Chapter iv.

"Ah, how doth gold grow dim,-- The finest ore change hue!"

The poet shows how famine and the sword desolated Zion (verses 1-10). All was Yahweh's work; a wonder to the heathen world, but accounted for by the crimes of prophets and priests (Jer. xxiii. 11, 14, xxvi. 8, 20 ff., xxix. 21-23), who, like Cain, became homeless wanderers and outcasts (verses 11-16). Vainly did the besieged watch for succours from Egypt (Jer. xxxvii. 5 ff.); and even the last forlorn hope, the flight of "Yahweh's Anointed," King Zedekiah, was doomed to fail (verses 17-20; Jer. xxxix. 4 ff). Edom rejoiced in her ruin (Ezek. xxv. 12; xxxv. 15; Obad.; Psalm cxxxvii. 7); but Zion's sin is now atoned for (cf. Is. xl. 2), and she may look forward to the judgment of her foe (verses 21-22).

Verse 6d, perhaps: "And their ruin tarried not" ([Hebrew: ukt yihel piryam]); cf. Pro. xxiv. 22. Verse 7d: "Their body" (rd. [Hebrew: noiham]) "was a sapphire:" see Ct. v. 14; Dn. x. 6. Verse 9: "Happier were the slain of the sword Than the slain of famine! For they" (Septuagint om.), "they passed away" ([Hebrew: halhu] Septuagint; Psalm xxxix. 14) "with a stab" (Ju. ix. 54; Is. xiii. 15; Jer. li. 4), "Suddenly, in the field" ([Hebrew: pitom besh']; Jer. xiv. 18). Verse 13, add [Hebrew: hi] after [Hebrew: nevieia]; cf. Ju. xiv. 4; Jer. xxii. 16. Verse 17c: "While we watched" (Septuagint) "continually:" [Hebrew: betzapoteinu tzafu]. Verse 18: "Our steps were curbed" ([Hebrew: tzaru] MSS.; see Pro. iv. 12; Job xviii. 7) "from walking In our open places" (before the city gates: Neh. viii. 1, 3); "The completion of our days drew nigh" ([Hebrew: karev yom meleot yameinu]; cf. Lev. viii. 33; Job xx. 22), "For our end was come" (Ezek. vii. 2, 6, &c.). Verse 21, Septuagint om. Uz (dittogr.?); "Settler in the Land!" (i.e. of Judah; cf. Ezek. xxxv. 10, xxxvi. 5. Perhaps [Hebrew: yorashti ha'] "Seizer of the Land").