Lamentations 2:20-22

20 “Look, LORD, and consider: Whom have you ever treated like this? Should women eat their offspring, the children they have cared for? Should priest and prophet be killed in the sanctuary of the Lord?
21 “Young and old lie together in the dust of the streets; my young men and young women have fallen by the sword. You have slain them in the day of your anger; you have slaughtered them without pity.
22 “As you summon to a feast day, so you summoned against me terrors on every side. In the day of the LORD’s anger no one escaped or survived; those I cared for and reared my enemy has destroyed.”

Lamentations 2:20-22 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 9

  • 1. S Deuteronomy 28:53; Jeremiah 19:9; Ezekiel 5:10
  • 2. Lamentations 4:10
  • 3. Psalms 78:64; S Jeremiah 14:15; Jeremiah 23:11-12
  • 4. S Lamentations 1:19
  • 5. S Deuteronomy 32:25; S 2 Chronicles 36:17; Psalms 78:62-63; Jeremiah 6:11
  • 6. S Jeremiah 13:14; Lamentations 3:43; Zechariah 11:6
  • 7. S Psalms 31:13; Jeremiah 6:25; S Jeremiah 20:10
  • 8. S Jeremiah 11:11
  • 9. Job 27:14; Hosea 9:13
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