In Jerusalem there were two glorious buildings that could be seen from afar: the temple of God on the mountain of Zion, and the beautiful palace that Solomon had built. These two buildings showed that Jerusalem was a king’s city in two ways. It was the city of God, the Great King of Israel. It was also the city of the kings who came from the line of David and ruled under God. This verse tells us that Jerusalem (“the daughter of Zion”) had lost her majesty. It is God himself who was Jerusalem’s majesty, her glory. He left her (see Ezekiel 11:22–23). The sign of this was that he allowed his temple to be destroyed. Also, Jerusalem’s last king was chased away by the enemy.
Jerusalem’s last king was King Zedekiah. This verse tells us that Zedekiah and his princes had to flee “without strength.” The reason why they were so weak was that the city had already been under siege for more than a year (see 2 Kings 25:1–30). There was no food left. Finally, Zedekiah, his princes and his army tried to flee away from the city, but they were caught. Zedekiah’s sons were killed before his eyes and then his eyes were blinded (2 Kings 25:7). In the end, Jerusalem’s rulers became like weak “deer” (antelopes) who could find no place of safety.
6 From the daughter of Zion all her majesty has departed. Her princes have become like deer that find no pasture; they fled without strength before the pursuer.