The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things: for she hath seen [that] the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom thou didst command [that] they should not enter into thy congregation.
The adversary {H6862} hath spread out {H6566} his hand {H3027} upon all her pleasant things {H4261}: for she hath seen {H7200} that the heathen {H1471} entered {H935} into her sanctuary {H4720}, whom thou didst command {H6680} that they should not enter {H935} into thy congregation {H6951}.
Enemies have reached out their hands to seize all her treasures. She has seen Goyim approach and go inside her sanctuary, those whom you forbade even to enter your assembly.
The adversary has seized all her treasures. For she has seen the nations enter her sanctuary— those You had forbidden to enter Your assembly.
The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things: For she hath seen that the nations are entered into her sanctuary, Concerning whom thou didst command that they should not enter into thine assembly.
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Deuteronomy 23:3
An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the LORD for ever: -
Jeremiah 51:51
We are confounded, because we have heard reproach: shame hath covered our faces: for strangers are come into the sanctuaries of the LORD'S house. -
Psalms 74:4
Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; they set up their ensigns [for] signs. -
Psalms 74:8
They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land. -
Isaiah 64:10
Thy holy cities are a wilderness, Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation. -
Isaiah 64:11
Our holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised thee, is burned up with fire: and all our pleasant things are laid waste. -
Lamentations 1:7
Jerusalem remembered in the days of her affliction and of her miseries all her pleasant things that she had in the days of old, when her people fell into the hand of the enemy, and none did help her: the adversaries saw her, [and] did mock at her sabbaths.
Lamentations 1:10 vividly portrays the profound desolation and spiritual violation experienced by Jerusalem (personified as a grieving woman) during and after its destruction by the Babylonian army. The verse highlights the ultimate humiliation: the desecration of the holy Temple, God's dwelling place, by unholy hands.
Context
This verse is set against the backdrop of the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC, a catastrophic event detailed in prophetic books like Jeremiah and historical accounts in 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles. The prophet Jeremiah (traditionally considered the author of Lamentations) laments the consequences of Judah's persistent sin and rebellion against God, which ultimately led to divine judgment and the city's ruin. The "adversary" here primarily refers to the Babylonian invaders under Nebuchadnezzar, who plundered and destroyed the city and its most sacred site. The entry of the "heathen" (non-Israelites) into the sanctuary was not merely a physical invasion but a deeply offensive spiritual defilement, violating long-standing divine commands about the sanctity of God's house and the purity of His congregation.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew word translated "adversary" is tzar (צר), which literally means 'narrow' or 'distress,' but is commonly used to denote a 'foe' or 'enemy,' highlighting the oppressive nature of the invaders. The term "sanctuary" is miqdash (מִקְדָּשׁ), explicitly referring to the Temple, the consecrated space where God's presence was believed to dwell. "Heathen" comes from goyim (גּוֹיִם), the common Hebrew term for 'nations' or 'Gentiles,' emphasizing their non-Israelite and therefore, in this context, unholy status in relation to the sacred precincts.
Practical Application
Lamentations 1:10 serves as a powerful reminder of several timeless truths. Firstly, it emphasizes the importance of reverence for God's holiness and His dwelling place, whether it's the physical church building or, more importantly, the spiritual "temple" of the believer's heart (1 Corinthians 6:19). Secondly, it underscores the serious consequences of disobedience and spiritual compromise; when God's people drift from Him, they open themselves up to vulnerability and judgment. Finally, it speaks to the deep sorrow and spiritual anguish that can result from the desecration of what is holy, prompting believers to guard their hearts and maintain spiritual purity, honoring God in all aspects of life.