---
title: "Clarke"
description: "Verse Lamentations 4:1. How is the gold become dim — The prophet contrasts, in various affecting instances, the wretched circumstances of the Jewish natio"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/lamentations/4"
---

Verse [Lamentations 4:1](../../../kjv/lamentations/4/1). ***How is the gold become dim*** — The prophet contrasts, in various affecting instances, the wretched circumstances of the Jewish nation, with the flourishing state of their affairs in former times. Here they are compared to gold, זהב *zahab*, native gold from the mine, which, contrary to its nature, is become *dim*, is tarnished; and even the *fine*, the *sterling gold*, כתם kethem, that which was stamped to make it *current*, is *changed* or *adulterated*, so as to be no longer passable. This might be applied to the *temple*, but particularly to the fallen *priests* and apostate *prophets*.
***The stones of the sanctuary*** — אבני קדש *abney kodesh*, the *holy* *stones*; the Jewish godly men, who were even then the *living stones* of which God *built his Church*.

Verse [Lamentations 4:2](../../../kjv/lamentations/4/2). ***The precious sons of Zion*** — The Jewish priests and Jewish believers.
***Comparable to fine gold*** — Who were of the *pure standard* of holiness; holy, because God who called them is holy; but now esteemed no better than *earthen pitchers*- vessels of dishonour in comparison of what they once were.

Verse [Lamentations 4:3](../../../kjv/lamentations/4/3). ***Even the sea monsters draw out the breast*** — The *whales* give suck to their young ones. The word תנין *tannin*, signifies all *large* and *cruel* creatures, whether *aquatic* or *terrestrial*; and need not here be restrained to the *former* sort. My Old MS. Bible translates curiously: *Bot and the cruel bestis that ben* *clepid Lamya, and thei nakeden ther tetis, geve ther whelpis* *souken*.
***Like the ostriches in the wilderness.*** — For her carelessness about her *eggs*, and her inattention to her *young*, the ostrich is proverbial.

Verse [Lamentations 4:4](../../../kjv/lamentations/4/4). ***The tongue of the sucking child*** — [Lamentations 2:12](../../../kjv/lamentations/2/12).

Verse [Lamentations 4:5](../../../kjv/lamentations/4/5). ***Embrace dunghills.*** — Lie on *straw* or *rubbish*, instead of the costly carpets and sofas on which they formerly stretched themselves.

Verse 6. ***For the punishment*** — He thinks the punishment of *Jerusalem* far greater than that of *Sodom*. That was destroyed *in* *a moment*, while all her inhabitants were in *health* and *strength*; Jerusalem fell by the most *lingering* calamities; *her men partly* *destroyed by the sword*, and *partly by the famine*.
Instead of *no hands stayed on her, Blayney* translates, "Nor were hands weakened in her." Perhaps the meaning is, "Sodom was destroyed in a moment without any human labour." It was a judgment from *God himself*: so the sacred text: "The LORD rained down fire and brimstone from the Lord out of heaven." See [Genesis 19:24](../../../kjv/genesis/19/24).

Verse 7. ***Her Nazarites were purer than snow*** — נזיר *nazir* does not always signify a *person separated* under a *religious vow*; it sometimes denotes what is *chief* or *eminent*. It is applied to *Joseph*, [Genesis 49:26](../../../kjv/genesis/49/26). *Blayney* therefore translates here, HER NOBLES.
*Milk* will most certainly well apply to the *whiteness* of the *skin*; the beautiful *ruby* to the *ruddiness* of the *flesh*; and the *sapphire*, in its clear transcendent *purple*, to the *veins* in a fine complexion. The reverse of this state, as described in the following verse, needs no explanation. The *face* was a dismal *dark* *brown*, the *flesh gone*, the *skin* shrivelled, and apparently wrapped round the *bones*.

Verse 10. ***The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own**********children*** — [Lamentations 2:20](../../../kjv/lamentations/2/20). But here there is a reference to mothers eating their own children; and this was done, not by mothers cruel and brutal, but by נשים רחמניות *nashim rachmaniyoth*, the *compassionate*, the *tender-hearted mothers*. From these horrible scenes it is well to pass with as hasty a step as possible.

Verse 12. ***The kings of the earth*** — Jerusalem was so well fortified, both by nature and art, that it appeared as a miracle that it should be taken at all.

Verse 13. ***For the sins of her prophets*****, and*****the iniquities of**********her priests*** — These most wretched beings, under the pretense of *zeal for the true religion*, persecuted the *genuine prophets,* *priests*, and *people of God*, and caused their blood to be shed in the midst of the city, in the most open and public manner; exactly as the murderous priests, and blood-thirsty preachers, under the reign of bloody Queen Mary, did in England. However, the profligate priests and idolatrous prophets in Jerusalem, only *shed* the blood of the saints of God there: but the sanguinary papists, in the above reign, *burnt* the blood here, for they *burnt the* *people alive*; and at the same time, in their worse than Molochean cruelty, consigned, with all the fervour peculiar to their then ruthless Church, the *souls* of those whom they thus massacred, to the bitter pains of eternal death! O earth, cover not thou their blood!

Verse 14. ***They have wandered*****as*****blind*****men*****in the streets*** — Rather, "They ran frantic through the streets, they were stained with blood." This was in their pretended zeal for their cause. Bishop *Bonner*, who was at the head of those sanguinary executions in England, was accustomed to *buffet* the poor Protestants, when on their examinations they were too powerful for him in argument: -
"He proved his doctrine orthodox,
By apostolic blows and knocks."

Just as his *elder brethren*, the false priests and prophets of Jerusalem.

Verse 15. ***When they fled away*** — These priests and prophets were so *bad*, that the very *heathen* did not like to permit them to sojourn among them. The prophet now resumes the history of the siege.

Verse 17. ***We have watched for a nation*** — Viz., the Egyptians, who were their pretended allies, but were neither *able* nor *willing* to help them against the Chaldeans.

Verse 18. ***We cannot go in our streets*** — Supposed to refer to the *darts* and other *missiles* cast from the mounds which they had raised on the outside of the walls, by which those who walked in the streets were grievously annoyed, and could not shield themselves.

Verse 19. ***They pursued us upon the mountains*** — They hunted down the poor Jews like wild beasts in every part of the country by their marauding parties, whilst the great army besieged Jerusalem. But this may apply to the pursuit of Zedekiah. See what follows.

Verse [Lamentations 4:20](../../../kjv/lamentations/4/20). ***The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the Lord*** — That is, Zedekiah the king, who was as *the life of the city*, was taken in his flight by the Chaldeans, and his eyes were put out; so that he was wholly unfit to perform any function of government; though they had fondly hoped that if they surrendered and should be led captives, yet they should be permitted to live under their own laws and king in the land of their bondage.

Verse [Lamentations 4:21](../../../kjv/lamentations/4/21). ***Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom*** — A strong irony.
***The cup also shall pass through unto thee*** — Thou who hast triumphed in our disasters shalt shortly have enough of thy own. They had joined themselves to the Chaldeans, (see [Psalms 137:7](../../../kjv/psalms/137/7),) and therefore they should share in the desolations of Babylon.

Verse [Lamentations 4:22](../../../kjv/lamentations/4/22). ***The punishment of thine iniquity is accomplished, O**********daughter of Zion*** — On the contrary: Rejoice, O Jerusalem, for thy captivity will soon end; thy sufferings are nearly completed; thou shalt soon return to thy own land: but he will *visit thy iniquity,* *O Edom; he will discover thy sins*. When sin is *pardoned*, it is said to be *covered*: here, God says he will *not cover the sins of* *Edom*- he will not *pardon them*; they shall drink the cup of wrath.
The promise in this last verse may refer to Jerusalem under the Gospel. When they receive Christ crucified, they shall be gathered from all nations, become one with the Church among the Gentiles, be one flock under one and the same Shepherd, and shall be *carried* *no more into captivity*.

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