Midrasch zu Ejchah 4:9

Aiphra Hurmiz, the mother of King Sabur, sent a purse with dinars to R. Joseph, saying: "This shall be used for the greatest charity." And he deliberated what kind of charity should be considered the greatest. Abaye then said to him: "Since R. Samuel said", 'Orphans must not be taxed even for the redeeming of prisoners,' it is to be inferred that redeeming of prisoners is considered the highest charity." (Ib. b) Raba said to Rabba b. Mari: "Whence do the Rabbis infer that redeeming of prisoners is the greatest charity?" He answered: "From the following passage (Jer. 15, 2) Such as are destined to death, to death; to the sword, to the sword; to famine, to famine; to captivity, to captivity, and R. Jochanan said: 'AH that is mentioned in this verse is the harder; as, for instance, to be killed by the sword is severer than to die a natural death. If you wish I will prove it by common sense and if you wish I will prove it by a passage: By common sense: The one [who is put to death by the sword] is disfigured, and the one [who dies naturally] is not disfigured. And if you wish it can be proved by a passage (Ps. 116, 15) Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the [natural] death of His pious. And that famine is worse than the sword, if you wish I will prove it by common sense, and if you wish I will prove it by a passage; as to common sense, this one [who dies of hunger] suffers long pain, and that one [who dies by sword] does not suffer long pains. As for a passage (Lam. 4) That happier are they that are slain by the sword than those slain by hunger. Captivity however, is harder than all of them, for in it all [the before-mentioned sufferings] are included.' "

(Ibid. 3) "And the children of Israel said to them: Would that we had died by the hand of the L rd, etc.": Would that we had died in the three days of darkness in Egypt. (Ibid.) "when we sat over the flesh-pot": Israel lusted to eat. R. Elazar Hamodai says: Israel were servants to kings in Egypt. When they went out to market they could take bread, meat, fish, and all other things, and no one would stop them. They could go out to the field and take grapes, figs, and pomegranates, and no one would stop them. R. Yossi Hamodai says: Know this to be so, for they were given kishuim last (i.e., as a last alternative), wherefore it is written "kishuim" last (viz. Numbers 11:5), in that they were hard ("kashim") on their stomachs. "that you have taken us out to this desert": They said to them: You have taken us out to this desert "in vain" — There is nothing in it. "to kill this entire congregation by famine": R. Yehoshua b. Karcha says: There is no death worse than famine, viz. (Eichah 4:9) "Better the slain by the sword than the slain by famine!" R. Elazar Hamodai says: (lit., "in the famine"): There has come upon us famine after famine, pestilence after pestilence, darkness after darkness.

“Those killed by sword were better off than those killed by hunger, for those would bleed, ruptured from the produce of the field” (Lamentations 4:9).
“Those killed by sword were better off.” During the destruction of the first Temple, they would die from the scent of the thistles.²⁶In order to render them edible, it was necessary to cook them for a long time. The enemy would cook them and their scent reached the starving residents of Jerusalem. However, during the latter destruction, there were no thistles. What would they do to them? They would bring goats and would roast them to the west of the city. The scent would infuse them and they would die, to realize what is stated: “For those would bleed, ruptured from the produce of the field.”

... The angels said before the Holy One, ‘Master of the World! Isn’t this Jerusalem?!’ as it is said “This is Jerusalem; in the midst of the nations I have placed her…” (Yechezkel 5:5) He replied to them, “But she exchanged My judgments for wickedness more than the nations…” (Yechezkel 5:6) They said to Him, “But they are Your people and Your inheritance, which You brought out with Your great strength…” (Devarim 9:29) He replied to them, “For My people have forgotten Me; they burn incense to vanity…” (Yirmiyahu 18:15) They said to Him, ‘act for the sake of the forefathers!’ He replied to them, “…the fathers are kindling fire…” (Yirmiyahu 7:18) They said to Him, ‘act for the sake of the children!’ He replied to them, “But they rebelled against Me and would not consent to hearken to Me…” (Yechezkel 20:8) They said to Him, ‘act for the sake of the tribe of Yehudah!’ “And Judah did what displeased the Lord…” (Melachim I 14:22) They said to Him, ‘act for the sake of the leaders!’ He replied to them, “Its heads judge for bribes…” (Micha 3:11) They said to Him, ‘act for the sake of the tribes!’ He replied to them, ‘and Gad, and Reuven and the half tribe of Menashe…’ They said to Him, ‘act for the sake of the tribe of Dan!’ He replied to them, “And the children of Dan set up for themselves the graven image.” (Shoftim 18:30) They said to Him,’ act for the sake of the students!’ He replied to them, “…And those who hold onto the Torah did not know Me…” (Yirmiyahu 2:8) They said to Him, ‘act for the sake of the prophets!’ He replied to them, “[It was] for the sins of her prophets, the iniquities of her priests…” (Eicha 4:13) They said to Him, ‘act for the sake of the kings!’ He replied to them, “And the altars that were on the roof, [the roof of] Ahaz's upper chamber, which the kings of Judah had made…” (Melachim II 23:12) The ministering angels said to Him, ‘act for our sake!’ He replied to them, “But they mocked the messengers of God…” (Divre HaYamim II 36:16) They said to Him, ‘act for the sake of Your name which is called upon them!’ He replied to them, ‘they have profaned My holy name.’ They said to Him, ‘You do not want to be appeased, what is the image of their father doing by You?’ “He has cast down from heaven to earth the glory of Israel…” (Eicha 2:1) This statement with which they clothed You, what has it done to You?! If the thing were not written, it would be impossible to say “The Lord has done what He devised, He has carried out His word…” (Eicha 2:17) They said to Him, ‘Master of the World! Is this not Jerusalem about whom you wrote “Behold on [My] hands have I engraved you…”’ (Yeshayahu 49:16) He replied to them, “I, too, shall clap My hands, one upon the other, and I shall put My fury to rest…” (Yechezkel 21:22) Since Zion saw that He did not want to be appeased, she started up and said “The Lord has forsaken me, and the Lord has forgotten me." (Yeshayahu 49:14) May it be Your will Lord our God and God of our fathers that Your Temple be rebuilt speedily in our days, that your Presence return within it, that You gather my exiles from the four corners of the world, that they rebuild the cities of Yehudah and settle Shechem and inherit it speedily. Amen.