Lamentations 2 - Wesley's Explanatory Notes

His footstool — His temple; but suffered the Chaldeans to destroy it. Cast down — That is, thrown them down from the highest glory and honour, to the meanest degree of servitude.

Polluted — Dealt with them as with a polluted thing; cast them off, brake them in pieces.

The horn — All their beauty and strength. Drawn back — God hath drawn back his assistance which he was wont to give the Jews against their enemies. Round about — God consumed them, not in this or that part, but round about, as a fire seizing an house at once on all sides.

He — That is, God, (whom by their sins they had provoked and made their enemy) behaved himself as an enemy. And slew — All their young men, and maidens who were pleasant to look upon.

His tabernacle — His temple. The places — The synagogues. The king — By the king and the priests are meant persons of greatest rank and eminency, though it is thought here is a special reference to Zedekiah the king of Judah, and Seraiah who was the high priest; the former of which was miserably handled, the latter slain.

They — The enemies with their triumphs and blasphemies, made as great a noise, as those that sang holy songs, or played on instruments, were wont to make to the glory of God.

The wall — The strength and security of the Jews. A line — Artificers used with lines not only to mark out places for building, but also for destruction, to direct them what to cut off; and such a line is here meant.

Among the Gentiles — In miserable captivity. The law — Is no more read, opened or observed. Her prophets — They had but very few prophets, from this time to the time of the gospel, and very few of those at this time alive had any revelation from God.

The virgins — The whole city is in a mournful posture.

Mine eyes — This whole verse is but expressive of the prophets great affliction for the miseries come upon the Jews. He wept himself almost blind. Bowels — His passion had disturbed his bodily humours, that his bowels were troubled. Liver — His gall lying under his liver. All these are expressions of great affliction and sorrow. Swoon — During the famine, occasioned by the long siege.

Bosom — When they died in their mother's arms.

Who — There was no people whose condition was in any degree parallel to the misery of the Jews: nor was there any cure for them, their breach was like a sea breach where the waters come in with such a torrent, that there is no making any defence against them.

The prophets — False prophets told you vain stories. Not discovered — Whereas they ought to have made you sensible of your sins, and this might have prevented your captivity. False burdens — False stories to encourage you in sin, and so cause your banishment.

O wall — That is, those that are upon it.

Whom — Not the Heathen, but to thy own people. Women — Wilt thou suffer women to satisfy their hunger with the fruit of their own bodies?

My terrors — As my people were wont to be called together from all parts in a solemn day, so now my terrible enemies, or terrible things are by thee called together.