Lamentations 2:1-3

1 How the Lord has covered Daughter Zion with the cloud of his anger^[a] ! He has hurled down the splendor of Israel from heaven to earth; he has not remembered his footstool in the day of his anger.

2 Without pity the Lord has swallowed up all the dwellings of Jacob; in his wrath he has torn down the strongholds of Daughter Judah. He has brought her kingdom and its princes down to the ground in dishonor.

3 In fierce anger he has cut off every horn^[b][c] of Israel. He has withdrawn his right hand at the approach of the enemy. He has burned in Jacob like a flaming fire that consumes everything around it.

Lamentations 2:1-3 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

• 1. Lamentations 3:44
• 2. Psalms 99:5; Psalms 132:7
• 3. S Jeremiah 12:7
• 4. ver 17; Lamentations 3:43
• 5. Psalms 21:9
• 6. Psalms 89:39-40; Micah 5:11
• 7. S Isaiah 25:12
• 8. Psalms 75:5,10
• 9. Psalms 74:11
• 10. S Isaiah 42:25; Jer 21:4-5,14

Footnotes

• [a] Or "How the Lord in his anger" / "has treated Daughter Zion with contempt"
• [b] Or "off" / "all the strength" ; or "every king"
• [c] "Horn" here symbolizes strength.