Lamentations 2
2
The Lord Became like an Enemy
1The Lord was so angry that he
shrouded the daughter of Zion with shame.
He hurled down to the ground
the splendor of Israel. # 2:1 The “splendor of Israel” is likely a reference to the favor, glory, beauty, and prestige of Jerusalem and the temple. One distinguished Jewish scholar of the Middle Ages, Ibn Ezra, translated this: “Yahweh raised Zion up to the clouds and now has cast her down.” See Commentary on the Five Megillos.
He disregarded his footstool # 2:1 Yahweh’s “footstool” is likely a reference to the temple, where the ark was kept (see 1 Chron. 28:2; Ezek. 43:7). The Hebrew word for “footstool” has a homonym that means “the blood.”
on the day of his anger.
2The Lord has swallowed up without mercy
all the homes of Jacob’s descendants.
In his fury, he tore down
the fortresses of Daughter Judah.
He threw to the ground and brought disgrace
to the kingdom of Judah and her leaders.
3In his burning anger, # 2:3 Yahweh’s anger was a release of justice, not an impulsive response.
he shattered all the might # 2:3 Or “horn,” a symbol of might and kingly authority. of Israel
as her enemies approached.
He raged among his people like a flaming fire,
which consumes everything near it.
4He bent his bow like an enemy # 2:4 Or “He stepped into the bow.” Mighty archers would use their feet to bend the bow.
and clenched his fist like a foe. # 2:4 See Jer. 12:7; 30:14.
Like an enemy, he slaughtered
all his pride and joy. # 2:4 That is, those he loved the most.
He poured out his fury like fire
on the temple of beloved Jerusalem. # 2:4 Or “the tent of the daughter of Zion.”
5The Lord became our enemy;
he destroyed # 2:5 Or “swallowed up.” Israel.
He devastated all her palaces
and ruined her strongholds.
He has multiplied weeping and wailing
for Daughter Judah.
6He wrecked his temple like a vineyard shack # 2:6 Or “like a thief.” The Hebrew is ambiguous.
and utterly destroyed his meeting place.
Yahweh erased the memory in Zion
of his appointed feasts and Sabbaths.
In the heat of his anger,
he spurned both king and priest.
7The Lord has rejected his own altar
and disowned his sanctuary.
He has given the walls of her fortresses
to her enemies.
When the enemy toppled Yahweh’s temple,
they shouted for joy like it was a festival day.
8Yahweh was determined to destroy
the walls of beloved Zion.
As builders draw a straight line to build a wall,
he stretched out the line of judgment to break down her walls.
He caused her walls and towers to mourn,
as they tumbled to the ground.
9Her gates have collapsed to the ground;
he has wrecked and shattered their bars.
Her king and leaders are captives among the gentiles,
and instruction # 2:9 Torah has the broader meaning of “instruction” or “teaching.” See Jer. 18:18; Ezek. 7:26. from the Torah scrolls is no more.
Her prophets, too,
receive no vision from Yahweh. # 2:9 The prophets had no revelation to share, which implies that the norm would be for prophets to hear from God for a nation.
10The elders of beloved Zion
sit mute on the ground.
They have thrown dust on their heads
and put on sackcloth.
The young virgins of Jerusalem
bow their heads in sorrow to the ground.
11My eyes have no tears left,
and my stomach is tied in knots. # 2:11 Or “my gut is boiling [churning].”
My heart # 2:11 Or “My liver.” is spilled out into the dirt
over the destruction of the daughter of my people.
Little toddlers and children collapse
in the streets of the city.
12They keep saying,
“Mommy, I’m hungry,” # 2:12 Or “Where is grain and wine?” Both grain and wine are easy to store in a siege. But even these two things have run out.
as they faint like wounded men
in the city streets.
Their souls trickle away, and they breathe their last
in the embrace of their mothers.
13With what can I compare you?
What can I say to you, beloved Jerusalem?
To what can I liken you, in order to comfort you,
fair Zion? # 2:13 Or “virgin daughter of Zion.”
For your wound is as deep as the sea.
Who can heal you? # 2:13 The Midrash, an ancient commentary on the Scriptures, points out the mention of the “sea” as a reference to the Red Sea: “He to whom you uttered a song at the Red Sea will heal you.” As Yahweh miraculously led his people across the vastness of the Red Sea, so he is also able to heal his people.
14The visions your prophets saw for you
were false and deceptive whitewash. # 2:14 Or “The visions your prophets saw for you are now shattered and mere whitewashing on walls.” See Ezek. 13:10; 22:28; Matt. 23:27; Acts 23:3 and footnote.
They neither exposed your guilt
nor brought you back in repentance. # 2:14 Or “They did not expose your guilt in order to avoid captivity [restore your fortunes].” The translation “brought you back in repentance” is taken from the Targum and follows other ancient Jewish translations.
The false visions they told you
were nothing but delusions.
15All who pass your way
applaud in mockery.
They wag their heads with contempt,
saying over beloved Jerusalem,
“Is this really the city called The Perfection of Beauty, # 2:15 This name for the city is taken from Ps. 50:2.
The Joy of All the Earth?” # 2:15 This name for the city is taken from Ps. 48:2.
16Your enemies are a choir
of scoffers and scolders.
They hatefully sneer and glare at you. # 2:16 Or “All your enemies rail against you; they hiss, they gnash their teeth.”
They gleefully exclaim, “We have destroyed her.
This is the day we’ve been waiting for,
and now we have lived to see it!”
17Yahweh has done everything he planned
and has carried out his word. # 2:17 Yahweh had warned his people countless times of the consequences of their unfaithfulness (see Deut. 28:49–68; 1 Kings 9:6–9). His anger toward his people was not wanton rage but his release of justice. Every promise of God can be trusted, even his promise to punish evildoers.
As he ordained long ago,
he has destroyed without pity.
He increased the power # 2:17 Or “horn.” of your foes
and caused your enemies to rejoice over you.
18Beloved Zion, let your walls wail
and your heart cry out to Yahweh.
Let a waterfall of tears # 2:18 The Hebrew is singular, “tear.” The implication is that each tear should be like a river. flow
day and night.
Give your eyes # 2:18 Or “the daughter of your eye.” This expression is presented in some translations of Ps. 17:8 and Zech. 2:8 as the “apple of the eye,” which has the meaning “pupil of the eye.” no rest;
let tears keep streaming from your eyes.
19Arise, cry aloud through the night
as each watch begins.
Pour your heart out like water
before the presence of Yahweh.
Raise your hands toward him;
intercede for the lives of your children,
who faint with hunger
on every street corner.
20“Look, Yahweh, and please consider.
Whom have you ever treated this way?
Should women eat their offspring,
the little ones they have nursed?
Should priests and prophets be slaughtered
in the Lord’s sanctuary?
21“Both children and the elderly alike
are lying dead in the dusty streets.
My young men and maidens
have both fallen by the sword.
You have killed them on the day of your anger;
you slaughtered them without mercy.
22“You invited terror as if to a festival,
to attack me from all sides.
On the day of Yahweh’s anger,
none escaped and none survived.
All whom I cherished and reared
have been annihilated by the enemy.”
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Lamentations 2: TPT
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