Lecture 4

^2:4^ Daleth. He has bent his bow as an enemy, he has fixed his right hand as an adversary: and he has killed all that was fair to behold in the tabernacle of the daughter of Zion, he has poured out his indignation like fire.

26. Here he weeps over the destruction of those things which pertain to the use of the people.

And first, over what pertains to beauty;

second, over what pertains to defense, at the Lord has become as an enemy (Lam 2:5).

Concerning the first, he does three things.

First, he shows the divine indignation: he has bent his bow, that is, his judgment, or the army of the Chaldaeans, in order to strike, as it were, from afar; he has fixed, for striking a blow, his right hand, in order to strike from close by. Except you will be converted, he will brandish his sword: he has bent his bow and made it ready (Ps 7:13).

Second, he presents the infliction of the punishment: he has killed, destroyed, all that was fair: men, buildings, and the like. How beautiful are your tabernacles, O Jacob! (Num 24:5).

Third, he shows the greatness of the punishment. As regards its immeasurable abundance: he has poured out; and as regards its severity: like fire; or this in regard to the kind of punishment, because the city was burned. A fire is kindled in my wrath, and shall burn even to the lowest hell (Deut 32:22). Pour out your indignation upon them (Ps 68:25).