Komentaryong Sumisipi para sa Mga Panaghoy 2:1

How can it be that she sits in isolation. Yirmiyahu wrote the book of Lamentations. ¹Because Chapter 3 of Eichah begins with Yirmiyahu writing, “I am the man,” one might mistakenly think that is the beginning of Yirmiyahu’s writing, therefore Rashi states that he wrote the entire Book of Lamentations [=Eichah]. (Sifsei Chachomim) This is the scroll that Yehoyakim burned on the hearth.²See Yirmiyahu 36:23. It contained three³The three acrostics respond to the three tragedies that occurred: the physical exile of the Bnei Yisroel, the departure of the Shchinah and the loss of Eretz Yisroel. (Yalkut Me’am Lo’ez) alphabetical acrostics:⁴The alphabetical acrostic symbolizes the Bnei Yisroel’s transgression of the Torah which was written with the letters of the Aleph Beis. (Sifsei Chachomim) “Oh how can it be that she sits [in isolation],”⁵Eichah 1:1. “How can it be [that God] has cast a gloom,”⁶Ibid., 2:1. [and] “How dim can it be [that the golden glow] has paled.”⁷Ibid., 4:1. He added to it, “I am the man...”,⁸Ibid., 3:1. which contains three sets of alphabetical acrostics, as it is stated, “and many more words were added similar to those [of the original scroll],”⁹Yirmiyahu 36:32. three corresponding to three.¹⁰He also added Chapter 5. See Eichah Rabbah, Pesichta 28.

The enemy said, “I will pursue, etc.” Pharaoh intended to do to Israel in the manner described in He makes nations great, and destroys them (Job 12:23), and as it says A brutish man does not know, and a fool does not understand this: when the wicked spring up like grass, and all the workers of iniquity flourish, it is so they may be destroyed forever (Psalms 92:7). For it is common practice in the world that one who wants to cast his fellow down to the ground, the higher he elevates him, the greater will be his fall, as one who falls from a high place cannot be compared to one who falls from a low place. As it says He has cast down from heaven to earth the glory of Israel (Lamentations 2:1). From a high roof to a deep pit. This is like the parable of a king against whom a poor and despised villager rebelled. What did the king do? He enriched and elevated him until he became very great, which astonished his servants. After he had remained in his elevated position for several years, the king took revenge on him, killing him and all his household, and took all that he had, leaving him no survivor or remnant. For then the revenge was more evident and publicized than if he had killed him while he was still lowly and unknown.

for You picked me up First You picked me up and now You cast me down from heaven to the earth, and if You had not picked me up first, my disgrace would not be so great.

many words like those At first, there were three alphabetical acrostics: (Lam. ch. 1) “O how... remained,” (2) “How...brought darkness,” (4) “How dim...has become.” And he added to it, (3) “I am the man,” in which every letter is tripled.

you shall say to them, “What burden? And I will forsake you, etc.” They say to you (sic), “What is the burden?” You are the burden of the Holy One, blessed be He, and He says that He will forsake you and cast you off His arms from heaven to earth. So I heard.