Even the jackals draw out the breast, they nurse their young ones: the daughter of my people has become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.
Read Chapter 4
George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
Sea-monsters. Literally, Lamia. Hebrew Tannim. (Haydock)
The lamia has a face like a woman, and a body like beasts; and is cruel, yet feeds its young. (Worthington)
The fabulous lamia is supposed to destroy all children, (Diod. Sic. xx.; Ovid, Fast. vi.) and cannot be meant. But the sea dog, though most cruel will not neglect its young ones. (Calmet)
Ostrich. Hebrew henim, (Haydock) "swans "Isaias xiii. 21., and Job xxix. 14. The ostrich is said to break some of its eggs. (Elian iv. 37.) -- Swans do the like, and devour their young; for which reason they are hated by the Indians. (Elian xiv. 3.)
Septuagint, "their young (drajohs) have suckled the daughters of my people, so that they can find no remedy, like "(Haydock)
Though the ostrich has wings it never flies, but dwells in desert places. Such is the condition of the Israelites. (Theodoret)
The ostrich forsakes its eggs. (Worthington)
All are solicitous for themselves.
Here is set forth the peoples' misery in parts. First is viewed the affliction of thei~siege, as to their famine, second, as to the capture and destruction of their city. As said in Verse 11: "The Lord cave full vent to his wrath, he poured out his hot anger; and he kindled a fire in Zion, which consumed its foundations." Thirdly is viewed the derision toward the captured citizens as said in Verse 15: "Away! Unclean! men cried at them; 'Away! Away! Touch not!'"
As to the first view (affliction from their famine) there are four notions. First is indicated the famine among the youth, second, among the delicate and weak. As expressed in Verse 5: "Those who feasted on dainties perish in the streets; those who were brought up in purple lie on ash heaps."
Thirdly is viewed the famine of those consecrated to the Lord God. As said in Verse 7: "Her princes were purer than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies were more ruddy than coral, the beauty of their form was like sapphire."
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