11 How lonely sits the city That was full of people ! She has become like a widow Who was once great among the nations ! She who was a princess among the [1]provinces Has become a forced laborer ! 2 She weeps bitterly in the night And her tears are on her cheeks ; She has none to comfort her Among all her lovers . All her friends have dealt treacherously with her; They have become her enemies . 3 Judah has gone into exile [2]under affliction And [2]under [4]harsh servitude ; She dwells among the nations , But she has found no rest ; All her pursuers have overtaken her In the midst of [5]distress .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Lamentations 1:1-3
Commentary on Lamentations 1:1-11
(Read Lamentations 1:1-11)
The prophet sometimes speaks in his own person; at other times Jerusalem, as a distressed female, is the speaker, or some of the Jews. The description shows the miseries of the Jewish nation. Jerusalem became a captive and a slave, by reason of the greatness of her sins; and had no rest from suffering. If we allow sin, our greatest adversary, to have dominion over us, justly will other enemies also be suffered to have dominion. The people endured the extremities of famine and distress. In this sad condition Jerusalem acknowledged her sin, and entreated the Lord to look upon her case. This is the only way to make ourselves easy under our burdens; for it is the just anger of the Lord for man's transgressions, that has filled the earth with sorrows, lamentations, sickness, and death.