Thomas Aquinas

This book, after the manner of the other prophets, is divided into two parts: namely, into the title, and the treatise, which begins there, "and the word of the Lord came to me, saying." In the title he does two things. First he describes the author; second, the time of the prophecy, there, "which came to pass." Now the author is described in three ways. First from his name, "the words of Jeremiah": supply, "these are." And it is interpreted "exalted by the Lord," which befits the eminence of contemplation. Second, from his prophetic lineage, "son of Helcias": for according to the rule of Jerome, wherever a prophet's father is placed in the title, he too was a prophet. And from his priestly lineage, "of the priests," whose office it was to know the law. Haggai 2: "Ask the priest concerning the law." Third, he is described from his own dwelling place: "who were in Anathoth." For the Levites received, in each of the tribes, certain towns in which to dwell, as is said in Numbers 35: of these words it is said in Isaiah 59: "my words shall not fail." But it must be known that certain prophets are entitled from an interior act: whence it is said, "the vision of Isaiah" (or) "the vision of Abdias"; certain ones from an exterior act, and these are entitled by "the word": as here; certain ones from the matter of threat, and thus they are entitled by "burden," as Habacuc and Nahum.