Lamentations 3:7

He hath set me in dark places,.... In the dark house of the prison, as the Targum; in the dark dungeon where the prophet was put; or the captivity in which the Jews were, and which was like the dark grave or state of the dead; and hence they are said to be in their graves, Ezekiel 37:12. Christ was laid in the dark grave literally: as [they that be] dead of old: that have been long dead, and are forgotten, as if they had never been; see Psalms 88:5; or, "as the dead of the world" {f}, or age; who, being dead, are gone out of the world, and no more in it. The Targum is, "as the dead who go into another world.'' {f} Mlwe ytmk wv nekrouv aiwnov, Sept. "quasi mortuos seculi", Montanus, Calvin. Lamentations 3:7 Ver. 7. He hath hedged me about, that I cannot go out,.... When in prison, or in the dungeon, or during the siege of Jerusalem; though the phrase may only denote in general the greatness of his troubles, with which he was encompassed, and how inextricable they were; like a hedge about a vineyard, or a wall about a city, which could not easily be got over: he hath made my chain heavy; his affliction intolerable. It is a metaphor taken from malefactors that have heavy chains put upon their legs, that they may not make their escape out of prison: or, "my brass" {g}; that is, chains, or a chain made of brass; so the Targum, "he hath made heavy upon my feet fetters of brass.'' {g} ytvxn calkon mou Sept. "aes meum, [vel] chalybem meum", Piscator. Lamentations 3:8 Ver. 8.

3:1-20 The prophet relates the more gloomy and discouraging part of his experience, and how he found support and relief. In the time of his trial the Lord had become terrible to him. It was an affliction that was misery itself; for sin makes the cup of affliction a bitter cup. The struggle between unbelief and faith is often very severe. But the weakest believer is wrong, if he thinks that his strength and hope are perished from the Lord.

He hath hedged me about, that I cannot go out,.... When in prison, or in the dungeon, or during the siege of Jerusalem; though the phrase may only denote in general the greatness of his troubles, with which he was encompassed, and how inextricable they were; like a hedge about a vineyard, or a wall about a city, which could not easily be got over: he hath made my chain heavy; his affliction intolerable. It is a metaphor taken from malefactors that have heavy chains put upon their legs, that they may not make their escape out of prison: or, "my brass" (g); that is, chains, or a chain made of brass; so the Targum, "he hath made heavy upon my feet fetters of brass.'' (g) Sept. "aes meum, vel chalybem meum", Piscator.

Verses 7-9. - Three figures, interrupted by a literal statement of the ill success of prayer. A traveller who finds himself suddenly caged up by a high thorn hedge (comp. Job 3:23 ; Hosea 2:6 ). A prisoner with a heavy chain. Again, a traveller suddenly shut up by solid stone walls (comp. Hosea 2:8 ). Verse 7. - My chain ; literally, my brass (comp. Judges 16:21 ; 2 Kings 25:7 ). Lamentations 3:7

The use of a hedge about an enclosed field is twofold: 1. To keep out other beasts which belong not to the owner of the ground; in this sense God set a hedge sometimes about Canaan, Isaiah 5:5 . 2. To keep in those beasts that are within; thus God had now hedged them in, into a barren place where they had no pasture, but were continually pushed at by other beasts with whom they were mixed, and who were stronger than they, and they could not get out. God had dealt with them as with grievous malefactors, who are loaded with heavy chains. He had made their affliction heavy and insupportable.

God has hedged him round like a prisoner, cut off all communication from without, so that he cannot escape, and He has loaded him with heavy chains. This figure is based on Job 19:8 and Hosea 2:8 . גּדר בּעדי, "He hath made an hedge round me," does not suggest prison walls, but merely seclusion within a confined space, where he is deprived of free exit. "I cannot go out," as in Psalm 88:9 . The seclusion is increased by fetters which are placed on the prisoner. נחשׁת, "brass," for fetters, as in German and English, "irons," for iron chains.

[Bible] 2:21. Sin. The child and the old man lie without on the ground: my virgins and my young men are fallen by the sword: thou hast slain them in the day of thy wrath: thou hast killed, and shewn them no pity. 2:22. Thau. Thou hast called as to a festival, those that should terrify me round about, and there was none in the day of the wrath of the Lord that escaped and was left: those that I brought up, and nourished, my enemy hath consumed them. Lamentations Chapter 3 3:1. Aleph. I am the man that see my poverty by the rod of his indignation. 3:2. Aleph. He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, and not into light. 3:3. Aleph. Only against me he hath turned, and turned again his hand all the day. 3:4. Beth. My skin and my flesh he hath made old, he hath broken my bones. 3:5. Beth. He hath built round about me, and he hath compassed me with gall, and labour. 3:6. Beth. He hath set me in dark places as those that are dead for ever. 3:7. Ghimel. He hath built against me round about, that I may not get out: he hath made my fetters heavy. 3:8. Ghimel. Yea, and when I cry, and entreat, he hath shut out my prayer. 3:9. Ghimel. He hath shut up my ways with square stones, he hath turned my paths upside down. 3:10. Daleth. He is become to me as a bear lying in wait: as a lion in secret places. 3:11. Daleth. He hath turned aside my paths, and hath broken me in pieces, he hath made me desolate. 3:12. Daleth. He hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for his arrows. 3:13. He. He hath shot into my reins the daughters of his quiver. 3:14. He. I am made a derision to all my people, their song all the day long. 3:15. He. He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath inebriated me with wormwood. 3:16. Vau. And he hath broken my teeth one by one, he hath fed me with ashes. 3:17. Vau. And my soul is removed far off from peace, I have forgotten good things. 3:18. Vau. And I said: My end and my hope is perished from the Lord. 3:19. Zain. Remember my poverty, and transgression, the wormwood and the gall.