5. Our necks. Literally this clause reads, “upon our necks we are chased.” The meaning may be that they were pursued hotly. Some consider it better to understand the reference to be to the cruelty of the slavery forced upon them: “by our necks we are driven.” In Egyptian inscriptions prisoners are shown tied together by the neck.
Given the hand. That is, “submitted to” (see Ezra 10:19; Jer. 50:15; Eze. 17:18).
Egyptians. Judah had also previously been under the Egyptian domination during the earlier part of Jehoiakim’s reign (see 347).
Assyrians See on Ezra 6:22.
Our fathers. See 2 Kings 21:11-15; 23:26, 27).
Servants. In usage this term, when applied to government officials, did not necessarily indicate a lesser station in life, but may refer to officials of high rank (see on Neh. 2:10).