36 A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and the wailing of the principal of the flock! for Yahweh lays waste their pasture.
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
He not merely repeats the same thing in other words, but adds also something more grievous, that God would render desolate their pastures. He pursues the same metaphor; for as he used this comparison in speaking of the king's counsellors and the priests, so now he does the same; and what he means by pastures is the community, the people, in the city and in the country; [1] as though he had said, that they had hitherto ruled over that land which was rich and fertile, and in which they enjoyed power and dignity, but that now they would be deprived of all these benefits. He afterwards adds, --
1 - So the Targ. renders the sentence, "For the Lord hath destroyed their people." -- Ed.
Hath spoiled - Or, spoileth.
And a voice of the cry of the shepherds,.... Or of the kings, as the Targum:
and an howling of the principal of the flock, shall be heard; of the mighty of the people, as the same; what is before called for is here represented as in fact, because of the certainty of it:
for the Lord hath spoiled their pastures: their kingdoms, provinces, cities, and towns; or their people, as the Targum, among whom they lived, and by whom they were supported; still keeping up the metaphor of the shepherd and flock. This the Lord is said to do because he suffered it to be done, yea, ordered it to be done, as a punishment for their sins.
*More commentary available at chapter level.