(7) Adonai has rejected God's altar, Disdained God's Sanctuary. God has handed over to the foe The walls of its citadels; They raised a shout in the House of Adonai As on a festival day.
(11) "Adonai has rejected God's altar (Lamentations 2:7)": Rabbi Chaggai in the name of Rabbi Yitzchak said: "To the people of a district that laid out their tables for the king. They annoyed him and he endured them. The king said to them: "Are all of you annoying me just because of the tables which you laid out for me? Fine, endure it thrown back in your faces!" In this way the Holy Blessed One said to Israel: "All of you are despising me just because of the sacrifices you offered to me? Fine, endure it thrown back in your faces! And see, it is written: "Adonai has rejected God's altar, disdained God's Sanctuary."
Rabbi Berechhya and Rabbi Chelbo and Rabbi Ayyvi in the name of Rabbi Samuel son of Nachman said: "You see that at the time the nations entered into the Temple put their hands beneath their necks and they turned their faces up and they did disgraceful things and they scraped, and the nails of their shoes made marks on the Temple floor (masger), and see! It is written: " God has handed over (hisgir) to the foe the walls of its citadels; they raised a shout in the House of Adonai as on a festival day."
Discussion Questions
- Eicha/Lamentations describes a dark world. What is the darkness that is described in this verse and its commentary? What emotions are involved?
- What do you think of the parable with the king? Is this how you imagine God "behaving"?
- Because of the similarity in the words masger (floor) and hisgir (handed over), the rabbis teach us that God handed over the Temple so it could be disgraced. What do you think of the idea that God is responsible for the destruction of the Temple?
- Can you find anything redeeming or hopeful about this text?