HAYDOCK CATHOLIC BIBLE COMMENTARY ON THE OLD TESTAMENT

LAMENTATIONS 3

CHAPTER III.

Ver. 1. Man. Jeremias had a share in the common misery, (W.) and bewails his own condition, as a figure of Christ. Ps. lxxxvii. 16. Is. liii. 3. C. --- His disciples must expect to suffer. H.

Ver. 2. Led, or driven me with the rod. H. --- God employs two. Zac. xi. 7. That of rigour was reserved for this prophet; (C. xxxviii.) none of them suffered more.

Ver. 4. Old and wrinkled, the effect of misery.

Ver. 5. Gall. Sept. "head." Chal. "he hath seized the chief." Job xvi. 13. He speaks in the name of the besieged, who had been threatened with this punishment. v. 19. C. viii. 14. C. --- And labour. Nabuzardan ransacked the city worse than his master, (W.) if the latter was at all present. H.

Ver. 6. Ever indeed. Eccle. xii. 5. and Ps. xlviii. 12. Jeremias (xxxviii. 6.) was in imminent danger.

Ver. 8. Prayer. God would not allow him to pray for the people. C. vii. 16.

Ver. 9. Stones. There is no passage. Job xix. 8.

Ver. 10. Places. This may refer to the prophet or to the people.

Ver. 12. Arrows. Such places were common where shooting was practised. 1 Kin. xx. 36. Job xvi. 11.

Ver. 14. Song. True prophets were derided on account of impostors, and because of their declarations were unpleasant, &c. C. xvii. 15. Ezec. xii. 22.

Ver. 15. Wormwood, or a bitter poisonous herb. C. ix. 26. Deut. xxix. 18.

Ver. 16. One. Heb. "against a stone." My bread is full of them. Ps. ci. 10. C. --- He describes his afflictions, as if his teeth had been broken. W.

Ver. 18. End. Heb. "strength." Sept. "victory." C.

Ver. 21. Hope. The remembrance fills him with grief and hope. C. xx. 12. H.

Ver. 23. New. Novi should be novÃ¦, to agree with miserationes. C. --- Chal. "new miracles" occur daily. H. --- God's mercies are ever fresh. W.

Ver. 27. Yoke. Afflictions endured for justice sake ensure a blessing. H. --- All may derive great benefit from suffering.

Ver. 28. Himself, with perfect resignation.

Ver. 29. Hope. He does not doubt, but confides with great humility.

Ver. 30. Him. We cannot verify this of the prophet as we can of Christ, (Mat. xxvi. 62. C.) to whom this particularly refers. W.

Ver. 33. Men. He punishes with regret. Ezec. xviii. 23. Our crimes force him to chastise. v. 36. C. --- Yet he seeks our advantage. W.

Ver. 37. Commanded. Heb. "said: It cometh to pass," as if by chance. There have always been Epicureans. Ezec. viii. 12. Ps. xciii. 7. C. --- Those who deny Providence speak. v. 30. W.

Ver. 39. Sins? If all happened by inevitable necessity, or according to the laws of Providence, why should any one complain?

Ver. 41. Up. This posture "is the testimony of a soul naturally Christian." Tert. Apol. --- Our heart must accompany our hands. 1 Tim. ii. 8. C.

Ver. 42. Inexorable. Heb. and Sept. "Thou hast not shewn pity." H.

Ver. 43. Covered thyself, as if not to see our distress.

Ver. 44. Cloud. Is. lix. 2. Eccli. xxxv. 21. These expressions are admirable.

Ver. 47. Prophecy. Many would read, vastatio. Heb. "ruin." Sept. "taking away." C. --- Prot. "Fear and a snare is come upon us, desolation and destruction." The prophets were continually in danger. H. --- The preaching of false prophets has brought these evils upon the people. W.

Ver. 51. Wasted. Lit. "robbed." H. --- I have felt more for my people than they have themselves. Moral writers often product this text, to shew the dangers of an unguarded glance (C.) at women.

Ver. 53. Over me, as if I were buried. H. --- Jeremias was in prison (C. xxxviii. 6.) when he prayed. v. 54. C. xx. 7. C.

Ver. 59. Judge what they have judged unjustly. W.

Ver. 62. Lips; or language (Gen. xi. 1.) thou knowest. v. 60.

Ver. 63. Up, all their conduct. --- Song. v. 14.

Ver. 65. Buckler, to cover all the body. They shall be surrounded with misery, (Ps. cviii. 29.) while God will protect his servants. Ps. v. 13. C. --- Let sorrow pierce their heart, as thy enemies are treated. W.