Lamentations 4:17

“As for us, our eyes as yet failed for our vain help, etc.] Or, “while we were yet” f128; a nation, a people, a body politic, in our own land, before the city of Jerusalem was taken, we were looking for help, as was promised us; but it proved a vain help, none was given us; for which we kept looking to the last, till our eyes failed, and we could look no longer; no help appeared, nor was there any prospect or probability of it, and therefore gave all up: in our watching we watched for a nation [that] could not save [us]; not the Romans, as the Targum, but the Egyptians; these promised them help and relief, and therefore in their watching they watched, or vehemently watched, and wistfully…”

“As for us--This translation forms the best antithesis to the language of the heathen (Lam 4:15-16). CALVIN translates, "While as yet we stood as a state, our eyes failed," &c. watched for a nation that could not save us--Egypt (Kg2 24:7; Isa 30:7; Jer 37:5-11).”

“A rapid sketch of the last days of the siege and the capture of the king. Lamentations 4:17 Rather, “Still do our eyes waste away looking for our vain help.” In our watching - Or, “on our watchtower.” Lamentations 4:18 Or, They hunted “our steps that we could not go out into the streets. To hunt” means here to lie in ambush, and catch by snares; and the streets are literally “the wide places,” especially at the gates. Toward the end of the siege the towers erected by the enemy would command these places. Lamentations 4:19 Our persecutors are ... - Our pursuers (Lamentations 1:3 note) “were swifter thorn the eagles of heaven.” They pursued us - Or, they chased us. Mountains ... wilderness -…”

“A nation - The Egyptians. Lamentations 4:18”

“our eyes: Lam 1:19; Kg2 24:7; Isa 20:5, Isa 30:1-7, Isa 31:1-3; Jer 2:18, Jer 2:36, Jer 8:20; Jer 37:7-10; Eze 29:6, Eze 29:7, Eze 29:16 for a: For the Egyptians, who were their pretended allies; but who were neither able nor willing to help them. Lamentations 4:18”