John Gill's Exposition on Lamentations 3:16

A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.

Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.

He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, etc.] With gritty bread, such as is made of corn ground with new millstones, the grit of which mixes with the flour; or with stony bread, as Seneca f61 calls a benefit troublesome to others; with bread that has little stones mixed with it, by eating of which the teeth are broken, as Jarchi observes: the phrase signifies afflictions and troubles, which are very grievous and disagreeable, like gravel in the mouth, as sin in its effects often proves, (<202017>Proverbs 20:17); he hath covered me with ashes; as mourners used to be; the word rendered “covered” is only used in this place. Aben Ezra renders it, “he hath defiled me”; and Jarchi and Ben Melech, from the Misnah, “he hath pressed me”, without measure; (see <420638>Luke 6:38); and so the Targum, “he hath humbled me:” but the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and Arabic versions, render it, “he hath fed me with ashes”; which version is defended by Castel f62 and Noldius f63, and best agrees with the preceding clause; the sense is the same with (<19A209>Psalm 102:9).

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