| Lamentations 1:1-22 The Book of Lamentations, also titled The Lamentations of Jeremiah, was written by Jeremiah, probably in 586 B.C. Lamentations is a lament written in acrostic or alphabetic fashion. An acrostic is a literary form where the first letter in consecutive lines of the poem forms a pattern. In each of the first four chapters of Lamentations Jeremiah goes verse-by-verse through the Hebrew alphabet, beginning with the first letter in the Hebrew alphabet all the way through to the last letter. v. 1 lonely sits the city – A reference to the vast amount of Jerusalem inhabitants who fell to captivity, or famine, or slaughter. How like a widow is she – It was common for cities in the Old Testament to be portrayed as the mother to those who lived there. Also a reference to the absence of God, who served as a provider and King of the Jewish people. v. 2 Among all her lovers – Lovers refers to Israel's allies (Edom and Ammon); all of whom betrayed Israel during its time of destruction. v. 3 under affliction, and hard servitude – A reference to Jerusalem's treatment of the poor and servants in their society, which was counter to God's Law (Jer. 34:13-22). dire straits – A situation that is impossible to escape. v. 4 the roads to Zion mourn – Poetic language that describes the emptiness of the roads into Jerusalem, how they are no longer filled with travelers. no one comes to the set feasts – There were three pilgrimage festivals on the Hebrew calendar: the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of the Tabernacles. The streets would have been filled with pilgrims during these feasts prior to the destruction of the Temple. v. 5 the LORD has afflicted her – Regardless of whom carried out the destruction, it was the Lord's judgment against Jerusalem that caused the result. v. 6 daughter of Zion – The "daughter of Zion" was a personification of Jerusalem. splendor – beauty v. 8 she has become vile – "Vile" or "unclean" in some translations refers to the ceremonial uncleanness of a woman during her menstrual period (Lev. 12:2, 5; 15:19). nakedness – All of Jerusalem's prosperity is being stripped away, and the city's sins revealed for all to see. sighs and turns away – Continuing the comparison of Jerusalem to a woman whose clothing is torn off to expose her publicly, a modest woman will turn away in shame. v. 9 Her uncleanness is in her skirts – This is describing a woman who has her menstrual period so heavily that the evidence of it can be seen down to the bottom of her skirts. Again, referring to the fact that Jerusalem cannot hide what has happened to the city. did not consider her destiny – Although the Lord sent prophets to warn Jerusalem of His coming judgment, they did not heed Lord's warning and continued sinning without thought to God's impending just judgment. v. 10 the adversary has spread his hands over all her pleasant things – This does not refer to Jerusalem's gold and other precious items, but the holy things inside of the Temple of God. she has seen the nations enter her sanctuary – Non-Israelites were forbidden access to the temple courts (Deut. 23:1-3). Only priests had limited access to the sanctuary. Jeremiah laments that the sanctuary had been desecrated. v. 11 They seek bread – There were extreme food shortages in Jerusalem when the city came under siege from the Babylonians. The Babylonians cut off all food and water supply lines until they finally overtook the city. v. 12 any sorrow like my sorrow – A common thought in human nature, that the pain and burden that one feels is the worst, and that no one has a bigger burden. v. 13 fire into my bones – Fire of God's divine wrath, which felt like a burning fever inside the Jews (Ps. 102:3). "Bones" may also refer to the buildings of the city, which were burned completely. And it overpowered them – God, who sent the fire, directs it and none can stand against it. spread a net for my feet – Like trapping wild birds or other animals in a net. turned me back – Caught the city, so that there is no escape. v. 14 yoke of my transgressions was bound; They were woven together by His hands – The image of an ox harnessed into a yoke, with the Lord Himself holding the reins. Symbolism meaning that Jerusalem was punished by the Lord Himself. woven together – It was not just one sin that Jerusalem committed against the Lord. Her sins were multiple and intertwined. not able to withstand – The Jews were not able to rise up against the Babylonians and overthrow their captivity. v. 15 mighty men – Young, strong warriors; soldiers and men of battle. The Lord trampled as in a winepress – The winepress was a common metaphor for God's divine judgment (Is. 63:3; Rev. 14:19, 20; Rev. 19:15). virgin daughter of Judah – Reference to the Babylonian soldiers defiling the young women of Jerusalem. v. 16 my eye, my eye – The repetition is used to show the depth of the grief that Jeremiah is expressing. the comforter – The Lord. Luke 2:25 calls Him, "the consolation of Israel." desolate – awestruck or stunned v. 17 spreads out her hands – calling out for mercy concerning Jacob – Refers to the law given to the house of Jacob. unclean thing – A menstruating woman, who was considered unclean during the period of menstruation (Lev. 15:19-27). v. 18 commandment – peh (Heb.) meaning literally mouth. Refers to the Word of God. v. 19 my lovers – Jerusalem's allies, including Egypt, who did not come to the aid of the city. breathed their last – died v. 20 my heart is overturned within me – restless, or turned upside down | 
1:9 Her uncleanness is in her skirts; She did not consider her destiny; Therefore her collapse was awesome; She had no comforter. "O LORD, behold my affliction, For the enemy is exalted!"
Jerusalem in Affliction
Children's Ministry
