Lam 2:20, 22, 4:9-10, Eze 5:10 | JFB | STEP | 20. women eat . . . fruit —as threatened ( ). children . . . span long —or else, "children whom they carry in their arms" [MAURER ]. Schin.

Lamentations 2:20

20. women eat . . . fruit—as threatened (Le 26:29; De 28:53, 56, 57; Jer 19:9).

children . . . span long—or else, "children whom they carry in their arms" [MAURER].

Schin.

Lamentations 2:22

22. Thou hast called as in . . . solemn day . . . terrors—Thou hast summoned my enemies against me from all quarters, just as multitudes used to be convened to Jerusalem, on the solemn feast days. The objects, for which the enemies and the festal multitude respectively met, formed a sad contrast. Compare La 1:15: "called an assembly against me."

Lamentations 4:9-10

9. The speedy death by the sword is better than the lingering death by famine.

pine away—literally, "flow out"; referring to the flow of blood. This expression, and "stricken through," are drawn from death by "the sword."

want of . . . fruits—The words in italics have to be supplied in the original (Ge 18:28; Ps 109:24).

Jod.

10. (La 2:20; De 28:56, 57).

pitiful—naturally at other times compassionate (Isa 49:15). JOSEPHUS describes the unnatural act as it took place in the siege under Titus.

sodden—boiled.

Caph.

Ezekiel 5:10

10. fathers . . . eat . . . sons—alluding to Moses' words (Le 26:29; De 28:53), with the additional sad feature, that "the sons should eat their fathers" (see 2Ki 6:28; Jer 19:9; La 2:20; 4:10).