← Back to Lamentations

Lamentations 2

22 verses

TL;DR

A lamentation of God's wrath upon Jerusalem, describing its destruction, the suffering of its people, and the loss of religious life.

Summary

Lamentations chapter 2 mourns the devastation of Jerusalem, portraying God as an angry adversary who has swept away the city’s beauty and security. The chapter details the destruction of the strongholds, temples, and walls, and the silencing of festivals and holy rites. The people of Zion are depicted in extreme grief—sacred gatherings are abandoned, the king and priests are despised, and even the elders wear sackcloth. The narrative shifts to personal lament, with the poet expressing tears, hunger, and a sense of betrayal as the city’s children suffer. The text ends with a desperate appeal for divine intervention and a plea that the walls of Zion not cease to weep.

Outline
  1. 1. Declaration of God's wrath and the destruction of Jerusalem’s physical and spiritual structures
  2. 2. The ensuing human suffering and loss of faith leaders
  3. 3. Personal lament and appeal for mercy
Themes
Divine judgment and wrathLamentation and griefHope for restoration
Keywords
wrathdestructionlamentZionJerusalemaltarsanctuarysackcloth
People
the LORDthe king of Jerusalemthe priestthe prophetsthe princesthe eldersthe people of Israel
Places
ZionJerusalemJudahIsrael
Things
cloud of wrathbeauty of Israelhabitationhornright handfirebowtabernaclealtarsanctuarywallsgatebarsdustsackclothcorn and wineapplesfeastssabbaths
Key Verses
  • Lamentations 2:6: It highlights the loss of sacred rites and the abandonment of the temple.
  • Lamentations 2:15: It shows the city’s ridicule by outsiders, emphasizing its ruined state.
  • Lamentations 2:20: It captures the desperate pleas for mercy and the urgency of the situation.
Questions
  • How does Lamentations portray the relationship between divine judgment and human responsibility?
  • In what ways does the destruction of Jerusalem’s physical structures symbolize spiritual emptiness?
  • What role does the lament play in seeking restoration or divine intervention?
  • How does the text address the suffering of ordinary citizens versus religious leaders?
  • What can modern readers learn from the poet’s expression of grief and hope?
Sentiment

negative
The chapter conveys sorrow, destruction, and a sense of loss.