Lamentations 4:12

12 Kings of the earth and people of the world could not believe that enemies and foes could enter the gates of Jerusalem.

Lamentations 4:12 Meaning and Commentary

Lamentations 4:12

The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world,
&c.] Not only the neighbouring nations, and the kings of them, but even such in all parts of the world that knew anything of Jerusalem: would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy would have
entered into the gates of Jerusalem;
when it was besieging, they did not believe it would be taken; and when they heard it was, it was incredible to them; it being so strongly fortified by art and nature, with mountains and hills, with walls and bulwarks, and had such a vast number of people in it; and, especially, was the city of the great God, who had so often and so signally preserved and saved it: the "adversary" and "enemy" are the same, and design the Chaldeans. The Targum distinguishes them, and makes Nebuchadnezzar the ungodly to be the adversary; and Nebuzaradan the enemy, who entered to slay the people of the house of Israel, in the gates of Jerusalem; this was a marvellous thing to the nations round about. Titus, when he took this city, acknowledged it was owing to God F2;

``God (says he) favouring us, we fought; God is he that has drawn the Jews out of these fortresses; for human hands and machines could have done nothing against these towers.''

FOOTNOTES:

F2 Joseph. De Bello Jud. l. 6. c. 9. sect. 1.

Lamentations 4:12 In-Context

10 With their own hands kind women cook their own children. They became food when my people were destroyed.
11 The Lord turned loose all of his anger; he poured out his strong anger. He set fire to Jerusalem, burning it down to the foundations.
12 Kings of the earth and people of the world could not believe that enemies and foes could enter the gates of Jerusalem.
13 It happened because her prophets sinned and her priests did evil. They killed in the city those who did what was right.
14 They wandered in the streets as if they were blind. They were dirty with blood, so no one would touch their clothes.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.