Lamentações 1
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Lamentações 1
NJB (MT versing) The Sorrows of Zion Jerusalem In Affliction A Lament Over Zion The Sorrows of Jerusalem First Lamentation 1:1-22 (1-22) 1:1-11 (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) 1:1-22 (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) 1:1-22 (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) 1:1 Aleph 1:2 Bet 1:3 Gimel 1:4 Dalet 1:5 He 1:6 Waw 1:7 Zain 1:8 Het 1:9 Tet 1:10 Yod 1:11 Kaph 1:12-17 (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) 1:12 Lamed 1:13 Mem 1:14 Nun 1:15 Samek 1:16 Ain 1:17 Pe 1:18-22 (18) (19) (20) (21) (22) (18) (19) (20) (21) (22) (18) (19) (20) (21) (22) 1:18 Zade 1:19 Qoph 1:20 Resh 1:21 Shin 1:22 Taw Etc. CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS It is hard for us to even imagine the pain and confusion that the descendants of Abraham felt at the fall of Jerusalem, the destruction of the temple, and the exile of the Judean king. What about YHWH's promise of the covenant to Abraham, Genesis 12; 15; 22 Judah's kingship, Gen. 49:10 Moses' blessing, Deut. 33:26-29 David's descendant on the throne, 2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17 They had forgotten the conditional nature of YHWH's covenant promises/blessing (i.e. Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28). The "two ways" of Deut. 30:1,15,19; Psalm 1 are both a warning and a call to obedience. This chapter is a lament in 3/2 timing (i.e. funeral dirge). Notice how YHWH's people move from a numerous people, great among the nations, Lam. 1:1 to a widow and forced laborer, Lam. 1:1 (cf. v. 3b) Notice how her opponents are characterized. her lovers, Lam. 1:2,19 (i.e. political alliances) her friends, Lam. 1:2 her enemies, Lam. 1:2,5,10,16,21 her pursuers, Lam 1:3,6 her masters, Lam. 1:5 the adversary, Lam. 1:5,7 (twice), 17 The key theological affirmation is repeated often (cf. Lam. 1:5,8,12,13-15,17d,18,21). The fall of Jerusalem (and the temple) and the exile of her people were done by her YHWH (Lam. 1:5,12-15) because of her sin (cf. Jer. 3:22; Ezek. 39:23) All of this was not because of YHWH's weakness or oath-breaking, but His people's violation of His covenant (cf. Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 27-30). SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT REQUIREMENTS OF ISRAEL But there is hope in the character of YHWH. SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARACTERISTICS OF ISRAEL'S GOD (OT) SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARACTERISTICS OF ISRAEL'S GOD (NT) The references to lovers, Lam. 1:2 nakedness, Lam. 1:8 uncleanness of her skirts, Lam. 1:8 are all imagery of fertility worship. Israel had become idolatrous. SPECIAL TOPIC: FERTILITY WORSHIP OF THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST SPECIAL TOPIC: IDOLATRY SPECIAL TOPIC: CONSEQUENCES OF IDOLATRY
Lamentações 1:1-22
1:1 Notice the contrast of Jerusalem before and after. before (cf. Lam 1:7) full of people (Abrahamic promise, Gen. 15:5) great among the nations princes among the provinces after (cf. Lam 1:7) a widow forced laborer (cf. Isa. 31:8) ▣ "How" This (BDB 32) ADVERB often introduces laments, cf. Lam. 2:1; 4:1 (twice); also note Isa. 1:21; Jer. 2:21; 48:17. A slightly different spelling is used in 2 Sam. 1:19; Jer. 2:21; 9:19. ▣ "full of people" This could refer to those who lived in the city of Jerusalem year round those who came for feast days (Lam. 1:4) those from the surrounding villages who fled to the walled Jerusalem in time of invasion 1:2 "She weeps bitterly" This is an intense grammatical form (i.e. INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and IMPERFECT VERB of the same root, BDB 113, KB 129). The rabbis assert this is because of the loss of both the temple and Jerusalem (cf. Lam. 2:11,18; Jer. 9:1,18; 14:17). ▣ "She has none to comfort her" This was YHWH's task but now no one does it (cf. Lam. 1:2,9,16,17,21). ▣ "all her lovers" This refers to political alliances (some paid for), cf. Jer. 3:1,20; 22:20-23; 30:14; Ezek. 16:28-29,37-41; 23:5-19; Hosea 8:9-10. Political treaties cannot save a faithless nation of privileged knowledge and position. Judah's sins are all the more heinous because of her high standing (i.e. descendants of Abraham and David, cf. Rom. 9:2). 1:3 "Judah has gone into exile" This is referring to Nebuchadnezzar II's siege and destruction of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. He had conquered Judah earlier and deported many. elite leaders and families in 605 B.C. (i.e. Daniel) large number exiled in 597 B.C. (i.e. Ezekiel) major deportation at the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. everyone who could be found after the murder of the Neo-Babylonian appointed governor, Gedaliah, in 582 B.C. ▣ "she has found no rest" Often "rest" (BDB 629) is an idiom for dwelling safely in one's own land (cf. Deut. 28:65; see NT book of Hebrews, chapters 3-4). ▣ "distress" This is literally "narrow places," which is a Hebrew idiom for distress (i.e. Gen. 42:21; Deut. 4:30; 1 Sam. 26:24; 2 Sam. 4:9; 1 Kgs. 1:29; 2 Chr. 15:4; Job 15:24; 38:23; Ps. 66:14; 107:6,13,19,28; 119:143; Isa. 8:22; 25:4). The opposite Hebrew idiom for joy and freedom is "a wide place" (i.e. Ps. 4:1; 18:19; 31:8; 118:5). 1:4 "Zion" This name for one of the hills within the walls of Jerusalem and became the collective title for the whole city (i.e. Isa. 1:27; Jer. 3:14; Amos 6:1). For "daughter of Zion" see Lam. 1:6; 2 Kgs. 19:21. SPECIAL TOPIC: ZION ▣ "the appointed feasts" There were three required annual feasts which Jewish males were expected to attend. Passover Pentecost Tabernacles/Booths SPECIAL TOPIC: FEASTS OF ISRAEL ▣ "her gates" This represented a place of governance a place of justice a place of commerce a place denoting security ▣ "groaning" This root (BDB 58) is found five times in this chapter (i.e. Lam. 1:4,8,11,21,22), but nowhere else in Lamentations. This might be an evidence of several poems by different eyewitness authors, combined later to form Lamentations. See Introduction, "Authorship," ▣ "Her virgins" This could refer to cultic dancers (TEV, cf. Jdgs. 21:19-21; Jer. 31:4,13; Ps. 68:25) normal life of the city (i.e. marriages). All aspects of the normal life: justice worship commerce were affected. ▣ NASB, NKJV "afflicted" "grieve" "grief-stricken" RSV, LXX "dragged away" "unhappy" "groan" "humbled (raped)" This is a Niphal PARTICIPLE (BDB 387, KB 385). The Hiphil is used in Lam. 1:12; 3:32 and is translated "afflicted," "caused grief." The LXX slightly changed the Hebrew word to "dragged away" (RSV). See UBS Text Project, vol. 4, p. 333. It gives "afflicted" (MT) a "B" rating (some doubt). afflicted ‒ נוגות drag away ‒ נהוגות 1:5 See full note at Contextual Insights, E. ▣ "her masters" This is literally "head" (BDB 910). Here it is being used in Hebrew idiomatic language. Israel (i.e. God's people) was to be the "head," but now they are the tail (cf. Deut. 28:13,44) because of their rebellion and covenant faithlessness. SPECIAL TOPIC: HEAD 1:6 This verse's key VERB is "has departed" (BDB 422, KB 425, Qal IMPERFECT with waw). Judah's princes have deserted her and fled for the safety of the countryside. Judah's population has been exiled, her allies failed to show up, her worship leaders are in despair, her civil leaders have fled, her military is useless, her Temple is looted, and her children sold into slavery (or even eaten for food during the siege, Lam. 1:11)! ▣ "the daughter of Zion" This is collective imagery (also used in Jeremiah, cf. 2 Kgs. 19:21; Isa. 1:8; 16:1; 52:2; 62:11; Jer. 6:2,23; Lam. 2:13). Also note Lam. 1:5, "the virgin daughter of Judah." 1:7 "homelessness" "roaming" "wandering" "restlessness" "distress" "sorrow" "chastisement" "rejections" The MT (BDB 924, PLURAL) meaning "restlessness," but possibly "bitterness." restlessness ‒ ומךודיה bitterness ‒ ומרוךיה This involved the "d" - "r" confusion. Bitterness fits the Lam. 3:19 context better. ▣ "ruin" NKJV, NRSV, TEV, NJB, JPSOA "downfall" "her sabbaths" "being settled" "destruction" This NOUN (BDB 992) occurs only here. It is similar to "sabbath" (BDB 992); this is where the Vulgate gets its translation. BDB lists its meaning as "cessation" or "annihilation." The LXX misread the Hebrew VERB ("lease" to "dwell," BDB 442). 1:8 See note at Lam. 1:2d. ▣ NASB, NJB "an unclean thing" "vile" NRSV, JPSOA "mockery" "a filthy rag" "an abomination" This term (BDB 622, KB 696) is found only here. KB suggests "a shaking of the head," as a mocking gesture (see NIDOTTE, vol. 3, p. 53, #6). This would be a good parallel to "despise," which can also denote the shaking of the head (i.e. "mockery"). It is not the same as a similar root (BDB 622) in Lam. 1:17, "an unclean thing." ▣ "despise" This Hebrew root (BDB 272, KB 272) can mean make light of (see usage at Lam. 1:11) shake (idiom for "shake the head in contempt," cf. Jer. 18:16) ▣ "because they have seen her nakedness" The NOUN "nakedness" (BDB 788) can refer to literally ‒ exposed prisoners marched into Assyrian exile (cf. Isa. 20:4; also possibly Jer. 13:22,26; Nah. 3:5) figuratively ‒ shame of participation in fertility worship (i.e. idolatry, cf. Lam. 1:8-9; Ezek. 22:4,9-11; 23:29) ▣ "turns away" This is an idiom for shame (cf. Isa. 42:17) related to idolatry (cf. Ps. 97:7; Isa. 1:29; 44:9,11; 45:16). SPECIAL TOPIC: SHAME 1:9 "uncleanness was in her skirts" This refers to ceremonial pollution by menstrual flow (cf. Lev. 15:25,26,30; 18:19; Ezek. 36:17). Any bodily fluid which came out of the body made one ceremonially unclean. ▣ "fallen astonishingly" As the beginning of Israel was a miracle of God (i.e. Exodus), so too, the fall of Judah was an act of God! The word "astonishingly" (BDB 810) is PLURAL, denoting intensity. The people of God have fallen and have no Divine comforter! ▣ "See, O Lord" This IMPERATIVE marks a prayer of petition (cf. Lam. 1:11). "Lord" is the English translation of the covenant name for Israel's God, YHWH. SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, letter D. 1:10a "has stretched out his hand" This is an idiom of divine action. SPECIAL TOPIC: HAND 1:10b "all her precious things" This refers to the treasures of the temple (i.e. building ornaments, furniture, valuable stored items, cf. 2 Kgs. 25:13-17; 2 Chr. 36:10,19) which have been taken by pagans who should never have been in the temple area. The same root (BDB 326) is used in Lam. 1:11 (BDB 327) for a high price of bread during the siege and breach. ▣ The last two lines have been attributed to Deut. 23:3, but this text addresses only Ammonites and Moabites. It is best to see it as an allusion to a well known truth (or proverb) and not a specific quote. 1:11 "They have given their precious things for food" Since the Neo-Babylonian invaders would have stolen all the valuables as booty, what does "precious things" refer to? Because of the prophecy of Deut. 28:52-57 the references to eating their children in Lam. 2:20; 4:10 the historical texts of 2 Kgs. 6:28-29 It is possible it refers to cannibalism or the selling of the children into slavery, which at least gave them a chance for life (cf. Lam. 2:4; Hosea 9:16). ▣ "See, O Lord, and look" The personified Jerusalem calls out to YHWH in prayer to come to her rescue. Lam. 1:9, "see" ‒ BDB 906, KB 1157, Qal IMPERATIVE Lam. 1:11, "see. . .look" ‒ BDB 906, KB 661, Hiphil IMPERATIVE Lam. 1:12, "look" ‒ BDB 613, KB 661, Hiphil IMPERATIVE Lam. 1:12, �see� ‒ BDB 906, KB 1157, Qal IMPERATIVE The prayer is for YHWH to take notice but the problem is not His lack of attention, rather His close attention to Judah's rebellion! Now Jerusalem asks for mercy amidst YHWH's predicted judgment (i.e. Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28; 30:1,19). SPECIAL TOPIC: ANTHROPOMORPHIC LANGUAGE TO DESCRIBE GOD ▣ NASB, NJB, Peshitta "For I am despised" "For I am scorned" "how worthless I have become" "see me in my misery" "how cheap I am accounted" "How abject I have become" "that I have become one dishonored" The VERB (BDB 272, KB 272, Qal PARTICIPLE) can be understood in two ways. to be worthless or insignificant JPSOA's footnote, "or (ironically) what a glutton"; cf. Deut. 21:20; 23:20-21; Prov. 23:20-21. Note the NRSV and REB translations. 1:12 Personified Jerusalem seeks consolation from those who passed by and saw her humiliated condition (imaginative imagery). YHWH gives no sympathy so she seeks it elsewhere, but there is none to comfort. no one to help, Lam. 1:7,19 no one to comfort, Lam. 1:9,16,17,21 SPECIAL TOPIC: COMFORT ▣ "Which the Lord inflicted" This follows Lam. 1:8-9! YHWH is no longer Israel's defender; He is her punisher! Neo-Babylon is YHWH's chosen instrument (cf. Ezek. 12:13; 17:20; 19:1-14; 21:1-27). ▣ "the day of His fierce anger" Note Isa. 13:13; Joel 2:1; Amos 5:18; Obad. 15. SPECIAL TOPIC: THE PROBLEMS AND LIMITATIONS OF HUMAN LANGUAGE SPECIAL TOPIC: DAY OF THE LORD (NT) SPECIAL TOPIC: JUDGMENT IN THE NT 1:13-15 This is a personification of corporate Israel or Jerusalem, as in Lam. 1:1 and 11-22. 1:13 "fire" See SPECIAL TOPIC: FIRE. YHWH's judgments: fire net (for Moab in Jer. 48:43-44; for Babylon in Jer. 50:34; for Egypt in Ezek. 32:3; and here for Judah, cf. Ezek. 12:13; 17:20) turned back sick/stunned ▣ "bones" This was an idiom for strength and health (cf. Lam. 4:7). Here it denotes weakness of spirit and body. 1:14 This verse in uncertain in the MT. ▣ NASB, NKJV, NRSV, JPSOA "the yoke of my transgression is bound" NJB, LXX "He has watched out for my offences" "his yokes are bound by The MT is reflected in the NASB. The VERB (BDB 974, KB 1350, Niphal PERFECT) is found only here. BDB suggests a slight emendation, שׂ for שׁ, which follows the LXX, "watch is kept upon" (BDB 1052). Robert Gordis' commentary follows this emendation (p. 130). YHWH made note of (see NIDOTTE, vol. 3, p. 1270 for the VERB) Judah/Jerusalem's rebellions and wove them together (see NIDOTTE, vol. 3, p. 1271 for BDB 974) to make them a yoke placed on Jerusalem's neck (see imagery in Jer. 27:2,8,11,12). ▣ "fail" This VERB (BDB 505, KB 502, Hiphil PERFECT) is literally "to stumble." In Hebrew thought a straight, level, unobstructed road/way was used as an idiom of health and prosperity. To stumble, fall, or slip was used of distress, failure, destruction. The idea of stumbling steps parallels the stepping into a net/trap of Lam. 1:13. SPECIAL TOPIC: THE PATH, THE WAY 1:15 "The Lord" This is the word "Adon" (BDB 10). The Expositor's Bible Commentary, vol. 6, pp. 707-708, takes this general title of deity and the NOUN (BDB 417) as referring to a joyful harvest festival to which not Judah, but her enemies are invited. This is imagery of Jerusalem's defeat by pagans. The NASB has "an appointed time." This NOUN (BDB 417) suggests an appointed time and place for judgment on Judah's defenders. The NET Bible, p. 1459, #1, suggests a legal assembly following the root's use in Num. 16:2. SPECIAL TOPIC: Lord (adon and kurios) ▣ NASB, NRSV, NJB, JPSOA "rejected" "trampled underfoot" "laughed at" "treated with scorn" "removed" "into subjection" This VERB (BDB 699, KB 756, Piel PERFECT) is found only here (NIDOTTE, vol. 3, p. 259). The Qal is in Ps. 119:118. The BDB suggests "make light of" or "toss aside." The Aramaic root means "to despise." KB and the NET Bible chose a similar Akkadian or Assyrian root, "to hurl" (away). The NKJV comes from the Arabic cognate "to trample." ▣ "a wine press" This (BDB 387) is imagery of judgment (cf. Isa. 63:1-6; Joel 3:13). It is possible the whole verse is judgment in the imagery of a harvest (cf. AB, p. 27). ▣ "virgin daughter of Judah" See note at Lam. 1:6. 1:16 This verse vividly expresses the feelings of utter hopelessness and pain in the fall of Jerusalem (i.e., double use of "my eyes, my eyes"). There is no comforter (i.e. Lam. 1:9,16,17,21). Weeping at Jerusalem's fall is seen in Jer. 9:1; 13:17; 31:16; Lam. 1:2; 2:18. These are tears of sorrow for the consequences of sin sorrow for the sin (repentance) SPECIAL TOPIC: REPENTANCE IN THE OT 1:17 "Zion stretches out her hands" This is imagery for prayer. The Jews prayed with head lifted, eyes open, hands raised, speaking to God. It was a dialogue! 1:18-19 "virgins. . .young men. . .priests. . .elders" Every category of society will be exiled. There was no level of Judean society that escaped YHWH's judgment by the hands of Neo-Babylon. Personified Jerusalem weeps over the loss of all her people, prestige, power, alliances, and former glory! 1:18 "righteous" Note Deut. 32:4; 2 Chr. 12:6; Ps. 119:137; Jer. 12:1. SPECIAL TOPIC: RIGHTEOUSNESS ▣ "Hear now, all peoples" The two IMPERATIVES, "hear" and "see," were used in Lam 1:9,11,20 to address YHWH but here they address the nations in witness to YHWH's justice (i.e. judging His own disobedient people). This universal aspect is repeated in Lam. 4:12. SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN ▣ "I have rebelled against His command" This VERB (BDB 598, KB 632, Qal PERFECT) denotes an intentional violation. Some examples of its usage are Num. 20:24; 27:14; 1 Sam. 12:14-15; Ps. 5:8-10; 105:28; Isa. 1:19-20; 63:10; Lam. 1:18,20; 3:42; Hosea 13:16. This kind of willful behavior always brings judgment from God. To whom much is given much is required (cf. Luke 12:48). With knowledge comes responsibility! 1:19 NASB, NRSV, REB, Peshitta "perished" "breathed their last" "died" "expired" "failed" The context clearly states that Jerusalem called for help from political alliances priests elders but they all did not respond because of lack of strength from starvation (i.e. siege imagery). 1:20 "See" This IMPERATIVE (BDB 906, KB 1157) marks a prayer request (cf. Lam. 1:9,11). Lamentations 1:12b also has it but there it addresses "passers by." Lamentations 1:20-22 is a long prayer request of repentance and a call for vengeance. ▣ "spirit" NKJV, TEV, Peshitta "soul" NRSV, JPSOA "I am" "my inmost being" "my bowels" "my stomach" This is not the word for "spirit" (ruah; see SPECIAL TOPIC: BREATH, WIND, SPIRIT) nor "soul" (nephesh; see SPECIAL TOPIC: NEPHESH). This is "inward parts" (BDB 588, i.e. intestines, bowels, belly). This part of the body was viewed as the seat of the emotions (cf. Job 30:27; Isa. 16:11; 63:15; Jer. 4:19; 31:20; Lam. 1:20; 2:11). SPECIAL TOPIC: INWARD PARTS ▣ "I have been very rebellious" This is an INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and an IMPERFECT VERB (here, a PERFECT form) of the same root (BDB 598, KB 632), which showed intensity. Israel (i.e. corporate lament) admits her guilt. ▣ "My heart is overturned within me" The JPSOA translates this phrase as "I know how wrong I was" or "how very bitter I am." See Jewish Study Bible, p. 1592. SPECIAL TOPIC: HEART 1:21 "All my enemies. . .are glad" This VERB (BDB 965, KB 1314, Qal PERFECT) refers to the rejoicing of Judah's neighbors at her fall (cf. Lam. 4:21; Obad. v. 12). ▣ "That they may become like me" This is one of two IMPERFECTS used in a JUSSIVE sense (i.e. prayer wish). Lam. 1:21f Lam. 1:22a (followed by an IMPERATIVE in v. 22b) This is connected to the "eye for an eye" justice (cf. Neh. 4:4,5; Ps. 137:7-8). SPECIAL TOPIC: EYE FOR EYE 1:22 "my heart is faint" This is imagery for weakness, sickness (cf. Lam. 5:17; Isa. 1:5; Jer. 8:18). SPECIAL TOPIC: HEART