John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 6. For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people , etc.] In the long siege of their city, and the evils that attended it, especially the sore famine: is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom ; which was destroyed at once by fire from heaven: or it may be rendered, “the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the sin of Sodom” f111 ; though the men of Sodom were great sinners, the Jews were greater, their sins being more aggravated; to this agrees the Targum, which renders the word “sin”, and paraphrases the words following thus, “and there dwelt not in her prophets to prophesy unto her, and turn her by repentance;” as the Jews had, and therefore their sin was the greater; both senses are true, and the one is the foundation of the other; but the first seems best to agree with what follows: that was overthrown as in a moment ; by a shower of fire from heaven, which consumed it at once; whereas the destruction of Jerusalem was a lingering one, through a long and tedious siege; the inhabitants were gradually wasted and consumed by famine, pestilence, and sword, and so their punishment greater than Sodom’s: and no hand stayed on her ; that is, on Sodom; the hand of God was immediately upon her, and dispatched her at once, but not the hands of men; as the hands of the Chaldeans were upon the Jews, afflicting and distressing them a long time, which made their ease the worse.
Matthew Henry Commentary
- Lamentation for the misery of Jerusalem.
Lam. 2:1-9 A sad representation is here made of the state of God' church, of Jacob and Israel; but the notice seems mostly to refer to the hand of the Lord in their calamities. Yet God is not an enemy to his people, when he is angry with them and corrects them. And gates an bars stand in no stead when God withdraws his protection. It is jus with God to cast down those by judgments, who debase themselves by sin and to deprive those of the benefit and comfort of sabbaths an ordinances, who have not duly valued nor observed them. What shoul they do with Bibles, who make no improvement of them? Those who misus God's prophets, justly lose them. It becomes necessary, though painful to turn the thoughts of the afflicted to the hand of God lifted u against them, and to their sins as the source of their miseries.
Lam. 2:10-22 Causes for lamentation are described. Multitudes perishe by famine. Even little children were slain by their mother's hands, an eaten, according to the threatening, Deut. 28:53. Multitudes fell by the sword. Their false prophets deceived them. And their neighbour laughed at them. It is a great sin to jest at others' miseries, an adds much affliction to the afflicted. Their enemies triumphed ove them. The enemies of the church are apt to take its shocks for it ruins; but they will find themselves deceived. Calls to lamentation ar given; and comforts for the cure of these lamentations are sought Prayer is a salve for every sore, even the sorest; a remedy for ever malady, even the most grievous. Our business in prayer is to refer ou case to the Lord, and leave it with him. His will be done. Let us fea God, and walk humbly before him, and take heed lest we fall _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew ויגדל1431 עון5771 בת1323 עמי5971 מחטאת2403 סדם5467 ההפוכה2015 כמו3644 רגע7281 ולא3808 חלו2342 בה ידים׃3027
