Clarke's Bible Commentary - Lamentations 2:10
Verse 10. Sit upon the ground] See the note on chap. i. 1. Keep silence] No words can express their sorrows: small griefs are eloquent, great ones dumb.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 10. The elders of the daughter of Zion sit on the ground, [and] keep silence , etc.] Who used to sit in the gate on thrones of judgment, and passed sentence in causes tried before them; or were wont to give advice and counsel, and were regarded as oracles, now sit on the ground, and dumb, as mourners; (see Job 2:13); they have cast up dust upon their heads ; on their white hairs and gray locks, which bespoke wisdom, and made them grave and venerable: they have girded themselves with sackcloth : after the manner of mourners; who used to be clothed in scarlet and rich apparel, in robes suitable to their office as civil magistrates: the virgins of Jerusalem hang down their heads to the ground : through shame and sorrow; who used to look brisk and gay, and walk with outstretched necks, and carried their heads high, but now low enough.
Aben Ezra interprets it of the hair of their heads, which used to be tied up, but now loosed and dishevelled, and hung down as it were to the ground.
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
ישׁבו 3427 לארץ 776 ידמו 1826 זקני 2205 בת 1323 ציון 6726 העלו 5927 עפר 6083 על 5921 ראשׁם 7218 חגרו 2296 שׂקים 8242 הורידו 3381 לארץ 776 ראשׁן 7218 בתולת 1330 ירושׁלם׃ 3389
