1:1 Alas! The city once full of people now sits all alone! The prominent lady among the nations has become a widow! The princess who once ruled the provinces has become a forced laborer!
Jeremiah sang a funeral song for Jerusalem. He sang the song in an acrostic, as each verse begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
The first Hebrew letter is aleph, which is a silent letter that carries the sound of many different vowels. The Hebrew acrostic is אֵיכָ֣ה (aicah), meaning “how.” The “how” is a complaint which is mingled with astonishment. Babylon has attacked the city. The huge population of Jerusalem has been decimated. The city who was once great among the nations has become a widow. Jerusalem was the princess of Jehovah, but now she has become an old widow slave.
1:2 She weeps bitterly at night; tears stream down her cheeks. She has no one to comfort her among all her lovers. All her friends have betrayed her; they have become her enemies.
The second Hebrew letter is beth, which is a “b” sound. The Hebrew acrostic is בָּכ֨וֹ (bau), a qal perfect third person singular verb, meaning “she weeped (double emphatic).” While other nations were sleeping, Jerusalem was crying in her pillow. Jerusalem had forsaken her true lover (Jehovah) for false gods and foreign alliances. None of her other fickle lovers came to comfort Jerusalem. In fact, they had actually become her enemies.
1:3 Judah has departed into exile under affliction and harsh oppression. She lives among the nations; she has found no resting place. All who pursued her overtook her in narrow straits.
The third Hebrew letter is the gimmel, which is a “g” sound. The Hebrew acrostic is גָּֽלְתָ֨ה (galtah), meaning “into captivity.” The citizens of Judah were taken into Babylon as slaves. She was no longer living in her land. She was living in the cities and towns of foreign nations. She had been conquered by the Babylonians.
1:4 The roads to Zion mourn because no one travels to the festivals. All her city gates are deserted; her priests groan. Her virgins grieve; she is in bitter anguish!
The fourth Hebrew letter is the dalet, which is a “d” sound. The Hebrew acrostic is דַּרְכֵ֨י (darkai), meaning “the ways of.” No one traveled on the roads to Jerusalem. The seven feasts of Leviticus 23 were no longer celebrated. The feasts pointed to the first and second comings of the Messiah. There was no one at the city gates. The Jewish virgins grieved, because there were no more Jewish weddings.
1:5 Her foes subjugated her; her enemies are at ease. For the Lord afflicted her because of her many acts of rebellion. Her children went away captive before the enemy.
The fifth Hebrew letter is the hay, which is an “h” sound. The Hebrew acrostic is הָי֨וּ (hayu), a qal perfect third person plural verb, meaning “they became.” The enemies of Judah conquered Jerusalem. The enemies of Judah wre now living at ease while Judah is suffering. Jehovah allowed Judah to be conquered, because she violated the conditional aspect of the Mosaic Covenant. The children of the Jews were taken captive and enslaved.
1:6 All of Daughter Zion’s splendor has departed. Her leaders became like deer; they found no pasture, so they were too exhausted to escape from the hunter.
The sixth Hebrew letter is the vav, which is a “v” sound. The Hebrew acrostic is וַיֵּצֵ֥א, (vaytsa), a conjunction with a qal perfect third person singular verb, meaning “and it is departed.” Jerusalem was no longer a glorious city. There were no more strong military leaders in Jerusalem. The leaders ran away like deer. The leaders could find no place to rest. They were so exhausted from running away, that the Babylonian hunters caught them.
1:7 Jerusalem remembers, when she became a poor homeless person, all her treasures that she owned in days of old. When her people fell into an enemy’s grip, none of her allies came to her rescue. Her enemies gloated over her; they sneered at her downfall.
The seventh Hebrew letter is the zayin, which is a “z” sound. The Hebrew acrostic is זָֽכְרָ֣ה (zacrah), a qal perfect third person singular verb, meaning “she remembered.” Jerusalem was a wealthy city who had become poor overnight. When Babylon attacked, none of her allies came to her rescue. Her enemies mocked her defeat.
1:8 Jerusalem committed terrible sin; therefore she became an object of scorn. All who admired her have despised her because they have seen her nakedness. She groans aloud and turns away in shame.
The eighth Hebrew letter is the hecht, which is the German “h” sound. The Hebrew acrostic is חֵ֤טְא (hata), a qal perfect third person singular verb, meaning “she sinned during the uncleanness of her menstrual cycle.” Jeremiah described why Jerusalem had to fall. Jerusalem committed a terrible sin. She reaped what she had sown. She worshiped foreign demonic gods, which made her an adulteress to her husband Jehovah. The other nations saw her unclean nakedness. After they committed adultery with her, they despised her and wanted to have nothing to do with her.
1:9 Her menstrual flow has soiled her clothing; she did not consider the consequences of her sin. Her demise was astonishing, and there was no one to comfort her. She cried, “Look, O Lord, on my affliction because my enemy boasts!”
The ninth Hebrew letter is the tet, which is a “t” sound. The Hebrew acrostic is טֻמְאָתָ֣הּ (tumiahtah), a qal perfect third person singular verb, meaning “her filthiness.” Israel was a prostitute. Her menstrual flow stained her dress, making her unclean. She did not consider the consequences of her adultery. Jehovah chose Israel as his wife above all other nations, but she committed adultery against Him. All of her Gentile lovers deserted and despised her. There was no one left to comfort her. The other nations became her enemy and began to boast that they had seduced and conquered Israel.
The Hebrew word for “astonishing” is פְּלָאִ֔ים (palaim), meaning a miracle which only God could perform. Jerusalem was supernaturally protected by God. Therefore, only God could cause the fall of Jerusalem.
The Hebrew word for “comfort” was מְנַחֵ֖ם (minachim), meaning comforter. The rabbi saw the comforter of Israel as the Messiah.
1:10 An enemy grabbed all her valuables. Indeed she watched in horror as Gentiles invaded her holy temple— those whom you had commanded: “They must not enter your assembly place.”
The tenth Hebrew letter is the yod, which is a “y” sound. The Hebrew acrostic is יָדוֹ֙, (yadu), meaning “his hand.” Babylon attacked, defeated, and plundered Jerusalem. The pagan Gentiles marched into the Jewish Temple, desecrated it, plundered it, and then burned it to the ground. This action shocked Israel, because they treated their temple as a good luck charm. Jerusalem thought that God would never allow Jerusalem to fall, because His own house was in Jerusalem. The people learned too late that God does not hold the stones of the temple in higher regard than obedience. Disobedience against the Mosaic Law brings about the promised curses of destruction.
It is interesting to note that Gentiles were not allowed to enter into the sanctuary. If they did so, then Jehovah would execute them Himself. However, the Shechinah Glory had already departed from the Holy of Holies during the days of Ezekiel the prophet. Since there was no more Shechinah Glory in the temple, God allowed these Babylonian Gentiles into His temple.
1:11 All her people groaned as they searched for a morsel of bread. They exchanged their valuables for just enough food to stay alive.“Look, O Lord! Consider that I have become worthless!”
The eleventh Hebrew letter is the kaf, which is a “k” sound. The Hebrew acrostic is כָּל־עַמָּ֤הּ, a qal perfect third person singular verb, meaning “all people.” Jerusalem’s sin would cause famine in the city to all people. Jerusalem was addicted to materialism. During the siege, she would trade in all of her material objects for food. The famine would become so bad, that the parents would eat their own children. Famine is the worst way to die, because it turns parents into cannibals.
1:12 Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by on the road? Look and see! Is there any pain like mine? The Lord has afflicted me, he has inflicted it on me when he burned with anger.
The twelfth Hebrew letter is the lamed, which is an “l” sound. The Hebrew acrostic is ל֣וֹא (lu), a qal perfect third person singular verb, meaning “is it nothing.” Jerusalem called out to those foreigners who walked down the road. She asked all of the other Gentile nations to look and see her pain. She informed the other Gentile nations that Jehovah inflicted pain upon her because of her disobedience.
1:13 He sent down fire into my bones, and it overcame them. He spread out a trapper’s net for my feet; he made me turn back. He has made me desolate; I am faint all day long.
The thirteenth Hebrew letter is the mem, which is an “m” sound. The Hebrew acrostic is מִמָּר֛וֹם, meaning “from on high.” Jehovah inflicted punishment upon Jerusalem. He sent fire into the bones of Israel. He trapped Jerusalem, just as a trapper traps an animal in his nets.
1:14 My sins are bound around my neck like a yoke; they are fastened together by his hand. He has placed his yoke on my neck; he has sapped my strength. The Lord has handed me over to those whom I cannot resist.
The fourteenth Hebrew letter is the nun, which is an “n” sound. The Hebrew acrostic is נִשְׂקַד֩ (nashkar), a qal perfect third person plural verb, meaning “they were bound.” The sins of Israel were bound and plead around her neck like an oxen’s yoke. God forced her to carry this heavy load. This heavy load sapped all of Israel’s strength.
1:15 He rounded up all my mighty ones; The Lord did this in my midst. He summoned an assembly against me to shatter my young men. The Lord has stomped like grapes the virgin daughter, Judah.
The fifteenth Hebrew letter is the samek, which is an “s” sound. The Hebrew acrostic is סִלָּ֨ה (silah), a qal perfect third person singular verb, meaning “to be set at naught.” Jehovah stomped on Israel like the vinedresser who treads on grapes. The young men of Jerusalem were crushed like grapes in a winepress. God had called holy war on Jerusalem.
1:16 I weep because of these things; my eyes flow with tears. For there is no one in sight who can comfort me or encourage me. My children are desolated because an enemy has prevailed.
The sixteenth Hebrew letter is the ayin, which is a silent letter which can carry any consonant sound. The Hebrew acrostic is עַל־אֵ֣לֶּה (al-eleh), a qal perfect third person singular verb, meaning “upon these” or “for these.” Jerusalem weeped like a widow who had just lost her beloved husband. She called out to all of those who come in her sight, but her past lovers refuse to comfort or encourage her. The children of the widow were left alone without their parents.
The Hebrew word for “comfort” is again מְנַחֵ֖ם (menachim), meaning comforter. The rabbi saw this title as a name for the Messiah.
1:17 Zion spread out her hands, but there is no one to comfort her. The Lord has issued a decree against Jacob; his neighbors have become his enemies. Jerusalem has become like filthy garbage in their midst.
The seventeenth Hebrew letter is the pey, which is a “p” sound. The Hebrew acrostic is פֵּֽרְשָׂ֨ה (parshah), a qal perfect third person singular verb, meaning “ she spreads forth.” Jerusalem spread out her hands for help, but there was no one to comfort her. Jehovah had pronounced a curse against Israel, because she had violated the Mosaic Covenant. The surrounding nations had become Israel’s enemies. Jerusalem had become like a dirty menstrual rag to the other nations.
1:18 The Lord is right to judge me! Yes, I rebelled against his commands. Please listen, all you nations, and look at my suffering! My young women and men have gone into exile.
The eighteenth Hebrew letter is the tsade, which is a “ts” sound. The Hebrew acrostic is צַדִּ֥יק (tsadik), meaning “righteous.” Judah confesses her sin. She asked the Gentiles to pay attention to her sufferings. The young women and young men have been taken captive into Babylon.
1:19 I called for my lovers, but they had deceived me. My priests and my elders perished in the city. Truly they had searched for food to keep themselves alive.
The nineteenth Hebrew letter is the kof, which is a “k” sound. The Hebrew acrostic is קָרָ֤אתִי (katati), a qal perfect first person singular verb, meaning “I called.” Judah called for her lovers, but they did not answer. Judah’s lovers were the pagan gods of the Gentile nations in which they had embraced. Judah now knew that these false idols had deceived her, because they were not gods at all. They had no power to deliver Judah from her enemies. The priests and the elders were killed in the city streets of Jerusalem. They searched for food, but they died of starvation. The priests and leaders refused to feed the people, so Jehovah refused to feed them.
1:20 Look, O Lord! I am distressed; my stomach is in knots! My heart is pounding inside me. Yes, I was terribly rebellious! Out in the street the sword bereaves a mother of her children; Inside the house death is present.
The twentieth Hebrew letter is the resh, which is an “r” sound. The Hebrew acrostic is רְאֵ֨ה, a qal perfect third person singular verb, meaning “to see.” Jerusalem called out to those passing by the road, but her cry was ignored. Now, she finally cried out to God. She asked God to look intently and closely at how she was suffering. However, it was too late. Her cup of wrath had already overflowed.
Jerusalem was in distress over her situation. She confessed to God that she was rebellious. If she left the city while it was under siege, then she would be killed by the sword. If she stayed in the city, then she would starve to death.
1:21 They have heard that I groan, yet there is no one to comfort me. All my enemies have heard of my trouble; they are glad that you have brought it about. Bring about the day of judgment that you promised so that they may end up like me!
The twenty-first Hebrew letter is the shin, which is a “sh” sound. The Hebrew acrostic is שָׁמְע֞וּ (shamu), a qal perfect third person plural verb, meaning “they have heard.” The Gentiles heard the cries of Judah, but they refused to comfort her. The Gentiles had become the enemies of Judah. The Gentiles were glad that the Babylonians defeated Judah. Judah asked God to bring the promised Great Tribulation upon the Gentiles.
1:22 Let all their wickedness come before you; afflict them just as you have afflicted me because of all my acts of rebellion. For my groans are many, and my heart is sick with sorrow.
The twenty-second Hebrew letter is the tav, which is a “t” sound. The Hebrew acrostic is תָּבֹ֨א (tava), meaning “let it come.” Jerusalem wanted God to judge the Gentiles, just as God had judged Jerusalem. This judgment did not happen at this time. The prophets promised that God would judge all of the Gentiles at the end of the future Great Tribulation to come.
In summary, there were six major points of Jeremiah’s funeral song. First, Jerusalem was a popular city, but now she sits in isolation like a leper weeping at night. Second, she was betrayed by her lovers and could find no rest. Third, the city and roads of Jerusalem were desolate, because no one attended her feasts anymore. Fourth, Jerusalem was no longer honored by the Gentile nations. She was despised. Instead of becoming the head of the nations, she had become the tail of the nations. Fifth, God seemed to be unconcerned that Gentiles desecrated His temple courts. Sixth, Jerusalem deserved her fate, but her enemies deserved the same fate.