very different "assembly" from the solemn ones which once met at Jerusalem on the great feasts. The Hebrew means, literally, such a solemn "assembly" or feast (compare
Lam 2:22).
trodden . . . virgin . . . in a wine-press--hath forced her blood to burst forth, as the red wine from the grapes trodden in the press (
Isa 63:3;
Rev 14:19-
Rev 14:20;
Rev 19:15).
16 (
Jer 13:17;
Jer 14:17). Jerusalem is the speaker.
mine eye, mine eye--so
Lam 4:18, "our end . . . our end"; repetition for emphasis.
17 Like a woman in labor-throes (
Jer 4:31).
menstruous woman--held unclean, and shunned by all; separated from her husband and from the temple (compare
Lam 1:8;
Lev 14:19, &c.).
18 The sure sign of repentance; justifying God, condemning herself (
Neh 9:33;
Ps 51:4;
Dan 9:7-
Dan 9:14).
his commandment--literally, "mouth"; His word in the mouth of the prophets.
19 lovers-- (
Lam 1:2;
Jer 30:14).
elders--in dignity, not merely age.
sought . . . meat--Their dignity did not exempt them from having to go and seek bread (
Lam 1:11).
20 bowels . . . troubled-- (
Job 30:27;
Isa 16:11;
Jer 4:19;
Jer 31:20). Extreme mental distress affects the bowels and the whole internal frame.
heart . . . turned-- (
Hos 11:8); is agitated or fluttered.
abroad . . . sword . . . at home . . . as death-- (
Deut 32:25;
Ezek 7:15). The "as" does not modify, but intensifies. "Abroad the sword bereaveth, at home as it were death itself" (personified), in the form of famine and pestilence (
2Kgs 25:3;
Jer 14:18;
Jer 52:6). So
Hab 2:5, "as death" [MICHAELIS].
21 they are glad that thou hast done it--because they thought that therefore Judah is irretrievably ruined (
Jer 40:3).
the day . . . called--(but) thou wilt bring on them the day of calamity which thou hast announced, namely, by the prophets (Jer. 50:1-46;
Jer 48:27).
like . . . me--in calamities (
Ps 137:8-
Ps 137:9;
Jer 51:25, &c.).
22 Such prayers against foes are lawful, if the foe be an enemy of God, and if our concern be not for our own personal feeling, but for the glory of God and the welfare of His people.
come before thee--so
Rev 16:19, "Babylon came in remembrance before God" (compare
Ps 109:15).