The Pulpit Commentary — Lamentations — Section 34

100 of Ps. cxix. prove tha.tthe pa1tlmist wa.s (reading mrii.h for ra'iih). The text-reading an aged ma.n (a.gainst this view, see vers. 84 is, "the Lord seeth not." Thie may be ex- --87). There is no oooasion, therefore, for plained either e.s "the Lord regardeth not th,• textual altera.tion (for a.s such I oa.nnot (euoh things)," or es a ,.ueetion, "Doth not help regarding it)," from his youth," found the Lord regard (this)? ' in some Hebrew ma.nuscripts in Thoodo- Vere. 37-54.-EXHOBTATION TO REPmrr- tion, in the Aldine edition of the Septuagint, ANOE ; RENDERED, LAMENTATION, Rnd in the Yulgate. The reading WfU! pro- Vere. 37, 88.-True, God does not desire hably dictated by the unconscious endea.vour our misfortunes. But equally true ie it thnt fo prop up the theory of Jeremie.h's author- they do not happen without his express ~hip. The scribes and tramlators re- permission (comp. IBR. xlv. 7; Amoe iii. 6). membered, inopportunely, that the tria.ls of Ver. 37.-That aa.ith, and it cometh to Jeremiah began in early manhood. pue (oomp. Ps. xxxiii. 9; Gen.j. 3, eto.). Yers. 2S-30.-He sitteth &lone, ete.; Ver. 89.-Wherefore doth a living man r,,ther, Let him sit awne . . . let him keep complain, eto.? The God of whom the poet ~ilenre (Yer. 2S) . . . let him put (ver. 29) speaks is the Searcher of hearts. Why, then, . . . let him give . . . l.et him be filled (ver. should a me.n complain when he knows that 30). The coiinection is-since it is good for he deserves his punishment? The close of a IDnn to be efilict.ed, let him sit still, when the verse should run, (Let) a man (rather trouble is sent, ,md resi~ himself to bear it. sigh) over hi,s sins. Ver. 28.-Because he hath borne it ; rather, Vere. 40-51.-Confession of sin, followed when he (viz. God) hath laid it. by sighs and groans. Ver. 29.-He pntteth his mouth, etc. An Ver. '10.-Let WI eearoh. Our troubles Orients.I me.oner of expressing submission being ca,u~ed by our sins, let us search them (comp. Mica.h vii. 17; Ps. l:u.ii. 9). out and cor1ect them. Yer. 30.-He giveth his cheek. Notioe Ver. 41.-0ur heart with our hands. It the strikini:- affinity (which is hardly acci- is to be sincere prayer ; " spreading out the dcntnl) to Job xvi. 10; Isa. l. 6. The ideal hands" is not enough by itself (Isa. i. 25). of the righteous man, according to these Ver. 42. -We . . . thou. Tue pronouns kindred books, contains, as one of its most are express&d in the Hebrew, and are meant prominent features, the patient endurance of to be spoken with emphasis. u.ffliction; and so too does the same ideal, Ver . .43.~Thou hast covered with anger. received and 8.Il.lp!ified by the greatest The clause seems imperfect ; perhaps "thy- "Rerva.nt of Jehovah" (Matt. v. 39). self" has fallen ont of the text (see next Yers. 31-33.-Two grounds of comfort: verse). (I) the trouble is only for a time, e.nd God Ver. 44.-That our prayer should not pass will have compassion again (vers. 31, 32); through. So Isa. Iviii. 4, "Ye do not so fost and (2) God does oot afflict in a malicious at this time as to make your. voice to .be spirit (ver. 33). heard on high;" Ps. Iv. 1, "Hide not thy- Ver. 33.-Willingly; liteJal.ly, from hill self from my supplica.tion." Ai'.arl. Vere. 46-48.-Here occurs a break in the Vera. 34-39.-These two triads form a alphabetic order, as.these three verses begin, transition to the rtnewed complo.inta and not, as they should, with ayin, .but with pe appeals for help in the following verses. (see Introduction). The first triad is probably an amplification Ver. 46.-This verse is almost a verbal of the statement that " the Lord doth not repetition of the first line of eh. ii. 16. afll,ct willingly." This being the case, the Ver. 47.-Fear and a snare. An allitera- iujustic:e whicl.J darkens human life cannot tion in the Hebrew, borrowed from Jer. be approved by him. xlviii 43 (comp. Isa. xxiv. 17). Ver. 34.-To cruah, etc. With manifest Ver. 48.-Runneth down, etc. (comp. oh. i. reference to the cruelties of the Bal:>ylonian 16). conquerors of the Jews. Ver. 49.-Trickleth down j rather,poureth Ver. 35.-Edore the face of the Kollt down. Ceaseth not; literally, is not silent High. In ancient phraseology, to bring a (comp. Jer. xiv. 17). case Lefore the judges was to bring it Ver. 51.-Affecteth mine heart; rather, "unto the deity" ('el ha-'elohi111), Exod. paineth me; literally, paineth my Boul, the x.xi. 6; comp. :ui.i. 8; or (as the Septuagiut soul being mentioned as the centre of the in c,ne pl\&jlj.ge paraphrases it, "unto God's feelings and ernotions. The daughter& of judgweut-plac.,," i.e. to a sacred spot where my city. The sad fate of the virgins of jud~~s Leid their seeaion. Jerusalem oppressed.the spirit of the writ~r Ver. 36.-Approveth not. The sense is (comp. eh. i. 4, 18; ii. 10, 21). an excellent one, but it is very doubtful Vera. 52-66.-THE SPEAKEn's SUFFEB- wlitther it can be obtained witµout altering INGS; AN EARNESTLY BELIEVU.G PRAYER FOR 4lne of the letters of the word irl the text D ELIVEBAN0&. He speaks as e. represento.ti Vil CH, III, 1-66,] THE LAMEN'rATIONS OF JEREMIAH. 35