Lamentations 4:9 Komentář

This chapter is another single alphabet of Lamentations for the destruction of Jerusalem, like those in the first two chapters. I. The prophet here laments the injuries and indignities done to those to whom respect used to be shown (Lam 4:1, Lam 4:2). II. He laments the direful effects of the famine to which they were reduced by the siege (Lam 4:3-10). III. He laments the taking and sacking of Jerusalem and its amazing desolations (Lam 4:11, Lam 4:12). IV. He acknowledges that the sins of their leaders were the cause of all these calamities (Lam 4:13-16). V. He gives up all as doomed to utter ruin, for their enemies were every way too hard for them (Lam 4:17-20). VI. He foretels the destruction of the Edomites who triumphed in Jerusalem's fall (Lam 4:21). VII. He foretels the return of the captivity of Zion at last (Lam 4:22).

INTRODUCTION TO LAMENTATIONS 4 The prophet begins this chapter with a complaint of the ill usage of the dear children of God, and precious sons of Zion, Lam 4:1; relates the dreadful effects of the famine during the siege of Jerusalem, Lam 4:3; the taking and destruction of that city he imputes to the wrath of God; and represents it as incredible to the kings and inhabitants of the earth, Lam 4:11; the causes of which were the sins of the prophets, priests, and people, Lam 4:13; expresses the vain hopes they once had, but now were given up entirely, their king being taken, Lam 4:17; and the chapter is concluded with a prophecy of the destruction of the Edomites, and of the return of the Jews from captivity, Lam 4:21.

They that be slain with the sword are better than they that be slain with hunger,.... Not that they are better with respect to their state after death, but with respect to their manner of dying. They that were slain by the sword of the Chaldeans, as many were, either upon the walls, or in sallies out against the enemy, these felt less pain, and had less terror of mind in dying, than those did who perished by famine; they died a lingering death, as it were by inches, and were in continual pain of body and uneasiness of mind: for these pine away, stricken through for want of the fruits of the field: that is, those that died by famine gradually wasted or "flowed" away, their fluid parts by degrees went off; and though they were not run through with the sword, they were stabbed by famine, and were so distressed in body and mind as if a sword had pierced them; not having the fruits of the field, the corn and the wine, to support nature, and keep them alive. Jarchi's note is, "they that were slain with hunger were inflated at the smell of the fruits of the field, when the enemies were roasting their flesh upon the grass without the wall; the smell entered into those that swelled by famine, and their bellies burst, and their excrements flowed out; and this is the death worse than that of being slain with the sword.'' And to this agrees the Targum, "more happy are they that are slain with the sword than they that are slain with famine; for they that are slain with the sword flowed when their bellies were burst, by that which they ate of the fruits of the field; and those that were inflated with famine, their bellies burst through "want" of food.'' Most interpreters refer this clause to those that died of famine: but Gussetius (z) interprets it of those that were killed with the sword; and renders and paraphrases the words thus, "for they being stabbed, sent out"; by the open wounds, "a flux, which arose from the fruits of the field"; their food and nourishment being yet in their belly and veins, and so did not pine away through penury and famine; and their misery was short and light, in comparison of others: and so Abendana. (z) Comment. Ebr. p. 225.

Here is considered a comparison. As said: "Happier were the victims of the sword than the victims of hunger, who pined away, stricken by want of the fruits of the field." That is, they were cast down, as soon as they were afflicted. As the Book of Sirach says: "Death is better than a miserable life, and eternal rest than chronic sickness" (Sir. 30:17).

The present deplorable sate of the nation is now contrasted with its ancient prosperity, Lam 4:1-12; and the unhappy change ascribed, in a great degree, to the profligacy of the priests and prophets, Lam 4:13-16. The national calamities are tenderly lamented, Lam 4:17-20. The ruin of the Edomites also, who had insulted the Jews in their distress, is ironically predicted, Lam 4:21. See Psa 137:7, and Oba 1:10-12. The chapter closes with a gracious promise of deliverance from the Babylonish captivity, Lam 4:22.

THE SAD CAPTURE OF JERUSALEM, THE HOPE OF RESTORATION, AND THE RETRIBUTION AWAITING IDUMEA FOR JOINING BABYLON AGAINST JUDEA. (Lam. 4:1-22) gold--the splendid adornment of the temple [CALVIN] (Lam 1:10; Kg1 6:22; Jer 52:19); or, the principal men of Judea [GROTIUS] (Lam 4:2). stones of . . . sanctuary--the gems on the breastplate of the high priest; or, metaphorically, the priests and Levites.

The speedy death by the sword is better than the lingering death by famine. pine away--literally, "flow out"; referring to the flow of blood. This expression, and "stricken through," are drawn from death by "the sword." want of . . . fruits--The words in italics have to be supplied in the original (Gen 18:28; Psa 109:24).

Submission under the Judgment of God, and Hope 1 How the gold becomes dim, - the fine gold changeth, - Sacred stones are scattered about at the top of every street! 2 The dear sons of Zion, who are precious as fine gold, - How they are esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of a potters hands! 3 [But] the daughter of my people [hath become] cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness. 4 The tongue of the suckling cleaveth to his palate for thirst; Young children ask for bread, [but] there is none breaking [it] for them. 5 Those who ate dainties [before] are desolate in the streets; Those who were carried on scarlet embrace dunghills. 6 The iniquity of the daughter of my people became greater than the sin of Sodom, Which was overthrown as in a moment, though no hands were laid on her. 7 Her princes were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, They were redder in body than corals, their form was [that of] a sapphire. 8 `Their form is darker than blackness, - they are not recognised in the streets; Their skin adhereth closely to their bones, - it hath become dry, like wood. 9 Better are those slain with the sword than those slain with hunger; For these pine away, pierced through from [want of] the fruits of the field. 10 The hands of women [who were once] tender-hearted, have boiled their own children; They became food to them in the destruction of the daughter of my people. 11 Jahveh accomplished His wrath: He poured out the burning of His anger; And kindled a fire in Zion, and it devoured her foundations. 12 Would the kinds of the earth, all the inhabitants of the world; not believe That an adversary and an enemy would enter in at the gates of Jerusalem. 13 Because of the sins of her prophets, the iniquities of her priests, Who shed blood of righteous ones in her midst, 14 They wander [like] blind men in the streets; they are defiled with blood, So that [people] could not touch their clothes. 15 "Keep off! it is unclean!" they cried to them, "keep off! keep off! touch not!" When they fled, they also wandered; [People] say among the nations, "They must no longer sojourn [here]." 16 The face of Jahveh hath scattered them; no longer doth He look on them: They regard not the priests, they respect not old men. 17 Still do our eyes pine away, [looking] for our help, [which is] vanity: In our watching, we watched for a nation [that] will not help. 18 They hunt our steps, so that we cannot go in our streets; Our end is near, our days are full, - yea, our end is come. 19 Our persecutors were swifter than the eagles of heaven; They pursued us on the mountains, in the wilderness they laid wait for us. 20 The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of Jahveh, was caught in their pits, [Of] whom we thought, "In His shadow we shall live among the nations." 21 Be glad and rejoice, O daughter of Edom, dwelling in the land of Uz To thee also shall the cup pass; thou shalt be drunk, and make thyself naked. 22 Thy guilt is at an end, O daughter of Zion; He will no more carry thee captive: He visiteth thine iniquity, O daughter of Edom; He discovereth thy sins. Lamentations 4:1-22 The lamentation over the terrible calamity that has befallen Jerusalem is distinguished in this poem from the lamentations in Lamentations 1 and 2, not merely by the fact that in it the fate of the several classes of the population is contemplated, but chiefly by the circumstance that the calamity is set forth as a well-merited punishment by God for the grievous sins of the inhabitants of Jerusalem. This consideration forms the chief feature in the whole poem, from the beginning to the end of which there predominates the hope that Zion will not perish, but that the appointed punishment will terminate, and then fall on their now triumphant enemies. In this fundamental idea of the poem, compared with the first two, there is plainly an advance towards the due recognition of the suffering as a punishment; from this point it is possible to advance, not merely to the hope regarding the future, with which the poem concludes, but also the prayer for deliverance in Lamentations 5. The contents of the poem are the following: The princes and inhabitants of Zion are sunk into a terrible state of misery, because their guilt was greater than the sin of Sodom (Lam 4:1-11). Jerusalem has been delivered into the hands of her enemies on account of her prophets and priests, who have shed the blood of righteous ones (Lam 4:12-16), and because the people have placed their trust on the vain help of man (Lam 4:17-20). For this they must atone; for the present, however, the enemy may triumph; the guilt of the daughter of Zion will come to an end, and then the judgment will befall her enemies (Lam 4:21, Lam 4:22).