In Lamentations 2:5, keywords from Lamentations 2:1–4 are repeated. There are only a few words in Lamentations 2:5 that have not been used in the previous verses. Examples of repeated phrases include God as an enemy (Lamentations 2:4) and Israel being swallowed up by him (Lamentations 2:2). Such repetition is used in summary statements, here describing the condition of being under God’s judgment and of having God as an enemy.1 Although the reference to palaces
(Lamentations 2:5) represents a slight difference (strongholds
in Lamentations 2:2), the meaning is the same: their sudden destruction has come from the Lord.2
5 The Lord has become like an enemy; he has swallowed up Israel; he has swallowed up all its palaces; he has laid in ruins its strongholds, and he has multiplied in the daughter of Judah mourning and lamentation.