Ekhah 5:12

12 Sarim (princes) are hanged by their yad; the faces of Zekenim were not respected.

Ekhah 5:12 Meaning and Commentary

Lamentations 5:12

Princes are hanged up by their hand
According to some, as Aben Ezra observes, by the hand of the servants before mentioned; however, by the hand of the Chaldeans or Babylonians; see ( Jeremiah 52:10 ) . Some understand it of their own hands, as if they laid violent hands upon themselves, not being able to bear the hardships and disgrace they were subjected to but I should rather think this is to be understood of hanging them, not by the neck, but by the hand, could any instance be given of such a kind of punishment so early used, and by this people; which has been in other nations, and in more modern times: the faces of elders were not honoured;
no reverence or respect were shown to elders in age or office, or on account of either; but were treated with rudeness and contempt.

Ekhah 5:12 In-Context

10 Our skin was hot like an oven because we burn with ra’av (hunger, famine).

11 They ravished the nashim in Tziyon, and the betulot in the towns of Yehudah.

12 Sarim (princes) are hanged by their yad; the faces of Zekenim were not respected.

13 They took the bochurim to grind, and the ne’arim staggered under the wood.

14 The zekenim have ceased from the sha’ar, the bochurim from their music.