Ch. Lamentations 5:1-18. A pathetic enumeration of the insults heaped on Zion because of her sins

1. This final poem, although its vv. are equal in number with the letters of the Heb. alphabet, yet does not, like its predecessors, adhere to any rule as to the initial letters. “Rhyme takes the place of the alphabetical structure, the poem having not less than 45 words ending in the sound u. Cp. Psalms 124” (Dummelow). Like ch. 4, as against ch. 3, each v. is made up of two, not three, members. Neither is it written in the Ḳinah rhythm. For the question of its date see Intr., p. 326. The poet (Lamentations 5:1) calls upon Jehovah to regard the ignominy which has befallen His people, describes (Lamentations 5:2-4) the misery which exists in the land, and (Lamentations 5:5-6) the persecutions inflicted on them from without. He tells (Lamentations 5:7-10) of the privations endured by his people, and (Lamentations 5:11-14) of the indignities perpetrated at and after the capture of the city, and, as the last element in the picture (Lamentations 5:15-18), the universal and hopeless depression. The description terminates (Lamentations 5:19-22) in an appeal for Jehovah’s help, grounded upon the thought of His abiding omnipotence.

2. Our inheritance] our land, forfeited to the conquerors.

3. orphans and fatherless] the fathers being in exile and the mothers thus “as widows,” without protection.

4. The bitterness of their captive state is shewn by the fact that they, the rightful owners, were compelled to buy from the enemy who had come into possession the commonest necessaries of life.

is sold] lit. as mg. cometh for price.

5. Our pursuers are upon our necks] The expression is a strange one, as applied to those remaining in the land. Since in the original the consonants of “upon” are identical with those for “yoke,” we may either substitute the latter for the former (so Ball), rendering the yoke of our neck, and altering “our pursuers” to they made heavy, or, with this latter change consider that both words (“yoke” and “upon”) were originally in the Heb. text, The yoke on our neck they have made heavy. This latter rendering is mentioned by Löhr, and favoured by Pe.

6. Not only are they subject to privations at home, but they have been driven by them into servitude abroad. Hosea 7:11 also combines Egypt and Assyria. The distance of the latter has caused it to be suspected here. Ball, with some slight changes in MT., eliminates both the proper names, and renders, To adversaries we submitted, Saying we shall be satisfied with bread. He also transposes this with Lamentations 5:5.

the Assyrians] As the traditional foes of Israel, their name survives in this passage, although their Empire had been succeeded by that of Babylon. Cp. Ezra 6:22 for this use of the word Assyria even in Persian times. For “we have given the hand” see mg. of Jeremiah 50:15.

7. we have borne their iniquities] See on Jeremiah 31:29. The children, who, however, it must be acknowledged (see Lamentations 5:16) shared the guilt of preceding generations, have to bear the penalty escaped by their forbears.

8. Servants rule] The reference may be to cases where slaves actually rose to positions of authority. Cp. Tobiah in Nehemiah 2:10; Nehemiah 2:19. Budde suggests that such persons may have seized upon property (cp. Habakkuk 1:6) and forced the Jews to earn their bread under them as day-labourers.

9. We get our bread] The reference is to the bands of wild Arabs (Bedaween), who plundered them as they ventured from the shelter of the city to reap the harvest or to tend the cattle or sheep of their masters.

the sword of the wilderness] a unique expression in O.T. For the sense see last note. A suggestion, involving only changes of vocalisation and of one consonant (ûmiddeber instead of hammidbar), is to read for “of the wilderness” and because of pestilence. Cp. Jeremiah 14:12; Jeremiah 21:7; Jeremiah 27:13; Jeremiah 34:17 (Stade, ZATW, xv. p. 285). But pestilence has no proper place in this context. Enc. Bibl. (2700) suggests Arabian for “sword” (‘ărâb for ḥereb).

10. The feverishness and wasting brought on by hunger is meant.

black] or as mg. hot.

11, 12. We notice the sudden harking back to incidents connected immediately with the capture of the city.

12. The reference may either be to impalement after death, or to torture in order, as Pe. suggests, to obtain information as to hidden treasure. Both death by crucifixion and subsequent impalement were regarded with the utmost abhorrence by the Jews. For the former see Deuteronomy 21:23.

13. Tenderness of age did not secure against the most oppressive and menial of labours.

14. from the gate] the place of social enjoyment and conversation, answering to our clubs and other places of entertainment. See on Jeremiah 14:2.

16. The crown is fallen from our head] Our honour is brought to the dust.

18. foxes] mg. jackals. The words imply that a considerable time has passed since the overthrow of the Temple.

19. abidest] mg. sittest as king. Cp. Psalm 102:12.

19–22. See intr. note to ch.

20. Since this is so, why is Israel left desolate?

21. Turn thou us …] suggestive of Jeremiah 31:18, but see note there. Here the sense is not, bring back the exiles, but give us a repentant heart. Cp. Psalm 80:3 ff.

22. But, etc.] better as mg., Unless thou … and art, etc. The whole sentence is an hypothesis not to be accepted as fact. God’s anger cannot last for ever, and thus there is yet hope.

Although the Book does in fact close with the language of hope, that is so little apparent on the first reading that in the synagogues Lamentations 5:21 was repeated at the end, that its words might thus be the last to fall upon the ear. A similar expedient is used in the case of Ecclesiastes, Isaiah, Malachi. See note on Jeremiah 52:34.