Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

Judah has gone into exile under affliction and harsh slavery; she dwells among the nations but finds no place to rest.

“(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 34:8-22).”

In the days of her affliction and wandering Jerusalem remembers all the treasures that were hers in days of old.

“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.”

Jerusalem has sinned greatly; therefore she has become an object of scorn.

“(1Ki 8:46). is removed--as a woman separated from the congregation of God for legal impurity, which is a type of moral impurity. 15:19, &c. her nakedness--They have treated her as contumeliously as courtesans from whom their clothes are stripped.”

Her uncleanness stains her skirts; she did not consider her end. Her downfall was astounding; there was no one to comfort her.

“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.”

Is this nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look around and see!

“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.”

He sent fire from on high, and it overpowered my bones. He spread a net for my feet and turned me back.

“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-- (Eze 12:13); image from hunting wild beasts.”

My transgressions are bound into a yoke, knit together by His hand; they are draped over my neck, and the Lord has broken my strength.

“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."”

The Lord has rejected all the mighty men in my midst; He has summoned an army against me to crush my young warriors.

“The Hebrew means, literally, such a solemn "assembly" or feast (compare La 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;”

The LORD is righteous, for I have rebelled against His command. Listen, all you people; look upon my suffering. My young men and maidens have gone into captivity.

“The sure sign of repentance; justifying God, condemning herself (Ne 9:33; Da 9:7-14). his commandment--literally, "mouth"; His word in the mouth of the prophets.”

Let all their wickedness come before You, and deal with them as You have dealt with me because of all my transgressions.

“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.”

How the Lord has covered the Daughter of Zion with the cloud of His anger! He has cast the glory of Israel from heaven to earth.

“64:11). his footstool--the ark (compare 1Ch 28:2, with Ps 99:5; They once had gloried more in the ark than in the God whose symbol it was; they now feel it was but His "footstool," yet that it had been a great glory to them that…”

The elders of the Daughter of Zion sit on the ground in silence. They have thrown dust on their heads and put on sackcloth.

“The "elders," by their example, would draw the others to violent grief. the virgins--who usually are so anxious to set off their personal appearances to advantage.”

The visions of your prophets were empty and deceptive; they did not expose your guilt to ward off your captivity. The burdens they envisioned for you were empty and misleading.

“Literally, "They have not taken off (the veil) which was on thine iniquity, so as to set it before thee." burdens--Their prophecies were soothing and flattering; but the result of them was heavy calamities to the people, worse than even what the prophecies of Jeremiah…”

The hearts of the people cry out to the Lord. O wall of the Daughter of Zion, let your tears run down like a river day and night.

“"Their heart," that is, the Jews'; while their heart is lifted up to the Lord in prayer, their speech is addressed to the "wall" (the part being put for the whole city). let tears, &c.-- (Jer 14:17).”

I am a laughingstock to all my people; they mock me in song all day long.

“Jeremiah herein was a type of Messiah. "All my people" (Joh 1:11).”

Let him sit alone in silence, for God has disciplined him. Let him bury his face in the dust—perhaps there is still hope.

“He does not fight against the yoke (Jer 31:18; Ac 9:5), but accommodates himself to it. alone--The heathen applauded magnanimity, but they looked to display and the praise of men.”

Let him bury his face in the dust—perhaps there is still hope.

“The mouth in the dust is the attitude of suppliant and humble submission to God's dealings as righteous and loving in design (compare Ezr 9:6; 1Co 14:25).”

For He does not willingly afflict or grieve the sons of men.

“He does not afflict any willingly (literally, "from His heart," that is, as if He had any pleasure in it, Eze 33:11), much less the godly (Heb 12:10).”

To crush underfoot all the prisoners of the land, to deny a man justice before the Most High, to subvert a man in his lawsuit—of these the Lord does not…

“This triplet has an infinitive in the beginning of each verse, the governing finite verb being in the end of La 3:36, "the Lord approveth not," which is to be repeated in each verse.”

Why should any mortal man complain, in view of his sins?

“If sin were punished as it deserves, life itself would be forfeited by the sinner. "Complaining" (murmuring) ill becomes him who enjoys such a favor as life (Pr 19:3).”

You heard my plea: “Do not ignore my cry for relief.”

“Thou hast heard--namely formerly (so in La 3:57, 58). breathing . . . cry--two kinds of prayer; the sigh of a prayer silently breathed forth, and the loud, earnest cry (compare "prayer," "secret speech," Isa 26:16, Margin; with "cry aloud," Ps 55:17).”

Her dignitaries were brighter than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies were more ruddy than rubies, their appearance like sapphires.

“God's blessing formerly caused their body not to be the less fair and ruddy for their abstinence from strong drink. Compare the similar case of Daniel, &c. Type of Messiah (So 5:10).”

The kings of the earth did not believe, nor any people of the world, that an enemy or a foe could enter the gates of Jerusalem.

“Jerusalem was so fortified that all thought it impregnable. It therefore could only have been the hand of God, not the force of man, which overthrew it.”

The presence of the LORD has scattered them; He regards them no more. The priests are shown no honor; the elders find no favor.

“Ain and Pe are here transposed (La 4:16, 17), as in La 2:16, 17; 3:46-51. anger--literally, "face"; it is the countenance which, by its expression, manifests anger (Ps 34:16). GESENIUS translates, "the person of Jehovah";”

Those who chased us were swifter than the eagles in the sky; they pursued us over the mountains and ambushed us in the wilderness.

“The last times just before the taking of the city. There was no place of escape; the foe intercepted those wishing to escape from the famine-stricken city, "on the mountains and in the wilderness." swifter . . . than . . .”