The Steinsaltz Tanakh Tanakh Translation and Commentary

Megillat Eikha Lamentations

Commentary by Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz

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INTRODUCTION TO LAMENTATIONS

According to tradition, the book of Lamentations was authored by the prophet Jeremiah.1 However, the Sages explain that in fact it was Barukh ben Neriya the scribe, Jeremiah’s friend, who wrote the book, based on the words of Jeremiah.2 This book does not contain a running narrative or description of events, but rather consists of lamentations over the downfall of Israel: the killings, famine, exile, and sufferings of the Jewish people. These lamentations are usually understood as specifically addressing the destruction of the Temple, but this interpretation is not absolute. Although they are lamentations for the downfall of an entire kingdom and describe the departure of the nation into exile, they are actually missing an explicit and detailed description of the destruction of the Temple. It is therefore possible that a large portion of these lamentations were written prior to the destruction of the Temple. Support for this suggestion can be found in a verse elsewhere in the Bible that describes the aftermath of the death of King Yoshiya, decades before the destruction of Jerusalem: “And Jeremiah lamented Yoshiya, and all the male and female singers spoke of Yoshiya in their lamentations until this day, and they made them a statute over Israel, and behold, they are written in the lamentations.”3 This indicates that many years before the destruction of the Temple, a collection of lamentations was compiled in which those of Jeremiah over the death of Yoshiya appeared. It would seem, therefore, that the earlier compilation of lamentations is in fact the book of Lamentations. The downfall of Yoshiya is especially fitting as the subject of the third lamentation, which is unique with regard to its length and structure.4 The death of King Yoshiya signified the conclusion of an era. This was understood by those with foresight who lived at the time, despite the fact that, in practice, Yoshiya’s three sons as well as his grandson reigned in Judah after his death. During the reigns of Yoshiya’s successors, Jerusalem was conquered twice, once by the Egyptians, who exiled the king of Judah, and later by the Babylonians, who after an extended siege took another king captive. Repeated attempts to rebel against Babylonian rule did not succeed. It is therefore certainly possible that the military defeat at Megiddo in which Yoshiya was killed was already perceived as the beginning of the end of the kingdom of Judah. The lamentations in this book do not describe an absolute destruction or the final end of the Jewish people. Rather, alongside mourning, themes of hope for consolation in the future are also present. Nevertheless, the catastrophic nature of the downfall is not in doubt, and the lamenter does not anticipate the kingdom’s revival in the near future. Consolation is only for the distant future. It is therefore understandable that these lamentations were written down for future generations, and it is logical that their recitation has become a permanent custom among the Jewish people. Most of the lamentations were written according to an alphabetical acrostic arrangement, with some minor departures. Only the final chapter does not use this acrostic method; even so, it consists of twenty-two verses, just like all the others. This highly stylized method of writing attests to the fact that the contents of the book were composed deliberately, rather than being a spontaneous emotional outpouring. Their form may also indicate an awareness that they would be read on a regular basis. Even one in the midst of mourning, who has difficulty finding the appropriate words to articulate his or her pain, will be able to find an appropriate expression of his emotions within this book.

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Megillat מגילת Eikha איכה

This lamentation depicts the miserable condition of Jerusalem in its destroyed state in comparison with its past Jerusalem eminence. The lamenter describes the loneliness, siege, famine, killing, robbery, captivity, and exile of the inhabitants א א אֵ י כָ ֣ ה ׀ יָֽשְְׁבָ ֣ה ד בָדָ֗ הָעִ יר֙ רַ בָּ ֣תִ י םעָ֔ הָ ֽיְְתָ ה ֖ כְְּאַ לְְְמָ נָ ֑הרַ בָּ ֣תִ י בַ םגֹּויִ֗ שָׂרָ ֙תִ י֙ בַּמְְּדִ ינ֔ ֹות LAMENTATIONS 1:1–22 of the city, as well as the degradation of the city itself. Three times the lamenter pauses in his harsh descriptions and cries out to God, that He should see what He has done. The lamenter is not complaining or accusing God; on the ב contrary, toward the end of the lamentation he justifies the divine sentence that was passed against Jerusalem due הָֽ ְְ י תָ ֖ ה לָ ֽ ס מַ :: ֹובָּכ֨ תִ בְְְכֶּ֜ ה בַּ ַּ֗יְְְלָה לוְְדִ מְְְ עָתָ הּ ֙עַ ֣ל לֶ ֽחֱ יָ֔הּאֵ ֽין־־־לָ ֥הּמְְ נַחֵ ֖םמִ כָָּ ל־־־אֽ ֹהֲבֶ ֑יהָ to the sins of its inhabitants. Still, in his cries to Heaven, he expresses his bewilderment at the harshness of the punishment. The lamentation ends with .a plea for revenge against Judah’s enemies ג כָָּ ל־־־רֵ עֶ֙ ֙יהָ בָּ ֣גְְ דוּ בָ֔הּהָ ֥יוּ לָ ֖הּ לְְאֽ ֹיְְבִֽ ים:: גָּ הֽלְְתָ֨ ֤היְְהוּדָ מֵ ע֙ ֹנִי֙ ֹבוּמֵר֣ עֲ בֹדָ֔ ה הִ֚ יא יָ ֽשׁ ְְבָ ֣ה ד איכה In normal times, the roads to Jerusalem were busy, particularly Discussion for Lamentations 1:1 4 How does the once greatly crowded city of Jerusalem now 1 1 בַגֹּויִ֔ם לֹ֥א מָֽצְְאָ֖המָנֹ֑וחַ כָָּל־רֽ ֹדְְפֶ֥יהָ ּהִשִׂיג֖וּהָ בֵּ֥ין הַמְְּצָרִֽ ים:: דַּרְְְ כֵ֨ יצִּיֹ֜ון אֲבֵל֗ ֹות sit alone? She has become without support, like a widow.D during the pilgrimage festivals when all of Israel would travel Hunting deer, relief at the Palace of Ashurbanipal, Nineveh, seventh Great and important among the nations,5 a princess, ruler, there. But now, the ways, the roads, of Zion mourn, they are century BCE מִבְְּלִי֙ בָּאֵ֣ימֹועֵ֔ד כָָּל־־־שְְׁעָרֶ֙יהָ֙ שֽׁ ֹומֵמִ֔ ין כֹּֽהֲנֶ֖יהָ נֶֽאֱנָחִ֑ים בְְּתֽ וּלֹתֶ֥יהָ נוּגֹ֖ות וְְהִ֥יא and minister among the states: She has become a vassal, sub- desolate, without pilgrims to the festival; all her gates are servient to others! Jerusalem, which was the seat of a great and desolate; her priests sigh, as the city is destroyed and the ה מַר ־־־־־ ֽ לָ הּ :: הָי֨וּ צָרֶ ֤יהָ לְְ רֹאשׁ ֙אֽ ֹיְְבֶ֣יהָ שׁ ָל֔וּכִּֽי־־־יהו֥ה הֹוגָ֖הּ עַ ל־־־ר֣ ֹב ּפְְשׁ ָעֶ ֑יהָעֽ ֹולָלֶ֛יהָ glorious kingdom, has completely lost its prestige. Temple is deserted.7 Her young women are melancholy, and .She, the helpless widow, Jerusalem, weeps at night, as she is she is embittered 2 ו הָֽלְְ כ֥ ו ּ שׁ ְְ בִ ֖ י לִ פְְְ י נֵ ־ ֽ רצָ :: וַ ּיֵ צֵ ֥ א מ ן ב ת־צִ ּיֹ֖וןכָָּ ל־הֲדָרָ ֑הּ הָ י֣וּ ֗ שָׂרֶ יהָ כְְּאַ ּיָלִ ים֙לֹא־מָ ֽצְְא֣ וּ מִ ַבּ ת ־ ashamed to weep in the daytime when people can see her, and 5 Her besiegers are ascendant, her enemies are tranquil, for -her tears are on her cheeks. She attempts to hide her tears the Lord has tormented her for her abundant transgres ז מִרְְְעֶ֔ הוַ ּיֵ ֽלְְכ֥ וּבְְ לֹא־כ֖ ֹחַ לִפְְְ נֵ ֥י ֽ רֹודֵ ף:: זָֽכְְרָ ה֣ יְְרֽ וּשׁ ָ ם לִַ֗ יְְמֵ ֤יעָָ נְְְיָהּ ֙וּמְְְ רוּדֶ֔ יהָ כּ֚ ֹל מַ ֽחֲמֻדֶ֔ יהָ from the eyes of strangers. Of all her lovers, or political allies, sions; her infants are led into captivity before the besieger, .she has no one to comfort her. All her allies have betrayed at the time of Yehoyakhin’s exile to Babylonia אֲשׁ ֶ ֥ר הָ י֖וּ מִ֣ ימֵ י קֶ דֶם בִּ נְְְפ֧ ֹלעַמָּ ֣הּ בְְּ ריַד־צָ֗ וְְאֵ ֤ין עֹוזֵר֙ לָ֔הּ רָ א֣ וּהָ צָרִ֔ ים שָׂ ֽחֲק֖ וּ עַ ל־ All her splendor has gone out of the daughter of Zion. Her 6 her; they have become her enemies; all the countries that had ֑ friendly relationships with her abandoned her after her free and esteemed princes are hungry and lost, like deer that ח downfall. have not found pasture.8 They went powerless before the מִ שׁ ְְְ ב ת ַ ּ ֽ ֶ ה ּ ָ :: חֵ֤טְְְא חָֽטְְאָה֙ יְְר֣ וּשָׁלִַ֔םעַל־־־כֵּ֖ן לְְנִידָ֣ה ההָיָ֑תָ כָָּל־־־מְְכַבְְּדֶ ֤יהָהִּזִיל֙וּהָ֙ .Judah has been exiled in affliction and in great enslave- pursuer; they were led into captivity by their new masters 3 ט כִּֽי־רָא֣וּ עֶרְְְוָתָ֔הּ גַּם־הִ֥יא נֶֽאֶנְְְחָ֖ה ב וַתָּ֥שָָׁ אָחֽ ֹור:: טֻמְְְאָתָ֣הּ בְְּשׁ וּלֶ֗יהָלֹ֤א זָֽכְְרָ ה֙ ,ment. She has settled among the nations, finding no rest איכה because all her pursuers, her perpetual enemies, who had Men and women going into exile on a wagon, Lakhish reliefs, Nineveh, borne animosity toward her for generations, have overtaken 701 BCE Discussion for Lamentations 1:8 8 A sin has Jerusalem sinned; therefore she has become a respond; instead, she sighs and resigns herself to her misery her. They seized the opportunity to take revenge against her D and desolation. while she was pressed within the straits, narrow areas with no pariah. All who honored her have demeaned her, because 6 they saw her nakedness; her shortcomings and agonies have 9 Her impurity, the blood of her menstruation, is perceptible escape routes. been exposed to all.10 Even she herself sighs and has re- on the edges of her skirts, the hems of her garment; in other gressed. She has become weak and therefore does not actively words, her sins are obvious. She had not considered the fact

DISCUSSION Discussion for Lamentations 1:1 1:1 | She has become like a widow: In its the city toward their Father in Heaven; the sub- purity in Temple times. In order to avoid becom- Hunting deer, relief at the Palace of Ashurbanipal, Nineveh, 645–635 BCE simple sense, the verse is declaring Jerusalem jective feeling of Jerusalem, or the people of ing impure, pure individuals would often avoid akin to a widow simply because she is devoid of Israel, that they have been abandoned forever menstruating women and others who were 7 In the days of her affliction and her wretchedness, her suf- protection and her status has become low. But (Rashi; Targum Yonatan; Eikha Rabba 1:3; Targum ritually impure (see, e.g., Jerusalem Talmud, 9 there is also a sense that the city’s “husband,” Yonatan and Pesikta Zutreta on 5:3; see also Shekalim 8:1). The imagery used here and in fering, Jerusalem recalled all her delights that were from God, has abandoned her. A similar expres- Isaiah 54:4–5). the next verse is of Jerusalem as a shunned the days of old. At the moment of her downfall, Jerusalem remembers the good days of yesteryear. With the fall of her Discussion for Lamentations 1:8 sion is found in the last lamentation (5:3): “We 1:8 | She has become a pariah [nidda]: The menstruating woman. According to the Talmud have become orphans, fatherless; our mothers Hebrew word nidda denotes something kept at (Ta’anit 20a), this metaphor was chosen to pro- people into the hand of the besieger, with no one to help are like widows.” This verse can be read liter- a distance or shunned. It is also used to refer to vide a sense of hope for the future: “Just as a her, the besiegers saw her; they mocked her deficiencies. ally, but it can also be seen as an allegory of a menstruating woman. Presumably, this usage menstruating woman will become permitted, Even those who did not actively participate in her destruction the sense of orphanhood felt by the people of so too Jerusalem will be restored.” Men and women going into exile on a wagon, Lakhish reliefs, Nineveh, arose due to the observance of the laws of ritual 701 BCE took pleasure in her downtrodden state.

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11 22 Treading in a winepress - The Lord trampled all my mighty in my midst; He pro 15 that this would be her end. She has declined extraordinari- י ly, far beyond expectations;12 there is no one to comfort her. claimed a festival of many enemies against me in order to אַ ֽחֲרִ יתָ֔הּ וַתֵּ ֣רֶ ד ְְּלָאִ֔יםאֵ פ ֥יןמְְ נַחֵ ֖ם לָ ֑הּ רְְאֵ ֤ה יהוה֙ אֶ ת־עָָנְְְיִ֔י כִּ֥י ילהִגְְְדִּ֖ אֹויֵֽב:: יָ דֹו֙ Consequently, the lamenter pleads: See, Lord, my affliction, break my young men; the -for the enemy has expanded his power; he acts in Jerusalem as Lord has trodden the vir ָּ֣רַשׂ פ רצָ֔ עַ ֖ל כָָּ ל־מַ ֽחֲמַ ֑ דֶּ יהָ כִּ י־רָ ֽאֲתָ ֤הגֹויִם֙ בָּ ֣אוּ מִקְְְדָּשׁ ָ֔ הּ אֲשׁ ֶ ֣ר צִ וִּ֔יתָ ה לֽ ֹא־יָב֥ ֹאוּ he pleases. gin daughter of Judah, a “The besieger spread his hand over all her delights.” Romans carrying The besieger spread his hand over all her delights,i.e., he has moniker for the tribe of 10 יא ָבַ קּ ֖ הָ ל לָ ֽ ךְְְ :: כָָּ ל־עַמָּ ֤הּ נֶ ֽאֱ נָחִ ים֙ ִ֣ מְְבַקְְְשׁ ים םלֶ֔חֶ נָ ֽתְְ נ֧וּ מחמודיה֛ םבְְּא֖ לֹכֶ לְְהָשׁ ִ֣ יב מַ ֽ חֲ מַ דֵּ י הֶ ֛ ם taken them, as she saw the nations entering her Sanctuary, Judah or the residents of .those nations whom You had commanded that they should Jerusalem, in a winepress יב נָ֑פֶשׁרְְאֵ ֤היהוה֙ וְְֽֽהַבִּ֔ יטָ הכִּ֥י הָיִ֖יתִ יזֹֽולֵלָֽה:: ֣ ֹוא לאֲלֵ יכֶם֮ כָָּ ל־עֹ֣בְְרֵ ידֶ֒רֶ ךְְְ֒ הַבִּ֣יטוּ not enter Your assembly. This is referring to the Amonites and We have all been trampled ,the Moavites, whom the Torah denies even the possibility of like grapes by the enemy וּרְְְא֗וּאִ ם־יֵ ֤שׁ מַ כְְְ אֹוב֙ כְְּמַ כְְְ יאֹבִ֔ אֲשׁ ֶ ֥ר עֹולַ ֖ל לִ֑י אֲשׁ ֶ ר֙הֹוגָ ֣היהו֔ה בְְּ יֹ֖ום חֲר֥ ֹון אַ ּֽ פֹו:: conversion to Judaism.13 The entry of such banned and inferior and our blood has been Treading in a winepress nations into the Temple is therefore doubly insulting.14 spilled like wine in a יג מִמָּר֛ ֹוםשָֽׁלַח־אֵ֥שׁ בְְּעַצְְְמֹתַ֖יוַּיִרְְְדֶּ֑נָּה ָּרַ֨שׂפ רֶ ת ֤שֶׁ לְְרַגְְְלַי֙ הֱשִׁיבַ֣נִיאָח֔ ֹור נְְתָנַ֙נִי֙ winepress.23 For these I weep; my eye, my eye sheds water, tears, for a 16 יד מָ שֹֽׁמֵ ֔ ה כּ ָָ ־ ל הַ ֖ ּי ֹו ם דָּ ֽ הוָ :: נִשְְְׂקַ ד֩ ע֨ ֹל ְְּשָׁעַ֜ י פבְְּיָד֗ ֹו יִשְְְׂתָּ֥רְְג֛וּ עָל֥וּעַ י ל־צַוָּארִ֖ הִכְְְשׁ ִ֣יל comforter, a king or other savior, restorer of my soul, has ,grown distant from me. My children have become desolate טו כּ ֹחִ֑י נְְתָ נַ ֣נִי אֲ דֹנָ֔י בִּ ֖ יידֵ לֽ ֥לֹא־אוּכַ קֽ וּם:: סִ ָ֨ה ּלכָָ ל־אַבִּ ירַ ׀֤י אֲ דֹנָי֙בְְּקִרְְְבִּ֔ י קָרָ ֥ א עָלַ ֛י with no guide or supporter, because the enemy has prevailed. Zion spread her hands as a sign of surrender, defeat, and 17 טז -despair;24 there was no comforter for her. The Lord has com מֹועֵ֖דלִשׁ ְְְבּ֣ ֹר בַּ ֽחוּרָ י֑ גַּ֚ תדָּרַ ֣ךְְְאֲ דֹנָ֔ילִבְְְ תוּלַ ֖ת בַּ ֽ ת־־־יְְהוּדָ ה:: עַ ל־־־אֵ ֶה ּ׀֣ל אֲ נִ֣יבֽ ֹוכִ ּיָ֗ה manded for Jacob that his besiegers surround him from all ,sides.25 Jerusalem has become like a pariah among them עֵינִ ֤י׀ עֵ ינִי֙י֣ ֹרְְדָ ה מַּ֔ יִם כִּֽי־רָ חַ ֥ק מִמֶּ ֛נִּי מְְ נַחֵ ֖םמֵשׁ יב ִ֣ ִ ֑ ינַפְְְשׁ הָ י֤וּבָ נַי֙ ֽ שׁ ֹומֵמִ֔ ים כִּ֥י גָבַ ֖ר 26 even more distanced and disgraced. “My young women and young men have gone into captivity.” Jews exiled יז The lamentation is composed with the mindset of acceptance 18 אֹויֵֽב:: ֵּֽרְְ שָׂ֨ הפ צִּיֹ֜וןבְְּיָדֶ֗ יהָ אֵ ֤יןמְְנַחֵ ם֙ לָ֔הּצִוָּ ֧היהו֛ה לְְיַֽעֲק֖ ֹב סְְבִ יבָ֣יו צָרָ ֑יו הָֽיְְתָ ֧ה of God’s sentence: The Lord, who has done all this to us, is יח -The besieger spread his hand over all her delights.” Romans carrying righteous; His judgment is correct, for I have defied, trans“ ו יְְרֽ ָ ּשׁ לַ ֛ ִם לְְ נִ ֖ דָּה ֽ ֵ י בּ י נֵ ֽ ם הֶ :: צַדִּ֥ יק ה֛וּא יהו֖ה כִּ֣י פִ֣יהוּמָרִ֑ י יתִ שׁ ִמְְְ עוּ־־נָ֣א כָָל־־עמ֗ ים הָ ֽ עַ מִּ֗ י ם away the Temple vessels in their victory march, stone relief, Arch of Titus, gressed, His word. Hear now all you peoples, what God has Rome, 82 CE done to us, and see my pain: My young women and young יט וּרְְְ אוּ֙ מַ כְְְ אֹבִ֔ י תֽ בְְּ וּ ל ֥ יֹתַ ֽ וּבַ ֖ יחוּרַ הָ ֽלְְ כ֥ וּ בַשׁ ּ ֶ ֽבִ י:: קָרָ י֤אתִ לַ ֽמְְאַ ֽהֲבַ י֙ הֵ ֣מָּ ה רִמּ֔ וּנִי כּֽ ֹהֲנַ֥י 11 All her people are sighing, seeking bread during the siege; men have gone into captivity. I called to my lovers, those who had presented themselves as 19 they have given all their delights, their most valuable items, כ וּזְְְקֵנַ֖י בָּעִ֣יר גָּוָ֑עוּכִּֽי־בִקְְְשׁ ֥וּ א֙ ֹכֶל֙ לָ֔ מֹווְְיָשׁ ִ֖יבוּ אֶ ת־נַפְְְשׁ ָֽם:: רְְ אֵ ֨ ה י ה ו֤ ה כִּ ֽ י ־ צַ ר ־ לִ י֙ for food to sustain15 life. Again the lamenter requests that God my friends and allies,27 but they deceived me. Meanwhile, my look at him, but now his request is in the name of Jerusalem: priests and my elders, who are usually sustained by public מֵעַ ֣יחֳֳמַרְְְ מָ֔ רוּ נֶהְְְ ַּ ֤ךְְְלִבִּ פי֙ בְְּקִרְְְ יבִּ֔ כִּ֥י מָר֖ ֹומָרִ ֑ יתִ י מִח֥ וּץשׁ ִ כְְּלָ ה־־־חֶ ב֖רֶ בַּבַּ ֥יִת כַּמָּ ֽוֶ ת:: See, Lord, and look, for I have become abject.16 Alternatively, funds (see 4:16), perished in the city, while they sought food -the lamenter is saying that the reason people are starving for for themselves, as the public did not have the means to sup כא שָׁ ֽמְְע֞ וּ כִּ ֧י נֶ ֽאֱ נָחָ ֣ה אָ֗ נִי אֵ ֤ין מְְ נַחֵ ם֙ ילִ֔ כָָּ ל־־־א֨ יֹיְְבַ֜ ָ שׁ ֽמְְע֤ וּ רָ ֽעָתִ י֙ שָׂ֔ שׂ וּ כִּ֥י אַתָּ ֖ה עָשִׂ֑ יתָ bread is that in the past the city was full of gluttony.17 port them during the siege; they tried to restore their lives and .Desolate Jerusalem now turns to the people who pass through sustain themselves, but to no avail 12 כב הֵבֵ֥אתָ יֽ ֹום־־־קָ רָ ֖ אתָ וְְ יִ ֽהְְְ י֥ וּ כָ מֽ ֹנִ י:: תָּבֹ֨אכָָלֽ־־־רָ עָ תָ ֤ ם פָלְְ ֙ י נֶ ךָ ֙ ע וְְ לֵ ֹו ֣ ל לָ ֔ מ ֹו כּ ַ ֽ אֲ שׁ ֥ ֶ ע ר ֹו לַ ֛ לְְְ ָתּ it unheedingly, and expresses its wishes for them: May it not befall you, all wayfarers. Let troubles like mine never befall you.18 Behold and see: Is there any pain like my pain, which לִ֖י ֣לעַ כָָּ ְְּשָׁעָ ל־פ֑י כִּֽי־רַבּ֥ ֹותאַ נְְְ חֹתַ ֖י וְְלִבִּ֥י דַ וָּ ֽי:: has been done to me,19 with which the Lord has tormented

29 me on the day of His enflamed wrath? 20 The lamenter again turns to God, and this time he is apparently misfortune, because You acted. The lamenter now begs: 13 From on high He sent fire into my bones, and He crushed representing both himself and Jerusalem as one: See, Lord, Please, may You bring the day that You proclaimed, and 28 them, flattened and destroyed them. He spread a net for my for I am in distress, my innards burn; my entire body punish them so that they will be like me, with similar suffer- feet, and once I was caught in it, He set me back. He rendered hurts, including my innards. I feel as if my heart is overturned ing to mine. me desolate, suffering,ill and in pain, or, distanced like a men- within me, for I have rebelled, transgressed the word of God. 22 Let all their wickedness, of those who pretended to be my struating woman,20 all day. Outside, the sword bereaves; in the house, it is like death. friends and allies, come before You, and do to them as You 14 The yoke of my transgressions is preserved21 in His hand; Outside the house, people are being killed, but even inside the did to me for all my transgressions, for my sighs are many the transgressions are becoming entangled, coming upon my house, the terror of death is found. and my heart is suffering,suffering from pain. neck like a yoke, sapping my strength. The Lord delivered 21 They heard that I sigh; there is no comforter for me; all me into the hands of those against whom I cannot stand. “My young women and young men have gone into captivity.” Jews exiled my enemies heard of my misfortune, were glad at my from Lakhish, above left: men, above right: women; Lakhish reliefs, Nineveh, 701 BCE

9 8 Lamentations | Chapter 2 איכה | פרק ב

Whereas the previous lamentation emphasized the enemy whom God sent to torment Jerusalem for her ”,God’s Treatment of the sins, this one opens by stressing the lamenter’s astonishment at God’s affliction of “the daughter of Zion ב א אֵ יכָה֩יָעִ֨ יב בְְּאַ ֹּ֤ו׀אֲ פ דֹנָי֙אֶ ת־בַּת־צִּיֹ֔וןהִשׁ ְְְלִ ֤יךְְְ מִשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ ץ אֶ֔רֶ תִּפְְְאֶ֖רֶ תיִשְְְׂרָאֵ ֑ל Daughter of Zion “the daughter of Jerusalem,” and “the daughter of Judah.” The word “daughter” appears eleven times in this .lamentation. Here, it is God who degrades Israel and its leaders and destroys their homes and fortresses ב וְְלֽ ֹא־זָכַ ֥ר הֲדֽ ֹם־רַ גְְְלָ ֖יו בְְּ יֹ֥ום אַ ּֽ פֹו:: בִּ ַ֨ ּלע אֲ דֹנָ֜י ל֣ א לחָמַ֗ אֵ֚ תכָָּ ל־נְְא֣ ֹות יַ ֽעֲק֔ ֹב הָרַ ֧ס וְְ ל֣ ֹ א LAMENTATIONS 2:1–22 God appears as an enemy Himself, not only as He who sent the enemy. The lamenter subsequently accuses the false prophets of Jerusalem of having prevented the inhabitants of ג בְְּעֶבְְְרָת֛ ֹו מִבְְְ ֥ צְְרֵ יבַ ת־־־יְְהוּדָ ֖ ה הִ גִּ֣יעַ לָאָ ֑רֶ ץ חִ ֵּ֥ל למַמְְְ לָכָ ֖ה ֽ וְְשָׂרֶ יהָ :: גָּדַ ע֣ בָָּ ֽחֳֳרִ י־־־אַ֗ ף Jerusalem from confronting their sins and changing their ways by soothing them with false prophecies. Now, there are no longer any prophecies, and the sounds of rejoicing of those who would come for the pilgrimage festivals no longer emanate from the city. Instead, the sounds that are heard in Jerusalem are those of babies crying for food and drink; the shouts and cries of its defeated inhabitants; expressions of astonishment and sorrow, as כֹּ֚ל קֶ ֣רֶ ןיִשְְְׂרָ אֵ֔ להֵשׁ יב ִ֥ אָח֛ ֹור יְְמִ ינ֖ ֹו מִ ְְּנֵ֣י פאֹויֵ ֑ב וַ ּיִבְְְעַ ֤ר יַ בְְּ ֽעֲ קֹב֙ כְְּאֵ ֣שׁ לֶ הֽהָבָ֔ אָ ֽכְְלָ ֖ה well as eulogies, by those who pass through the ruined city; and the voices of enemies rejoicing over Israel’s misfortune. ד סָ בִ ֽ י ב :: דָּרַ ֨ךְְְ קַשׁ ְְְתּ֜ ֹוכְְּ אֹויֵ֗ב ָ֤ביְְמִ ינֹוּ֙נִצכְְּצָ֔ ר וַ ּֽיַ ֹגֽהֲר֔ כּ֖ ֹלמַ ֽחֲמַ דֵּ י־־־עָ ֑יִןבְְּא֙ לֹ֙הֶ בַּ ת־־־צִ ּי֔ ֹון 2 1 How the Lord has clouded over the daughter of Zion in His 5 The Lord was like an enemy; He demolished Israel,- de wrath. He cast the splendor of Israel from the heavens to molished all its palaces, destroyed its strongholds, and ה ך שָׁפַ ֥ ְְְ ּ כ ָ ֖ ֵ א שׁ ח ֲ ָ מ ֽ ת ֹו :: הָ יָ֨האֲ דֹנָ֤י ׀ כְְּ אֹויֵב֙ בִּ ַּ֣ע ליִשְְְׂרָאֵ֔ ל בִּ ַע֙ ּלכָָּ ל־אַרְְְמְְ נֹותֶ֔ יהָ שׁ ִחֵ ֖ת the earth and did not remember His footstool, a flowery multiplied sounds of mourning and moaning in the daugh- metaphor for the Temple,30 on the day of His wrath. ter of Judah.33 ו מִבְְְצָרָ֑יווַּיֶ֙רֶב֙ בְְּבַת־יְְהוּדָ֔התַּֽאֲנִּיָ֖ה וַֽאֲנִּיָֽה:: וַּיַחְְְמ֤ ֹס כַּגַּן֙ שֻׂכֹּ֔ו שִׁחֵ֖ת מֽ ֹעֲד֑ ֹו שִׁכַּ֨ח 2 The Lord has demolished 6 He stripped His shrine, His dwelling place,34 picking all its and has had no compas- fruits, like a garden;35 He destroyed His place of assembly, or ז יהו֤ה׀ בְְּצִ ּיֹון֙מֹועֵ ֣ד וְְשׁ ַבָּ֔ וַ ת ֥ ץּיִנְְְאַ בְְּ זַ ֽעַ ם־אַ ֹּ֖ומֶ פ֥לֶךְְְ וְְ כֹהֵ ֽן:: זָנַ֨ חאֲ דֹנָ ֤י ׀מִ זְְְבְְּ חֹו֙ נִאֵ ֣ר sion for all the pleasant the place where He attended.36 The Lord caused festival and habitations of Jacob; He Sabbath to be forgotten in Zion. The times have become so מִקְְְדָּשֹׁ֔והִסְְְגִּ יר֙ בְְּ יַד־־־אֹויֵ֔ב חֹומ֖ ֹת אַרְְְ מְְ נֹותֶ ֑יהָ ק֛ ֹול נָ ֽתְְ נ֥ וּבְְּבֵ ֽית־־־יהו֖ ה כְְּ יֹ֥ום מֹועֵ ֽד:: destroyed, in His ire, the bitter and hard that the festivals, and even the Sabbaths, are no ,strongholds of the daugh- longer discernable. The routine of life has become poor, dull ח חָשַׁ֨ב יהו֤ ׀הלְְהַשׁ ְְְחִ ית֙ חֹומַ ֣ ת בַּ ת־צִ ּי֔ ֹון נָ ה֣טָ קָ֔ ו לֽ ִ֥ ֹא־הֵשׁ יב יָד֖ ֹו מִ בַּ ֵּ ל ֑עַ וַ ּיַֽאֲ בֶ ל־־־חֵ ֥ל ter of Judah. He brought and sad. And He, God, scorned, cursed and harmed, king and 31 .them to the ground; He priest of Israel in His furious wrath ט ָֽט The Lord forsook His altar, cursed and ceased to protect His 7 profaned, disgraced, and הוְְחֹומָ֖ י ַ חְְְ ֥ דָּ אֻ ו מְְְ ֽ ל לָ ו ּ :: בְְע֤וּ בָאָ֙רֶ ץ֙ שׁ ְְעָרֶ֔ יהָ אִבַּ֥דוְְשׁ ִבַּ֖רבְְּרִ יחֶ ֑יהָ מַלְְְכָּ֨הּוְְשָׂרֶ ֤יהָ eliminated a kingdom and Temple. He gave into the hand of the enemy the walls of her י its princes. palaces. Since the whole city has been delivered to the control בַ גֹּויִם֙ אֵ ֣יןתּ ֹורָ ה֔ גַּ ם־נְְבִ יאֶ֕ יהָ לֹא־מָ ֽצְְא֥ וּחָ ז֖ ֹון מֵ ֽיהוֽ ה:: יֵ ֽשׁ ְְב֨ וּ לָאָ ֤רֶץ יִדְְּ מוּ֙זִקְְְ נֵ ֣יבַ ת־־־ 3 He severed in enflamed of foreigners, they made a loud noise in the House of the wrath all the grandeur “He destroyed, in His ire, the Lord, like a day of festival. The sounds of the massacre and צִּיֹ֔ון הֶ ֽעֱל֤ וּ עָפָ ר֙ עַ ל־־־רֹאשׁ ָ֔ ם חָ ֽגְְר֖ וּ ֑ שַׂקִּ יםהֹורִ ֤ ידוּ לָאָ֙רֶ ץ֙רֹאשׁ ן ָ֔ בְְּ תוּל֖ ֹת יְְרֽ ָ וּשׁ לָ ִֽם:: of Israel. In normal times, strongholds of the daughter of battle in the Temple brought back memories of voices raised in יא God protects His nation Judah.” The siege of Lakhish and the song and thanks that would emanate from those celebrating the כָּל֨וּ בַדְְּמָע֤ ֹות עֵ ינַי֙חֳֳמַרְְְמְְר֣ וּ ימֵעַ֔ נִשׁ ְְְ ַּ ֤פ ךְְְלָאָ֙רֶ ץ֙כְְּבֵדִ֔ י עַ ל־שׁ ֶ ֖בֶ ר בַּ ת־עַמִּ֑י בֵּ ֽעָטֵ ֤ף stronghold under attack, Lakhish 37 and does not allow the reliefs, Nineveh, 701 BCE festivals in previous years. The Lord resolved to destroy the wall of the daughter of 8 enemy to do as it wishes to- יב עֹולֵל֙ וְְיֹונֵ֔ק בִּרְְְ חֹבֹ֖ותקִרְְְ יָֽה:: לְְאִמּ ֹתָ ם֙ יֹֽאמְְר֔וּאַּיֵ֖ה דָּגָ֣ן וָיָיִן֑ בְְּהִֽתְְְעַ ּטְְפָ֤ם כֶּֽחָלָל֙ ward it; but now, He retracted His right hand, which prevents Zion; He drew, marked a line in preparation of His plan of ,the enemy from harming Israel, from being before the enemy, action, and did not withdraw His hand from demolishing יג בִּרְְְ חֹבֹ֣ות עִ֔ירבְְּהִשְְְׁתַּ ֵּ֣ךְְְ פ םנַפְְְשָׁ֔ אֶ ל־חֵ֖יק אִמּ ֹתָֽם:: מָ ֽה־אעוד֞ ך מָ֣ה אֲדַמֶּ ּה־לָ֗ךְְְ י אֲ עִ דֵ ֞ ך ְְְ allowing the enemy to act unrestrained,32 who burned Jacob but implemented His plan. He caused rampart and wall to ,like flaming fire, consuming all around. mourn, together they languish. Arrows stretched for firing, stone relief, Palace of Ashurbanipal, Nineveh הַבַּת֙יְְר֣ וּשָׁלִַ֔ם מָ ֤ה ָךְְְ֙ ּאַשְְְׁוֶה־לוַֽאֲנַֽחֲמֵ֔ךְְְ בְְּתוּלַ֖תבַּת־צִּיֹ֑ון כִּֽי־גָד֥ ֹולכַּּיָ֛ם שִׁבְְְרֵ֖ךְְְ 4 He, God himself, drew His bow against us as an enemy. Not 9 Her gates sank into the ground; essentially, they have disap- only did God withhold His hand from restraining the enemy, peared, because people have stopped using them and therefore but His right hand stood against us as a besieger, and He they no longer serve any purpose. He eradicated and broke killed all delights of the eye. In the tent of the daughter of her bars, which would have been used to close the gates. Her 11 The lamenter’s distress at the sight of his eyes is so great that in the city squares, while their souls are poured into their Zion, He poured His fury like fire. king and her princes are exiled among the nations and can- he feels as though it physically harms him: My eyes fail from mothers’ bosoms. not help. There is no Torah; her prophets, too, could not the many tears; my innards burn.39 I am overcome with a ter- 13 What shall I attest to you? What similar case can I cite in find a vision from the Lord. All is hidden and unknown. The 40 rible stomachache; my liver is poured on the earth over the order to comfort you? To what shall I liken you, what meta- leaders have gone into exile, and those who are left offer no disaster of the daughter of my people, as the infants and phors can I use in order to explain your situation, daughter comfort. 10 The elders of the daughter of Zion sit on the ground, are the suckling babes faint in the city squares. of Jerusalem? To what shall I equate you, with what can I 38 12 To their mothers they, the young children, say: Where is compare your suffering, and thereby comfort you, virgin silent. They have placed dust on their heads, have girded grain and if there is no bread, where is there wine to refresh daughter of Zion? For your disaster is as vast as the sea; themselves with sackcloth. The young women of Jerusalem our souls? while fainting like the wounded, as lifeless corpses who can heal you? No one can. Arrows stretched for firing, relief at “He poured His fury like fire.” have lowered their heads to the ground. Both the young and the Palace of Ashurbanipal, Nineveh, Burnt room, City of David, the old mourn. 645–635 BCE Jerusalem, sixth century BCE

11 10 Lamentations | Chapter 3 איכה | פרק ג

Your prophets, who were not true prophets of God, envi- stream, day and night; do not give yourself respite; let the 14 יד sioned and delivered prophecies of futility and foolishness apple of your eye not cease. Do not allow yourself to stop י מִ֥ יִרְְְ ָּא־לָפ ֽךְְְ :: נְְבִיאַ֗יִךְְְחָ ֤זוּ לָךְְְ֙ שָׁ֣ וְְְאוְְתָפֵ֔ל ּוְְלֹֽא־גִל֥וּ עַל־עֲ ֹו נֵ֖ךְְְלְְהָשִׁ֣יב שבית֑ ך ב ו שׁ ְְ ּ ֵ ת ך ֑ ְְְ weeping.43 for you, as they had no substance, and did not reveal your טו - The lamenter now turns to Israel:Arise, cry out while eulogiz 19 iniquity to bring about your rehabilitation, to return you to וַּיֶחֱזוּ ֣ לָ֔ךְְְמַשְְְׂא֥ ֹות שׁ ָ א֖וְְְ וּמַדּוּחִֽ ם:: סָ ֽפְְק֨ וּ עָלַ ֤יִךְְְ כַּ ּכַָָּ֙יִם֙ פל־ע֣ יֹבְְרֵ דֶ֔רֶ ךְְְשׁ ָ ֽרְְ קוּ֙ וַּיָנִ֣עוּ 44 your previous state. They betrayed their mission, which was to ing at night, at the beginning of the watches. For watchmen, castigate you for your sins and inspire you to repent. Instead, the night is divided into shifts, and the time at the beginning רֹאשָׁ֔ ם עַ ל־בַּ ֖תיְְרֽ וּשׁ ָלָ ִ֑םהֲ זֹ֣את הָעִ֗ יר ֶ שׁ ּיֹֽאמְְ רוּ֙כְְּלִ֣ילַ ת ייֹ֔פִ מָשׂ֖ ֹושׂ לְְכָָ ל־הָאָ ֽרֶ ץ:: 45 they allowed you to deteriorate and envisioned for you of each shift is opportune for prayer. Pour out your heart prophecies of futility and deviance, or incitement, which in- like water, sob uncontrollably during these hours of the night טז ּ ָ פצ֨ וּ עָ לַ ֤ יִ ךְְְ ּ ִיהֶם֙כָָּ פל־א֣ ֹיְְבַ֔ יִ ךְְְ שׁ ָ ֽרְְ קוּ֙ וַ ּיַ ֽחַ רְְְ קוּ ן ֵ֔ ־שׁ אָ ֽמְְ ר֖ וּ בִּ ָּ֑עְְְ נוּ ל אַ ֣ ךְְְ זֶ ֥ה הַ ּי֛ ֹום שׁ ֶ קִּ וִּ ינֻ ֖הוּ cited you to abandon the correct path.41 Instead of telling you before the face of the Lord over your situation. Lift up your the hard truth, which would have convinced you to change hands to Him in prayer for the life of your infants, who are יז מָ צָ ֥אנוּרָ אִֽ ינוּ:: עָשָׂ֨ ה יהו֜ה אֲשׁ ֶ ֣ר זָמָ֗ ם בִּ ַ֤ע ּצאֶמְְְרָ תֹו֙ אֲשׁ ֶ ֣ר צִוָּ ֣ה מִֽ ימֵ י־קֶ֔דֶ ם הָרַ ֖ ס your ways and repent, your prophets affirmed your behavior, faint with hunger at the head of every street. Not only the -enabling you to continue your evil ways unimpeded. adults are starving to death; even the young children have noth יח וְְל֣ ֹאחָמָ ֑לוַיְְְשַׂמַּ ֤ח עָלַ֙ יִךְְְ֙ אֹויֵ֔ב הֵרִ֖ ים קֶ֥ רֶ ן ֽ צָרָ יִךְְְ :: ֥קצָעַ לִבָּ ֖ם אֶ ל־אֲ דֹנָ ֑י חֹומַ ֣ת בַּ ת־ 15 All wayfarers clapped their hands at you; they whistled and ing to eat. Like the previous lamentation, this one also concludes with a 20 shook their heads, expressions of grief, at the daughter of צִּ֠יֹ֠וןהֹורִ֨ידִי כַ נַּ ֤חַ ל דִּ מְְְ עָ ה֙יֹומָ ֣םוָלַ֔ יְְְלָ ה אַ ל־־־תִּתְְּ נִ ֤יפוּגַת֙ לָ֔ךְְְאַ ל־־־תִּ ֹםדּ֖ בַּ ת־־־עֵ ינֵ ֽךְְְ :: Jerusalem. At the sight of your ruin, they wonder: Is this the call to God to see how lowly Jerusalem has become, and once ,city that was said to be perfect beauty, the joy of the entire again the lamenter personally identifies with Jerusalem: See יט ק֣וּמִ י ׀ ר֣ ֹנִּי בַ ַ֗יְְְלָ לְְ ּלרֹאשׁ ֙אַשְְְׁמֻר֔ ֹות שִׁפְְְכִ֤י כַמַּ֙יִם֙ לִבֵּ֔ךְְְ נֹ֖כַ ח ּפְְנֵ֣י אֲ דֹנָ֑י שְְׂאִ֧י אֵלָ֣יו earth? Lord, and behold to whom You have done this. Shall wom- All your enemies opened their mouths wide, jeering en eat their fruit, the infants of their nurturing? Was it Your 16 כ against you; they whistled and gnashed their teeth, expres- intention that the starvation should be so terrible as to cause ַכּ ּ ֙ פַ֗יִךְְְעַל־־־נֶ פֶ ֙ שׁ עֽ ֹו לָ ֔ לַ יִ ךְְְ הָ ֽ ט עֲ ּ ו ֥ יפִ ם בּ ְְ רָ עָ ב ֖ בּ ְְ ר֥ ֹ אשׁ כּ ָָ ל ־־־ ח ו ּ צֽ ֹו ת :: רְְ אֵ ֤היהוה֙ וְְֽֽהַבִּ֔ יטָ ה sions of anger or animosity. They said: We have demolished this to happen? Shall the priest and the prophet be slain in her; indeed, this is the day for which we hoped, the day of the Temple of the Lord, which is supposed to be a place of לְְמִ֖י עֹולַ ֣לְְְתָּ כּ֑ ֹהאִ ם־תּ ֹאכַ֨לְְְ נָה נָשׁ ִ ֤ים ּפִרְְְ יָם֙עֽ ֹלְְלֵ ֣י טִ ּיםֻחִ֔ פ אִ ם־־־יֵ ֛ ֽהָרֵ גבְְּמִקְְְ דַּ ֥שׁ אֲ דֹנָ ֖י refuge? Was that Your intent? .Jerusalem’s downfall; now we found it, we saw it כא Lad and elder lay on the ground in the streets; my young Discussion for Lamentations 2:17 21 The Lord accomplished that which He devised;D He imple- 17 הֵכֹּ ֥ ן וְְ נָ ֽ י בִ א :: שׁ ָֽכְְב֨ וּ לָאָ ֤רֶץ חוּצֹות֙ נַ֣עַ ר ןוְְזָקֵ֔ בְְּתֽ וּלֹתַ֥יוּבַֽחוּרַ֖ ינָֽפְְל֣וּ בֶחָ ֑רֶ בהָרַ֙גְְְתָּ ֙ mented His statement that He commanded from the days women and my young men fell by the sword. You killed on כב -of old. He had warned you in His Torah of defeat and destruc- the day of Your wrath; You slaughtered, had no compas בְְּיֹ֣ום אַ ֶּ֔ךָ פטָבַ ֖חְְְתָּ ל֥ ֹאחָמָ ֽלְְְתָּ :: תִּקְְְרָ א֩כְְיֹ֨ום מֹועֵ ֤ד מְְ גוּרַ י֙ מִסָּבִ֔ יבוְְל֥ ֹאהָ יָ֛ה בְְּיֹ֥ום tion, starvation and war, and now His retribution for your sins sion. You have harmed us mercilessly. You have called, invited, as on an appointed day, my fears to 22 has come to pass.42 He destroyed and had no compassion. אַ ף־יהו֖ ה ּפָלִ֣יט וְְשָׂרִ֑ יד אֲשׁ ֶ ר־טִ ַּ פ י֥חְְְתִּ יוְְרִבִּ֖יתִ אֽ ֹיְְבִ֥י כִ ָ ּלֽם:: He caused the enemy to rejoice over you, raised the horn of come from all around, and there was no survivor or remnant א ,your antagonists. He has empowered them in their own eyes. on the day of the Lord’s wrath. All the houses, gardens, books ג ב אֲנִ֤י הַגֶּ֙בֶר֙רָאָ֣ה עֳֳנִ֔יבְְּשֵׁ֖בֶט עֶבְְְרָתֹֽו:: אֹותִ֥י נָהַ֛ג וַּיֹלַ֖ךְְְ חֹ֥שֶׁךְְְ וְְלֹא־אֹֽור:: 18 Their hearts, the hearts of the city’s inhabitants, cried to public works, and those children whom I nurtured and reared, the Lord. Wall of the daughter of Zion, let tears fall like a my enemy annihilated; I remain alone in the world.

The third lamentation is distinct from the others in structure, style, and The Man Who Views the Suffering of His Nation content. LAMENTATIONS 3:1–66 As opposed to the other lamentations, whose verses are long and composed of several parts, the verses here are short. Most of the other lamentations feature one verse beginning with each letter of the Hebrew alphabet, forming an alphabetic acrostic; here, while the alphabetic acrostic structure is maintained, there are three verses for each letter. Stylistically, the broad use of first person singular is conspicuous. Although throughout the book of Lamentations there are verses where the prophet speaks of his own personal anguish and pain upon observing the destruction, nevertheless Jerusalem is generally referred to in the third person, sometimes assuming the persona of a woman. This lamentation, by contrast, is recited by a man who considers himself an example and a symbol for the entire nation, and therefore his personal experience is emphasized. There are further differences between this lamentation and the others that relate to the content: Whereas in the other lamentations the prophet describes the historical context for his feelings, including references to starvation and murder, the physical destruction of Jerusalem, and the enemies inflicting this destruction and rejoicing in it, this lamentation does not present any such descriptions. Instead, it focuses on the lamenter’s personal DISCUSSION suffering; his wavering between hope and despair; and his fluctuation between surrender and acceptance of the situation on the one hand, and his Discussion for Lamentations 3:14 2:16–17 | All your enemies opened their and ayin, respectively, which is contrary to the interpretive explanations for this phenomenon, pain, cries, and struggling on the other. There is no question of “how [eikha] this can have happened,” as is found in the other lamentations, only a mouths…The Lord accomplished that which common order. This change to the alphabetical but it is possible that in those days the order of description of the current situation. He devised: Although this lamentation, like order appears in the third and fourth lamenta- the Hebrew alphabet was not entirely fixed (see The lamentation ends with a prayer that God deliver appropriate retribution to the enemy for mocking and inflicting destruction on the Jewish people. the other lamentations, is written in alpha- tions as well (3:46–51; 4:16–17). There are various also Sanhedrin 104b; Eikha Rabba 2:20). betical order, verses 16 and 17 begin with peh 3 1 I am the man who has seen and sufferedaffliction by the rod 2 He, God, conducted and led me in darkness and not in light. of His fury.46

13 12 Lamentations | Chapter 3 איכה | פרק ג

ג My soul has forsaken 17 Indeed, against me He will again turn His hand all day. God 3 ד -came back again and again to strike me relentlessly. peace; my soul has aban ה אַ֣ךְְְ בִּ֥ י יָשׁ ֻ֛ ב יַ ֽהֲ פ֥ ֹךְְְ יָד֖ ֹו כָָּ ל־הַ ּיֹֽום:: בִּ ָּ֤הבְְ לשָׂרִ י֙וְְ עֹורִ ֔ י שׁ ִבַּ ֖רעַצְְְ מֹותָ ֽי:: בּ נָ ָ ה ֥ עָ לַ ֛ י וַ ּיַ ַקּ ֖ ף He wore away my flesh and my skin, broke my bones. doned its hope for peace. I Poison hemlock, Conium maculatum 4 ו He built against me a wall have forgotten the possibil- Background for Lamentations 3:5 5 ז ר֥ ֹאשׁ וּתְְְלָאָ ֽה:: בְְּמַ ֽחֲשׁ ַכִּ֥ים ִהֹֽושׁ יבַ ֖נִי כְְּמֵתֵ ֥י עֹולָ ֽם:: גָּדַ ֧רבַּֽעֲדִ֛ יוְְל֥ ֹא אֵצֵ֖א הִכְְְבִּ֥יד of siege,47 and surrounded ity of goodness because I ח .me with gall,B a bitter and am engulfed in distress ט ָָ נְְח שׁ ְְְ ת ֽ ִ י ּ :: גַּ ֣םכִּ ֤יאֶ זְְְעַ ק֙וַ ַ ֽאֲשׁ וֵּ֔עַ ֖ םשָׂתַ תְְּ פִ ּלָתִֽ י:: ֤רגָּדַ דְְּרָ כַ י֙בְְּגָזִ֔ית נְְתִֽ ֖ייבֹתַ עִ וָּ ֽה:: דּ֣ ֹ ב 48 י When I saw that God was 18 poisonous weed, and יא adversity. ignoring me, I said: My יב אֹרֵ ֥ ב הוּא֙ לִ֔ י אר֖ יה בְְּמִסְְְתָּרִֽ ים:: כַ דְְּרָ ֥י סֹורֵ ֛ רוַ ֽיְְְפַשְְּׁחֵ ֖נִי שָׂמַ ֥נִי שׁ ֹומֵ ֽם:: ך דָּרַ֤ ְְְ ַ ק שׁ ְְְ ת ּ ֙ ֹו אֲ רִ ֖ י 6 Wormwood ,He settled me in darkness, eternity, my eternal soul יג like those long dead, who and my expectation, my hope, have perished, are lost, from יד וַ ִ ּּיַציבֵ֔ נִי כַּמַּ ּט ֖ אָרָ לַחֵ ֽץ:: הֵבִ יא֙בְְּכִלְְְ יֹתָ֔ י נֵ בְְּ ֖י אַשׁ ְְְ ָּתֽ פֹו:: הָיִ י֤יתִ שְְׂ חֹק֙לְְכָָ ל־עַמִּ֔ י נְְגִֽינָתָ ֖ ם dwell in eternal darkness. the Lord.55 טו , Remember my affliction and my anguish, my hardship 19 He fenced me in, limited my Gall, hemlock 7 טז כָָּ ל־הַ ּיֹֽום:: הִשְְְׂבּ י ִ ֥ עַ ינִ בַ מּ ְְ ר ֹו רִ֖ י ם הִ רְְְ ֥ וַ נִ י לַ ֽ עֲ ֽ נָה :: וַ ּיַגְְְרֵ ֤ס בֶּ ֽחָ צָ ץ֙שׁ ִ נָּ֔יהִכְְְ ִּ פ ַ ישׁ ֖נִי בָּאֵ ֽפֶ ר:: .movement, so that I would which is bitter likewormwood and gall יז In the future You will remember, and yet in the meantime, my 20 not emerge; He made my יח וַתִּ זְְְנַ ֧ח מִשֹּׁוםָל֛ נַפְְְשׁ ִ֖ י נָשׁ ִ֥ יתִ יטֹובָ ֽה:: וָֽאֹמַר֙ אָ בַ ד ֣ נִ צְְְ חִ ֔ י תֽ וְְ ֹו חַ לְְְ תּ י ֖ ִ מֵ י ה ֽ וֽ ה :: זְְכָָר־עָָנְְְיִ֥י fetters heavy, so that they soul is bowed down within me from the toil and suffering.56 יט , Despite the pain and anguish that God has wrought upon me 21 bind me down.49 כ כא ר וּ מְְְ ּ ו ֖ דִ י לַ ֽ עֲ ֥ נָה וָ ֹ רֽ אשׁ :: זָכ֣ ֹורתִּ זְְְכּ֔ ֹור ותש֥ יח ֖עָלַ י נַ פְְְ ִ ֽ י שׁ :: זֹ֛את אָשׁ ִ֥ יב אֶ ל־לִבִּ֖י עַ ל־ ָ ת וְְ שׁ ֥ ֹו חַ 8 Even as I cry and plead, He almost leading me to despair, this I will reply to my heart; I -blocks my prayer,50 prevent- constantly remind myself of the following principle, and there כב ing it from reaching Him and fore I will await, or I have hope.57 כג ֥ן כֵּ אֹוחִֽ יל:: חַֽסְְְדֵ ֤י יהוה֙ כִּ֣ילֽ ֹא־־־תָ֔מְְְ נוּ כִּ֥י לֽ ֹא־־־כָל֖וּרַ ֽחֲמָ ֽיו:: חֲ דָ ִ י שׁ ם ֙ ל ב ַ ְְ ּ קָ רִ ֔ י ם רַ ָ ּ ֖ ב ה . It is due to the Lord’s kindnesses that we have not ceased 22 being accepted. כד He fenced my ways with Thanks to the Lord’s mercies we have not been utterly- con 9 כה מֽ אֱ ּ ו ָ נ תֶ ֽ ך ָ :: חֶלְְְקִ֤ייהוה֙ אָֽמְְרָ֣ה ינַפְְְשִׁ֔ עַל־־־כֵּ֖ן אֹוחִ֥יל לֹֽו:: ט֤ ֹוב יהוה֙ לְְקֹוָ֔ו לְְנֶ֖פֶשׁ hewn stone, stones for con- sumed; we still exist, despite all the troubles, for His mercies כו struction that block roads; have not ended. This faith was expressed by the Jewish people כז דְְְ תִּ רְְ שׁ ֶ ֽ נ ו ּ ּ :: טֹ֤וב וְְיָחִ יל֙וְְ דוּמָ֔ םלִתְְְשׁ ֖תוּעַ יהוֽ ה:: ט֣ ֹוב לַגֶּ֔בֶ ר ָּ֥א כִּֽי־־־יִשׂע֖ ֹל ֽ בִּנְְְעוּרָ יו:: He distorted my paths. Not in all of their exiles.58 כח Remains of fetters, Roman period D כט New every morning, great is the trust in You. Alternatively, Discussion for Lamentations 3:23 23 only does He not redeem me ל יֵשׁ ֤בֵ בָּדָ ד֙ וְְיִדּ֔ ֹם כִּ֥י ֖לנָטַ עָלָ ֽיו:: יִתֵּ ֤ן בֶּ ֽעָפָ ר֙ ִּ֔ פיהוּ אוּלַ ֖ייֵ ֥שׁ תִּקְְְוָ ֽה:: יִ ֧ ֵ ן תּ לְְ מַ ֵכּ ֛ ה ּ ו לֶ ֖ חִ י .from my troubles, but He every morning my faith in You strengthens anew לא 24 לב gives me new ones. The Lord is my portion, says my soul,choosing to be loyal to לג בּ יִשְְְׂ ע ֥ ַ בּ ְְ חֶ רְְְ ּ ֽ ה פָ :: כִּ֣י ל֥ ֹא יִזְְְנַ ֛ח לְְ ֖םעֹולָ אֲ דֹנָ ֽי:: אִ כִּ֣ים־הֹוגָ֔ הוְְרִ חַ ֖ם כְְּר֥ ֹב ֽ חֲסָדָ ו:: ִכּ ֣ י ל֤ ֹ א 10 He, God, is like a bear in God.59 Therefore I will await Him. ambush to me, a lion in 25 The Lord is good to those who hope for Him, to the soul hiding. Therefore, dangers that seeks Him. appear in my life repeatedly. 26 It is good for a man to await silently60 the salvation of the 11 He has twisted my ways,51 Lord. or, He has covered my ways 27 The prophet further consoles himself:It is good for a man that 52 Bear, detail from the Birds Mosaic, with thorns, and mauled Caesarea, Byzantine period he bears a yoke in his youth. Just as a young man can carry a me, torn me to pieces,53 ren- heavy burden without getting injured, so too let him accept the BACKGROUND DISCUSSION dered me desolate and alone. challenge described in the next verse. 3:5 | Gall [rosh]: Rosh is commonly identified as hemlock, Conium 3:14 | A laughingstock to all my listeners. He was confined to a 12 He drew His bow and set me as the target for the arrow. 28 Let him sit alone and be silent, because he took it upon him- BackgroundDiscussion for Lamentations for Lamentations 3:14 3:5 61 maculatum, an extremely poisonous plant that was used for the execu- people, their song: This verse can hopeless existence, where the peo- 13 He then pierced my kidneys with His arrows, the contents of self; he has accepted this life situation, despite its hardship. tion of criminals in ancient Greece. An herbaceous plant of the Apia- be seen as a description of the suf- ple around him would shoot arrows His quiver. 29 Let him subdue himself and put his mouth in the dust, so that ceae family that reaches a height of 1.5 m, hemlock has white flowers fering of the prophets due to the of derision at him. 14 I have become a laughingstock to all my people, their songD he cannot speak;62 perhaps there is hope. Discussion for Lamentations 3:14 Discussion for Lamentations 3:23 and its stalk is speckled with black spots; it grows wild, typically by the way they were perceived by the 3:23 | New every morning, great all day. I have become an object of mockery and satirical songs. 30 Instead of striking back, let him offer his cheek to one who roadside or on the edges of cultivated fields. Others identify rosh as the people, as demonstrated in the is the trust in You: Jews recite the The lamenter here is referring to himself, or alternatively, he is strikes him; let him be filled with disgrace, as he is smitten opium poppy, Papaver somniferum. The fruit of the poppy resembles a verse: “The prophet is a fool, the following passage, based on this speaking of the people, in first person, as their representative. from every direction. head [rosh], and it is used to produce opium. Alternatively, rosh might man of the spirit is mad” (Hosea 9:7). verse, every morning upon waking 15 31 be golden henbane, Hyoscyamus aureus, which also contains a strong Unlike the metaphors used in the He, God, filled me with bitterness, sated me with a solution Nevertheless, there is still hope, for the Lord will not forsake Background for Lamentations 3:15 up: I offer thanks before You, living of wormwood,B a bitter or poisonous drink. forever. poison. previous verses, this one relates to and eternal King, for You have mer- the actual reality of the prophet’s 16 Since God has withheld food from me, He has ground my 32 For, even if He torments, ultimately He will have compas- 3:15 | Wormwood [la’ana]: La’ana is commonly identified with worm- cifully restored my soul within me; 63 Background for Lamentations 3:15 life and his standing among his teeth with gravel, forcing me to eat it, and He has covered me sion, according to His abundant kindness. wood, Artemisia absinthium, which is common in Israel. The plant’s flow- Your faithfulness is great. 54 ers are yellow, and it reaches a height and width of 1.5 m. Alternatively, in ashes. 33 For He does not afflictpeople willingly for no reason, and He 64 la’ana is a generic term for various bitter or poisonous plants. does not torment the children of men capriciously.

15 14 Lamentations | Chapter 3 איכה | פרק ג “To subdue under His feet.” Shalmaneser III subduing Yehu under his feet, You have covered Yourself, as if with a cloud, so that no 44 He does not want65 to subdue under His feet all the prisoners 34 לד of the earth. prayer can pass through, as though the gates of heaven are לה עִ נָּה֙ מִ ִּבּ֔ ל ֹו ֖הוַּיַגֶּ בְְּ נֵי־אִֽ ישׁ :: לְְדַ כֵּ א֙תַּ ֣חַ ת רַ גְְְלָ֔ יו כּ֖ ֹל אֲ סִ֥ יירֵ אָ ֽרֶ ץ:: ְְ ל ַ ה ּט ֙ ֹות מ ִ שׁ ְְְ ּפ ַט ־־־ closed to our prayers.74 The prophet speaks here in the name of לו .all the people of Israel לז גָּ֔בֶ ר נֶ ֖גֶ ד ּ֥יְְנֵ פ עֶלְְְ יֹֽון:: לְְ וֵַּ ע ֤תאָדָ ם֙בְְּרִ יב֔ ֹו אֲ דֹנָ ֖י ל֥ ֹא רָ אָ ֽה:: מִ֣ י זֶ ֤ה אָמַ ר֙ וַתֶּ֔ הִ י אֲ דֹנָ ֖י ל֥ ֹא 75 .You render us filth and refuse in the midst of the peoples 45 לח ,All our enemies have opened their mouth wide against us 46 לט צִ ֽ וָּ ה :: מִ ִּ֤י פעֶלְְְ יֹון֙ ל֣ ֹאתֵ אצֵ֔ הָ ֽרָ ע֖ ֹות וְְהַ ּֽ טֹוב:: מַ ה־־־ּיִתְְְ אֹונֵן֙ אָדָ ם֣ חָ֔ י גֶּ ֖בֶ ר עַ ֽ ל־־־חֲטָאָ ו:: .and we cannot respond מ Terror and a trap, or obstacles,76 came upon us, desolation 47 מא נַחְְְ ְְשָׂ֤ה ּפ דְְרָכֵ֙ינוּ֙וְְֽֽנַחְְְק֔ ֹרָ הוְְנָשׁ֖וּבָה עַד־יהוֽה:: נִ ּ ֤ שׂאָ לְְ בָ ֙בֵ נ ּ֙ ו אֶ ל ־ ַכּ ּ֔ ָ פ ִ י ם אֶ ל ־ אֵ ֖ ל 77 .and disaster מב The prophet returns to speaking in first person singular: When 48 מג ַ ּ ב שׁ ּ מ ָ ֽ י ָ ם ִ :: נַ֤חְְְ נוּ פָשׁ ַ֙ עְְְ נוּ֙ ֔ וּמָרִ ינוּ אַתָּ ה֖ ל֥ ֹאסָלָ ֽחְְְתָּ :: סַכּ֤ הֹותָ בָאַ ף֙וַ ֽתִּרְְְ דְְּ פֵ֔ נוּ הָרַ ֖גְְְתָּ ל֥ ֹא faced with our shameful state among the nations, streams of מד water pour down from my eye, crying for the disaster of the מה חָמָ ֽ לְְְ תּ ָ :: סַכּ֤ הֹתָ בֶֽעָנָן֙ לָ֔ךְְְ מֵֽעֲב֖ ֹור תְְּפִ ּלָֽה:: סְְחִ֧יוּמָא֛ ֹוס תְְּשִׂ ימֵ֖נוּבְְּקֶ֥ ברֶ הָֽעַמִּֽים:: .daughter of my people מו My eye will flow with tears and will not cease,78 from lack of 49 מז ּפָצ֥ וּ עָלֵ ֛ינוּ ִּיהֶ פ ֖םכָָּ ל־אֽ ֹיְְבֵ ֽינוּ:: ַּ פ֧חַ ד וָפַ֛חַ ת הָ֥יָה לָ ֖נוּ הַשֵּׁ֥את וְְהַשָּֽׁבֶ ר:: ּ לְְְ פַ גֵ י ־־־ מַ֙ ִ י ֙ ם respite. The tears do not cease because there is no respite from מח our troubles.79 מט נ תֵּ֣רַ ד עֵ י נִ ֔ י עַ ל ־שׁ ֖ בֶ ֶ ר בּ ־ ת ַ עַ ִֽ י מּ :: עֵ ינִ֧ינִגְְּרָ ה֛ וְְל֥ ֹא תִדְְְמֶ ֖ה מֵאֵ ֥ין הֲפֻגֽ ֹות:: ־ עַ ד י ַ שׁ ְְְ ִק י ף I cry continuously, until the Lord looks out and sees our 50 ֣ misery from the heavens, and redeems us soon. Expressions נא of hope, loyalty, and faith in future salvation again come to the נב וְְ יֵ ֔ רֶ א י ה ו֖ ה מִ שׁ ּ מָ ָ ֽ י ם ִ :: עֵינִי֙עֽ ֹו לְְ ֣ לָ ה לְְ נַ פְְְ שׁ ֔ ִ מִ י כּ ֹ ֖ בּל ְְ נ֥ ת ֹו עִ י ֽ י רִ :: צ֥ ֹוד צָד֛ וּנִי כַּ ִ ּצ ּ֖ ֹרפ אֽ ֹיְְבַ ֥י “To subdue under his feet.” Tiglat Pileser subduing his enemy under his .fore נג feet, Nimrud, Iraq, 747-727 BCE נד My eye distressed my soul,80 or contaminated my soul,81 more 51 נה חִ ֽ ָ נּם :: צָ וּֽמְְת֤ בַבּ ֹור֙ חַ יּיָ֔ וַ ּיַדּ וּ־־־אֶ ן֖בֶ בִּֽ י:: צָ ֽפוּ־מַ ֥יִםעַ ל־רֹאשׁ ִ֖ י אָמַ ֥רְְְתִּ י נִגְְְזָֽרְְְתִּ י:: קָ רָ ֤ א תִ י 35 66 And it is not His habit to distort the judgment of man be- than all the daughters of my city. Alternatively: Jeremiah is נו fore the face of the Most High. God does not pervert justice, lamenting over the fact that he has seen all of his neighbors and שִׁמְְְךָ֙ יהו֔ה מִבּ֖ ֹור תַּחְְְתִּּיֹֽות:: קֹולִ֖ישָׁמָ֑עְְְתּ ָ אַ ל ־ ַ תּ עְְְ ם ֧ לֵ אָָ זְְְ נְְ ךָ ֛ לְְ רַ וְְְ חָ תִ י ֖ לְְ שׁ ַ וְְְ עָ ֽ י תִ :: -to subvert a man in his quarrel, his cause, the Lord has relatives going into exile or getting killed, while his own sob 36 נז deemed it unfit.67 bing eyes are the only ones left to cry for all the rest, like an נח קָרַ֙בְְְתָּ ֙ בּ י ְְ ֹו ם ֣ אֶ קְְְ רָ אֶ ֔ ָךּ מַ אָ ֖ רְְְ תּ ָ אַ ל ־ י ִ תּ ֽ א רָ :: רַ֧בְְְתָּ אֲ דֹנָ֛י רִ יבֵ֥י נַפְְְשִׁ֖י גָּאַ֥לְְְתָּחַּיָֽי:: Who is this, what enemy could there be, who said that he incompletely formed cluster of grapes [olelet] left on the vine 37 נט -would harm Israel and it occurred, whose declaration was ful- during the harvest. “My enemies hunted me like a bird.” Hunting birds, relief, Tomb of Neba ס רָאִ ה֤יתָ יהוה֙ עַ וָּ ֣תָתִ֔ ישׁ ָָפְְְטָ ֖ה מִשׁ ְְְ ּפָטִֽ י:: רָאִ֙יתָה֙ כָּ םל־־־נִקְְְמָתָ֔ כָָּל־־־מַחְְְשׁ ְְ ֖ םבֹתָ לִֽי:: filled, if the Lord did not command it? If Israel suffers harm, it 52 My enemies hunted me like a 68 סא .is certainly a divine decree. bird is hunted, without cause סב שׁ ָמַ ֤עְְְתָּחֶרְְְ ָּתָ ם֙ פיהו֔ה כָָּל־מַחְְְשׁ ְְ בֹתָ֖ם עָלָֽי:: שִׂפְְְתֵ ֤יקָמַי֙ וְְהֶגְְְיֹונָ֔ ם עָלַ֖י כָָּל־הַּיֹֽום:: 38 From the mouth of the Most High, evil and good do not 53 They bound my life in the emerge. God leaves the world in the hands of man’s free will.69 pit.82 And furthermore, they 39 When all is said and done, what shall a living man complain? cast stones at me. Discussion for Lamentations 3:39 His complaints about his difficulties and troubles are unjusti- 54 The pit was full of water;waters fied, as each man for his sins.D His dire situation is merely the rose over my head. I said: I 70 85 result of his own evil deeds. am doomed. My end has come. 61 You heard their taunt, Lord, all their thoughts about me. for the events, even though his statements had been meant “My enemies hunted me like 40 Therefore,let us search and examine our ways, and return to 55 I called upon Your name, I When Jeremiah’s harsh prophecies for the future did not ma- merely to warn them. a bird.” Hunting birds, relief, Discussion for Lamentations 3:55 the Lord. prayed to You, Lord, from the terialize, his listeners would ridicule him and throw stones at 62 The lips, the words, of those who rise against me, and their Tomb of Nebamun, Eighteenth 41 Let us lift up our heart with our hands, to God in the heav- depths of the pit.D Dynasty, Egypt him. When the prophecies were eventually fulfilled, the same thoughts, are against me all day. In all their statements and 71 86 ens. Let us rip out our heart and give it, as it were, to God. 56 You heard my voice, which is people took revenge against him, as though he were to blame thoughts, I am considered the sole guilty party. 42 Despite the call for appeasement and hope, notwithstanding itself a minor salvation; please, let Your ear not disregard my the theodicy and logical explanations, the cry toward God cry, for my comfort. The prophet begs God not to ignore his reemerges: Although we have transgressed and defied, and plea, so that his conditions may improve.83 we were therefore deserving of punishment, nevertheless, we 57 I had hope when You approached on the day that I called DISCUSSION would have expected You to pardon us, not only the way a You. You said to me: Do not fear. master pardons his slaves, but as a father forgives his children.72 58 In the end, Lord, You have fought the battles of my soul; You Discussion for Lamentations 3:393:55 3:39 | What shall a living man complain? 3:53–55 | They bound my life in the pit… and they cast him into the pit of Malkiyahu the Each man for his sins: King David said simi- waters rose over my head…from the depths king’s son, which was in the court of internment, However, You have not forgiven. redeemed my life. larly: “Evil shall kill the wicked” (Psalms 34:22). of the pit: These are not merely metaphoric ex- and they lowered Jeremiah with ropes. And in 43 You are covered with wrath, or: You distanced yourself and 59 Lord, You have seen my wrongs, the injustice that was done 73 84 Evil deeds are the cause of their author’s pressions of confinement and humiliation; ac- the pit there was no water but only mud, and hid behind a wall of wrath, and have pursued us; You killed; to me; please adjudicate my case. misfortunes. cording to the book of Jeremiah (38:6), this actu- Jeremiah was drowning in the mud.” You did not have compassion. 60 You have seen all their, the enemies’, vengeance, all their evil ally happened to Jeremiah: “They took Jeremiah thoughts against me.

17 16 Lamentations | Chapter 4 איכה | פרק ד

May you give them hardness of heart, troubles that seal up 65 Look at their sitting and their rising, look at what they do 63 סג constantly; I am the subject of their song, the object of their the heart;87 may Your curse be upon them.88 סד שׁ ִבְְְתָּ ֤םוְְקִֽ ימָתָ ם֙ יטָ הַבִּ֔ ה אֲ נִ֖ימַ ֽ נְְְגִּֽינָתָ ם:: תָּשׁ ִ֨ יבלָהֶ ֥ם גְְּמ֛ וּל יהו֖ ה כְְּמַ ֥ה ֽעֲשֵׂ יְְדֵ יהֶ ֽם:: - May you pursue them in wrath and destroy them from be 66 mockery and ridicule. סה .Pay them retribution, Lord, punish them, according to their neath the heavens of the Lord 64 סו ִתֵּ ן ֤ לָ הֶ ם ֙ מְְ גִ נּ ת ַ לֵ ־ ֔ ב תּ ַ אֲ ֽ ֽ לָ תְְ ךָ ֖ לָ ֽ ם הֶ :: תִּרְְְ ֹףדּ֤ בְְּאַ ף֙וְְתַשׁ ְְְמִ ידֵ֔ םמִתַּ ֖חַ ת שׁ ֥יְְמֵ יהוֽ ה:: handiwork. ד א אֵ יכָ ה֙ יוּעַ ֣ם בזָהָ֔ יִשׁ ְְְ נֶ ֖א הַכֶּ ֣תֶ ם הַ ֹּוב֑ ט תִּשׁ ְְְתַּ ּ נָהֵ֙֙כְְְ פאַ בְְְ נֵי־ק֔ ֹדֶשׁ בְְּר֖ ֹאשׁ כָָּ ל־חוּצֽ ֹות:: The Destruction of the Precious Sons of Zion Due to its sins, Jerusalem was filled with victims, those dead of starvation and those killed by the sword. This lamentation describes the ב בְְּנֵ֤יצִ ּיֹון֙ הַ יְְְקָרִ֔ ים הַֽמְְסֻ ּלָאִ֖ ים בַּ ָּ֑זאֵיכָ ֤ה פנֶחְְְשׁ ְְ בוּ֙לְְנִבְְְלֵ י־־־חֶ֔רֶ שׂמַֽעֲשֵׂ ֖היְְדֵ י ֥ יֹוצֵ ֽר:: LAMENTATIONS 4:1–22 deterioration of the people of Jerusalem, from their previous stature as a refined population, to the lowest level it is possible to reach, through ג ַ תּ ִ ּ נ י ֙ם siege and war. The residents of Jerusalem had placed their trust in foreign aid and had also hoped that their king would save them, but their hopes ד גַּ ם־־־תנין֙חָ ֣לְְ צוּ שׁ ַ֔ הֵ דינִ֖יקוּ גּֽ וּרֵ יהֶ ֑ן בַּ י ת־עַמִּ֣ לְְאַ כְְְ זָ֔ ר כי ענ֖ים מּבַּ ִ דְְְ בּ ֽ ָ ר :: דָּ קבַ֨ ֥ לְְשׁ ֹון were dashed. The lamentation ends with words of comfort: Edom, which rejoices in the misfortune of Israel, will be destroyed too, and Jerusalem’s ה כּ ַ יְְְ עֵ נִ ֖ י ם .disaster will end יֹונֵ ֛ק אֶ ל־חִ כּ֖ ֹו בַּ ּצ ֑אָמָ עֽ ֹולָלִ ים֙ שׁ ָ ֣אֲ לוּ לֶ֔חֶ ם ּפֹרֵ ֖שׂ אֵ ֥ין לָהֶ ֽם:: הָ ֹ אֽ כְְ לִ י ם ֙ לְְ מַ ֣ עֲ דַ ֔ ִנּ י ם נָשׁ ַ ֖ מּ ּ ו

89 ו The tongue of the suckling babe sticks to its palate from 4 How can shiny gold tarnish? How can the appearance of the 1 4 בַּ ֽחוּצ֑ ֹותהָ ֽאֱמֻ נִים֙ עֲלֵ ֣י תֹולָ֔ עחִ בְְּק֖ וּ אַשׁ ְְְ ּפַתּֽ ֹות:: וַ ּיִגְְְדַּ ל֙ עֲ ֣ ֹון בַּ ת־עַמִּ֔ י מֵ ֽחַ ַּ ט֖את סְְד֑ ֹם fine gold change?90 The sacred stones are spilled at the head thirst, because there is no milk for the nursing infants; infants of every street. How is all that was beautiful and precious dis- request bread, and no one breaks it for them, because of the ז הַ ֽהֲ פוּכָ ֣ה כְְ מֹו־רָ ֔גַ עוְְ לֹא־חָ ֥לוּבָ ֖הּ ֽ יָדָ יִם:: זַכּ֤ וּנְְזִ ירֶ ֙ יהָ ֙ מִשֶּׁ֔ גלֶ צַח֖ וּמֵ ֽחָ ֑בלָ אָ ֤דְְ מוּ עֶ֙ צֶ ם֙ graced and gone to waste? siege upon Jerusalem. The eaters of delicacies arenow desolate and penniless in the 5 The precious sons of Zion, who were valued as gold,91 how 2 ח מִ ּ ְְ פנִ י נִ֔ י ם סַ ּ ר ִ֖י פגִּ זְְְ רָ ֽ ם תָ :: חָשׁ ַ ֤ךְְְ מִשְְּׁחֹור֙ תָָּ ֽאֳֳרָ֔ םל֥ ֹא וּנִכְְּר֖ בַּ ֽחוּצ֑ ֹותצָפַ ֤דעֹורָ ם֙ עַ ל־־־ are they now considered as worthless as earthenware jugs, streets; those reared94 in expensive scarlet garments now em- .the handiwork of the hands of the potter? brace heaps of refuse, as they are left with nothing ט עַצְְְמָ֔ ם יָבֵ ֖שׁ הָ יָ ֥ה כָעֵ ֽץ:: טֹובִ ֤יםהָ יוּ֙ חַלְְלֵ י־חֶ֔רֶ ב מֵ ֖יֽחַלְְלֵ רָ ֑בעָ ֶ שׁ ֣הֵ ֤ם יָזֻ֙בוּ֙ מְְדֻקָּרִ֔ ים 3 Even jackals take out a breast,B nurse their pups. Even these 6 The iniquity of the daughter of my peoplemust have exceed- Background for Lamentations 4:3 animals, some of whom are predatory, are merciful in certain ed the sin of Sodom, as her punishment was more severe than י מִתְְּ נוּב֖ ֹות ֽ שָׂדָ י:: יְְדֵ֗ י ִ נָשׁ ים֙ רַ ֽחֲמָ ֣נִּיֹ֔ות בִּשְְּׁל֖וּ יַלְְְדֵ יהֶ ֑ןהָ י֤וּ לְְבָ רֹות֙ לָ֔ מֹובְְּשׁ ֖בֶ ֶ רבַּ ת־־־ situations; but the daughter of my people has become cruel. that of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment, and no Gems The mothers of Jerusalem are malnourished; their breasts have enemy hands seized it, whereas in Jerusalem the suffering is shriveled, and their survival instincts prevent them from sup- continuous.95 plying the needs of their children.92 They are like ostriches,B 7 In past times, its, Jerusalem’s, nazirites used to be purer than Background for Lamentations 4:7 who abandon their offspring93 in the wilderness. This is what snow, whiter than milk; their appearance96 was ruddier has befallen Israel. Jerusalem has become like a wilderness, a than gems,B their form a sapphire. place where people do not care for each other. Female whale, possibly the tannim, nursing her offspring Female jackal and her offspring “Ostriches in the wilderness” BACKGROUND Background for Lamentations 4:3 4:3 | Jackals [tannim] take out a breast: Ac- other desert animal (see Isaiah 13:21–22, 34:13; animal, but is the name of a tribe, based on one cording to the written text, the word is spelled 43:20). Alternatively, some identify the tan with reading of Psalms 55:20 (Tur Sinai). Female jackal and her offspring “Nurse their pups,” female whale and her offspring Sapphire Gems Background for Lamentations 4:7 tannin. This leads to the interpretation by some the Pharaoh eagle-owl (bubo ascalaphus), a 4:7 | Gems [peninim]: In biblical Hebrew that the verse is referring to whales, which did nocturnal bird of prey that dwells in ruins and and in the Aramaic translations of the Bible, 8 The people of Jerusalem were clean, pure, refined, and beauti- exist in the Mediterranean Sea, though it is not crevices. peninim are specific kinds of round precious ful. In better times, they engaged only in matters of holiness. their natural habitat. It may be suggested that Like ostriches [ye’enim]: An ostrich does not stones, or alternatively, a generic word for all Now, however, their countenance is blacker than coal; they the expression “take out a breast” supports this have a nest; it leaves its eggs on the ground, precious stones. In Ibn Ezra’s commentary on are not recognized in the streets. Their skin is shriveled on interpretation, as the nursing parts of the fe- without incubation. Perhaps for this reason it is Song of Songs (5:14), he interprets peninim to 97 their bones; it has become dry as wood. male whale are covered in pockets of skin and described as cruel toward its offspring. A similar mean sapphires. However, others maintain that need to be drawn out for nursing. On the other 9 Those killed by sword in battle were better off than those behavior is criticized in the book of Job (39:13– the term refers to pearls, which are formed in 98 hand, according to the traditional vocaliza- 15): “The wing of the songbird beats joyously; seashells from organic matter and are gener- killed by hunger, for from their ruptured bodies, they, the tion of the text, the word is tannim, the plural are its pinions and its plumage of a stork? For ally white, silver, or black. In ancient Egyptian, victims of hunger, leak with, emit various liquids from, the 99 of tan, which is a jackal, an animal similar to a it leaves its eggs on the earth and warms them a similar word denotes a spherical marble, and produce of the field. Alternatively, “these” refers to the vic- fox that feeds on various animals and carrion. on dust, and it forgets that a foot may crush it or in Akkadian, there is a similar word that refers tims of the sword, who were stabbed through while sated.100 The tan is mentioned in the Bible as a howling a beast of the field trample it.” There is an opin- to a precious stone that comes from the sea and 10 The hands of merciful women cooked their children; they, desert animal. This interpretation of the verse is ion that the term ye’enim refers not to a type of perhaps means pearl or coral. the children, were food for them, their mothers,101 in the time supported by the comparison to the ostrich, an- “Ostriches in the wilderness” of the disaster of the daughter of my people.

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The conquest of Jerusalem described in a Babylonian chronicle, sixth They, the enemies, hunted our steps, even preventing us107 18 The Lord vented His fury, He poured out His enflamed 11 יא wrath. He kindled a fire in Zion, and it consumed even its from walking in our squares; our end approaches, our days century BCE יב מּעַ ִֽ י :: כִּ ָּ֤ה ליהוה֙ אֶ ת־־־חֲמָת֔ ֹושׁ ָ פַ ֖ךְְְחֲר֣ ֹון אַ ֹּו֑ פ וַ ֶת־־־אֵ ּּיַצ֣שׁ בְְּ צִ ּי֔ ֹון וַתּ֖ ֹאכַ ליְְסֽ ֹדֹתֶ ֽיהָ :: ל֤ ֹ א .foundations. are filled, as our end has come יג Even those who did not stay in the city could not find refuge Background for Lamentations 4:124:19 19 The kings of the earth and all the inhabitants of the world 12 הֶֽאֱמִ ֙ י וּ נ ֙ מַ לְְְ כֵ י ־־־ אֶ֔ רֶ ץ ו כ֖ ליֹֽשׁ ְְבֵ ֣י תֵ בֵ ֑לכִּ ֤י יָבֹא֙צַ ֣ר וְְ אֹויֵ֔בבְְּשׁ ַ ֽעֲרֵ י ֖ יְְרֽ ָ וּשׁ לָ ִֽם:: מֵ ֽ חַ ּ ֣ טֹ א ת ֖כּ ֹ ל did not believe that a besieger and enemy would enter the because our pursuers were swifter than the eaglesB of the -gates of Jerusalem,B which heavens, and they captured us. They chased us on the moun יד נְְבִ יאֶ֔ יהָ עֲ ֹונֹ֖ת כּֽ ֹהֲ נֶ ֑יהָ הַשּֽׁ ֹפְְכִ֥יםבְְּקִרְְְ בָּ ֖הּ ֥ םדַּ צַדִּ יקִֽ ים:: נָע֤ו ּ עִ וְְְ רִ ם י ֙ בּ ח ֽ ו ַ ּ צ֔ ֹו ת נְְ גֽ ֹ אֲ ל֖ ּ ו was such a central, fortified, tains; they ambushed us in the wilderness. The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the Lord,D a refer- Discussion for Lamentations 4:20 20 and secure city. טו בַּדָּ֑ םבְְּל֣ ֹאיֽוּכְְל֔ וּ יִגְְּע֖ וּ ֵ בִּלְְְבֻֽשׁ יהֶ ֽם:: ס֣ וּ רוּ טָ מֵ֞ אקָ ֣רְְ אוּ לָ֗ מֹו ס֤ וּ רוּ ס֙ וּ רוּ֙ אַ ל־תִּ גָּ֔ עוּ כִּ ֥ י 13 It, this entire catastrophe, ence to the king of Judah, who was anointed with a special oil, :was due to the sins of her was captured in their traps. This is the king of whom we said טז נָצ֖וּ גַּם־נָ֑עוּ אָֽמְְ רוּ֙ בַּגֹּויִ֔םלֹ֥א יֹוסִ֖פוּלָגֽוּר:: ּפְְנֵ֤י יהוה֙ חִ ּל ם ְְקָ֔ לֹ֥א יֹוסִ֖יף לְְהַבִּ יטָ֑ם false prophets,102 and be- In his shade we will live among the nations. The lamenter expresses bitter scorn toward the people of Edom, BackgroundDiscussion for Lamentations for Lamentations 4:21 4:21 21 cause of the iniquities of יז ּ ְְ פנֵ ֤י כֽ ֹהֲ נִ י ם֙ ל֣ ֹא נָ שָׂ֔ א וּ ז ק נ֖ י םל֥ ֹא חָ נָ ֽנוּ:: עוד֙ ינה֙ תִּ כְְְלֶ ֣ינָהעֵ ינֵ֔ ינוּ אֶ ל־עֶ זְְְרָתֵ ֖ נוּ הָ ֑בֶ ל ו ְְְ ּז קֵ ִ ֖ נ י ם her priests, who shed the who, during this period, enjoyed calm and bliss: Be glad and Eagle עֹודֵ֙ ינוּ֙ blood of the righteous rejoice, daughter of Edom,D who resides in the land of Utz.B יח ּבְְּצִפִּיָתֵ֣נוּ ִּ֔ינוּצִפ אֶל־גֹּ֖וי לֹ֥א יֹושִֽׁעַ :: צָד֣ וּצְְעָדֵ֔ינוּ מִ ּל ֶ֖כֶתבִּרְְְחֽ ֹבֹתֵ֑ינוּ קָרַ֥ב קִ ּצֵ֛נוּ in her midst, in order to But not for long, as the cup of vengeance and destruction will achieve wealth and honor. pass to you too; you will get drunk from drinking it, and you יט 108 מָ ֽלְְ א֥ וּ יָמֵ ֖ ינוּ כִּ י־בָ ֥ א קִ ֵ ּצֽנוּ :: קַ ִ֤ים ּלהָ יוּ֙ רֽ ֹדְְפֵ֔ ינוּ מִנִּשְְְׁרֵ֖י שָׁמָ֑יִם עַל־הֶֽהָרִ֣ ים דְְּלָקֻ֔ נוּ 14 The entire city was filled will be overturned, ruined. .with the blood of the dead כ בַּמּ ִ דְְְ ָבּ ר ֖ אָ ֥ ב רְְ ו ּ ֽ נ לָ ו ּ :: ר֤ וּחַ אַ ֵּ֙ינוּ֙ פמְְשׁ ִ֣ יחַ יהו֔ ה נִלְְְכַּ ֖דבִּשׁ ְְְחִֽ יתֹותָ ֑ ם ֶ אֲשׁ ֣ר אָמַ֔רְְְ נוּבְְּ צִ ּ֖ לֹו They wandered blind in The conquest of Jerusalem the streets. Alternatively, described in “the Babylonian כא blind men wander in the Chronicle,” sixth century BCE נִ ֽחְְְ יֶ ֥הבַ גּ ֹויִ ֽ ם:: שִׂ֤י שִׂ י וְְ שִׂ מְְְ חִ י֙ ַ בּ ת־ אֱ ד֔ ֹו ם י ו ש֖ ב ת י ֣ בְְּאֶ ץרֶ ע֑ ּ ו ץ ַ גּ ם ־ עָ לַ ֙ יִ ךְְְ ֙ תּ ֽ עֲ ַ ר בָָ ־ ֔ כּ ֹו ס יֹו שׁ ֶ ֖ ֶ ב ת ,streets without a guide כב having been sullied with blood, as they could not see where ְְ תִּשְְְׁכ ּ רִ ֖ וי ְְ תִ תְְְ ָ ע רִ ֽ י :: תַּ ם־עֲ נֵךְְְ֙בַּ ֹות־צִּיֹ֔ון ל֥ ֹאיֹוסִ֖יף לְְהַגְְְלֹותֵ ֑ךְְְ ּפָקַ ֤ ד עֲ ֹונֵךְְְ֙ בַּ ת־אֱד֔ ֹום the corpses were, so that one could not touch their filthy .garments ִ ּ ג ּלָ֖ה עַל־חַ ּ ֽ ט ֹאתָ י ִ ךְְְ :: 15 It was necessary to warn those approaching: Turn away, im- pure, they called to them; turn away, turn away, do not touch, because they were begrimed, had become dirty, as well as wandering. They said among the nations: They will not continue to reside here, in our land, or in Jerusalem.103 16 The attention of the Lord has divided them; God has scat- 104 tered them in His anger. He will not continue to look at Possible locations for the land of Utz them, as they did not respect priests and were not gracious to elders. They did not help the needy.105 22 Your iniquity is completed, daughter of Zion; He, God, 17 Our eyes yet fail, seeking deliverance in vain; our hopes for will not continue to exile you. You have received the entire BACKGROUND help have turned out to be in vain. In our waiting, we awaited punishment that you deserved and have consequently paid for Background for Lamentations 4:124:194:21 4:12 | That a besieger and enemy would 4:19 | Eagle [nesher]: Some explain that this is 4:21 | The land of Utz: Apparently, there were a foreign nation that we hoped would come to our aid, but it all your sins. On the other hand, He reckons your iniquity, enter the gates of Jerusalem: Nebuchadnez- the griffon vulture, Gyps fulvus, a large bird that several lands called Utz. In Genesis there is a cannot save us.106 daughter of Edom; He will expose your sins. He will yet zar’s conquest of Jerusalem and his subsequent nests and soars at markedly high altitudes, which son of Aram named Utz (10:23). In addition, settle His account with you for your sins. coronation of Tzidkiya are described in a Baby- enables it to glide swiftly toward its food (see Jer- the land of Utz appears as one of the lands of lonian chronicle that was discovered during emiah 48:40; Obadiah 1:4; Micah 1:16; Habakkuk the Children of the East in the book of Job (1:3). excavations of the city of Babylon: “In the sev- 1:8; Job 39:27–28). This bird was a royal symbol Therefore, some place it somewhere in or near enth year of the month of Kislev, the king of in both Egypt and Assyria. Its wingspan stretches modern-day Syria. Ancient historians, e.g., Jose- Akkad [Nebuchadnezzar] gathered his soldiers to 2.5 m and it weighs roughly 10 kg. Its head and phus Flavius, identified it as being in an area of DISCUSSION and went to the land of the Hitites [Syria and neck are bare of feathers, as though they were the Bashan, now known as the Golan Heights. In 4:20 | The anointed of the Lord: The Sages 4:21 | Edom: The people of Edom supported that Israel will be overturned, torn down, and Discussion for Lamentations 4:204:21 Israel], and encamped by the city of Judah; and plucked [nashar]; perhaps this accounts for the addition, there was a grandson of Se’ir named identified this king as Yoshiya, the last great king Judah’s enemies and mocked the inhabitants of ruined. It paraphrases Edom’s joyous exclama- in the month of Adar, on the second day [of the name. Some identify the nesher with the golden Utz (Genesis 36:28), and that source and the of Judah, upon whom Israel placed their final Jerusalem during their destruction (see Obadiah tion when they celebrated Israel’s defeat, en- month], he seized the city and captured the eagle, Aquila chrysaetos, which was an important verse here indicate that there was also a land hope for defense. This hope ended in disap- 1:12–14). The final word of this verse is the rare couraging their total destruction (Psalms 137:7): king, appointed in it a king whom he trusted, Roman symbol, while yet others maintain that called Utz in the Edomite region further south, pointment when Yoshiya was shot dead by the verb titari, used by the prophet to prophesy the “Tear it down [aru], tear it down [aru], until its and took a heavy tax from it, and came to Baby- nesher is a general term that refers to several dif- in what is now Jordan. Egyptian army (II Chronicles 35:23; Tosefta, Ta’anit destruction of Edom. It literally means “you shall very foundation.” lon.” ferent types of birds of prey. 2:10; see introduction to this lamentation). make yourself naked”; its implied meaning is

21 20 Lamentations | Chapter 5 איכה | פרק ה

This lamentation is different from the others in that it is not an alphabetical acrostic. But it א Humiliation, Orphanhood, and is similar to most of them in that it has twenty-two verses, and in addition, like the previous ה ב זְְכ֤ ֹריהוה֙ מֶ ה־הָ ֣יָהלָ֔ נוּהַבִּ֖ יטָ וּרְְְ אֵ ֥האֶ ת־חֶרְְְ ּפ ֽ ָתֵ נוּ:: נַ ֽחֲ לָתֵ֙ נוּ֙ נֶ ֽהֶ ֣הפְְְכָ לְְ זָרִ ֔ ים בָּתֵּ ֖ינוּ Eternal Hope lamentations, the suffering and troubles of the people of Jerusalem are described. Toward ג the end, the lamenter focuses his anguish on the destruction of Mount Zion, the source of his ד לְְנָָכְְְרִֽ ים:: יְְתֹומִ ֤ים הָ יִ֙ינוּ֙ א֣ ין אָ֔ב אִ מּ ֹ תֵ י נ֖ ּ ו כּ ְְ אַ לְְְ מָ נֽ ֹו ת :: מֵימֵ֙ ינוּ֙ בְְּכֶ ֣סֶ ף שׁ ָתִ֔ ינוּ עֵצֵ ֖ינוּ וְְ אֵ ֣ י ן LAMENTATIONS 5:1–22 heartache. However, he emphasizes that although God’s dwelling place in the world has been destroyed, He still remains. This provides hope for the restoration of the relationship and the ה וְְ ל֥ ֹ א .covenant between God and His people ו בִּמְְְחִ֥ יר יָבֽ ֹאוּ:: עַ֤לצַ וָּ ֙ארֵ נוּ֙ נִרְְְ ֔ דָּ פְְְ נוּ יָ גַ ֖עְְְ נוּ ל֥ א הֽ וּ נַּ ֽח־לָ ֽנוּ :: מִצְְְרַ֙יִם֙ נָתַ֣נּוּ יָ֔ד אַשּׁ֖ וּר ז וְְ אֵ י ֔ נָ ם ח לִ בּ שְְְׂ ֹ עַ֥ לָ ֽ ם חֶ :: אֲ בֹתֵ ֤ינוּ חָ ֽטְְ אוּ֙ אינ֔ ם אנ֖ חנו עֲ ֹונֹֽתֵיהֶ ֥םסָבָ ֽלְְְ נוּ:: עֲ בָ י דִ ם ֙ ֣ מָ ְְ שׁ ל ּ ו ֔בָ נ ּ ו 5 1 Remember, Lord, what befell us, our terrible troubles. 13 The young, strong men Alternatively, this means: Remember our glorious past, and on carried the mill; they ט אֲ ֽ וַ נַ ֖ חְְְ נ ּו the other hand, look and see our current disgrace.109 were ordered to carry the י ּ ֹרֵ פ ק ֖ אֵ ֥ין מִ ֽ ּיָדָ ם:: בְְּ נַפְְְשׁ ֵ֙ נוּ֙נָבִ֣יא לַחְְְמֵ֔ נוּ מִ ְְּנֵ פ ֖יחֶ ֥רֶ ב הַמִּדְְְ בָּ ֽר:: עֹורֵ ֙ נוּ֙ כְְּתַ נּ֣ וּרנִכְְְמָ֔ רוּ Our inheritance has been transferred to strangers, after mill on their shoulders so 2 יא they invaded and plundered it, our houses have been given to that this would wear them יב מִ ּפְְנֵ֖י זַ לְְְ עֲ פ֥ ת ֹו רָ עָ ֽ ב :: נָשִׁ ים֙בְְּצִּיֹ֣ון עִנּ֔וּ בְְּתֻלֹ֖תבְְּעָרֵ֥י יְְהוּדָֽה:: שָׂרִ ים֙ בְְּיָדָ֣ם נִתְְְל֔וּ 117 foreigners. out. And the lads, who יג We have become orphans, fatherless; our mothers are like were chained, stumbled 3 יד ּ ְְנֵ֥י פזְְ קֵ נִ י֖ ם ל֥ ֹא נֶ הְְְ ֽ דָּר וּ :: בַּֽחוּרִ ים֙טְְח֣ ֹון אוּנָשָׂ֔ וּנְְְעָרִ֖ ים בָּעֵ֥ץ כָּשָֽׁלוּ:: ְְ ז ֵ ק ִ נ י ֙ ם ִ מ שׁ ּ ַ ֣ ַ ע ר 110 widows. on the wood to which טו When the water reservoirs were full, there was no need to pay they were chained.118 4 טז שׁ ָ בָ֔ תוּ ֽ בַּ חוּרִ ים֖ מִ נְְּ גִ ֽ ֽינָתָ ם:: שׁ תָ֙בַ מְְ שׂ֣ ֹושׂ לִבֵּ֔ נוּ נֶהְְְ ַּ֥ךְְְ פלְְאֵ ל ֖בֶ מְְ חֹולֵ ֽנוּ:: ֽ נָ פְְ לָ ֙ ה עֲ טֶ ֣ רֶ ת for water;111 but during the siege, our water we drank for mon- 14 The elders have ceased ey. In better days, there was no shortage of wood that could be from sitting at the city יז רֹאשׁ ֵ֔ נוּ אֽ ֹוי־נָ ֥א לָ ֖נוּכִּ֥י חָטָ ֽאנוּ:: עַ ל־זֶ֗ה הָיָ֤ה דָ וֶה֙ לִבֵּ֔ נוּ עַ ֶ הּ ל־אֵ֖לחָֽשׁ ְְכ֥וּעֵ ינֵֽינוּ:: collected easily; now, our wood comes at a price. gate, as there is no longer יח .Up to our necks we were pursued; we are exhausted, and we anyone to listen to them 5 יט עַ ֤להַר־צִ ּיֹון֙ שׁ ֶשָּׁמֵ֔ ם שׁ ֽ וּעָלִ֖ים הִ ְְ ּלכוּ־בֽ ֹו:: אַתָּ ֤היהוה֙ לְְ עֹולָ֣ם תֵּשֵׁ֔ בכִּסְְְאֲךָ ֖לְְד֥ ֹור have no respite. The young men have “Princes were hanged by their hand.” ,Men of Judah hanged, Lakhish reliefs כ We extended a hand to Egypt, to receive financial aid from ceased from their music 6 כא דֽ וָ ֹו ר :: לָ֤מָּה לָנֶ֙צַח֙תִּשְְְׁכָּחֵ֔ נוּ תַּֽעַזְְְבֵ֖נוּ לְְא֥ ֹרֶךְְְיָמִֽים:: הֲשִׁ יבֵ֨ נוּ יהו֤ה ׀ אֵלֶ֙ יךָ֙ וְְֽֽנָשׁ֔ וּבָ them. This may be referring to Tzidkiya’s covenant with and parties. Nineveh, 701 BCE 112 The gladness of our heart has ceased; our joyous dance has 15 Egypt. And we went to Assyria, to be sated with bread; but כב 113 ֥ חַדּ ֵ שׁ י ָ מ ֖ ֵ נ ו י ּ ּ כ ק ְְ ֶֽ ם דֶ :: כִּ֚יאִ ם־מָא֣ ֹס מְְאַסְְְתָּ֔ נוּקָצַ֥פְְְתָּ עָלֵ֖ינוּ עַ ד־מְְאֽ ֹד:: help came from neither kingdom. been transformed into mourning. 7 Our fathers have sinned and are no more, and we have suf- 16 The crown has fallen from our head; our honor is lost. fered not only for our own sins, but for their iniquities as well. Alternatively, this may refer to the crown and honor of the השיבנו יהוה אליך ונשובה חדש ימינו כקדם 8 Servants rule over us. The true kingdom has fallen, and as monarchy. Woe to us, for we have sinned. naturally happens when the government is weak, people from 17 For this our heart suffers; for these our eyes are dim: the bottom of society have risen to greatness. There is none to 18 for Mount Zion,D the Temple Mount, which is desolate; its Discussion for Lamentations 5:18 deliver us from their hand. past vitality is gone, and foxes, who commonly dwell in deso- 9 We bring our bread at the peril of our lives due to the sword late areas, walk on it. of the wilderness. In order to obtain food, we must put our 19 Despite the anguish, the book ends on a note of acceptance lives at risk by traveling through the desert, which is frequent- and hope: You, Lord, are enthroned forever; Your throne ed by robbers.114 Alternatively: In order to survive during the is secure from generation to generation. Although God’s war we must bring food from faraway places, even from the residency in this world is the mountain of Zion, which is now wilderness. desolate, His heavenly throne is independent of worldly events, 10 Our skin burns like an oven,115 or has shriveled as though it and it will stand forever.119 were baked in an oven,116 due to fear of famine. 20 But as for us, why do You forget us forever, forsake us for the 11 When the enemy soldiers invaded the city, they raped women length of our days? in Zion, virgins in the cities of Judah. 21 Return us to You, Lord, and if You do so, we will return; we “Princes were hanged by their hand.” Men of Judah hanged, Lakhish 12 Princes were hanged by their hand. The enemies would hang will return to You, willingly and actively. Renew our days as of the dignitaries of Jerusalem by their hands as a punishment, for old, like the days when You loved us and honored us. DISCUSSION show, or in order to extract information from them. The faces 22 For You have despised us, or: You have indeed despised us. Discussion for Lamentations 5:18 5:18 | Mount Zion: In the book of Isaiah, the to last verse, which has a more optimistic tone, God and restore it to its state at the beginning of elders were not shown deference. No one honored the You have been exceedingly angry with us. We have suffered Temple Mount is commonly referred to as the in order to finish the book with a positive mes- of the people’s history. A similar aspiration ap- elders. more than enough humiliation; our debt has been paid. mountain of Zion. sage (see the final verses of Isaiah, Malachi, and pears in Malachi (3:4): “Then shall the offering of Ecclesiastes). In the context of Lamentations, Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant to the Lord, as Discussion for Lamentations 5:22 5:22 | Renew our days as of old: There are sev- The penultimate verse is repeated in a communal recitation: eral books in the Bible that conclude on a nega- ending the book with this verse is an expression in the days of old, and as in ancient years.” This D tive note, and the custom is to repeat the second of the hope to renew Israel’s relationship with verse is recited at the end of the Amida prayer. Return us to You, Lord, and we will return; renew our days as of old.

23 22 Lamentations | Notes

Introduction

1. Bava Batra 15a. 3. II Chronicles 35:25. 2. See Moed Katan 26a; Menaĥot 30a and Rashi ad loc.; Abravanel, Jeremiah 36:4; Da’at Mikra on 4. See Rashi, Lamentations 1:1; Moed Katan 26a; Eikha Rabba 1:53; Abravanel, Jeremiah 36:2; Daniel, summary to chapter 1. commentary on 4:20.

Lamentations

5. Ibn Ezra. 43. Targum Yonatan. 82. Rashi. 6. See Rashi. 44. Pesikta Zutreta. 83. See Ibn Ezra. 7. See Rashi; Ibn Ezra. 45. See Rashi. 84. Ibn Ezra. 8. See Rashi. 46. Rashi. 85. See Pesikta Zutreta. 9. Rashi. 47. Bekhor Shor. 86. Alsheikh. 10. See Targum Yonatan; Rashi. 48. See Rashi. 87. Rashi. 11. Targum Yonatan. 49. Targum Yonatan; Rashi. 88. Ibn Ezra. 12. Rashi. 50. Rashi. 89. Targum Yonatan; Rashi. 13. Deuteronomy 23:4. 51. Rav Yosef Caspi. 90. Targum Yonatan; Rashi. 14. Targum Yonatan; Rashi; Yevamot 16b. 52. Rashi. 91. Rashi; Rav Yeshaya of Trani. 15. Targum Yonatan. 53. Targum Yonatan. 92. Rashi. 16. Pesikta Zutreta; Rav Yosef Kara. 54. See Targum Yonatan; Rashi. 93. Rav Yosef Kara; Bekhor Shor. All images are copyright © Koren Publishers Jerusalem Ltd., except: 17. Targum Yonatan; Ibn Ezra. 55. Alsheikh. 94. Pesikta Zutreta; Rashi. 18. Rashi. 56. See Pesikta Zutreta; Rashi. 95. See Rashi. 19. Rashi; Ibn Ezra. 57. See Rashi; Ibn Ezra. 96. Rashi. p6 left image © Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin FRCP(Glasg); p6 right image © Trustees of the British Museum; p8 left image © Steerpike; p8 upper right 20. See Targum Yonatan; Leviticus 20:18. 58. See Pesikta Zutreta. 97. See Targum Yonatan; Pesikta Zutreta. image © Luke; p8 lower right image © Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net); p10 upper image © public domain; p10 lower left image © Carole Raddato from 21. See Rashi. 59. Pesikta Zutreta. 98. Rashi. Frankfurt, Germany; p10 lower right image © public domain; p14 upper left image © Mick Talbot from Lincoln, England, UK; p14 center left image © 22. Rashi; Ibn Ezra. 60. Targum Yonatan; Rashi. 99. See Pesikta Zutreta; Rashi. Portable Antiquities Scheme; p14 lower left image © public domain; p14 right image © Matt Lavin from Bozeman, Montana, USA; p16 right image © public 23. See Ibn Ezra. 61. See Ibn Ezra. 100. Ibn Ezra. domain; p18 left jackal image © Alastair Rae; p18 left whale image © Gabriel Barathieu; p18 lower left ostrich image © Peter Dowley from Dubai, United 24. Rashi. 62. See Targum Yonatan; Ibn Ezra. 101. Rashi. Arab Emirates; p18 right sapphire image © Sapphiredge; p18 right gem image © Mauro Cateb; p20 left image © Trustees of the British Museum; p22 © 25. Bekhor Shor. 63. Targum Yonatan. 102. Rashi. kevincellis36109 26. Rashi. 64. See Pesikta Zutreta; Rashi. 103. See Rashi; Pesikta Zutreta; Rav Yosef Caspi. 27. See Targum Yonatan; Rashi. 65. Rashi. 104. Targum Yonatan; Rashi. 28. See Ibn Ezra, Job 16:16. 66. Pesikta Zutreta. 105. See Rashi; Pesikta Zutreta. 29. Rashi; Ibn Ezra. 67. See Rashi. 106. See Rashi. 30. Targum Yonatan; Rashi; see Psalms 132:7; I Chronicles 28:2; 68. See Pesikta Zutreta. 107. Rashi. commentary on Exodus 24:9. 69. See Rashi. 108. See Pesikta Zutreta. 31. Targum Yonatan; Rashi. 70. See Eikha Rabba 3:13. 109. Alsheikh. 32. Targum Yonatan; Rashi. 71. See Rashi. 110. See commentary on 1:1. 33. See Rashi. 72. Rashi. 111. See Isaiah 55:1. 34. Targum Yonatan. 73. Targum Yonatan; Rashi. 112. See Ezekiel 17:18. 35. Rashi; see Rav Yosef Kara, Ezekiel 22:26. 74. Targum Yonatan. 113. See Targum Yonatan; Rashi. 36. Rashi. 75. Rashi. 114. Targum Yonatan; Rashi. 37. See Psalms 42:5. 76. Rashi. 115. Rashi. 38. Targum Yonatan. 77. Ibn Ezra. 116. See Pesikta Zutreta. 39. See Ibn Ezra, Job 16:16. 78. Targum Yonatan. 117. Rashi. 40. See Rashi; Pesikta Zutreta. 79. Alsheikh. 118. See Pesikta Zutreta. 41. Ibn Ezra. 80. Ibn Ezra; Rav Yosef Caspi. 119. See Targum Yonatan; Bekhor Shor. 42. See Pesikta Zutreta. 81. See Rashi.

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