SEV Biblia, Chapter 1:3
Guímel : Se fue Judá en cautiverio , a causa de la aflicción y de la grandeza de servidumbre. Ella mora entre los gentiles, y no halla descanso. Todos sus perseguidores la alcanzaron entre estrechuras.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Lamentations 1:3
Verse 3. Between the straits.] She has been brought into such difficulties, that it was impossible for her to escape. Has this any reference to the circumstances in which Zedekiah and the princes of Judah endeavoured to escape from Jerusalem, by the way of the gates between the two walls? Jer. lii. 7.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 3. Judah is gone into captivity , etc.] Not only Jerusalem the metropolis of Judea was destroyed, but the whole country was ravaged, and the inhabitants of it carried captive into Babylon: because of affliction, and because of great servitude ; because of their sins in oppressing and afflicting their poor brethren, and retaining them in a state of bondage after their seven years’ servitude, contrary to the law of God; for which they were threatened with captivity, ( Jeremiah 34:13-22); so the Targum, “the house of Judah went into captivity, because they afflicted the fatherless and the widows; and because of the multitude of service which they caused their brethren the children of Israel to serve, who were sold unto them; and they did not proclaim liberty to their servants and maidens, who were of the seed of Israel:” or, “through affliction, and through great servitude” f11 ; that is, through the affliction and servitude they suffered by the Chaldeans, into whose hands they fell; though some understand it of the Jews, who, to escape the affliction and servitude of the Chaldeans, went into a kind of voluntary captivity, fleeing to the countries of Moab, Ammon, and Edom, during the siege of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans; (see Jeremiah 40:11,12); she dwelleth among the Heathen; the uncircumcised and the unclean ; and so was deprived of both her civil and religious liberties; having no opportunity of worshipping God, and enjoying him in his courts, as formerly; and which must be very uncomfortable living, especially to those who were truly gracious: she findeth no rest . The Targum adds, “because of the hard service to which they subjected her;” she found no natural rest, being carried from place to place; nor civil rest, being kept in hard bondage; nor spiritual rest, being deprived of the worship and ordinances of God; and being conscious of her sins, which had brought all this misery on her: all her persecutors overtook her between the straits ; having hunted her as men hunt wild beasts, and get them into some strait and difficult place, and then seize on them. The Targum interprets it, between the borders; or between the hedges, as Ben Melech; and so Jarchi, of the borders of a field and vineyard; and of a ditch on the one side and the other, that there is no room to escape; and who makes mention of a Midrash, that explains it not of place, but time, between the seventeenth day of Tammuz, and the ninth of Ab; (see Jeremiah 52:7,8).
Matthew Henry Commentary
The miserable state of Jerusalem, the just consequences of its sins (Lam. 1:1-11) Jerusalem represented as a captive female, lamenting, an seeking the mercy of God. (Lam. 1:12-22) 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
גלתה 1540 יהודה 3063 מעני 6040 ומרב 7230 עבדה 5656 היא 1931 ישׁבה 3427 בגוים 1471 לא 3808 מצאה 4672 מנוח 4494 כל 3605 רדפיה 7291 השׂיגוה 5381 בין 996 המצרים׃ 4712
