## Rashi on Lamentations Chapter 4

###### Rashi on Lamentations 4:1:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 4:1:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/4:1:1)

**אֵיכָה יוּעַם זָהָב.** קִינָה זוּ נֶאֶמְרָה עַל יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בְּדִבְרֵי הַיָּמִים "וְהִנָּם כְּתוּבִים עַל הַקִּינוֹת". וְעִמָּהּ חִבֵּר בְּתוֹךְ הַקִּינָה אֶת שְׁאָר בְּנֵי צִיּוֹן:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**How can it be that the golden glow has paled.** This elegy was pronounced over Yoshiyahu,¹ as it is stated in Divrei Hayomim, “Behold it is written in the Book of Lamentations,”² and with it he joined, in the midst of the elegy, the rest of the children of Tzion.

footnotes:
¹ Who was killed in a battle with Pharaoh Necho.
² II Divrei Hayomim 35:25.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 4:1:2
[Rashi on Lamentations 4:1:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/4:1:2)

**יוּעַם.** יִכְהֶה, כְּמוֹ דְאַתְּ מְתַּרְגֵּם "כֵּהָה" עַמְיָא.

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Paled.** Dimmed, as in “כֵּהָה”³ which is rendered [by the Targum as] עַמְיָא [=dimmed].

footnotes:
³ Vayikra 13:6.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 4:1:3
[Rashi on Lamentations 4:1:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/4:1:3)

**זָהָב.** מַרְאִית פָּנִים הַמַּצְהִיב כְּזָהָב:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Golden.** The appearance of a face that shines like gold.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 4:1:4
[Rashi on Lamentations 4:1:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/4:1:4)

**יִשְׁנֶא.** יִשְׁתַּנֶּה מִמַּרְאִיתוֹ:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Altered.** Changes its appearance.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 4:1:5
[Rashi on Lamentations 4:1:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/4:1:5)

**הַכֶּתֶם.** קְבוּצַת כְּלֵי נוֹי הַזָּהָב שֶׁהֵם לַעֲדִי, קָרוּי כֶּתֶם:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Jewel.** A collection of beautiful gold articles used as ornaments is called כֶּתֶם.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 4:1:6
[Rashi on Lamentations 4:1:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/4:1:6)

**אַבְנֵי קֹדֶשׁ.** בָּנִים הַמְאִירִים כַּאֲבָנִים טוֹבוֹת וּמִדְרַשׁ אַגָּדָה: כָּל רְבִיעִית דָּם שֶׁיָּצָא מִיֹּאשִׁיָּהוּ בְּכָל חֵץ וְחֵץ שֶׁנָּעֲצוּ בוֹ הָיָה יִרְמְיָה קוֹבְרָהּ בִּמְקוֹמָהּ, וְעָלֶיהָ הוּא קוֹרֵא: "תִּשְׁתַּפֵּכְנָה אַבְנֵי קֹדֶשׁ":

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Sacred gems.** Children who shine like precious stones. But the Midrash Aggadah [states that “sacred gems are spilled refers to], every fourth-part [=רְבִיעִית of blood that Yoshiyahu shed with each arrow that they thrust into him, Yirmiyahu buried in its place [i.e., where it spilled]. Concerning it he called out, “sacred gems are spilled.”


###### Rashi on Lamentations 4:2:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 4:2:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/4:2:1)

**הַמְסֻלָּאִים בַּפָּז.** הַמְהֻלָּלִים וְהַנֶּעֱרָכִים כְּפָז. הָרוֹאֶה אוֹתָם אוֹמֵר: "רְאוּ תָאֳרָם שֶׁל אֵלּוּ כְּמַרְאִית פָּז". וְכֵן "לֹא תְסֻלֶּה בְּכֶתֶם אוֹפִיר", "בְּכֶתֶם טָהוֹר לֹא תְסֻלֶּה" "סֹלּוּ לָרֹכֵב בָּעֲרָבוֹת", לְשׁוֹן הִלּוּל וְעֵרֶךְ הֵן:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Who were evaluated in golden currency.** Who were praised and valued like gold. Whoever saw them would say, “Look, the complexion of these is like the appearance of gold,” and similarly, “it cannot be praised תְסֻלֶּה with the gold jewelry of Ophir,”⁴ [and as in,] “with jewelry of fine gold, it cannot be praised תְסֻלֶּה”⁵ [and as in,] “praise סֹלּוּ Him Who rides the heavens.”⁶ These are expressions of praise and value.

footnotes:
⁴ Iyov 28:16.
⁵ Ibid. 28:19.
⁶ Tehilim 68:5.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 4:2:2
[Rashi on Lamentations 4:2:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/4:2:2)

**לְנִבְלֵי חֶרֶשׂ.** כַּדֵּי חֶרֶשׂ שֶׁנּוֹתְנִים בָּהֶם יַיִן, כְּגוֹן נִבְלֵי יַיִן "וְנִבְלֵיהֶם יְנַפֵּצוּ":

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Like flasks of clay.** Earthen pitchers in which they pour wine, e.g., wine flasks, [as in,] “And they will smash their jars וְנִבְלֵיהֶם.”⁷

footnotes:
⁷ Yirmiyahu 48:12. The scraps of broken metal utensils have some value, but the shards of broken earthenware have no value whatsoever. (Ramak)


###### Rashi on Lamentations 4:3:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 4:3:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/4:3:1)

**גַּם תַּנִּין.** אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאַכְזָרִי הוּא, **חָלְצוּ שַׁד.** כְּשֶׁרוֹאֶה אֶת בְּנוֹ בָּא מֵרָחוֹק רָעֵב, חוֹלֵץ שָׁדָיו מִתּוֹךְ נַרְתִּיקוֹ, שֶׁיֵשׁ לוֹ כִסּוּי עַל דַּדָּיו וּמוֹצִיאוֹ מִתּוֹכוֹ, כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִרְאֵהוּ בְנוֹ מְכֻסֶּה וַיַחֲזוֹר לַאֲחוֹרָיו, וְהֵינִיקוּ גּוּרֵיהֶן:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Even the serpent.** Even though it is cruel, **it bares its breast.** When it sees its offspring coming from afar, hungry, it uncovers its breasts from their sheath, for it has a cover over its breasts, and it takes them out so that its offspring should not see them covered up and turn away. Then they suckle their young.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 4:3:2
[Rashi on Lamentations 4:3:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/4:3:2)

**בַּת עַמִּי לְאַכְזָר.** רוֹאִים אֶת בְּנֵיהֶם צוֹעֲקִים לְלֶחֶם, וְאֵין פּוֹרֵשׂ לָהֶם, שֶׁחַיֵּיהֶם קוֹדְמִים לָהֶם לְחַיֵּי בְנֵיהֶם מֵחֲמַת הָרָעָב:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Yet the daughters of my people have become brutal.** They see their children crying for bread, and yet no one breaks [bread] for them; for their own lives come before their children’s lives because of the hunger.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 4:5:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 4:5:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/4:5:1)

**הָאֱמֻנִים עֲלֵי תוֹלָע.** עַל בִּגְדֵי צִבְעוֹנִין:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Those raised on richly colored brocade.** On colored garments.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 4:5:2
[Rashi on Lamentations 4:5:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/4:5:2)

**הָאֱמֻנִים.** לְשׁוֹן "וַיְהִי אֹמֵן אֶת הֲדַסָּה":

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Those raised.** An expression [similar to], “And he brought אֹמֵן up Hadassah.”⁸

footnotes:
⁸ Esther 2:7.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 4:5:3
[Rashi on Lamentations 4:5:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/4:5:3)

**אַשְׁפַּתּוֹת.** אַשְׁפּוֹת שֶׁל זֶבֶל. שׁוֹכְבִים עַל הָאַשְׁפּוֹת בַּחוּץ:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Dungheaps.** Heaps of dung; they lie on the dunghills in the street.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 4:6:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 4:6:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/4:6:1)

**וַיִּגְדַּל עֲוֹן וְגוֹ'.** פֻּרְעֲנוּתָם מוֹכִיחַ עֲלֵיהֶם שֶׁגָּדוֹל עֲוֹנָם מִשֶּׁל סְדוֹם:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**[My people’s] transgressions surpassed, etc.** [The severity of] their punishment⁹ proves about them that their transgression is greater than that of Sodom.¹⁰

footnotes:
⁹ Concerning S’dom, Scripture states, “her sin is extremely grave,” in Bereishis 18:20. However, concerning Yehudah, Scripture states, “The iniquity of the house of Yisroel and Yehudah is extremely extremely great,” in Yechezkeil 9:9.
¹⁰ S’dom’s sins were committed before the Torah was given and are considered accidental [חטא]. However, these sins were committed after the Torah had been given and were considered to be premeditated [עון]. (Palgei Mayim)


###### Rashi on Lamentations 4:6:2
[Rashi on Lamentations 4:6:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/4:6:2)

**הַהֲפוּכָה כְמוֹ רָגַע.** שֶׁהֲרֵי סְדוֹם לֹא נִמְשְׁכָה צָרָתָם. כְּרֶגַע אֶחָד נֶהֶפְכָה:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Which was instantaneously overturned.** The distress of Sodom was not prolonged; it was overturned as in one moment.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 4:6:3
[Rashi on Lamentations 4:6:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/4:6:3)

**וְלֹא חָלוּ בָהּ יָדָיִם.** יְדֵי הָאוֹיֵב, כִּי עַל יְדֵי הַמַּלְאָכִים נֶהֶפְכָה. וְיֵשׁ מִדְרְשֵׁי אַגָּדָה, וְאֵינוֹ מְיֻשָּׁב עַל סֵדֶר הַמִּקְרָאוֹת:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Untouched by [human] hands.** I.e., the hands of the enemy;¹¹ but it was overthrown through angels.¹² There are also Aggadic Midrashim, but they do not fit the sequence of the verses.

footnotes:
¹¹ Alternatively, ‘who had no prophets’ to lead them back to teshuvah; i.e., S’dom, unlike ‘my people,’ had no prophets to chastise them, therefore Bnei Yisroel’s ‘transgressions surpassed, etc.’ (Targum)
¹² Referring to S’dom.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 4:7:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 4:7:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/4:7:1)

**זַכּוּ נְזִירֶיהָ.** שָׂרֶיהָ, כְּמוֹ נֵזֶר וְכֶתֶר. וַאֲנִי אוֹמֵר, נְזִירֶיהָ מַמָּשׁ, שֶׁהָיוּ מְגֻדְּלֵי שֵׂעָר וְנָאִים בְּיוֹתֵר, וּמוּסָב עַל "בַּת עַמִּי":

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Her Nazirites were more pristine.** Her princes, like נֵזֶר and כֶּתֶר [=a crown]. But I say [it means] actual Nazirites, who had long hair and were very handsome, and the antecedent is “of my people.”¹³

footnotes:
¹³ Above Verse 6.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 4:7:2
[Rashi on Lamentations 4:7:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/4:7:2)

**אָדְמוּ עֶצֶם מִפְּנִינִים.** אוֹתָם שֶׁהָיוּ מַרְאֵיהֶם אָדוֹם מִפְּנִינִים וְגִזְרָתָם כְּמוֹ סַפִּיר, חָשַׁךְ תָּאֳרָם מִפֶּחָמִים:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Those who appeared redder than pearls.** Those whose appearance was ruddier than coral and whose forms were like sapphire; their complexions became darker than charcoal.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 4:8:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 4:8:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/4:8:1)

**מִשְּׁחוֹר.** הוּא פֶחָם:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Than charcoal.** This is charcoal.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 4:8:2
[Rashi on Lamentations 4:8:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/4:8:2)

**עֶצֶם.** לְשׁוֹן מַרְאֶה, כְּמוֹ "וּכְעֶצֶם הַשָּׁמַיִם לָטֹהַר", קול"ר בְּלַעַ"ז:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**[Their] bone[s].** An expression of appearance, as in, “like the appearance וּכְעֶצֶם of the heavens in purity,”¹⁴ *color* in O.F.

footnotes:
¹⁴ Shemos 24:10.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 4:8:3
[Rashi on Lamentations 4:8:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/4:8:3)

**צָפַד.** נִקְמַט וְנִתְחַבֵּר, וְאֵין לוֹ דִמְיוֹן:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Shrivelled.** Shriveled and attached; and there is no similar [word in Scripture].


###### Rashi on Lamentations 4:9:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 4:9:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/4:9:1)

**שֶׁהֵם יָזֻבוּ מְדֻקָּרִים וְגוֹ'.** חַלְלֵי הָרָעָב הָיוּ נְפוּחִים מֵרֵיחַ תְּנוּבוֹת הַשָּׂדֶה, שֶׁהָיוּ הָאוֹיְבִים צוֹלִים בָּשָּׂר עַל הָעֲשָׂבִים חוּץ לַחוֹמָה, וְהָרֵיחַ נִכְנָס בְּתוֹךְ נְפוּחֵי הָרָעָב וּכְרֵסָן נִבְקַעַת, וּפִרְשָׁם זָב, וַהֲרֵי זֶה מִיתַת נִוּוּל יוֹתֵר מֵהֲרוּגֵי חָרֶב:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**For they dripped with burst bellies, etc.** The corpses [of those who died] because of hunger were swollen from the aroma of the fruits of the field. The enemies would roast meat on the grass outside the wall, and the aroma would go into those swollen from hunger, and their stomachs would split, and their feces would ooze. This is an uglier death than those slain by the sword.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 4:9:2
[Rashi on Lamentations 4:9:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/4:9:2)

**מְדֻקָּרִים.** מְבֻקָּעִים. בֵּין נְפִיחַת רָעָב בֵּין בִּקּוּעַ חֶרֶב קָרוּי דְּקִירָה:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**With burst bellies.** Being split; either by the swelling of hunger or by the stabbing of the sword is called piercing [=דְּקִירָה.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 4:9:3
[Rashi on Lamentations 4:9:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/4:9:3)

**מִתְּנוּבֹת שָׂדָי.** מִשָׁרָשִׁים וַעֲשָׂבִים שֶׁמְּלַקְּטִים וְאוֹכְלִים, רַב פִּרְשָׁם וּמִאוּסָם:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**From [eating] the produce of the fields.** Because of the roots and grass that they gathered and ate, their feces increased and they were loathsome.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 4:10:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 4:10:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/4:10:1)

**לְבָרוֹת.** לְמַאֲכָל, כְּמוֹ "וְלֹא בָרָה אִתָּם לָחֶם", "לְהַבְרוֹת אֶת דָּוִד":

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Their food.** For food, as in, “and he did not eat בָרָה food with them,”¹⁵ [and as in] “to serve Dovid a meal לְהַבְרוֹת.”¹⁶

footnotes:
¹⁵ II Shmuel 12:17.
¹⁶ Ibid. 3:35.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 4:11:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 4:11:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/4:11:1)

**כִּלָּה ה' אֶת חֲמָתוֹ.** אֲשֶׁר בָּעֲרָה בוֹ כַּמָּה שָׁנִים, עַתָּה כִלָּה אוֹתָהּ בְּהִנָּקְמוֹ מֵהֶם:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Adonoy spent His wrath.** Which burned in Him for many years.¹⁷ He now spent it when He avenged Himself upon them.

footnotes:
¹⁷ God’s fury is compared to a ‘consuming fire’ as in Eichah 2:3 above; also see Devorim 4:24.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 4:13:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 4:13:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/4:13:1)

**מֵחַטֹּאת נְבִיאֶיהָ.** שֶׁל שֶׁקֶר, הָיְתָה לָהּ הָרָעָה הַזֹּאת:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**For the sins of her false prophets.** [Because of the] false [prophets], this evil has befallen her.¹⁸ who burnt incense for idol worship, this evil has befallen her.’ (Targum)

footnotes:
¹⁸ Alternately, ‘because of the sins committed against the prophets,’ namely the murder of Zecharyah, this evil has befallen her. (Eichah Rabbah 4:16) Or ‘because of the sins committed by her prophets and kohanim


###### Rashi on Lamentations 4:14:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 4:14:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/4:14:1)

**נָעוּ עִוְרִים בַּחוּצוֹת.** כְּשֶׁהָיוּ הָעִוְרִים הוֹלְכִים בַּשּׁוּק, הָיוּ נָעִים, וְרַגְלֵיהֶם נִשְׁמָטִים בְּדַם הַהֲרוּגִים שֶׁהָיוּ הָרְשָׁעִים הוֹרְגִים בְּתוֹכָהּ:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**The blind slithered in the streets.** When the blind would walk in the street, they would stagger, and their feet would slip on the blood of the slain,¹⁹ whom the wicked were slaying in its [Yerusholayim] midst.

footnotes:
¹⁹ Alternatively, ‘they wandered through the streets blindly.’


###### Rashi on Lamentations 4:14:2
[Rashi on Lamentations 4:14:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/4:14:2)

**נְגֹאֲלוּ בַּדָּם.** נִתְלַכְלְכוּ בַּדָּם, עַד אֲשֶׁר לֹא יָכְלוּ הַקְּרוֹבִים אֲלֵיהֶם לִגַּע בִּלְבוּשֵׁיהֶם, וְהָיוּ קוֹרְאִים אֲלֵיהֶם:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Filthied with blood.** They were so sullied with blood that those near them could not touch their clothes, and would therefore call out to them.²⁰

footnotes:
²⁰ “Get away, you are contaminated, etc.”


###### Rashi on Lamentations 4:15:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 4:15:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/4:15:1)

**סוּרוּ.** מֵעָלֵינוּ, אַתֶּם הַטְּמֵאִים הַמְלֻכְלָכִים בַּדָּם:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Get away.** From us, you unclean ones, who are sullied with blood.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 4:15:2
[Rashi on Lamentations 4:15:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/4:15:2)

**כִּי נָצוּ.** לְשׁוֹן סִרְחוֹן וְלִכְלוּךְ, כְּמוֹ "מֻרְאָתוֹ בְּנֹצָתָהּ", דִּמְתַרְגְּמִינָן "בְּאוּכְלֵיהּ". כַּךְ חִבְּרוֹ מְנַחֵם:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**For they were obscene.** An expression of foulness and filth,²¹ as in, “its crop מֻרְאָתוֹ with its feathers,”²² which is translated [by the Targum] as בְּאוּכְלֵיהּ. So did Menachem classify it.

footnotes:
²¹ Alternatively, ‘they blasphemed.[נצונאצו].’
²² Vayikra 1:16.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 4:15:3
[Rashi on Lamentations 4:15:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/4:15:3)

**גַּם נָעוּ.** נִשְׁמְטוּ בַדָּם:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**And slithering.** They slipped in blood..


###### Rashi on Lamentations 4:16:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 4:16:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/4:16:1)

**פְּנֵי ה' חִלְּקָם.** פָּנִים שֶׁל זַעַם מֵאֵת הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא חִלְּקָם וְהִפְרִידָם בָּעַכּוּ"ם לְמַעַן אֲשֶׁר פְּנֵי הַכֹּהֲנִים לֹא נָשָׂאוּ, בִּהְיוֹתָם בְּשַׁלְוָתָם:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**In Adonoy’s glaring anger He dispersed them.** The angry face of the Holy One, Blessed Is He, divided and separated them among the nations, because they did not respect the presence of the *kohanim* when they were in their tranquility.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 4:17:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 4:17:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/4:17:1)

**עוֹדֵינוּ תִּכְלֶינָה עֵינֵינוּ אֶל עֶזְרָתֵנוּ הָבֶל.** כְּשֶׁבָּאָה עָלֵינוּ הָרָעָה, עֲדַיִן הָיוּ עֵינֵינוּ צוֹפוֹת אֶל חֵיל פַּרְעֹה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בָּהֶם "וּמִצְרַיִם הֶבֶל וָרִיֹק יַעְזֹרוּ", שֶׁהָיוּ מַבְטִיחִים אוֹתָנוּ לְעֶזְרָה וְלֹא בָאוּ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בָּהֶם "הִנֵּה חֵיל פַּרְעֹה הַיֹּצֵא לָכֶם לְעֶזְרָה שָׁב לְאַרְצוֹ מִצְרָיִם". מָצִינוּ בְמִדְרַשׁ קִינוֹת שֶׁהָיוּ בָאִים בִּסְפִינוֹת. רָמַז הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לַיָּם וְהֵצִיף לִפְנֵיהֶם נוֹדוֹת נְפוּחִים כְּמִין מֵעֵי אָדָם נִנְעָרִים בַּמָּיִם. אָמְרוּ זֶה לָזֶה, "הַנּוֹדוֹת הַלָּלוּ הֵם אֲבוֹתֵינוּ אַנְשֵׁי מִצְרַיִם שֶׁטֻּבְּעוּ בַיָּם מֵחֲמַת הַיְּהוּדִים הַלָּלוּ, וַאֲנַחְנוּ יוֹצְאִים לְעֶזְרָתָם?" עָמְדוּ וְחָזְרוּ לַאֲחוֹרֵיהֶם:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**We persisted in longingly eyeing illusive reinforcements.** When the evil befell us, our eyes were still looking forward to Pharaoh’s army, concerning whom it is stated, “And the Egyptians, they help in vain and to no purpose,”²³ for they would promise us aid but they would not come, as it is stated concerning them, “Behold, Pharaoh’s army, which has come out to help [you], is returning to its land, to Egypt.”²⁴ We find in Midrash Kinos that they were coming in ships. The Holy One, Blessed Is He, hinted to the sea and caused inflated flasks²⁵ like human intestines to move about in the water. They said to each other, “These flasks are our forefathers, the men of Egypt who drowned in the sea on account of these Jews, and we are gong out to assist them?” They stopped and turned back.

footnotes:
²³ Yeshayahu 30:7.
²⁴ Yirmiyahu 37:7.
²⁵ The text in the Midrash is שלדותיהן, i.e., their skeletons.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 4:17:2
[Rashi on Lamentations 4:17:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/4:17:2)

**צִפִּינוּ.** חִכִּינוּ:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Yearning.** We waited.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 4:18:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 4:18:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/4:18:1)

**צָדוּ צְעָדֵינוּ.** אוֹיְבֵינוּ אָרְבוּ אֶת צְעָדֵינוּ מִלֶּכֶת בִּרְחוֹבוֹתֵינוּ, כְּמוֹ "וַאֲשֶׁר לֹא צָדָה", "וְאַתָּה צֹדֶה אֶת נַפְשִׁי":

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**They lurked behind our steps.** Our enemies stalked our footsteps [and prevented us] from walking in our streets, as in, “but for one who had not lain in ambush צָדָה”²⁶ [and as in,] “but you are stalking צָדָה my soul.”²⁷

footnotes:
²⁶ Shemos 21:13.
²⁷ I Shmuel 34:12.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 4:20:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 4:20:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/4:20:1)

**מְשִׁיחַ ה'.** הוּא יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בְּדִבְרֵי הַיָּמִים "וַיְקוֹנֵן יִרְמְיָהוּ עַל יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ":

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Adonoy’s anointed.** That is Yoshiyahu, as it is stated in Divrei Hayomim, “And Yirmiyahu lamented over Yoshiyahu.”²⁸

footnotes:
²⁸ II Divrei Hayomim 35:25. See Maseches Ta’anis 22b. Alternatively, ‘Adonoy’s appointed’ refers to Tzidkiyahu king of Yehudah who was blinded and carried off to Bavel in chains by the people of Kasdim.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 4:20:2
[Rashi on Lamentations 4:20:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/4:20:2)

**בִּשְׁחִיתוֹתָם.** בַּגּוּמוֹת שֶׁחָפְרוּ:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**In their pitfalls.** In the pits that they dug.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 4:21:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 4:21:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/4:21:1)

**שִׂישִׂי וְשִׂמְחִי בַּת אֱדוֹם.** נִתְנַבֵּא יִרְמְיָהוּ עַל חֻרְבַּן בַּיִת שֵׁנִי, שֶׁיַּחֲרִיבוּהוּ רוֹמִיִּים:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Rejoice in gladness city of Edom.** Yirmiyahu prophesied about the destruction of the second Beis Hamikdosh which the Romans would destroy.²⁹

footnotes:
²⁹ Alternatively, it refers to Edom who rejoiced at the downfall of Yerusholayim and rejoiced at the destruction of the first Beis Hamikdosh, as it says “Remember, Adonoy, for the offspring of Edom...who say ‘Destroy! Destroy!’ etc., in Tehilim 137:7.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 4:21:2
[Rashi on Lamentations 4:21:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/4:21:2)

**שִׂישִׂי וְשִׂמְחִי.** לְפִי שָׁעָה, אֲבָל סוֹפֵךְ שֶׁגַּם עָלַיִךְ תַּעֲבָר כּוֹס הַפֻּרְעָנוּת וְתִשְׁכְּרִי מִמֶּנּוּ:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Rejoice in gladness.** For the time being, but ultimately, the cup of retribution will pass also over you, and you will become drunk from it.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 4:21:3
[Rashi on Lamentations 4:21:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/4:21:3)

**וְתִתְעָרִי.** וְתָקִיאִי, כְּמוֹ "וַתְּעַר כַּדָּהּ":

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**[Till] you vomit.** And you will throw up, as in, “and she emptied וַתְּעַר her pitcher.”³⁰

footnotes:
³⁰ Bereishis 24:20.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 4:22:1
[Rashi on Lamentations 4:22:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/4:22:1)

**תַּם עֲו‍ֹנֵךְ בַּת צִיּוֹן.** לָקִית עַל כָּל חַטֹּאתָיִךְ:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**You have been fully chastised for your sins city of *Tzion*.** You suffered for all your sins.


###### Rashi on Lamentations 4:22:2
[Rashi on Lamentations 4:22:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Lamentations/r/4:22:2)

**לֹא יוֹסִיף לְהַגְלוֹתֵךְ.** מִגָּלוּת אֱדוֹם וּלְהַלָּן עוֹד:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**He will never exile you again.** After the exile of Edom.