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“Moreover, take up a lamentation for the princes of Israel,
Verse 1. Princes: sons of Josias, who were so wretched. The latter part of this beautiful canticle, or allegory, (verse 10) regards Sedecias. Calmet.
and say, ‘What was your mother? A lioness. She couched among lions, in the middle of the young lions she nourished her cubs.
Verse 2. Lioness; Jerusalem ( Challoner.) which made alliances with the lions, or nations. Calmet.
She brought up one of her cubs. He became a young lion. He learned to catch the prey. He devoured men.
Verse 3. Whelps; Joachaz, or Sellum, ( Challoner.) who reigned only three months, like his brother Jechonias. Bible.—The four last kings were all cruel. Worthington.
The nations also heard of him. He was taken in their pit; and they brought him with hooks to the land of Egypt.
Verse 4. But. Hebrew “he was taken in their pit,” (Prot. Bible.) as also verse 8. Septuagint “in his or their corruption.” We do not read that Joachaz fought, ( Calmet.) though this passage insinuates as much. Sanct. 4 Kennicott. 23:30. and so forth
“‘Now when she saw that she had waited, and her hope was lost, then she took another of her cubs, and made him a young lion.
Verse 5. Lions: Joakim. Challoner.—He reigned eleven years; but was such a monster, that the prophet does not speak of him or bewail his fate. 4 Kennicott. 23:34. Jeremiah 22:19. His words are applicable to Jechonias alone; who was cruel and banished to Babylon. verse 8. Calmet.
He went up and down among the lions. He became a young lion. He learned to catch the prey. He devoured men.
He knew their palaces, and laid waste their cities. The land was desolate with its fullness, because of the noise of his roaring.
Then the nations attacked him on every side from the provinces. They spread their net over him. He was taken in their pit.
Verse 8. Nations: rovers of Chaldea, Syria, &chapter 4 Kennicott. 24:2. Worthington.—Wounds. Hebrew “pit.” He was besieged, (4 Kennicott. 24:11. Calmet.) and gave himself up. Bible.
They put him in a cage with hooks, and brought him to the king of Babylon. They brought him into strongholds, so that his voice should no more be heard on the mountains of Israel.
“‘Your mother was like a vine in your blood, planted by the waters. It was fruitful and full of branches by reason of many waters.
Verse 10. Blood. She has given birth to many kings. Menochius.—The original may be inaccurate, and perhaps should be, “a vine-tree or branch:” ( Calmet.) cormoc instead of bedammecha. Septuagint read kerimmon, “like a rose-flower,” planted, and so forth Bible.—He speaks of Sedecias more obscurely. Calmet.—The kingdom had flourished under David and Solomon. It afterwards lost its splendour under wicked kings, and all the tribes were removed. Worthington.
It had strong branches for the scepters of those who ruled. Their stature was exalted among the thick boughs. They were seen in their height with the multitude of their branches.
Verse 11. Rods. The king had many children, and confided in them, but they were slain.
But it was plucked up in fury. It was cast down to the ground, and the east wind dried up its fruit. Its strong branches were broken off and withered. The fire consumed them.
Now it is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty land.
Verse 13. Dry; unfit for vine-trees. He speaks of the prison of Babylon. Calmet.—The country was naturally wet. Bible.
Fire has gone out of its branches. It has devoured its fruit, so that there is in it no strong branch to be a scepter to rule.’ This is a lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation.”
Verse 14. Fire. Ismael, who slew Godolias, was of the royal family. Jeremiah 41. and so forth Calmet.