Lamentations 2:17-22

17 The LORD has 1done what He purposed; He has accomplished His word Which He commanded from days of old. He has thrown down 2without sparing, And He has caused the enemy to 3rejoice over you; He has 4exalted the might of your adversaries.
18 Their 5heart cried out to the Lord, "O 6wall of the daughter of Zion, Let your 7tears run down like a river day and night; Give yourself no relief, Let your eyes have no rest.
19 "Arise, cry aloud in the 8night At the beginning of the night watches; 9Pour out your heart like water Before the presence of the Lord; Lift up your hands to Him For the 10life of your little ones Who are 11faint because of hunger At the head of every street."
20 See, O LORD, and look! With 12whom have You dealt thus? Should women 13eat their offspring, The little ones who were born healthy? Should 14priest and prophet be slain In the sanctuary of the Lord?
21 On the ground in the streets Lie 15young and old; My 16virgins and my young men Have fallen by the sword. You have slain them in the day of Your anger, You have slaughtered, 17not sparing.
22 You called as in the day of an appointed feast My 18terrors on every side; And there was 19no one who escaped or survived In the day of the LORD'S anger. Those 20whom I bore and reared, My enemy annihilated them.

Lamentations 2:17-22 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO LAMENTATIONS 2

This chapter contains another alphabet, in which the Prophet Jeremiah, or those he represents, lament the sad condition of Jerusalem; the destruction of the city and temple, and of all persons and things relative to them, and to its civil or church state; and that as being from the hand of the Lord himself, who is represented all along as the author thereof, because of their sins, La 2:1-9; and then the elders and virgins of Zion are represented as in great distress, and weeping for those desolations; which were very much owing to the false prophets, that had deceived them, La 2:10-14; and all this occasioned great rejoicing in the enemies of Zion, La 2:15-17; but sorrow of heart to Zion herself, who is called to weeping, La 2:18,19; and the chapter is concluded with an address to the Lord, to take this her sorrowful case into consideration, and show pity and compassion, La 2:20-22.

Cross References 20

  • 1. Jeremiah 4:28
  • 2. Lamentations 2:1, 2; Ezekiel 5:11; Ezekiel 7:8, 9; Ezekiel 8:18
  • 3. Psalms 35:24, 26; Psalms 89:42; Isaiah 14:29
  • 4. Deuteronomy 28:43, 44; Lamentations 1:5
  • 5. Psalms 119:145; Hosea 7:14
  • 6. Lamentations 2:8; Habakkuk 2:11
  • 7. Psalms 119:136; Jeremiah 9:1; Lamentations 1:2, 16; Lamentations 3:48, 49
  • 8. Psalms 42:3; Isaiah 26:9
  • 9. 1 Samuel 1:15; Psalms 42:4; Psalms 62:8
  • 10. Lamentations 2:11
  • 11. Isaiah 51:20
  • 12. Exodus 32:11; Deuteronomy 9:26
  • 13. Jeremiah 19:9; Lamentations 4:10
  • 14. Psalms 78:64; Jeremiah 14:15; Jeremiah 23:11, 12
  • 15. 2 Chronicles 36:17; Jeremiah 6:11
  • 16. Psalms 78:62, 63
  • 17. Jeremiah 13:14; Zechariah 11:6
  • 18. Psalms 31:13; Isaiah 24:17; Jeremiah 6:25
  • 19. Jeremiah 11:11
  • 20. Jeremiah 16:2-4; Jeremiah 44:7

Footnotes 5

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