Ver. 22. — It is of the Lord's mercies, ete. ; literally, The Lord's mercies that we are not consumed. But the " we " is difficult, especially considering that in ver. 23 (which is ' clearly parallel) the subject of the sentence is, not "we," but "the Lord's mercies,'' Hence it is probable that the reading of the Targum and the Peshito (adopted by Thenius, Ewald, and Bickell) is correct, "The Lord's mercies, verily they cease not " (tammi for tamnS).
Ver. 24. — The lord is my Portion. A reminiecenre of Ps. xvi. 5 (comp. Ps. iTriii 26 ; cxix. 57 ; cxlii. 5).
Ver. 26. — Should both hope and quietly wait ; rather, should wait in silence. " Si- lence" is an expression of the psalmist's (the Lamentations are psalms) for resigna- tion to the will of God ; comp. Ps. Ixii. 1 (Hebrew, 2) ; Ixv. 1 (Hebrew, 2), and see Authorized Version, margin. The thought of the verse is that of Ps. xxxvii. 7.
Ver. 27.— In his youth. The thought of this veise reminds us of Ps. cxix. 71. Youth is mentioned as the time when it is easier to adapt one's self to circumstanaai, and when discipline is most readily ae- oepted. The words do not prove that the writer is youug, any more than vers. 9 and
31
THE LAMEKTATIONS OF JEBEMIAH. [oh. in. 1— 6«.
100 of Fs. cziz. pioTe that the psalmist was Ml aged man (against this view, see vers. 84 — 87). There is no occasion, ttierefore, for the textual alteration (for as such I cannot help regarding it), " from his youth," found in some Hebrew manuscripts in Theoilo- tion, in the Aldine edition of the Septuagint, and in the Vulgate. The reading was pro- bably dictated by the unconscious endeavour to prop up the theory of Jeremiah's author- ship. The scribes and translators re- membered, inopportunely, that the trials ot Jeremiah began in early manhood.
Vers. 28—30. — He sitteth alone, etc. ; rather, Let Mm lit alone . . . let him keep lilence (ver. 28) , , . let him put (ver. 29) , . let him give . . . let him be filled (ver. SO). The connection is — since it is good for • man to be afiSicted, let him sit still, when trouble is sent, and resign himself to bear it.
Ver. 28. — Becaose he hath borne it ; rather, when he (viz. God) hath laid it.
Ver. 29. — He putteth his mouth, etc. An Oriental manner of expressing submission (oomp. Micah vii. 17 ; Fs. Ixxii. 9).
Ver. 30. — He giveth his cheek. Notice the striking affinity (which is hardly acci- dental) to Job ivi. 10 ; Isa. 1. 6. The ideal of the righteous man, according to these kindred books, contains, as one of its most prominent features, the patient endurance of affliction ; and so too does the same ideal, received and amplified by the greatest "Servant of Jehovah" (Matt. v. 39).
Vers. 31 — 33. — Two grounds of comfort : (1) the trouble is only for a time, and God will have compassion again (vers. 31, 32); and (2) God does not afflict in a malicious spirit (ver. 83).
Ver. 83.— Willingly; literally, /rom hi* heart.
Vers. 34 — 39. — These two triads form a transition to the renewed complaints and appeals for help in the following verses. The first triad is probably an am[ilifl[cation of the statement that " the Lord doth not afflict willingly." This being the case, the injustice which darkens human life cannot be approved by him.
Ver. 34. — To crush, etc With manifest reference to the cruelties of the Babylonian oonquerors of the Jews.
Ver. 85. — Before the face of the Most High, In ancient phraseology, to bring a case before the judges was to bring it "unto the deity {'el hd-'eldhim), Exod. zzi. 6 ; comp. xxii. 8 ; or (as the Septuagint in one passage paraphrases it, " unto God's judgment-place," t.e. to a sacred spot where judges held their session.
Ver. 86. — Approveth not. The sense is an excellent one, but it is very doubtful whether it can be obtained without altering •M of the letton of the word ia th« test
(reading rdfah for rffSH). The text-reading is, " the Lord seeth not." This may be ex- plained eitlier as " the Lord regardeth not (such things)," or as a question, " Doth not the Lord regard (this) ? " Vers. 37 — 54. — Exhobtation to Bkpekt-
AJtOB ; RENDBEED, LAMENTATION.
Vers. 37, 38. — True, God Joes not desire our misfortunes. But equally true is it that they do not happen without his express permission (comp. Isa. xlv. 7 ; Amos iii. 6).
Ver. 37. — That saith, and it oometh to pass (comp. Fs. xxxiii. 9 ; Gen. i. 3, etc.).
Ver. 39. — Wherefore doth a living man complain, eto. ? The God of whom the poet speaks is the Searcher of hearts. Why, then, should a man complain when he knows that he deserves his punishment ? The close of the verse should run, (.Let) a man (rather ligh) over his liTtt.
Vers. 40 — 51. — Confession of sin, followed by sighs and groans.
Ver. 40 Let ns search. Our troubles
being caused by our sins, let us search them out and correct them.
Ver. 41. — Our heart with our hands. It is to be sincere prayer ; " spreading out the hands" is not enough by itself (Isa. i. 25).
Ver. 42. —We . . . thou. Tlje prououns are expressed in the Hebrew, and are meant to be spoken with emphasis.
Ver, 43. — Ihon hast, covered with anger. The clause seemg imperfect ; perhaps " thy- self " has fallen out of the text (see next verse).
Ver. 44. — That onr prayer should not pass through. So Isa. Iviii. 4, " Ye do not so fast at this time as to make your voice to be heard on high ; " Fs. Iv. 1, " Hide not thy- self from my supplication."
Vers. 46—48. — Here occurs a break in the alphabetic order, as these three verses begin, not, as they should, with ayin, but with pe (see Introduction),
Ver. 46. — This verse is almost a verbal repetition of the first line of oh. ii. 16.
Ver. 47. — Fear and a snare. An allitera- tion in the Hebrew, borrowed from Jer. xlviii. 43 (comp. Isa. xxiv. 17).
Ver. 48. — Sunneth down, eto. (oomp. ch. i. 16).
Ver. 49. — Trickleth down ; rather, jwuretA dowH. Ceaseth not; literally, u not eUeni (oomp. Jer. xiv. 17).
Ver. 51. — Affeoteth mine heart; rather, paincth me ; literally, painelh my soul, the soul being mentioned as the centre of the feelings and emotions. The daughters of my oity. The sad fate of the virgins of Jeiusalem oppressed the spirit of the writer (comp. ch. L 4, 18 ; ii. 10, 21).
Vers. 52 — 66. — The Speakee's SuTras-
INGS , AN EARNESTLY BeLIEVINO FBAYEB FOl
Dblivebakob. HespeaksasarepresezitatiTt
CH. in. 1—66.] THE LAMENTATIONS OP JEREMIAH.
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