Our skin is black like an oven, Because of the burning heat of famine.
"Elders have ceased from the gate, the young men from their music."  (Lamentations 5:14).  "Under the pressure of their circumstances, all public meetings and amusements had ceased."[13]  The gates of ancient cities were places where public meetings, trials and rallies of all kinds were held. "The mention of young men and their instrumental music here indicates that the city gates were also places of amusement and entertainment."[14]  All such things were impossible under the conditions imposed upon Israel by their conquerors.