A Sad Song for Israel
19 “Sing a ·funeral song [lament; dirge] for the ·leaders [princes] of Israel. 2 Say:
‘Your mother was a lioness [C referring either to the Davidic dynasty or to Hamutal, the wife of Josiah and mother of Jehoahaz and Zedekiah; Gen. 49:9; 2 Kin. 23:31–34].
She lay down among the young lions [C the kings of Judah].
She ·had many [reared her] cubs.
3 When she ·brought up [reared] one of her cubs,
he became a ·strong [L young] lion [C King Jehoahaz; 2 Kin. 23:31–34; Jer. 22:10–12].
He learned to tear ·the animals he hunted [prey],
and he ·ate [devoured] people.
4 The nations heard about him.
He was trapped in their pit,
and they brought him with hooks
to the land of Egypt.
5 “‘The mother lion waited and saw
that there was no hope for her cub.
So she took another one of her cubs
and made him a ·strong [L young] lion [C either Jehoiachin (2 Kin. 24:8) or Zedekiah (2 Kin. 25:7)].
6 This cub ·roamed [prowled] among the lions.
He was now a ·strong [L young] lion.
He learned to tear ·the animals he hunted [prey],
and he ·ate [devoured] people.
7 He tore down their ·strong places [strongholds; fortresses]
and ·destroyed [devastated] their cities.
The land and everything in it
were terrified by the sound of his roar.
8 Then the nations came against him
from areas all around,
and they spread their net over him.
He was trapped in their pit.
9 Then they put him into a ·cage with chains [collar]
and brought him to the king of Babylon.
They put him into prison
so his ·roar [voice] could not be heard again
on the mountains of Israel [2 Kin. 24:8–17; 2 Chr. 36:8–10].
10 “‘Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard,
planted beside the water.
The vine had many branches and gave much fruit,
because there was plenty of water.
11 The vine had strong ·branches [boughs],
good enough for a king’s scepter.
The vine became tall
among the thick branches.
And it ·was seen [stood out], because it was tall
with many branches.
12 But it was pulled up by its roots in anger
and thrown down to the ground.
The east wind dried it up.
Its fruit was ·torn [stripped] off.
Its strong branches were broken off
and burned up.
13 Now the vine is planted in the ·desert [wilderness],
in a dry and thirsty land.
14 Fire spread from the vine’s main branch,
·destroying [consuming] its fruit.
There is not a strong branch left on it
·that could become a [L no] scepter for a king.’
This is a ·funeral song [lament]; it ·is to be used as [or has become] a funeral song.”