The lot of women, leaders, young men and boys, and old men are described in Lamentations 5:11–14.
1. Women
(Lamentations 5:11): Throughout history, war and its aftermath did not treat women well. The horrible fate of sexual abuse was a reality for women who were left without husbands, fathers or brothers to protect them. The description of this abuse is intensified in two ways in this verse: the first part describes the victims as women which is intensified in the second part by using the word young women,
or virgins. The second intensification is the description of these horrors as first occurring in Jerusalem, but which is expanded in the second part of the verse by mentioning more territory, namely the towns of Judah.
2. Princes
and elders
(Lamentations 5:12): The princes and elders refer to the elders of community leaders of Jerusalem (see notes elsewhere). Previously these leaders were treated with the greatest respect, but now their lot has changed. No respect is shown to them at all. They were being tortured and shamed (hung up by their hands
).
3. Young men
and boys
(Lamentations 5:13): Because of the lack of animals and adult men the younger men were forced to perform the demeaning work of grinding and carrying wood—just like animals.
4. Old men
and young men
(Lamentations 5:14): These men are extremes in one group. The old men represent the mature and outgoing generation while the young men represent the hope of the next generation. The old men would sit at the gate, overseeing the city. Their absence from the gate was due to death or exile. The young men would make music, experiencing enjoyment and pleasure in life. They were also not there anymore. The stability (old men
) and hope (young men
) have disappeared from the city.1
11 Women are raped in Zion, young women in the towns of Judah.