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1–11. The prophet's complaint about the sad fate of Zion. 12–20. Reasons for the death of Zion. 21–22. Conclusion. (Pl.4:1-11.) On behalf of the believers, the prophet complains about the sad fate of the inhabitants of Zion, which can only be compared to the fate of the dead. Considering the reasons for such humiliation of Zion, the prophet comes to the conclusion that Zion suffered for its sins and drank, moreover, in full the cup of God’s wrath. The prophet depicts in particular detail the contrast between the former greatness of Zion and its present humiliation. Lam.4:1. How the gold has dimmed, the best gold has changed! The stones of the sanctuary are scattered at all crossroads. The Prophet wonders how pure gold could become tarnished and how precious stones, which were part of the clothing of the highest servant of the sanctuary - the high priest, could become so blackened and contaminated that they were thrown into the mud on the street! It is obvious that by these precious objects the prophet means the great advantages of the Jewish people, which are now not at all respected by anyone. Proverbs 4:2. The sons of Zion are precious, equal to the purest gold, as they are compared to pottery, the work of a potter's hands! The figurative speech of verse 1 is here replaced by a simple one, but the subject of speech is the same. Proverbs 4:3. And the monsters give suck and feed their young, and the daughter of my people has become cruel like ostriches in the desert. “Monsters” – more precisely: jackals. - “Became cruel”, i.e., out of necessity, must be cruel. The residents of Jerusalem not only did not want to, but they did not have the opportunity to feed their children. – “About ostrich x” – see Job. 39:13–16. Proverbs 4:5. Those who eat sweets melt away in the streets; those brought up on the crimson grass huddle close to the dung. The poor, who did not have a place to stay, sometimes spent the night on warm dung heaps, so that at least here they could warm up on a cold night. Proverbs 4:6. The punishment for the wickedness of the daughter of my people exceeds the punishment for the sins of Sodom: it was cast down instantly, and no human hands touched it. The Sodomites did not suffer for a long time; they were not touched by enemies; fire from heaven immediately devoured them, while Jerusalem, before its destruction, experienced all the torments of the siege, and then the anger of the enemies who took the city. Lam.4:7–8. Her princes were purer than snow, whiter than milk; they had a body more beautiful than coral, their appearance was like sapphire; and now their face is darker than all; they are not recognized on the streets; their skin stuck to their bones and became as dry as wood. The Jewish princes, obviously, were not all taken into captivity; some of them remained in the destroyed Jerusalem and eked out a miserable existence. Proverbs 4:9. Those who are killed by the sword are happier than those who are killed by hunger, because they melt away for want of the fruits of the field. “Killed” – more precisely: who are killed. – “They are melting away” – more precisely: they are melting away. The prophet speaks of past torments that the Jews endured during the siege of Jerusalem. (Pl.4:12-20.) Speaking about the reasons for the terrible wrath of God that fell on the heads of the Jews, the prophet points, first of all, to the sins of the prophets and Jewish priests, who especially darkened themselves and brought upon themselves universal contempt for their atrocities. Then the prophet speaks about another reason for the fall of the Jewish state - about the unfounded trust of the people in various foreign nations, who supposedly could help the Jews. Here the prophet dwells on the sad fate of the last Jewish king, captured by the Chaldeans. Lam.4:13. All this is for the sins of his false prophets, for the iniquities of his priests, who shed the blood of the righteous among him; “Blood of the righteous,” i.e., true believing Jews (see Jer. 26:7–15, 6:13–15, 23:11, 27:10, 22:25–28). Lam.4:15. “Move aside! unclean!" shouted to them; “stay away, keep away, don’t touch”; and they left in confusion; and among the people they said: “They will no longer be!” “They shouted at them” - more correctly: “they shouted in front of them.” According to the Law of Moses, lepers, walking along the road and seeing people coming towards them, were obliged to shout to warn them about their illness so that they would step aside (Lev. 13:45). So, everyone must shun these priests and false prophets, defiled by crimes, so as not to touch them by their blood-stained clothes and become defiled. – “Among the people” is more correct: even among the (pagan) peoples there was a conviction about them that they could not stand. Proverbs 4:16. the face of the Lord will scatter them; He will no longer look upon them,” because they do not respect the faces of the priests and do not show mercy to the elders. The words of the prophet “the face of the Lord” are more correct: “the angry gaze of Jehovah.” - “They... do not respect” - more correctly: He (Jehovah) will no longer have mercy. Proverbs 4:17. Our eyes are tired in vain waiting for help; from our watchtower we waited for a people who could not save us. We are talking about the hopes that the inhabitants of Jerusalem, besieged by the Chaldeans, pinned on the arrival of the auxiliary Egyptian army. Proverbs 4:18. And they lay in wait for our steps, so that we could not walk in our streets; our end is near, our days are fulfilled; our end has come. From their embankments, the Chaldeans sent arrows into the city, striking the residents of Jerusalem who carelessly took to the streets (see Jeremiah 39:4–10). Lam.4:20. The breath of our life, the anointed of the Lord is caught in their pits, the one about whom we said: “under his shadow we will live among the nations.” The king, as God's anointed, was the support of the entire Jewish state. While he was with his subjects, they did not yet consider themselves completely lost. But now he is captured by enemies and can no longer protect his people. - In the LXX interpreters, instead of the expression: “the Lord’s anointed” there is: “the anointed Lord.” Blazh. Jerome, in his Latin translation of Lamentations, stays in the passage in question in the LXX translation, and some ancient church interpreters considered this passage a messianic prophecy. Of course, the context of the speech completely contradicts such an interpretation. (Pl.4:21–22.) In conclusion, the prophet still consoles his fellow tribesmen. They were very depressed by the fact that their neighbors-enemies - especially the Edomites kindred to them - rejoiced at the fall of Jerusalem, and, behold, the prophet, comforting his people, says that now Edom’s turn will soon come to drink the cup of the wrath of God, and the Jewish people, having experienced punishment for their sins, will again dwell in their land. Lam.4:21. Rejoice and be glad, daughter of Edom, inhabitant of the land of Uz! And the cup will reach you; get drunk and naked. Lam.4:22. Daughter of Zion! the punishment for your iniquity is over; He will no longer cast you out; but your iniquity, daughter of Edom, He will visit and reveal your sins. “The punishment... is over” - more correctly: “it’s coming to an end.” You might be interested in: