Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 1. In the thirtieth year] We know not what this date refers to.
Some think it was the age of the prophet; others think the date is taken from the time that Josiah renewed the covenant with the people, 2 Kings xxii. 3, from which Usher, Prideaux, and Calmet compute the forty years of Judah's transgression, mentioned chap. iv. 6. Abp. Newcome thinks there is an error in the text, and that instead of ylb bisheloshim, in the thirtieth, we should read tyymjb bachamishith, in the fifth, as in the second verse. "Now it came to pass in the fifth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month," &c. But this is supported by none of the ancient Versions, nor by any MS. The Chaldee paraphrases the verse, "And it came to pass thirty years after the high priest Hilkiah had found the book of the law, in the house of the sanctuary," &c. This was in the twelfth year of Josiah's reign. The thirtieth year, computed as above, comes to A.M. 3409, the fourth year from the captivity of Jeconiah, and the fifth of the reign of Zedekiah.
Ezekiel was then among the captives who had been carried way with Jeconiah, and had his dwelling near the river Chebar, Chaborus, or Aboras, a river of Mesopotamia, which falls into the Euphrates a little above Thapsacus, after having run through Mesopotamia from east to west. - Calmet.
Fourth month] Thammuz, answering nearly to our July.
I saw visions of God.] Emblems and symbols of the Divine Majesty. He particularly refers to those in this chapter.
Matthew Henry Commentary
- The deplorable state of the nation is contrasted with its ancien prosperity.
Lam. 4:1-12 What a change is here! Sin tarnishes the beauty of the mos exalted powers and the most excellent gifts; but that gold, tried in the fire, which Christ bestows, never will be taken from us; it outward appearance may be dimmed, but its real value can never be changed. The horrors of the siege and destruction of Jerusalem ar again described. Beholding the sad consequences of sin in the church of old, let us seriously consider to what the same causes may justly brin down the church now. But, Lord, though we have gone from thee in rebellion, yet turn to us, and turn our hearts to thee, that we ma fear thy name. Come to us, bless us with awakening, converting renewing, confirming grace.
Lam. 4:13-20 Nothing ripens a people more for ruin, nor fills the measure faster, than the sins of priests and prophets. The king himsel cannot escape, for Divine vengeance pursues him. Our anointed Kin alone is the life of our souls; we may safely live under his shadow and rejoice in Him in the midst of our enemies, for He is the true God and eternal life.
Lam. 4:21,22 Here it is foretold that an end should be put to Zion' troubles. Not the fulness of punishment deserved, but of what God ha determined to inflict. An end shall be put to Edom's triumphs. All the troubles of the church and of the believer will soon be accomplished And the doom of their enemies approaches. The Lord will bring their sins to light, and they shall lie down in eternal sorrow. Edom her represents all the enemies of the church. And the corruption, and sin of Israel, which the prophet has proved to be universal, justifies the judgments of the Lord. It shows the need of that grace in Christ Jesus which the sin and corruption of all mankind make so necessary _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew ויהי1961 בשׁלשׁים7970 שׁנה8141 ברביעי7243 בחמשׁה2568 לחדשׁ2320 ואני589 בתוך8432 הגולה1473 על5921 נהר5104 כבר3529 נפתחו6605 השׁמים8064 ואראה7200 מראות4759 אלהים׃430
