1. Lamentations 2:4 (NEG79)
  2. Explication du texte

How is the impact of God’s anger as a warrior described?

Lamentations 2:4 (NEG79)

4 Il a tendu son arc comme un ennemi; Sa droite s'est dressée comme celle d'un assaillant; Il a fait périr tout ce qui plaisait aux regards; Il a répandu sa fureur comme un feu sur la tente de la fille de Sion.

The rest of this verse describes the impact of God's wrath as "archer" in a two ways:

  1. he has killed all who were delightful in our eyes... . Here, the impact of God's wrathful arrows is described as causing death and destruction (see also Numbers 24:8; Deuteronomy 32:42; Psalm 7:14; Psalm 18:15; Psalm 38:3; Psalm 64:8). While delightful is sometimes used with regard to the temple (Ezekiel 24:21), or Jerusalem itself (Psalm 48:14), it is used here in reference to the people. In this verse, the objects of God's killing activity are the children of Zion (see also Ezekiel 24:16; Hosea 9:16), the inhabitants of Jerusalem and Judah. 

  2. The last line of the verse highlights another form of impact: in the tent of the daughter of Zion; he has poured out his fury like fire. Although the tent may refer to the temple (see 1 Chronicles 9:23; cf. Exodus 28:43), here it most likely refers to the city (see also Isaiah 33:20; Isaiah 54:2). God’s wrath is compared to a flaming liquid that has been poured out and caused destruction in the entire city (see also Lamentations 4:11; Psalm 69:24;Psalm 79:6; Jeremiah 6:11; Jeremiah 7:20).1