Daleth
“Bashan withers.
Carmel withers.
The bloom
Of Lebanon
Fades.”
In this Hebrew letter of Daleth, the lush fertile grazing area of Bashan would wither and dry up. The same goes for the lush mountainous area of Carmel and the rich forests of Lebanon, since they would all fade and dry up also.
Daleth
“The tongue
Of the infant
Sticks
To the roof
Of its mouth
For thirst.
The children
Beg for food.
But no one gives
Them anything.”
The situation in Jerusalem was dire, since the infants are so thirsty that their tongues stick to the roof of their mouths. The children had to beg for food. But even then, there was no one to give them food. This verse starts with the Hebrew consonant letter Daleth in this acrostic poem.
Daleth
“Yahweh is
Like a bear
Lying in wait.
Yahweh is
Like a lion
In hiding.
He led me
Off my way.
He tore me to pieces.
He has made me
Desolate.
He bent his bow.
He set me
As a mark
For his arrow.”
Yahweh was like a bear or a lion waiting to attack this author. He was afraid to be torn into pieces since he had become desolate. Meanwhile, Yahweh has aimed his bow and arrow at him. This is a man in a lot of trouble. These three verses start with the Hebrew consonant letter Daleth in this acrostic poem.
Daleth
“He has bent
His bow
Like an enemy.
His right hand
Is set
Like a foe.
He has killed all
In whom we took pride
In the tent
Of daughter Zion.
He has poured out
His fury
Like fire.”
Yahweh has become like an enemy of Israel. He bent his bow like an enemy archer about to release an arrow. His right hand was like an enemy warrior. He has killed all the important prideful people of Zion. He has poured out his fury like a raging fire. Yahweh was really mad. This verse starts with the Hebrew consonant letter Daleth. Each verse after this will use the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet in this acrostic poem.
Daleth
“The roads to Zion
Mourn.
No one comes
To the appointed feasts.
All her gates
Are desolate.
Her priests
Groan.
Her young girls
Grieve.
Her lot is bitter.”
Zion is another name for Jerusalem. Any and everyone on the roads to Jerusalem are in mourning. No one comes to the feast day celebrations. Her torn down gates are desolate. The few priests, and the young girls left in town, groan and grieve since Jerusalem is a very bitter place. This verse starts with the Hebrew consonant letter Daleth. Each verse after this will use the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet in this acrostic poem.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 