Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley, [1754-65], at sacred-texts.com
Lamentations 2:1
lam 2:1
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.
Lamentations 2:2
lam 2:2
Polluted - Dealt with them as with a polluted thing; cast them off, brake them in pieces.
Lamentations 2:3
lam 2:3
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.
Lamentations 2:4
lam 2:4
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.
Lamentations 2:6
lam 2:6
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.
Lamentations 2:7
lam 2:7
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.
Lamentations 2:8
lam 2:8
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.
Lamentations 2:9
lam 2:9
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.
Lamentations 2:10
lam 2:10
The virgins - The whole city is in a mournful posture.
Lamentations 2:11
lam 2:11
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.
Lamentations 2:12
lam 2:12
Bosom - When they died in their mother's arms.
Lamentations 2:13
lam 2:13
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.
Lamentations 2:14
lam 2:14
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.
Lamentations 2:18
lam 2:18
O wall - That is, those that are upon it.
Lamentations 2:20
lam 2:20
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?
Lamentations 2:22
lam 2:22
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.
