Chapter 19

1 A lamentation for the princes of Israel, under the parable of lions’ whelps taken in a pit, 10 and for Jerusalem, under the parable of a wasted vine.

1. Lamentation. Heb. qinah, “a song of mourning,” “a dirge,” or “an elegy” (see Vol. III, p. 19).

Princes. Jehoahaz and Jehoiachin (see on vs. 3, 5). The LXX reads “prince,” in harmony with the singular “thy” (v. 2).

2. Thy mother. Mother stands for Jerusalem (see Gal. 4:26), or perhaps here for the whole national community. On the figure of the lion see Gen. 49:9; Num. 23:24; 24:9. Israel, personified as a lioness, lay down among the lions, that is, the other kingdoms of the world, the Gentile nations. She took her place in the family of nations.

3. One of her whelps. Jehoahaz, the son of Josiah, also known as Shallum (1 Chron. 3:15; Jer. 22:11; see on 2 Kings 23:30, 32), who was taken captive to Egypt (see v. 4).

It devoured men. Jehoahaz turned his back on the reforms of his father, Josiah (2 Kings 23:1–25), and did evil in the sight of the Lord (2 Kings 23:32). On the figure of devouring men see (Eze. 22:25, 27.

4. Heard. A change of the Hebrew verb form permits the translation “sounded an alarm” (RSV).

Chains. Heb. chachim, “thorns,” or “hooks,” such as were placed in the nostrils of captives or animals. To these, ropes were attached for the purpose of leading the victims (see 2 Kings 19:28; Isa. 37:29; Eze. 38:4).

Of Egypt. See 2 Kings 23:33, 34; 2 Chron. 36:4.

5. Another of her whelps. Identified by the details of v. 9 as Jehoiachin. The intervening reign of Jehoiakim 2 Kings 23:34 to 24:6) is passed by without notice.

6. Devoured men. See on v. 3.

7. Desolate palaces. Heb. Хalmenoth, literally, “widows.” If the literal meaning is here intended, it would refer to the injury of widows, whom the king should have protected. The Targums and Theodotion’s Greek version render the word as from Хarmenoth, “fortresses.”

9. To the king of Babylon. Jehioachin had reigned about three months when Jerusalem was conquered by Nebuchadnezzar and the king carried as a captive to Babylon and put in prison (2 Kings 24:8–17). He was there at the time of this prophecy. Some years later he was released (2 Kings 25:27–30).

10. A vine. A new allegory is introduced, in which Israel is compared to a thriving vine.

In thy blood. Heb. bedamka, an obscure phrase for which no satisfactory meaning can be obtained. Some have suggested the interpretation “in thy life,” “in thy freshness,” the sap of the vine being considered as blood. Others suggest that the Hebrew should read tidmeh, from the root damah, “to be like.” The sentence would then read, “Thy mother was like a vine” (see RSV). This is also the reading of the Targums. The LXX, evidently following a different text, reads, “like a blossom in a pomegranate tree.” Two Hebrew manuscripts read, “thy vineyard.”

11. Rods. Heb. mattoh, a plural form, but the singular form matteh occurs in vs. 12, 14. The LXX has the singular in v. 11 also. If the plural is intended here, the reference is to the princes of the royal house; if the singular, Jehoiachin.

12. Plucked up. This refers to the captivity and deportation of Jehoiachin and a part of the people (2 Kings 24:10–16).

13. Dry and thirsty ground. This represents Babylon. The figure is that of a vine being removed from a rich soil and transplanted into dry and barren ground.

14. Fire is gone out of a rod. Zedekiah’s revolt from Nebuchadnezzar caused that monarch to march his army into Judea, take Jerusalem, and carry the Jews captive to Babylon (2 Kings 25:1–17; see on Eze. 17:11–21). Thus an end was put to the vine and its branches.

This is a lamentation. The desolation was only partially accomplished now. Complete destruction would be cause for further lamentation.