ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Lamentations 2

Lam. 2:1–22 God Has Set Zion under a Cloud. This chapter emphasizes the completeness of God’s judgment on Jerusalem. The verses unfold in three parts, each of which has a different main speaker. In vv. 1–10 the speaker describes the effects of God’s punishment. In vv. 11–19 a prophetic voice like Jeremiah’s grieves the city’s losses and counsels her to cry out to God. In vv. 20–22 Jerusalem again asks God to see what she has suffered and to act on her behalf.

Lam. 2:1 How. See note on 1:1. the Lord in his anger. Over Judah’s long-term sin (1:9, 14, 18, 20, 22). under a cloud. A symbol for the darkness of God’s punishment (see 2 Sam. 22:12; Jer. 13:16). He has cast down. See Lam. 1:12, 21–22. From heaven to earth describes Israel’s fall from great favor (see Deut. 28:1–14) to terrible devastation (see Deut. 28:15–68). he has not remembered. In contrast to when he mercifully reached out to deliver his people (Ex. 2:23–25). his footstool. Probably a symbol for Jerusalem itself.

Lam. 2:3 God’s right hand, which in times past shattered Pharaoh’s army (Ex. 15:6, 12) was now withdrawn . . . in the face of the enemy.

Lam. 2:6 laid waste his booth. Destroyed the temple, the place where his name and his presence dwell (1 Kings 9:1–9). his meeting place. The temple. forget. The memory of these celebrations is growing dim, for they no longer occur.

Lam. 2:8 The Lord determined. God’s plan (see Jer. 18:11; 29:20; 36:3; 50:45) was to overthrow the rebellious people.

Lam. 2:9 God caused loss of protection (gates, bars, walls [v. 7]), loss of leadership (king and princes), and loss of revelations of his will (her prophets find no vision).

Lam. 2:11 my bile. Literally, “my liver,” that is, emotions. daughter of my people. A term of endearment for Jerusalem (3:48; see Jer. 8:19–22; 14:17). infants and babies. Jerusalem’s most helpless people suffer because of their parents’ failures (see Lam. 2:20; 4:10; Deut. 28:41, 53–57; Jer. 10:20).

Lam. 2:14 Judah’s prophets were part of the problem (see Jer. 14:13–22; 23:9–40; Ezek. 13:1–19; Hos. 4:5). They gave false and deceptive visions. See Jer. 27:14–15. not exposed your iniquity. Their sins were the ultimate source of their problems, but the prophets did not urge them to repent (see Jer. 5:30–31).

Lam. 2:17 what he purposed. See 1:18 and 2:8. God sent the people away because of their sins (see Lev. 26:14–39; Deut. 28:64–68). God carried out his word, which he delivered through Moses and the prophets (2 Kings 17:7–23).

Lam. 2:18–19 Now Jerusalem (daughter of Zion) must cry out to God, just as the speaker (v. 11) has cried out for Jerusalem. She must turn to God for the sake of her children, who are fainting for hunger (see v. 12).

Lam. 2:20 With whom have you dealt thus? Jerusalem was God’s chosen city (1 Kings 9:1–9), yet God has judged her (Jer. 7:1–8:3). eat the fruit of their womb. Cannibalism of this type occurred in wartime (see 2 Kings 6:24–31). Moses had warned that such things would happen if Israel broke her covenant with God (see Lev. 26:29; Deut. 28:52–57; Jer. 19:1–9; Ezek. 5:10).

Lam. 2:22 a festival day. The old festivals (see 1:4; 15; 2:6; 7) have been replaced by a new “festival”: the day of the anger of the Lord.