14. Thy prophets--not God's ([Jr 23:26]).
vain ... for thee--to gratify thy appetite, not for truth, but for false things.
not discovered thine iniquity--in opposition to God's command to the true prophets ([Is 58:1]). Literally, "They have not taken off (the veil) which was on thine iniquity, so as to set it before thee."
burdens--Their prophecies were soothing and flattering; but the result of them was heavy calamities to the people, worse than even what the prophecies of Jeremiah, which they in derision called "burdens," threatened. Hence he terms their pretended prophecies "false burdens," which proved to the Jews "causes of their banishment" [Calvin].
Samech.
15. clap ... hands--in derision ([Job 27:23]; ).
wag ... head--([2Ki 19:21]; [Psa 44:14]).
perfection of beauty ... joy of ... earth--([Psa 48:2]; ). The Jews' enemies quote their very words in scorn.
Pe.
16-17. For the transposition of Hebrew letters (Pe and Ain, [La 2:16], ) in the order of verses, see Introduction.
opened ... mouth--as ravening, roaring wild beasts ([Job 16:9], ; [Psa 22:13]). Herein Jerusalem was a type of Messiah.
gnash ... teeth--in vindictive malice.
we have seen it--([Psa 35:21]).
Ain.
18. wall--([La 2:8]). Personified. "Their heart," that is, the Jews'; while their heart is lifted up to the Lord in prayer, their speech is addressed to the "wall" (the part being put for the whole city).
let tears, &c.--([Jr 14:17]). The wall is called on to weep for its own ruin and that of the city. Compare the similar personification ([La 1:4]).
apple--the pupil of the eye ([Psa 17:8]).
Koph.
19. cry ... in ... night--([Psa 119:147]).
beginning of ... watches--that is, the first of the three equal divisions (four hours each) into which the ancient Jews divided the night; namely, from sunset to ten o'clock. The second was called "the middle watch" ([Jud 7:19]), from ten till two o'clock. The third, "the morning watch," from two to sunrise ([Ex 14:24]; [1Sa 11:11]). Afterwards, under the Romans, they had four watches ([Mt 14:25]; [Lu 12:38]).
for ... thy ... children--that God, if He will not spare thee, may at least preserve "thy young children."
top of ... street--([Is 51:20]; [Na 3:10]).
Resh.
20. women eat ... fruit--as threatened ([Le 26:29]; [De 28:53], 56, 57; [Jr 19:9]).
children ... span long--or else, "children whom they carry in their arms" [Maurer].
Schin.
21. ([2Ch 36:17]).
Tau.
22. Thou hast called as in ... solemn day ... terrors--Thou hast summoned my enemies against me from all quarters, just as multitudes used to be convened to Jerusalem, on the solemn feast days. The objects, for which the enemies and the festal multitude respectively met, formed a sad contrast. Compare [La 1:15]: "called an assembly against me."
Chapter (elegy) 3
[La 3:1-66].
Jeremiah proposes his own experience under afflictions, as an example as to how the Jews should behave under theirs, so as to have hope of a restoration; hence the change from singular to plural ([La 3:22], ). The stanzas consist of three lines, each of which begins with the same Hebrew letter.
Aleph.
1-3. seen affliction--his own in the dungeon of Malchiah ([Jr 38:6]); that of his countrymen also in the siege. Both were types of that of Christ.
4-6. ([Job 16:8]).
7-9. hedged--([Job 3:23]; [Ho 2:6]).
chain--literally, "chain of brass."
10-13. ([Job 10:16]; [Ho 13:7], ).
16-18. gravel--referring to the grit that often mixes with bread baked in ashes, as is the custom of baking in the East ([Pr 20:17]). We fare as hardly as those who eat such bread. The same allusion is in "Covered me with ashes," namely, as bread.
19-21. This gives the reason why he gave way to the temptation to despair. The Margin, "Remember" does not suit the sense so well.
wormwood ... gall--([Jr 9:15]).
22-24. (Mal 3:6).
25-27. The repetition of "good" at the beginning of each of the three verses heightens the effect.
wait--([Is 30:18]).
28-30. The fruit of true docility and patience. He does not fight against the yoke ([Jr 31:18]; [Ac 9:5]), but accommodates himself to it.