Clarke notes

<p>This chapter contains two beautiful examples of the parabolic

kind of writing; the one lamenting the sad catastrophe of

Jehoahaz and Jehoiakim, 1-9,

and the other describing the desolation and captivity of the

whole people, 10-14.

In the first parable, the lioness is Jerusalem. The first of

the young lions is Jehoahaz, deposed by the king of Egypt; and

the second lion is Jehoiakim, whose rebellion drew on himself

the vengeance of the king of Babylon. In the second parable the

vine is the Jewish nation, which long prospered, its land being

fertile, its princes powerful, and its people flourishing; but

the judgments of God, in consequence of their guilt, had now

destroyed a great part of the people, and doomed the rest to

captivity.

NOTES ON CHAP. XIX

Verse 1. Moreover take thou up a lamentation] Declare what is

the great subject of sorrow in Israel. Compose a funeral dirge.

Show the melancholy fate of the kings who proceeded from Josiah.

The prophet deplores the misfortune of Jehoahaz and Jehoiakim,

under the figure of two lion whelps, which were taken by hunters,

and confined in cages. Next he shows the desolation of Jerusalem

under Zedekiah, which he compares to a beautiful vine pulled up by

the roots, withered, and at last burned. Calmet justly observes,

that the style of this song is beautiful, and the allegory well

supported throughout.</p>