Lamentations Chapter 2

Introduction to Lamentations 2
This chapter contains another alphabet, in which the Prophet Jeremiah laments the sad condition of Jerusalem; the destruction of the city and Temple, and all the persons and things relative to them, and to its civil or church state; and that as being from the Hand of the LORD Himself, Who is represented all along as the Author of, because of their sins (Lam.2:1); and then the elders and virgins of Zion are represented as in great distress, weeping for those desolations; which were very much owing to the false prophets that had deceived them (Lam.2:10); and all of this motivated great rejoicing in the enemies of Zion (Lam.2:15); but causing great sorrow of heart to Zion herself, who is called to weeping (Lam.2:18); and the Chapter is concluded with an address to the LORD, to take her sorrowful case into consideration, and show pity and compassion (Lam.2:20).

Lam. 2:1 How hath the Lord covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in his anger, and cast down from heaven unto the earth the beauty of Israel, and remembered not his footstool in the day of his anger! (KJV)

How hath the Lord covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in his anger . . . how  . . . the title of the collection repeated here, and in Lam.4:1. Covered . . . with a cloud . . . with the darkness of humiliation. NOT for protection, as He did the Israelites at the Red sea, and in the wilderness; nor their sins, which He blots out as a thick cloud; nor with such a one as He filled the Tabernacle and Temple with when dedicated . . . for this was in His anger, in the day of His anger, against Jerusalem. Here it was with thick, black clouds of calamity and distress. He caused a cloud to come over all her brightness and glory, surrounding her with darkness, so her light and splendor might not be seen. Some interpret it, he lifted her up to the clouds; so that He could cast her down with the greater force.  
And cast down from heaven unto the earth the beauty of Israel . . . this was true of her service to God and especially her beautiful Temple (Ps.29:2; 74:7; 96:9; Isa.60:7; 64:11). Her Temple, in all its glory, both in church and state; this was brought down from the highest pitch of its excellence and dignity, to the lowest degree of shame and criticism. Hers was the beauty and glory of the nation, but now utterly destroyed.
And remembered not his footstool in the day of his anger . . . to spare and preserve that; meaning either the House of the Sanctuary, the Temple itself, or the ark with the mercy seat, on which the Shechinah or divine Majesty set His Feet, when sitting between the cherubim; and is so called.  1 Chr. 28:2 Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for me, I had in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building: (KJV)  His footstool, the ark (Ps.99:5; 132:7). They once had gloried more in the ark than in the God whose symbol it was; but they now feel it was only His footstool.
For more on Shekinah, see the end of this Chapter.

Lam. 2:2 The LORD hath swallowed up all the habitations of Jacob, and hath not pitied: he hath thrown down in his wrath the strong holds of the daughter of Judah; he hath brought them down to the ground: he hath polluted the kingdom and the princes thereof. (KJV)

The LORD hath swallowed up all the habitations of Jacob, and hath not pitied . . . since He did not regard His own residence, the Temple, nor the ark His footstool, it is no wonder He was not concerned about the houses of others. The inhabitants of the land of Judea and of Jerusalem, mainly of the king, his nobles, and the great men; these the LORD swallowed up, or allowed to be swallowed up, as houses in an earthquake, and by a flood, so as to be seen no more. This He did without showing the least bit of reluctance, pity and compassion; being so highly enraged and provoked by their sins and transgressions.
He hath thrown down in his wrath the strong holds of the daughter of Judah . . . not only the houses of the people, but the most fortified places, their castles, towers and strongholds.
He hath brought them down to the ground . . . not only did He batter and shake them, but beat them down, and layed them level with the ground. All this was done in the fury of His righteous wrath, being so irritated by the sins of His people, the daughter of Judah.
He hath polluted the kingdom, and the princes thereof . . . what was considered sacred, the kingdom of the house of David, and the kings and princes of it, the LORD'S anointed; these being defiled with sin, God cast them away, as filth to the dunghill, and gave them up into the hands of the Gentiles, who were counted as unclean . . . and so they were profaned.

Lam. 2:3 He hath cut off in his fierce anger all the horn of Israel: he hath drawn back his right hand from before the enemy, and he burned against Jacob like a flaming fire, which devoureth round about. (KJV)

He hath cut off in his fierce anger all the horn of Israel . . . all her power and strength, especially her kingly power, which is often signified by a horn in Scripture. Dan. 7:24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. (KJV) All their power the LORD took away in His fierce anger, leaving the land destitute of all relief, help, defense and protection.  All was cut off and destroyed.
He hath drawn back his right hand from before the enemy . . . either His own right Hand, with which He had used to fight for His people, and protect them, but now withdrawing it, left them to the mercy of their enemies . . . or Israel's right hand, which the LORD had so weakened that they had no power to resist the enemy, and defend themselves. God’s right Hand: (Ps.16:8; 63:8; 73:23; 89:13; 139:10).  
And he burned against Jacob like a flaming fire which devoureth round about . . . His Holy wrath was like a flaming fire, which consumes all around, wherever it comes; so the LORD in His anger consumed Jacob, and left neither root nor branch. God had withdrawn the help which He before had given them.

Lam. 2:4 He hath bent his bow like an enemy: he stood with his right hand as an adversary, and slew all that were pleasant to the eye in the tabernacle of the daughter of Zion: he poured out his fury like fire. (KJV)

He hath bent his bow like an enemy . . . God sometimes appears as if He was an enemy to His people, when He is not, by His conduct and behavior; by the privileges of His providence they take Him to be so, as Job did. Job 16:9 He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me. (KJV)
He stood with his right hand as an adversary . . . with arrows in it, to put into His bow or with His sword drawn, as an adversary does. The Targum is, he stood at the right hand of Nebuchadnezzar and helped him, when he distressed his people Israel.
And slew all that were pleasant to the eye . . . princes and priests, husbands and wives, parents and children, young men and maids; needed by their friends and relations, and by the nation.
In the tabernacle of the daughter of Zion he poured out his fury like fire . . . either in the Temple, or in the city of Jerusalem, or both, which were burned with fire, as the effect of the LORD’S divine wrath and fury; and which is compared to fire.  
Nah. 1:6 Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him. (KJV) . . . We all should honor and respect the LORD, and stay on the good side of Him at all times. He cannot, and will not tolerate sin. BEWARE! This life on Earth is so short. Please consider eternity!

Lam. 2:5 The LORD was as an enemy: he hath swallowed up Israel, he hath swallowed up all her palaces: he hath destroyed his strong holds, and hath increased in the daughter of Judah mourning and lamentation. (KJV)

The LORD was as an enemy . . . Who before was on their side, their God and Guardian, their Protector and Deliverer, but now was dead set against them. Dear one, you do NOT want to have God for an enemy!
He hath swallowed up Israel . . . the ten tribes, or the Jewish nation in general; as a lion, or any other savage beast, swallows its prey, and makes nothing of it, and leaves nothing behind.  
He hath swallowed up all her palaces . . . the palaces of Zion or Jerusalem; the palaces of the king, princes, nobles and great men; as an earthquake or flood swallows up whole streets and cities all at once (verse 2).
He hath destroyed his strong holds . . . the fortified places of the land of Israel, the towers and castles.
And hath increased in the daughter of Judah mourning and lamentation . . . their sin had brought great lamentation, because of the destruction of its cities, towns, villages, and the people of them.

Lam. 2:6 And he hath violently taken away his tabernacle, as if it were of a garden: he hath destroyed his places of the assembly: the LORD hath caused the solemn feasts and sabbaths to be forgotten in Zion, and hath despised in the indignation of his anger the king and the priest. (KJV)

And he hath violently taken away his tabernacle, as if it were of a garden . . . the Sanctuary or Temple, which was demolished quickly with great force and violence, and as easily done as if it were a tent or tabernacle is taken down. No more was made of it than of a tent in a vineyard or garden, set up while the fruit was gathered; either to shelter from the heat of the sun in the day, or to lodge in at night. Isa. 1:8 And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city. (KJV)  
He hath destroyed his places in the assembly . . . the courts where the people used to assemble for worship in the Temple; or the synagogues in Jerusalem, and other parts of the land.
The LORD hath caused the solemn feasts and sabbaths to be forgotten in Zion . . . there being neither places to keep them in, nor people to observe them.
And hath despised, in the indignation of his anger, the king and the priest . . . whose persons and offices were sacred, and should be treated with honor and respect; but for the sins of both, the LORD despised them Himself, and made them the object of His wrath and anger, and allowed them to be hated and ill used by others, by the Chaldeans. Zedekiah had his children slain before his eyes, and then they put out his eyes, and he was carried in chains to Babylon, and there held a captive all his days; and Seraiah the chief priest, was put to death by the king of Babylon; though not only the persons of the king and priest are meant, but their offices also; the kingdom and priesthood ceased from being exercised for many years.

Lam. 2:7 The LORD hath cast off his altar, he hath abhorred his sanctuary, he hath given up into the hand of the enemy the walls of her palaces; they have made a noise in the house of the LORD, as in the day of a solemn feast. (KJV)

The LORD hath cast off his altar . . . whether incense or burnt offerings; the sacrifices which used to be acceptable to Him; but now the altar being cast down and demolished, there were no more offerings; nor did the LORD show any desire for them, but the opposite. Heb. 13:15  By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. (KJV) . . . WHAT sacrifice does God want from us? It is the sacrifice of praise. My friend, it is one that you can easily afford! Our lips should confess God's Name in praise and thanksgiving . . . continually!
He hath abhorred his sanctuary . . . the Temple; by allowing it to be profaned, pulled down, and burned, it looked as if He hated it, and the service in it; and He did, for worship was performed without faith in Christ, love to Him, or any view to His honor and glory (Isa.1:13).
He hath given up into the hand of the enemy the walls of her palaces . . . both the walls of the Sanctuary, and the walls of the houses of the king and princes; especially the king is meant, both by what goes before and follows.
They have made a noise in the house of the Lord, as in the day of a solemn feast . . . that is the enemy, the Chaldeans, made noise in the Temple, blaspheming God, that had dwelt in it; insulting the people of God, that had worshipped there and  rejoicing in their victories over them; singing profane songs to their gods, treating themselves in reveling and rioting; making great noise with their shouts and songs as the priests, Levites, and people of Israel did, when they sang the songs of Zion on a festival day. The Targum is, as the voice of the people of the house of Israel, that prayed in the midst of it in the day of the Passover.

Lam. 2:8 The LORD hath purposed to destroy the wall of the daughter of Zion: he hath stretched out a line, he hath not withdrawn his hand from destroying: therefore he made the rampart and the wall to lament; they languished together. (KJV)

The LORD hath purposed to destroy the wall of the daughter of Zion . . . either the wall of the city, or the wall that encompassed the Temple, and all the courts of it.  This the LORD had determined to destroy, and according to His purposes did destroy it, and so all was laid open for the enemy to enter.
He hath stretched out a line . . . a line of destruction, to mark out how far the destruction should go, and how much should be laid in ruins. All being exactly done, according to the purpose and counsel of God, as if it was done by line and rule. Isa. 34:11 But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess it; the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it: and he shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion, and the stones of emptiness. (KJV) . . . The East used a measuring-line not only in building, but also in destroying structures (2 Ki.21:13); indicating here the unsparing rigidness with which the LORD would exact punishment.
He hath not withdrawn his hand from destroying . . . until He made a full end of the city and Temple, as He first intended.
Therefore he made the rampart and the wall to lament . . . the wall; all that space between the courts of the Temple and the wall that surrounded it was called the chel; the circumference or enclosure; and these were laid waste together, and so said to lament.
They languished together . . . fell together, as persons in a fit, faint away and fallen to the ground.

Lam. 2:9  Her gates are sunk into the ground; he hath destroyed and broken her bars: her king and her princes are among the Gentiles: the law is no more; her prophets also find no vision from the LORD. (KJV)

Her gates are sunk into the ground . . . either the gates of the city or Temple, or both; being broken and demolished, and laid level with the ground, covered with rubbish.
He hath destroyed and broken her bars . . . with which the gates were bolted and barred, so the enemy might enter; it was God that did it, or allowed it to be done. It would not have been in the power of the enemy.  
Her king and her princes are among the Gentiles . . . Zedekiah and the princes that were not slain by the king of Babylon, were carried captive there; and there they lived, among Heathens that did not know God, and despised Him and His worship.
The law is no more; . . . 2 Chr. 15:3 Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law. (KJV) . . . The civil and religious laws were one under the theocracy. Ps. 74:9 We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long. (KJV)  Eze. 7:26 Mischief shall come upon mischief, and rumour shall be upon rumour; then shall they seek a vision of the prophet; but the law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the ancients. (KJV) . . . All the legal ordinances (prophetical as well as priestly) of the theocracy, are no more. The Book of the law was burned in the Temple, and the tables of it carried away with the ark, or destroyed; and though there were no doubt copies of the law preserved, yet it was not read nor explained; nor was worship performed according to the direction of it; nor could it be in a strange land.
Her prophets also find no vision from the LORD . . . there was none but Jeremiah left in the land, and none but Ezekiel and Daniel in the captivity. Prophets were very rare at this time, as they were afterwards; for we hear of no more after the captivity, until the Coming of the Messiah, except Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi; so there was very little open vision. The Word of the LORD was precious and scarce,  there was a famine of hearing it. 1 Sam. 3:1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision. (KJV)  

Lam. 2:10 The elders of the daughter of Zion sit upon the ground, and keep silence: they have cast up dust upon their heads; they have girded themselves with sackcloth: the virgins of Jerusalem hang down their heads to the ground. (KJV)

The elders of the daughter of Zion sit on the ground, and keep silence . . . who used to sit in the gate on thrones of judgment, and passed sentence in cases tried before them; or to give advice and counsel, and were regarded as prophecies, now sit on the ground, dumb as mourners (Job 2:13).   
They have cast up dust upon their heads . . . on their white hairs and gray locks, which show wisdom, and made them important and respected.
They have girded themselves with sackcloth . . . the manner of mourners; who used to be clothed in scarlet and rich apparel, in robes suitable to their office as civil magistrates.
The virgins of Jerusalem hang down their heads to the ground . . . through shame and sorrow; who used to look abrupt and rushed, and walk with extended necks, and carried their heads high, but now low.

Lam. 2:11 Mine eyes do fail with tears, my bowels are troubled, my liver is poured upon the earth, for the destruction of the daughter of my people; because the children and the sucklings swoon in the streets of the city. (KJV)

Mine eyes do fail with tears . . . it seems these are the words of Jeremiah, who had wept his eyes dry, because of the calamities of his people; although he himself obtained liberty.
My bowels are troubled . . . all his inward parts were distressed.
My liver is poured upon the earth . . . his gall bladder, which lay at the bottom of his liver, broke, and he cast it up, and poured it on the earth (Job 16:13), and all this was,
For the destruction of the daughter of my people . . . their civil and church state being destroyed and broke to shivers; and for the ruin of the several families of them: mainly,
Because the children and sucklings swoon in the streets of the city . . . through famine, for lack of bread, with those that could eat it; and for want of the milk of their mothers and nurses, who being starved themselves could not give it; and so the poor infants fainted and collapsed, which was a dismal sight, and heart melting to the prophet.

Lam. 2:12 They say to their mothers, Where is corn and wine? when they swooned as the wounded in the streets of the city, when their soul was poured out into their mothers' bosom. (KJV)

They say to their mothers, where is corn and wine? . . . not babies who could not speak, but children more grown who had been brought up in the best way, and had been used to wine and not water, ask their mothers for wine as well as corn; who used to feed them, and were most tender to them; but now not having their usual food, and not knowing why, ask the mothers, for they were hungry.  
When they swooned as the wounded in the streets of the city . . . having no food given to them, they fainted away and died a difficult death; as wounded persons do who are not killed at once, which is worse. Death which comes from starvation is no different from the death which comes in the middle of the battle, for famine is as deadly as the sword. Jer. 52:6 And in the fourth month, in the ninth day of the month, the famine was sore in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land. (KJV)
When their soul was poured out into their mothers' bosom . . . as they sat in their mothers' laps, and lay in their bosoms; died in their mothers' arms. This represents babies dying in their mother's arms.

Lam. 2:13 What thing shall I take to witness for thee? what thing shall I liken to thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? what shall I equal to thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? for thy breach is great like the sea: who can heal thee? (KJV)

What thing shall I take to witness for thee? . . . what argument can be made use of? What proof or evidence can be given? What witnesses can be called to convince thee, and make it a clear case to time, that ever any people or nation was in such distress and calamity, what with sword, famine, pestilence, and captivity, as thou art?
What thing shall I liken thee to, O daughter of Jerusalem? . . . what nation ever suffered like this? No example can be given, no case comes up to it . . . not the Egyptians, when the ten plagues were inflicted on them; not the Canaanites, when conquered and driven out by Joshua; not the Philistines, Moabites, Edomites, and Syrians when subdued by David; or any other people.
What shall I equal to thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? . . . this is one way that friends comfort the afflicted, by telling them that their case was as bad, and worse, than theirs; and so they should tell them to bear their affliction patiently and before long it will be over . . . but this was different, and there was no hope given that it would be anything else. They could not say their case was like others, or that it was not hopeless.
For thy breach is great like the sea . . . as large and as wide as the sea, Zion's troubles were a sea of trouble. The sea gives the only suitable symbol of her woes, by its boundless extent and depth.
Who can heal thee? . . . it was not in the nation’s power or of her allies, to recover her out of the hands of the enemy; to restore her civil or church state. Her wound was incurable; none but God could be her physician.

Lam. 2:14 Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee: and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for thee false burdens and causes of banishment. (KJV)

Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee . . . not the prophets of the LORD; but false prophets, which the people chose, because they prophesied smooth things, only things they liked and wanted to hear. Isa. 30:10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: (KJV)
And they have not discovered thine iniquity . . . the false prophets did not tell them of their sins; instead of condemning them for their sins, they soothed them, where they should have made them ashamed and brought to them to repentance. Neither did they make clear the punishment that would come upon them for their sins, but instead told them punishment would not come upon them. Dear one, this is what is happening in our world today! BEWARE!!! Do NOT listen to these false prophets! Check out what they say by the Word of God. If it does not agree, run away FAST!
To turn away thy captivity . . . they do not turn them away from their backslidings nor turn them to repentance, nor prevent their going into captivity.
But have seen for thee false burdens, and causes of banishment . . . burdens, their prophecies were soothing and flattering; but the result was disastrous to the people, worse than what the prophecies of Jeremiah, which they in contempt called burdens. So he terms their fake prophecies false burdens, which proved to the Jews to be the cause of their banishment. Burdens . . . their prophecies were soothing and flattering; but the result was heavy calamities to the people. BEWARE! The pulpits today are full of smiling false prophets bringing you words that will lead you to Hell! Check out everything you hear or read with the Word of God, including me.

Lam. 2:15 All that pass by clap their hands at thee; they hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, Is this the city that men call The perfection of beauty, The joy of the whole earth? (KJV)

All that pass by clap their hands at thee . . . travelers passing by saw Jerusalem in ruins, clapping their hands in rejoicing, being well pleased at the sight. This was not the inhabitants of the land, but strangers who had no good will to it; for they seem to be set apart from their cruel enemies in verse 16.
They hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem . . . by way of scorn and mockery; expressing their contempt of her, and the pleasure and satisfaction they took in seeing her in this condition.
Saying, is this the city that men call the perfection of beauty, the joy of the whole earth? . . . a complete city, and most beautiful for its situation and fortifications by nature, and its spacious buildings, palaces and towers and especially for the magnificent Temple in it, being the Residence of the God of Heaven there. But now instead of being it being beautiful, it was a dreadful, ugly heap of rubbish; and instead of being the joy of the whole Earth, it was the eyesore of all things.

Lam. 2:16 All thine enemies have opened their mouth against thee: they hiss and gnash the teeth: they say, We have swallowed her up: certainly this is the day that we looked for; we have found, we have seen it. (KJV)

All thine enemies have opened their mouth against thee . . . opened their mouth as ravening, roaring wild beasts (Job 16:7-10; Ps.22:13). Here, Jerusalem was a type of Messiah. Psalm 35:21 Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it. (KJV)
They hiss and gnash their teeth . . . in spiteful malice, hissing like snakes, gnashing their teeth in wrath and fury; all expressing their extreme hatred and disgust of the Jews. They took great delight in their ruin and destruction.
They say, we have swallowed her up . . . all her wealth and riches were in their hands. The rejoicing of the enemies is expressed by every feature in their face  . . . the wicked hate, the wide mouth, the hissing, the gnashing of the teeth. They triumph in the thought that they have brought about the misery at which they gloat. Certainly this is the day that we have looked for; we have found, we have seen it . . .  we have seen it . . . this day of Jerusalem's destruction, which they had long looked for, and earnestly desired; and now it was come; and they had what they so much wished for; and they express it with the utmost pleasure.

*****I think that hatred of the Jews is absolutely wrong!
Genesis 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. [KJV]
God CHOSE the nation of Israel! Who are we to hate and/or curse them? Can we go up against God in ANY matter? We are to love the Jews because God loves them. Dear one, Jesus, our Saviour was/is a Jew!  

Lam. 2:17 The LORD hath done that which he had devised; he hath fulfilled his word that he had commanded in the days of old: he hath thrown down, and hath not pitied: and he hath caused thine enemy to rejoice over thee, he hath set up the horn of thine adversaries. (KJV)

The LORD hath done that which he had devised . . . it was not so much the Chaldeans that did it, although they attributed it to themselves; it was the LORD'S doing, and what He had deliberately planned, purposed and designed within Himself . . . and all His purposes and devices certainly come to pass.
He hath fulfilled his word that he had commanded in the days of old . . . not only by the mouth of Jeremiah, years ago, or in the times of Isaiah, long before him; but even in the days of Moses. Lev. 26:17 And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you. (KJV)  
Deut. 28:20 The LORD shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me. (KJV) . . . God clearly stated that if the children of Israel would not keep the commands of the LORD, He would take vengeance on them, and He did!
He hath thrown down, and hath not pitied . . . He had thrown down, or caused to be thrown down, without any pity, the walls of Jerusalem; and not only the houses and palaces in it, but also His own House, the Temple.
And he hath caused thine enemy to rejoice over thee . . . giving them victory and putting all into their hands; on which they then insulted them, and gloried over them.
He hath set up the horn of thine adversaries . . . He increased their strength and power, their kingdom and authority, which swelled their pride, and made them all the more haughty and insolent.

Lam. 2:18 Their heart cried unto the Lord, O wall of the daughter of Zion, let tears run down like a river day and night: give thyself no rest; let not the apple of thine eye cease. (KJV)

Their heart cried unto the LORD . . . either the heart of their enemies, which cried against the LORD, and blasphemed Him; or possibly the heart of the Jews in their distress, when they saw the walls of the city breaking down, they cried unto the LORD for help and protection, whether they were sincere or not; there is no doubt some did; for all wanted preservation.
O wall of the daughter of Zion! . . . this seems to be an address of the prophet to the people of Jerusalem carried captive, which was now without houses and residents, only a broken wall standing, some remains and ruins of that.  
Let tears run down like a river, day and night . . . nonstop, for the destruction and desolation that was made.
Give thyself no rest . . . no intermission, just weeping continually.
Let not the apple of thine eye cease . . . from pouring out tears; or from weeping, but be open and working in beholding the miseries of the nation, and in hating them.

Lam. 2:19 Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord: lift up thy hands toward him for the life of thy young children, that faint for hunger in the top of every street. (KJV)

Arise, cry out in the night . . . meaning the daughter of Zion, or congregation of Israel, who are addressed and called upon by the prophet to arise from their beds, and shake off their sleep, laziness and stupidity, and cry out to God in the night. Be earnest and persistent with Him for help and assistance. They are to have great passion and be sincere in crying to God, rising up from deep distress and sorrow.
In the beginning of the watches . . . either at the first watch which began at the time of going to bed: or at the beginning of each of each watch. The ancient Jews had three watches; in later times four.  
Pour out thine heart like water before the face of the LORD . . . be free with the LORD, tell Him the whole situation, raise your complaints; tell Him what is on your heart; keep nothing from Him; speak freely of all your soul needs. They were to pour out as water the rebellion in their hearts, and return to Him by sincere repentance.
Lift up thine hands towards him . . . in prayer, for this is a gesture in prayer. Lam. 3:41 Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens. (KJV)
For the life of thy young children that faint for hunger in the top of every street . . .  pray for them, that they might have food and nourishment, to preserve them alive; who, for lack of it, were ready to die in the public streets; and yet none were able to relieve them.

Lam. 2:20 Behold, O LORD, and consider to whom thou hast done this. Shall the women eat their fruit, and children of a span long? shall the priest and the prophet be slain in the sanctuary of the Lord? (KJV)

Behold, O LORD, and consider to whom thou hast done this . . . and whom thou hast brought these calamities of famine and sword; not upon Thine enemies, but upon Thine own people, that are called by Thy Name, and upon their young ones, who had not sinned as their fathers had. These words seem to be suggested to the church by the prophet, as what might be proper for her to use, when praying for the life of her young children.  
Shall the women eat their fruit . . . their children, the fruit of their womb, their newborn babies, which ate at their breasts, and were carried in their arms. It seems they did, as was threatened they would. Lev. 26:29 And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat. (KJV) And so they did at the siege of Samaria, and at the siege of Jerusalem, both by the Chaldeans and the Romans. Also see: (Deu.28:53-57; 2 Ki.6:28-29; Jer.19:9; Lam.4:10; Eze.5:10).
And children of a span long?. . . or of a hand's breadth; the width of the palms of the hand, meaning very little ones.
Shall the priest and the prophet be slain in the sanctuary of the Lord? . . . as most likely some were, who fled thither for safety when the city was broken up; but they were not spared by the merciless Chaldeans, who had no regard to their office and character; nor is it any wonder they should not, when the Jews themselves slew Zechariah, a priest and prophet, between the porch and the altar (2 Chr.24:21).  

Lam. 2:21 The young and the old lie on the ground in the streets: my virgins and my young men are fallen by the sword; thou hast slain them in the day of thine anger; thou hast killed, and not pitied. (KJV)

The young and the old lie on the ground in the streets . . . young men and old men, virgins and old women; these shamelessly lay on the ground in the public streets, fainting and dying for lack of food; or lay dead there by the sword of the enemy; the Chaldeans sparing neither age nor sex.
My virgins and my young men are fallen by the sword . . . by the sword of the Chaldeans, when they entered the city.
Thou hast slain them in the day of thine anger: thou hast killed, and not pitied . . .
the Chaldeans were only instruments in what was the LORD'S doing; it was all according to His will; it was what He had purposed and decreed; what He had solemnly declared and threatened; and now in His wisdom brought it all  about. It was because of the sins of the Jews, by which the LORD was provoked to anger; and so gave them up into the hands of their enemies, to slay them without mercy.

Lam. 2:22 Thou hast called as in a solemn day my terrors round about, so that in the day of the LORD'S anger none escaped nor remained: those that I have swaddled and brought up hath mine enemy consumed. (KJV)

Thou hast called, as in a solemn day, my terrors round about . . . terrible enemies, as the Chaldeans were. These came at the call of God, as soldiers at the command of their general; and in as great numbers as men from all parts of Judea flocked to Jerusalem on any of the three solemn feasts of Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles.
So that in the day of the LORD'S anger none escaped or remained . . . in the city of Jerusalem, and in the land of Judea; either they were put to death, or were carried captive; so that there was not an inhabitant to be found, especially after Gedaliah was slain (Jer. 41), and the Jews left in the land were carried into Egypt.
Those that I have swaddled and brought up hath mine enemy consumed. . . whose limbs she had stroked with her hands, whom she had swathed with bands, and had carried in her arms, and had most carefully and tenderly brought up: by those she had swaddled are meant the little ones; and by those she had brought up means the older ones. The Chaldeans consumed and destroyed without mercy, without regard to their tender years, or the manner in which they were brought up; but as if they were nourished like lambs for the day of slaughter.

What is the Shekinah Glory?

What is Shekinah Glory? Is This In The Bible?
Jesus’s glory as GOD was veiled in human flesh, but at times His Glory, the so-called Shekinah Glory, was revealed.  SO what is the Shekinah Glory of God?
Shekinah
What does the word Shekinah mean?  It is not in the Bible, so WHY do we need to know what this word means as regarding God’s Glory?  The word Shekinah is from the Hebrew word shekinot and it actually is in the Bible where GOD is said to settle in or dwell with.  Shekinot means where God is dwelling, settling or where His Divine Presence is.  This Glory is seen when God’s glory filled the Temple and even in the wilderness where He was a Light during the night and the Shekinah cloud of His Glory shaded Israel in the scorching sun of the desert.
Exodus 13:21-22 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: 22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people. (KJV)
His Presence was revealed by the penetrating Light that filled the Tabernacle, the Temple in Jerusalem and even in the Transfiguration of Jesus on the Mount, where Jesus shone as bright as the sun when He spoke with Moses and Elijah.
Daniel 10:5-6 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz: 6  His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude. (KJV)
Matthew 17:1-3 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 2  And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. 3  And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. (KJV)
Acts 9:3-4 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:  4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? (KJV)
Revelation 1:14-16 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; 15  And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. 16  And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. (KJV)

I believe that the whole of Ezekiel Chapter 1, is the Shekinah Glory of God, being revealed to the astounded prophet, so that he could bring it to GOD’S people in Ezekiel’s time and for us today as well.

Book of Lamentations

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