Lamentations 1:3

“Judah is gone into captivity, etc.] Not only Jerusalem the metropolis of Judea was destroyed, but the whole country was ravaged, and the inhabitants of it carried captive into Babylon: because of affliction, and because of great servitude; because of their sins in oppressing and afflicting their poor brethren, and retaining them in a state of bondage after their seven years’ servitude, contrary to the law of God; for which they were threatened with captivity, (<243413>Jeremiah 34:1322); so the Targum, “the house of Judah went into captivity, because they afflicted the fatherless and the widows; and because of the multitude of service which they caused their brethren the children of Israel to…”

“(Jer 52:27). because of great servitude--that is, in a state "of great servitude," endured from the Chaldeans. "Because" is made by VATABLUS indicative of the cause of her captivity; namely, her having "afflicted" and unjustly brought into "servitude" the manumitted bond-servants (Jer 34:8-22). MAURER explains it, "Judah has left her land (not literally 'gone into captivity') because of the yoke imposed on it by Nebuchadnezzar." no rest-- (Deu 28:64-65). overtook her between . . . straits--image from robbers, who in the East intercept travellers at the narrow passes in hilly regions.”

“Because of ... - i. e. the people, not of Jerusalem only, but of the whole land, “is gone into exile to escape from the affliction and laborious servitude,” to which they are subject in their own land. Persecutors ... between the straits - Rather, “pursuers ... in the midst of her straits.” The Jews flee like deer to escape from the invading Chaldaeans, but are driven by them into places from where there is no escape. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Because - Because of the servitude and oppression exercised among them: oppression by their rulers, and servitude more generally; keeping their servants beyond the year of jubilee, when they ought to be set at liberty. The straits - Those that pursued them overtook them in places where they could not escape. Lamentations 1:4”

“1:3 The woman of 1:1 is the nation of Judah. • led away into captivity: This happened four times: 605 BC (Dan 1:3-4); 597 BC (2 Kgs 24:12-16; Jer 52:28; Ezek 1:2-3); 586 BC (2 Kgs 25:5-7, 18-21; Jer 39:5-10; 52:29); and 581 BC (Jer 52:30).”

“gone: Kg2 24:14, Kg2 24:15, Kg2 25:11, Kg2 25:21; Ch2 36:20, Ch2 36:21; Jer 39:9, Jer 52:15, Jer 52:27-30 because of great servitude: Heb. for the greatness of servitude she: Lam 2:9; Lev 26:36-39; Deu 28:64-67; Jer 24:9; Eze 5:12 all: Lam 4:18, Lam 4:19; Jer 16:16, Jer 52:8; Amo 9:1-4 Lamentations 1:4”

“With Lam 1:3 begins the specific account of the misery over which Jerusalem sorrows so deeply. Judah has gone into exile, but she does not find any rest there among the nations. "Judah" is the population not merely of Jerusalem, but of the whole kingdom, whose deportation is bewailed by Jerusalem as the mother of the whole country. Although יהוּדה designates the people, and not the country, it is construed as a feminine, because the inhabitants are regarded as the daughter of the land; cf. Ewald, 174, b \[and Gesenius, 107, 4, a\]. 'מעני וגו has been explained, since J. D. Michaelis, by most modern expositors (Rosenmller, Maurer, Ewald, Thenius, Ngelsbach), and previously by Calvin, as…”