The Lord has swallowed up all the habitations of Jacob, and has not pitied: he has thrown down in his wrath the strongholds of the daughter of Judah; he has brought them down to the ground: he has polluted the kingdom and its princes.
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Eusebius of Caesarea
AD 339
No envy hindered the progress of these affairs that advanced gradually and grew and increased day by day. Nor could any evil demon slander them or hinder them through human counsels, so long as the divine and heavenly hand watched over and guarded his people as worthy.
But on account of the abundant freedom, we fell into laxity and sloth. We envied and reviled each other and were almost, as it were, taking up arms against one another. Rulers assailed rulers with words like spears, and people forming parties against people and monstrous hypocrisy and dissimulation rising to the greatest height of wickedness, the divine judgment with forbearance, as is its pleasure, while the multitudes yet continued to assemble, gently and moderately harassed the episcopacy.
This persecution began with the brothers in the army. But as if without sensibility, we were not eager to make the Deity favorable and propitious; and some, like atheists, thought that our affairs were unheeded and ungoverned; and t...
Unclean, or treated it as such. (Calmet)
Septuagint, "he hath accounted profane the kings. "(Haydock)
Joakim, Jechonias, Sedecias, and the royal family, were exposed to the greatest ignominy and sufferings. (Calmet)
Those events occurring around destruction are viewed here in particular. First, are lamented those events conjoined to the destruction, second, those events following. Onward in Verse 13 such is expressed: "What can I say for you, to what compare you, O daughter of Jerusalem?" etc.
As to events joined to destruction two ideas are advanced. First is bewailed the destruction of common edifices, second, the eminent edifices. As later Verse 6 comments: "He has broken down his booth like that of a garden, laid in ruins the place of his appointed feasts."
Regarding destruction of common edifices two further ideas are proposed. First is bewailed destruction itself, that pertains to the king's might, second, what pertains to the people's use. As further on Verse 4 says: "He has bent his bow like an enemy; with his right hand set like a foe; and he has slain all the pride of our eyes in the tent of the daughter of Zion; he has poured out his fury like fire."
To the very destruction its...
