Lamentations 2:20

Behold, O Lord, and consider to whom thou hast done this. Shall the women eat their fruit, and children of a span long? shall the priest and the prophet be slain in the sanctuary of the Lord?

Lamentations 2:20 (KJV)

Context

The Book of Lamentations is traditionally ascribed to the prophet Jeremiah and was composed after Jerusalem’s destruction by the Babylonians in 586 BC. It is a poetic lament recording the devastation of the city, the temple, and the intense suffering of the people. Chapter 2 focuses on the judgment and wrath of God poured out on Jerusalem.

Meaning

The verse opens with a desperate appeal: “Behold, O Lord, and consider…” The speaker implores God to look upon the tragic circumstances that have befallen the nation. The Hebrew verb translated “consider” implies an attentive, deliberate examination, not a casual glance. The phrase “to whom thou hast done this” underscores that the calamity is not random; it is the Lord’s own doing, a point of deep theological tension for the prophet.

The phrase “Shall the women eat their fruit” portrays the extreme famine that forced mothers to consume their own children, a harrowing image of starvation. “Children of a span long” emphasizes the vulnerability of newborns, whose tiny size is measured by a span of about nine inches, underscoring the innocence lost in the calamity. This horrific practice of cannibalism during the siege was a curse explicitly threatened in Leviticus 26:29 and Deuteronomy 28:53-57 for covenant disobedience. The final question, “shall the priest and the prophet be slain in the sanctuary of the Lord?” highlights the sacrilege of holy servants being murdered within the very place of worship, deepening the sense of horror.

Biblical connections

Lamentations 2:20 reveals the devastating consequences of collective sin and rebellion against God. The destruction and suffering described are presented as the direct result of the nation’s disobedience, reminding readers of the seriousness of sin and the far-reaching effects of turning away from covenant fidelity. The passage also underscores the severity of God’s judgment. Even the sacred sanctuary, the appointed dwelling of the Lord, is not immune to divine wrath when the people persist in unfaithfulness. This serves as a sobering reminder that holiness does not guarantee exemption from judgment without repentance.

Application

The plea to “consider” the calamity highlights the need for intercessory prayer. In the midst of overwhelming distress, the people turn to God, acknowledging His sovereignty and seeking His mercy and intervention. The verse teaches the importance of bringing our deepest hurts before God and trusting in His capacity to deliver. The graphic imagery of mothers forced to eat their children calls believers to compassion and empathy. It challenges the church to respond with love, mercy, and practical assistance to those who are suffering, both historically and in our present world.

Application of Lamentations 2:20 invites each believer to examine personal obedience, to repent of any hidden sin, and to intercede for those in distress. It also encourages reliance on God’s mercy, both for personal restoration and for the healing of a broken world.

Reflection

The verse’s rhetorical questions are not asking for information but are a form of lament and protest, expressing the incomprehensible nature of the disaster. The prophet’s prayer is a model of lament, refusing to look away from suffering while simultaneously appealing to God’s character. The verse does not offer an easy answer but instead holds the tension between God’s sovereignty and human agony, pointing to the need for a mediator who can enter into that suffering.