It denotes the complication of judgments upon the Jewish nation for their sins, with which they were holden as with cords; and which were like ropes about their necks, very heavy and distressing to them, and from which they could not deliver themselves. Mr. Broughton thinks the apostle has reference to this passage; and explains it by the sin that easily besets, or cunningly wraps about, ( Hebrews 12:1); he hath made my strength to fall ; by the weight of punishment laid upon her, which she could not stand up under, but sunk and fell: this may be understood of her strong and mighty men; her men of valour and courage, who yet stumbled and fell: the Lord hath delivered me into [their] hands, [from whom] I am not able to rise up ; meaning the Chaldeans; nor were the Jews at last delivered from them by their own strength, but by the means of Cyrus the Persian conquering Babylon.

Lam. 1:1-11 The prophet sometimes speaks in his own person; at othe times Jerusalem, as a distressed female, is the speaker, or some of the Jews. The description shows the miseries of the Jewish nation Jerusalem became a captive and a slave, by reason of the greatness of her sins; and had no rest from suffering. If we allow sin, our greates adversary, to have dominion over us, justly will other enemies also be suffered to have dominion. The people endured the extremities of famin and distress. In this sad condition Jerusalem acknowledged her sin, an entreated the Lord to look upon her case. This is the only way to make ourselves easy under our burdens; for it is the just anger of the Lor for man's transgressions, that has filled the earth with sorrows lamentations, sickness, and death.

Lam. 1:12-22 Jerusalem, sitting dejected on the ground, calls on thos that passed by, to consider whether her example did not concern them Her outward sufferings were great, but her inward sufferings wer harder to bear, through the sense of guilt. Sorrow for sin must be great sorrow, and must affect the soul. Here we see the evil of sin and may take warning to flee from the wrath to come. Whatever may be learned from the sufferings of Jerusalem, far more may be learned from the sufferings of Christ. Does he not from the cross speak to every on of us? Does he not say, Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? Le all our sorrows lead us to the cross of Christ, lead us to mark his example, and cheerfully to follow him __________________________________________________________________

Original Hebrew