Lamentations 2:1

¶ How hath the Lord covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in his anger, [and] cast down from heaven unto the earth the beauty of Israel, and remembered not his footstool in the day of his anger!

How hath the Lord {H136} covered {H5743} the daughter {H1323} of Zion {H6726} with a cloud {H5743} in his anger {H639}, and cast down {H7993} from heaven {H8064} unto the earth {H776} the beauty {H8597} of Israel {H3478}, and remembered {H2142} not his footstool {H1916}{H7272} in the day {H3117} of his anger {H639}!

How enveloped in darkness Adonai, in his anger, has made the daughter of Tziyon! He has thrown down from heaven to earth the splendor of Isra'el, forgotten his footstool [the sanctuary] on the day of his anger.

How the Lord has covered the Daughter of Zion with the cloud of His anger! He has cast the glory of Israel from heaven to earth. He has abandoned His footstool in the day of His anger.

How hath the Lord covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in his anger! He hath cast down from heaven unto the earth the beauty of Israel, And hath not remembered his footstool in the day of his anger.

Lamentations 2:1 opens with a profound cry of anguish and disbelief, setting the tone for the chapter's lament over the utter devastation of Jerusalem. The prophet, traditionally Jeremiah, grapples with the shocking reality that God Himself has brought about this destruction, cloaking His beloved city in a cloud of wrath and casting down its glory.

Historical and Cultural Context

This verse, like the entire book of Lamentations, grieves the catastrophic fall of Jerusalem and the Kingdom of Judah to the Babylonian Empire in 586 BC. This event marked the destruction of the First Temple, the city's walls, and the exile of its people. The "daughter of Zion" is a poetic personification of Jerusalem, while the "beauty of Israel" refers to the city's splendor, particularly the magnificent Temple, which was considered the dwelling place of God and the pride of the nation. The prophet expresses deep sorrow that God's own chosen people and holy city could suffer such a fate, directly at His hand, due to their persistent sin and rebellion against His covenant.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment and Anger: The verse unequivocally states that it is "the Lord" who has "covered" Jerusalem "with a cloud in his anger." This emphasizes God's active role in bringing judgment upon His people due to their unfaithfulness, a recurring theme throughout the prophetic books. This judgment is a direct consequence of Judah's idolatry and moral corruption, as warned in the Mosaic Law.
  • Profound Loss and Humiliation: The phrase "cast down from heaven unto the earth the beauty of Israel" vividly portrays the dramatic fall from grace and glory. Jerusalem, once exalted and protected by God, is now utterly debased. The destruction of the Temple, the physical manifestation of God's presence, was the ultimate symbol of this loss and a profound spiritual shock.
  • God's Seeming Abandonment: The most poignant part, "and remembered not his footstool in the day of his anger," highlights the prophet's distress. The "footstool" is widely understood to refer to the Temple or the Ark of the Covenant, symbolizing God's earthly dwelling place (see 1 Chronicles 28:2). To say God "remembered not" implies a terrifying withdrawal of divine protection and care, a momentary disregard for His own sacred space in the intensity of His wrath.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "cloud" here ('anan) can suggest a thick, dark cloud, often associated with divine presence in judgment or mystery, akin to the cloud that led Israel in the wilderness but now representing overwhelming wrath. The term "footstool" (Hebrew: hadom) emphasizes the Temple's subordinate position to God's ultimate throne in heaven, yet its destruction signifies a profound act of divine disengagement from the earthly sanctuary.

Practical Application

Lamentations 2:1 serves as a stark reminder of the seriousness of sin and the consequences of rebellion against God. It teaches that even God's chosen people are not exempt from His righteous judgment when they persist in disobedience. However, it also implicitly sets the stage for the hope of future restoration found later in the book (e.g., Lamentations 3:22-23). For believers today, it underscores the importance of holiness, repentance, and faithfulness, recognizing that God's character includes both profound love and righteous anger against sin. It calls us to reflect on areas where we might be complacent or disobedient, knowing that God's justice is unwavering, yet His ultimate desire is for reconciliation.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 132:7

    We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool.

  • 1 Chronicles 28:2

    Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: [As for me], I [had] in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building:

  • Joel 2:2

    A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, [even] to the years of many generations.

  • Psalms 99:5

    Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; [for] he [is] holy.

  • Luke 10:18

    And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

  • Ezekiel 30:18

    At Tehaphnehes also the day shall be darkened, when I shall break there the yokes of Egypt: and the pomp of her strength shall cease in her: as for her, a cloud shall cover her, and her daughters shall go into captivity.

  • Isaiah 14:12

    How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! [how] art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

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