Lamentations 4:19

“Our persecutors are swifter than the eagles of the heavens, etc.] That fly in the heavens; and which, as they have a quick sight to discern their prey afar off, are very swift to pursue it; they are the swiftest of birds, and are so to a proverb. Apuleius f129 represents the swift pursuit of their prey, and sudden falling upon it, to be like thunder and lightning. Cicero f130 relates of a certain racer, that came to an interpreter of dreams, and told him, that in his dream he seemed to become an eagle; upon which, says the interpreter, thou wilt be the conqueror; for no bird flies with such force and swiftness as that. And this bird is also remarkable for its constancy in flying: it is never…”

“The last times just before the taking of the city. There was no place of escape; the foe intercepted those wishing to escape from the famine-stricken city, "on the mountains and in the wilderness." swifter . . . than . . . eagles--the Chaldean cavalry (Jer 4:13). pursued--literally, "to be hot"; then, "to pursue hotly" (Gen 31:36). Thus they pursued and overtook Zedekiah (Jer 52:8-9).”

“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 -…”

“persecutors: Deu 28:49; Isa 5:26-28, Isa 30:16, Isa 30:17; Jer 4:13; Hos 8:1; Hab 1:8; Mat 24:27, Mat 24:28 the eagles: The eagle, whose wings are of an extraordinary length, darts with amazing rapidity through the voids of heaven. they pursued: Amo 2:14, Amo 9:1-3 Lamentations 4:20”