Lamentations 3:15

“He hath filled me with bitterness, etc.] Or “with bitternesses” f60; instead of food, bitter herbs; the allusion perhaps is to the bitter herbs eaten at the passover, and signify bitter afflictions, sore calamities, of which the prophet and his people had their fill. The Targum is, “with the gall of serpents;” (see <182014>Job 20:14); he hath made me drunken with wormwood; with wormwood drink; but this herb being a wholesome one, though bitter, some think that henbane, or wolfsbane, is rather meant, which is of a poisonous and intoxicating nature; it is no unusual thing for persons to be represented as drunk with affliction, (<235117>Isaiah 51:17,21 <242527>Jeremiah 25:27).”

“wormwood-- (Jer 9:15). There it is regarded as food, namely, the leaves: here as drink, namely, the juice.”

“Having dwelt upon the difficulties which hemmed in his path, he now shows that there are dangers attending upon escape. Lamentations 3:11 The meaning is, “God, as a lion, lying in wait, has made me turn aside from my path, but my flight was in vain, for springing upon me from His ambush lie has torn me in pieces.” Desolate - Or, astonied, stupefied that he cannot flee. The word is a favorite one with Jeremiah. Lamentations 3:12 This new simile arises out of the former one, the idea of a hunter being suggested by that of the bear and lion. When the hunter comes, it is not to save him. Lamentations 3:14 Metaphor is dropped, and Jeremiah shows the real nature of the arrows which rankled in him…”

“Wormwood - With severe and bitter dispensations. Lamentations 3:16”

“filled: Lam 3:19; Rut 1:20; Job 9:18; Psa 60:3; Isa 51:17-22; Jer 9:15, Jer 23:15; Jer 25:15-18, Jer 25:27 bitterness: Heb. bitternesses Lamentations 3:16”