Lamentations 1:4-6 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

The ways of Zion do mourn The highways leading to Zion, which used to be thronged with people going to the solemn feasts before the Lord, now, as it were, mourned on account of no persons travelling in them for that purpose. All her gates are desolate The gates of Jerusalem, or of the temple: few or none passing through them, the city and country being depopulated; and there are no longer any courts of judicature, or assemblies of people, held in her gates. Her priests sigh Because no victims, or other oblations, are offered, the temple and altar being destroyed. Her virgins are afflicted Her calamities afflict the young as well as the old, and persons of all ages and ranks are in bitterness. Her adversaries are the chief Her enemies have got the advantage over her, and she is become their vassal. This was a judgment that Moses threatened to them if they proved disobedient, Deuteronomy 28:43; namely, that their enemies should be the head, and they the tail. For the Lord hath afflicted her Hath fulfilled his threatenings, denounced in case of disobedience. For the multitude of her transgressions The procuring, provoking cause of all her calamities: for whoever may be made the instruments, God is the author of all these troubles: it is the Lord that has afflicted her, and he has done it as a righteous judge, because of her transgressions, which have been very many as well as very great. Hence her children, her inhabitants, are gone into captivity before the enemy Are forced into slavery by the Chaldeans, as cattle are driven in herds by them that sell them. And from the daughter of Zion all her beauty is departed All the glory of God's sanctuary, and the comely order of his worship, and all the beauty of holiness. Her princes are like harts, &c. That upon the first alarm betake themselves to flight, and make no resistance: they are become dispirited, have lost their courage, given way and fled before their enemies.