Lamentations 2:6

And he hath violently taken away his tabernacle, as [if it were of] a garden: he hath destroyed his places of the assembly: the LORD hath caused the solemn feasts and sabbaths to be forgotten in Zion, and hath despised in the indignation of his anger the king and the priest.

And he hath violently taken away {H2554} his tabernacle {H7900}, as if it were of a garden {H1588}: he hath destroyed {H7843} his places of the assembly {H4150}: the LORD {H3068} hath caused the solemn feasts {H4150} and sabbaths {H7676} to be forgotten {H7911} in Zion {H6726}, and hath despised {H5006} in the indignation {H2195} of his anger {H639} the king {H4428} and the priest {H3548}.

He wrecked his tabernacle as easily as a garden, destroyed his place of assembly. ADONAI caused Isra'el to forget designated times and Shabbats. In the heat of his anger he rejected both king and cohen.

He has laid waste His tabernacle like a garden booth; He has destroyed His place of meeting. The LORD has made Zion forget her appointed feasts and Sabbaths. In His fierce anger He has despised both king and priest.

And he hath violently taken away his tabernacle, as if it were of a garden; he hath destroyed his place of assembly: Jehovah hath caused solemn assembly and sabbath to be forgotten in Zion, And hath despised in the indignation of his anger the king and the priest.

Commentary

Lamentations 2:6 vividly portrays the devastating judgment of God upon Jerusalem, specifically highlighting the destruction of its most sacred institutions and leadership. The prophet laments how the LORD Himself actively dismantled what was once holy and central to Israelite life.

Context

This verse is set against the backdrop of the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC, a cataclysmic event that led to the Judean exile. The book of Lamentations is a poetic expression of profound grief and sorrow over this national catastrophe, seen as the direct consequence of God's judgment against His people's persistent sin, idolatry, and rebellion against His covenant.

Key Themes

  • Divine Wrath and Judgment: The verse powerfully emphasizes that God Himself, referred to as "the LORD," is the active agent in this destruction. He "violently taken away," "destroyed," and "caused... to be forgotten," underscoring the severity and intentionality of His indignation against Israel's rebellion. This was not merely a foreign invasion, but a divine reckoning.
  • Desecration of Sacred Space: The "tabernacle" (referring to the Temple in Jerusalem) and "places of the assembly" (likely referring to the Temple courts or other gathering places for worship) are described as being removed "as if it were of a garden." This imagery suggests something easily dismantled, transient, highlighting how swiftly and completely God removed His presence and protection from these once-sacred sites.
  • Cessation of Religious Observance: The "solemn feasts and sabbaths" were central to Israelite worship and their covenant relationship with God, commanded in the Law. Their being "forgotten in Zion" signifies the complete disruption of religious life and a profound spiritual desolation, a direct consequence of breaking the covenant.
  • Rejection of Leadership: Both "the king and the priest" are "despised in the indignation of his anger." This illustrates the comprehensive nature of God's judgment, affecting not only the physical structures but also the very leadership—political and spiritual—that was meant to guide the nation in righteousness. Their failure to lead the people in obedience contributed to the nation's downfall.

Linguistic Insights

  • The phrase "tabernacle, as if it were of a garden" uses the Hebrew word sokh (סֹךְ), which can mean a temporary shelter, booth, or thicket. Comparing the magnificent Temple to a flimsy garden hut emphasizes the ease and swiftness with which God removed its sanctity and protection, treating it as something easily dismantled.
  • The word "despised" comes from the Hebrew root na'ats (נָאַץ), conveying a strong sense of contempt, disdain, or abhorrent rejection. It highlights the depth of God's anger towards the unfaithful leadership of His people.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of persistent disobedience and the gravity of God's holiness and justice. Even sacred institutions and positions are not immune to divine judgment when the people and their leaders stray from God's ways. It teaches that God values obedience and a right heart more than mere ritualistic adherence. The cessation of feasts and sabbaths illustrates that outward forms of worship become meaningless without genuine faith and adherence to God's commands. While a severe warning, it also implicitly points to the hope of future restoration when people turn back to God, a theme often found in the prophetic books, such as Jeremiah 29:11.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Zephaniah 3:18

    I will gather [them that are] sorrowful for the solemn assembly, [who] are of thee, [to whom] the reproach of it [was] a burden.

  • Lamentations 1:4

    The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate: her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she [is] in bitterness.

  • Lamentations 4:16

    The anger of the LORD hath divided them; he will no more regard them: they respected not the persons of the priests, they favoured not the elders.

  • Isaiah 43:28

    Therefore I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary, and have given Jacob to the curse, and Israel to reproaches.

  • Isaiah 1:8

    And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.

  • Isaiah 5:5

    And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; [and] break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down:

  • Ezekiel 17:18

    Seeing he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, when, lo, he had given his hand, and hath done all these [things], he shall not escape.
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