He
“The mountains quake
Before him.
The hills melt.”
The Hebrew letter He indicates that the great mountains would quake before Yahweh, while the small hills would melt away before him, since the might of Yahweh was limitless.
He
The dead people in the streets (Lam 4:5-4:5)
He
“Those who feasted
On delicacies
Perish
In the streets.
Those who were
Brought up
In purple
Cling
To ash heaps.”
This author points out that there has been a complete reversal of fortunes. Those who feasted on delicate foods are now dead in the streets because of starvation. Those who were brought up with fine purple clothes now cling to ash heaps dead. This verse starts with the Hebrew consonant letter He in this acrostic poem.
The laughing stock (Lam 3:13-3:15)
He
“Yahweh shot
Into my vitals
The arrows
Of his quiver.
I have become
The laughingstock
Of all my people.
I have become
The object
Of their taunt-songs
All day long.
He has filled me
With bitterness.
He has filled me
With wormwood.”
This suffering servant complains that Yahweh has shot an arrow into his vital organs. He has become the laughing stock of his people, as they sing taunting songs to and about him all day long. He has been filled with bitterness and forced to eat the bitter wormwood plant. This is a real unhappy dude. These three verses start with the Hebrew consonant letter He in this acrostic poem.
Yahweh has brought destruction (Lam 2:5-2:5)
He
“Yahweh has become
Like an enemy.
He has destroyed
Israel.
He has destroyed
All its palaces.
He has laid in ruins
Its strongholds.
He has multiplied
Mourning
In daughter Judah.
He has multiplied
Lamentations.”
Yahweh has become the enemy of Israel. He has destroyed it, with all its palaces, with all its fortresses. Among Judah and Judeans, he has multiplied mourning and lamentations. It is as if Yahweh was fighting against Israel. This verse starts with the Hebrew consonant letter He. Each verse after this will use the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet in this acrostic poem.
The captivity of Jerusalem (Lam 1:5-1:5)
He
“Her foes have become
The masters.
Her enemies prosper.
Because Yahweh has
Made her suffer
For the multitude
Of her transgressions.
Her children
Have gone away,
Captives,
Before the foe.”
The foes of Zion have now become the masters of Jerusalem. Her enemies prosper. Zion was suffering because of her many transgressions. Her children have been taken away as captives by their former enemies. This verse starts with the Hebrew consonant letter He. Each verse after this will use the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet in this acrostic poem
Teach me (Ps 119:33-119:40)
He
“Yahweh!
Teach me the way of your statutes!
I will observe it to the end.
Give me understanding!
Thus I may keep your law.
I will observe it with my whole heart.
Lead me in the path of your commandments.
I delight in it.
Turn my heart to your decrees.
Turn my heart not to gain.
Turn my eyes from looking at vanities.
Give me life in your ways.
Confirm to your servant your promise.
That is for those who fear you.
Turn away the disgrace that I dread.
Your ordinances are good.
See!
I have longed for your precepts!
In your righteousness give me life!”
This psalmist wanted to be taught by Yahweh. He wanted to learn all about his precepts and statutes. He wanted to observe them to the end of his life. He wanted understanding so that he could observe all his commandments with his whole heart. He wanted to delight in the decrees of Yahweh. He wanted his heart to turn away from self gains or vanities. He wanted to live in the life of Yahweh by following his ways. He wanted God’s promise to be confirmed in him. He wanted to avoid disgrace because he feared God. Yahweh’s ordinances were good so that he longed to follow his precepts in order to live a good life. This section of the fifth consonant letter of the Hebrew alphabet, He, ended here.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 