Zion spreads forth her hands, and there is none to comfort her: the LORD has commanded concerning Jacob, that his adversaries should be round about him: Jerusalem is as an unclean thing among them.
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George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
Then. They surround the city, to starve the inhabitants, ver. 8.
SION HAS SPREAD FORTH HER HANDS: the fourth topic of complaint.
Historical interpretation ZION HAS SPREAD FORTH HER HANDS: this signifies pain as that of a woman in labor, whence it is said elsewhere: As he that swims stretches forth his hands to swim, likewise also Zion in the midst of straits, and Isaiah says: Anguish hath taken hold of me as the anguish of a woman in labor. Indeed, it is the straightness of the heart that is expressed in the extension of the hands, more than with a cry from the mouth. Hence PHE is written before, that is interpreted ‘of the mouth’. Because, when ‘ZION HAS SPREAD FORTH HER HANDS in the midst of straits’, she shows that which she cannot express with her mouth, namely that she suffers in her heart, when she is without a comforter, whence: Depart from me, I will weep bitterly: labor not to comfort me.
THE LORD HAS COMMANDED AGAINST JACOB: with the just judgement of God, both the Chaldeans and the Romans have been brought in, for a people shall not...
Phe- ‘of the mouth’
Sion- the earthly or the Church or the soul.
her hands- as if giving birth, so that what she is not able to do with her mouth, she signifies with the extension of her hands.
comfort her- when the true comforter has been dispelled.
has commanded- justly disposing.
against Jacob- boasting with his name only.
his enemies- Chaldeans or Romans.
is polluted- with vain glory; allotting good things to ourselves, through vanity itself we pollute whatever we touch, like menstrous women.
Here is first a loud lamentation, second, it is due to a captivity during the reign of Sedecias, (Zedekiah, the last king of Judah), when the people were totally captive.
As to this situation three more ideas are proposed. First, is the siege, or blockade, as bewailed, second the captivity itself. As further on said: "The Lord is in the right for I have rebelled against his word." (Verse 18 "Sade").
Third, is the corruption, due to a famine. As further on declared: "I called to my lovers but they deceived me, my priests and elders perished in the city, while they sought food to revive their strength." (Verse 19 "Coph")
Regarding the siege, or blockade, three further notions are made. First is reckoned a lack of friends, who could be of aid in preventing the siege. As declared: "Zion stretches out her hands, but there is none to comfort her" (V 17). That is, as if, seeking aid from the Egyptians. As finally expressed in Chapter 5:6: "We have given the hand to Egypt, and to Assy...
