Lamentaciones 2:15

15 Sámec: Todos los que pasaban por el camino, batieron las manos sobre ti. Silbaron, y movieron sus cabezas sobre la hija de Jerusalén, diciendo: ¿Es ésta la ciudad que decían de perfecta hermosura, el gozo de toda la tierra

Lamentaciones 2:15 Meaning and Commentary

Lamentations 2:15

All that pass by clap [their] hands at thee
Travellers that passed by, and saw Jerusalem in ruins, clapped their hands at it, by way of rejoicing, as well pleased at the sight. This must be understood, not of the inhabitants of the land, but of strangers, who had no good will to it; though they seem to be distinguished from their implacable enemies in ( Lamentations 2:16 ) : they hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem;
by way of scorn and derision; hereby expressing their contempt of her, and the pleasure and satisfaction they took in seeing her in this condition: [saying, is] this the city that [men] call the perfection of beauty,
the joy of the whole earth?
a complete city, a most beautiful one for its situation; for its fortifications by nature and art; for its spacious buildings, palaces, and towers; and especially for the magnificent temple in it, and the residence of the God of heaven there, and that pompous worship of him there performed; on account of all which, and the abundant blessings of goodness bestowed upon the inhabitants, they had reason to rejoice more than all the men of the world besides; as well as they contributed many ways to the good and happiness of all nations; this is what had been said by themselves, ( Psalms 48:2 ) ( 50:2 ) ; and had even been owned by others; by the forefathers of those very persons that now insult over it. So the Targum,

``is this the city which our fathers that were of old said? &c.''

nor do they by these words deny, but rather own, that it had been what was said of it; but now the case was otherwise; instead of being a perfect beauty, it was a perfect heap of rubbish; instead of being the joy of the whole earth, it was the offscouring of all things.

Lamentaciones 2:15 In-Context

13 Mem: ¿Qué testigo te traeré, o a quién te haré semejante, oh hija de Jerusalén? ¿A quién te compararé para consolarte, oh Virgen hija de Sion? Porque grande es tu quebrantamiento como el mar; ¿quién te medicará

14 Nun: Tus profetas te predicaron vanidad y locura; y no descubrieron tu iniquidad para estorbar tu cautiverio, sino que te predicaron vanas profecías y disgresiones

15 Sámec: Todos los que pasaban por el camino, batieron las manos sobre ti. Silbaron, y movieron sus cabezas sobre la hija de Jerusalén, diciendo: ¿Es ésta la ciudad que decían de perfecta hermosura, el gozo de toda la tierra

16 Pe: Todos tus enemigos abrieron sobre ti su boca; y silbaron, y rechinaron los dientes; dijeron: Devoremos; cierto este es el día que esperábamos; lo hemos hallado, lo hemos visto

17 Ayin: El SEÑOR hizo lo que determinó, cumplió su palabra que él había mandado desde tiempo antiguo; destruyó, y no perdonó; y alegró sobre ti al enemigo, y enalteció el cuerno de tus adversarios