פירוש על איכה 4:1

How can it be that the golden glow has paled. This elegy was pronounced over Yoshiyahu,¹Who was killed in a battle with Pharaoh Necho. as it is stated in Divrei Hayomim, “Behold it is written in the Book of Lamentations,”²II Divrei Hayomim 35:25. and with it he joined, in the midst of the elegy, the rest of the children of Tzion.

Paled. Dimmed, as in “כֵּהָה”³Vayikra 13:6. which is rendered [by the Targum as] עַמְיָא [=dimmed].

Golden. The appearance of a face that shines like gold.

Altered. Changes its appearance.

Jewel. A collection of beautiful gold articles used as ornaments is called כֶּתֶם.

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.”