Midrash sobre Lamentações 4:8

“Their countenance is blacker than coal, they are not recognized in the streets; their skin is shriveled on their bones, it has become dry as wood” (Lamentations 4:8).
“Their countenance is blacker than coal.” Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: Like black dye. Rabbi Levi said: Like darkness.
“They are not recognized in the streets.” Rabbi Eliezer ben Rabbi Tzadok said: May I see the consolation, even though my father was [alive] all those years after the destruction, his body did not return to be the way that it was,²⁵Rabbi Tzadok had fasted during the daytime every day for forty years, praying that the Temple would not be destroyed in his days. Following the destruction he was granted medical care by the Roman authorities (see Gittin 56a–b). to realize what is stated: “Their skin is shriveled on their bones, it has become dry as wood.”

Rabbi Abbahu began: “Your path and your deeds have done these to you…” (Jeremiah 4:18). When is it praiseworthy for a king to provide for his legions, in the wilderness or in the settlement?⁴⁶Where can a king more adequately provide for his army. Is it not in the settlement? Regarding the wilderness, it is written: “Behold, I am raining bread for you from the heavens” (Exodus 16:4), and here it is written: “Young children request bread…” (Lamentations 4:4). Regarding the wilderness, it is written: “Behold, He struck the rock and water flowed” (Psalms 78:20), and here it is written: “The tongue of the nursling cleaves to his palate from thirst” (Lamentations 4:4). Regarding the wilderness it is written: “He spread a cloud like a curtain” (Psalms 105:39), and here it is written: “Their skin is shriveled on their bones” (Lamentations 4:8). Who did this to you? It is “your path and your deeds,” your evil path and your rebellious deeds. “This is your wickedness, for it is bitter, as it has reached until your heart” (Jeremiah 4:18) – this is the Great Sanhedrin as they are called the heart of Israel, as it is written: “My heart is to the lawmakers of Israel” (Judges 5:9). When they provoke Me, My heart is not to the lawmakers of Israel. The Holy One blessed be He said: “As it has reached until your heart” – this is the Temple, just as it says: “My eyes and My heart will be there always” (II Chronicles 7:16). Alternatively, “as it has reached until your heart” – this is the Holy One blessed be He. Where have we found that the Holy One blessed be He is called the heart of Israel? It is from this verse: “God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psalms 73:26).