Behold, O LORD, and consider to whom you have done this. Shall the women eat their offspring, the children of their tender care? shall the priest and the prophet be slain in the sanctuary of the Lord?
Read Chapter 2
George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
Dealt. Literally, "gathered grapes "chap. i. 12. (Haydock)
Long; quite small, Psalm xxxviii. 9. This has been denounced, chap. xix. 9., and Deuteronomy xxviii. 53. (Calmet) It took place at Samaria, and in the last siege of Jerusalem, (Josephus, Jewish Wars vii., and viii.; Worthington) as well as at this time. (Haydock)
Prayer in itself here is viewed. First, divine mercy is called forth, as to an inhumanity in punishment; second, as to its universality. Verse 21 later so states: "In the dust of the streets lie the young and the old."
Third, prayer is called forth regarding possibility of escape. Thus, Verse 22 says: "Thou didst invite as to the day of an appointed feast my terrors on every side."
Regarding inhumanity in punishment two more ideas are proposed. First, is the attention: "with whom thou hast dealt thus?" This states, as if, no other person except me, for they are elected from the fathers, or elders. For Chapter 1:12 says: "which the Lord inflicted on the day of his fierce anger."
Second is considered inhumanity of punishment counter to national piety. Since, Verse 20 asks: "should women eat their offspring, the children of their tender care?" This asks, as if, will you (O Lord) ever sustain this (situation). For, it is read that such a situation is fulfilled in the blockade of t...
