As Lamentations 2:1–22 is a further lament; continuing from Lamentations 1:1–22, there are some links between the chapters; for example, the theme of weeping (Lamentations 1:2, Lamentations 1:16; Lamentations 2:11, Lamentations 2:18, Lamentations 2:19); the past beauty of Jerusalem (Lamentations 1:6–7; Lamentations 2:1, Lamentations 2:15); continuation is seen in the alphabetic acrostic.1
Apart from this continuation, some themes are expanded and developed. An example of this is the day of God’s anger (Lamentations 1:12, Lamentations 1:21). The Lord’s judgment, which engulfed the people and Jerusalem, is intensified in Lamentations 2:1–22.2
Lamentations 1:1–22 describes the situation after the conquest of Jerusalem in 586 B.C., while Lamentations 2:1–22 focuses on the siege and destruction itself. It is seen as an act of the Lord. The day of his wrath has arrived, and the covenant people are bearing an unparalleled form of punishment. In contrast to Lamentations 1:1–22, which is more general and does not mention persons or groups in the description, song 2 is much more concrete in its description.3
1 Eh quoi! le Seigneur, dans sa colère, a couvert de nuages la fille de Sion! Il a précipité du ciel sur la terre la magnificence d'Israël! Il ne s'est pas souvenu de son marchepied, Au jour de sa colère!