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Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley, [1754-65], at sacred-texts.com


Lamentations Chapter 1

Lamentations 1:1

lam 1:1

A widow - She that had a king, or rather a God, that was an husband to her, now was forsaken of God, and her king taken from her.

Lamentations 1:3

lam 1:3

Because - Because of the servitude and oppression exercised among them: oppression by their rulers, and servitude more generally; keeping their servants beyond the year of jubilee, when they ought to be set at liberty. The straits - Those that pursued them overtook them in places where they could not escape.

Lamentations 1:4

lam 1:4

She - Persons of all ages and ranks are in bitterness.

Lamentations 1:10

lam 1:10

Pleasant things - Has laid violent hands on them. The things of the sanctuary were always pleasant things to those that feared God.

Lamentations 1:11

lam 1:11

Bread - Even in a land that ordinarily flowed with milk and honey, they were at a loss for bread to eat. Given - And gave any thing for something to satisfy their hunger. Vile - Miserable or contemptible.

Lamentations 1:12

lam 1:12

Is it nothing - The prophet speaks in the name of the Jewish church.

Lamentations 1:13

lam 1:13

Fire - A judgment as consuming, and afflictive as fire.

Lamentations 1:14

lam 1:14

Is bound - Put upon my neck on account of my transgressions. Wreathed - My punishments are twisted as cords; I have a complication of judgments upon me, sword, famine, pestilence, captivity.

Lamentations 1:15

lam 1:15

An assembly - God had called an assembly of Chaldeans against the city, to crush the inhabitants of it. Trodden - God had trodden upon the Jews as men use to stamp grapes in a wine - press.

Lamentations 1:16

lam 1:16

The comforter - God.

Lamentations 1:17

lam 1:17

Jerusalem - Is become loathsome and filthy.

Lamentations 1:19

lam 1:19

Deceived - They did not answer my expectation.

Lamentations 1:20

lam 1:20

Death - By famine and pestilence.

Lamentations 1:21

lam 1:21

They - The neighbouring nations. Like me - But thou hast foretold their destruction also, and hast by me proclaimed it: and thou shalt in that day bring them into as sad a condition as I am in now.


Next: Lamentations Chapter 2