The writer explains why Jerusalem’s effort to be comforted is in vain: The Lord has commanded against Jacob that his neighbours should be his foes.
With this explanation the book’s explicit theological lesson comes to the fore: the Lord had decreed the enemy’s attack as a punishment for Judah’s sin. God’s sovereignty and providence is revealed: He gave the orders against His chosen people, Jacob. The orders were given by Him to nations surrounding Israel. These hostile nations strive to increase Judah’s misery, as commanded by God.1
The use of the name Jacob
should also be noted. This brings all Israel into view — not only Jerusalem and Judah have been part of God’s decree (see also Lamentations 2:2–3). Although Judah is the main focal point of God’s judgment in Lamentations, the judgment was decreed on the whole of Israelite history.2
This theological lesson that God has decreed the suffering was acknowledged by Jerusalem, for in Lamentations 1:18 she acknowledges God’s justice and in Lamentations 1:19–22 she asks for pity.3
17 Zion stretches out her hands, but there is none to comfort her; the LORD has commanded against Jacob that his neighbors should be his foes; Jerusalem has become a filthy thing among them.