Tyndale Open Study Notes

Verse 1

2:1-22 This chapter graphically portrays the Lord as Jerusalem’s destroyer.

2:1 the heights of heaven: Jerusalem’s buildings were splendid, adorned with precious metals and jewels. Jerusalem had the reputation of being the sacred city of the Lord. • his Temple (literally his footstool): Cp. 1 Chr 28:2; Pss 99:5; 132:7.

Verse 3

2:3-4 bends his bow: In the past, the Lord had been a mighty warrior on Israel’s behalf (see Exod 14:13–15:21; Josh 23:9-11; Judg 7; 2 Kgs 19:32-35); now he waged war against Jerusalem (see Isa 63:10; Ezek 24:25).

Verse 6

2:6 A garden shelter was a temporary structure that harvesters put up to provide shade. God had promised to take care of his Temple forever (1 Kgs 9:3), but now it seemed that he had abandoned it.

Verse 7

2:7 The Temple was destroyed because the sins that the priests and the people had committed within its walls had defiled its holiness (cp. Jer 7:3-15; 26:3-6, 12-13; Ezek 24:21).

Verse 8

2:8 Ramparts were stone walls or mounds of earth built around a city to protect it from assault by an enemy army.

Verse 9

2:9 no more visions: Daniel and Ezekiel were prophets of the Lord who had visions while they lived among the exiles far from the land of Judah (Ezek 1:1; Dan 7:1). This verse refers to prophets in Jerusalem who claimed to have visions that proved to be false.

Verse 10

2:10 Burlap (or sackcloth) was made of goat or camel hair and was often used for grain sacks or for items to be carried on pack animals. Poor people wore it as clothing because it was inexpensive, and people in mourning wore it as a sign of their deep sorrow (its dark color matched their mood, and its roughness matched their discomfort). • Throwing dust on their heads and clothing was a sign to neighbors that a family member had died.

Verse 13

2:13 Who can heal you? Reputed healers and prophets were all liars and frauds (Jer 6:13-14).

Verse 16

2:16 Their enemies were glad that Jerusalem was defeated.

Verse 17

2:17 promises . . . made long ago: God’s promises of blessing were always contingent upon Israel’s obedience to the law (Deut 8). He had promised to destroy them if they disobeyed it (Lev 26).

Verse 18

2:18-19 Repentance and prayer are the proper responses when facing the devastation of God’s judgment.

Verse 20

2:20 Jeremiah had predicted that the same cannibalism that occurred during a siege of Samaria (2 Kgs 6:28-29) would happen in Jerusalem (Jer 19:9; see also Lam 4:10; Ezek 5:10; cp. Deut 28:53-57).

Verse 22

2:22 calling them to a day of feasting: The poet compares Jerusalem’s destruction to an invitation to a banquet at which war, famine, wild animals, and sickness would feast on the wicked in Jerusalem (Deut 28:15-68; cp. Rev 19:17-21).