Lam 5:7 | KingComments | STEP | The land allotted to them by lot ( ), which they have possessed for many centuries, is now in foreign hands ( ). Their homes, where they have always lived, are now the possession of aliens. The pious Israelite would never give his land to a fellow man ( ; cf. ), let alone to a stranger. Now they are strangers in their own land. This is intolerable. The loss of their “inheritance” is great and deeply painful. The remnant consists of orphans and widows ( ). The law takes particular care of them. But even before the fall of Jerusalem this is not acted upon and after the fall it is even worse. Any earthly support is taken away. The men are killed or carried away. Also in a civil sense, they are orphans and widows, because their king is no longer there. Even in a religious sense it is true, for because of their sins they feel forsaken by the LORD. When Moses describes the land where the LORD is bringing His people when they are right in front of it, he speaks of “a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing forth in valleys and hills” ( ). But that water, to which they have had such free and ample access, is no longer theirs. They must now buy it ( ). The wood to prepare food is also no longer freely available; they must buy it. Wells and forests are in the hands of the enemy. It all speaks of loss of freedom. They are in bondage (cf. ). Besides loss of possessions, of fathers and husbands, of food and freedom, there is also loss of rest ( ). Their pursuers are at their necks, that is, they are being persecuted and hunted restlessly. It is like the condition of slavery in Egypt when they also had to work harder and harder. Instead of turning to the LORD, they expected their help from Egypt ( ; ) and Assyria ( ) ( ). They have submitted to Egypt is literally they have given Egypt a hand. To give the hand means to agree with and also solemnly promise (cf. ; ; ). The condition is certainly the result of what the forefathers did ( ; ; ). But see also , for without it this verse would be an incomplete truth. We too must be aware that we have sinned. As the condition is today, we bear the consequences of the past, but we have also done our part. Both verses together give us the cause of the present condition. Slaves of the king of Babylon rule over them, and they have no one to help them escape the enemy’s grasp ( ). Israel, meant to be a “kingdom of priests” ( ), has become a Canaan, a “servant of servants” ( ). They have tried at the risk of their lives during the siege to get food outside the city ( ). Hunger rages and draws its marks across their bodies, which are ravaged by violent fevers ( ). Their skin is the skin of a dying person. The women in Zion and the virgins in the cities of Judah were brutally ravished by the soldiers ( ). The leaders, the princes, have died a horrible death ( ). The elders, who should be approached with reverence, have been treated without any respect, that is, cruelly and with contempt. The young men must give their strength in the service of the enemy ( ). They must turn the millstone like animals to grind grain for the enemy (cf. ). Boys are given a load of wood to carry so heavy that they stumble under the loads. It may be that this refers to turning the wooden rod of the upper millstone. Those who were once the hope of Judah have become slaves. The gate, the place of justice, is empty. There is no more justice by the elders ( ). In young men, usually characterized by joy, joy is totally absent. Wisdom, justice and joy, which characterize a prosperous community, have disappeared. Joy and elation that were once experienced here are no longer there because the heart no longer knows joy ( ). Instead of expressions of joy, one is plunged into mourning. One of the consequences of committing sin is that joy is gone. David experienced that after his sin with Bathsheba. Confession brings that joy back ( ). That the crown has fallen from their head means that Jerusalem has lost the honorable position and dignity she had before ( ). This is because of their own sins which they now confess. They pronounce the “woe” to themselves with an exclamation that they have sinned. The cause of all the sorrow and affliction and their eyes so full of tears that they cannot see with their eyes is the desolation of Zion ( ). Those who look at what was once so wonderful and valuable and now lies in ruins have great pain in their heart. It is the same way for God with regard to creation. If foxes prowl in it, it means that the city is depopulated (cf. ).

‏ Lamentations 5:7

Description of the Affliction

The land allotted to them by lot (Jos 18:10), which they have possessed for many centuries, is now in foreign hands (Lam 5:2). Their homes, where they have always lived, are now the possession of aliens. The pious Israelite would never give his land to a fellow man (1Kgs 21:1-3; cf. Isa 5:8), let alone to a stranger. Now they are strangers in their own land. This is intolerable. The loss of their “inheritance” is great and deeply painful.

The remnant consists of orphans and widows (Lam 5:3). The law takes particular care of them. But even before the fall of Jerusalem this is not acted upon and after the fall it is even worse. Any earthly support is taken away. The men are killed or carried away. Also in a civil sense, they are orphans and widows, because their king is no longer there. Even in a religious sense it is true, for because of their sins they feel forsaken by the LORD.

When Moses describes the land where the LORD is bringing His people when they are right in front of it, he speaks of “a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing forth in valleys and hills” (Deu 8:7). But that water, to which they have had such free and ample access, is no longer theirs. They must now buy it (Lam 5:4). The wood to prepare food is also no longer freely available; they must buy it. Wells and forests are in the hands of the enemy. It all speaks of loss of freedom. They are in bondage (cf. Exo 5:6-7).

Besides loss of possessions, of fathers and husbands, of food and freedom, there is also loss of rest (Lam 5:5). Their pursuers are at their necks, that is, they are being persecuted and hunted restlessly. It is like the condition of slavery in Egypt when they also had to work harder and harder.

Instead of turning to the LORD, they expected their help from Egypt (Isa 31:1; Eze 16:26 ; 28) and Assyria (Hos 5:13) (Lam 5:6). They have submitted to Egypt is literally they have given Egypt a hand. To give the hand means to agree with and also solemnly promise (cf. 2Kgs 10:15; 1Chr 29:24; 2Chr 30:8).

The condition is certainly the result of what the forefathers did (Lam 5:7; Exo 20:5; Num 14:18). But see also Lam 5:16, for without it this verse would be an incomplete truth. We too must be aware that we have sinned. As the condition is today, we bear the consequences of the past, but we have also done our part. Both verses together give us the cause of the present condition.

Slaves of the king of Babylon rule over them, and they have no one to help them escape the enemy’s grasp (Lam 5:8). Israel, meant to be a “kingdom of priests” (Exo 19:6), has become a Canaan, a “servant of servants” (Gen 9:25).

They have tried at the risk of their lives during the siege to get food outside the city (Lam 5:9). Hunger rages and draws its marks across their bodies, which are ravaged by violent fevers (Lam 5:10). Their skin is the skin of a dying person.

The women in Zion and the virgins in the cities of Judah were brutally ravished by the soldiers (Lam 5:11). The leaders, the princes, have died a horrible death (Lam 5:12). The elders, who should be approached with reverence, have been treated without any respect, that is, cruelly and with contempt.

The young men must give their strength in the service of the enemy (Lam 5:13). They must turn the millstone like animals to grind grain for the enemy (cf. Jdg 16:21). Boys are given a load of wood to carry so heavy that they stumble under the loads. It may be that this refers to turning the wooden rod of the upper millstone. Those who were once the hope of Judah have become slaves.

The gate, the place of justice, is empty. There is no more justice by the elders (Lam 5:14). In young men, usually characterized by joy, joy is totally absent. Wisdom, justice and joy, which characterize a prosperous community, have disappeared.

Joy and elation that were once experienced here are no longer there because the heart no longer knows joy (Lam 5:15). Instead of expressions of joy, one is plunged into mourning. One of the consequences of committing sin is that joy is gone. David experienced that after his sin with Bathsheba. Confession brings that joy back (Psa 51:7-8 ; 12).

That the crown has fallen from their head means that Jerusalem has lost the honorable position and dignity she had before (Lam 5:16). This is because of their own sins which they now confess. They pronounce the “woe” to themselves with an exclamation that they have sinned.

The cause of all the sorrow and affliction and their eyes so full of tears that they cannot see with their eyes is the desolation of Zion (Lam 5:17-18). Those who look at what was once so wonderful and valuable and now lies in ruins have great pain in their heart. It is the same way for God with regard to creation. If foxes prowl in it, it means that the city is depopulated (cf. Neh 4:3).