Commentary on Jeremiah (In Jeremiam)

Here is set forth a threat against kings, who hold the highest rank in secular power: and first, according as kings are punished through the punishment of the people; second, according as they are punished in their own person, chapter 22: "Thus says the Lord," etc. Concerning the first, two things.

First is set forth the king's question or petition: "Inquire"; as if to say, seek a divine response, and pray for us. This Phassur is not the same as the one above, who was born of a different father. Isaiah 37: "This is a day of tribulation and rebuke and blasphemy: for the children have come to the birth, and there is no strength to bring forth." And below (in the same place): "Lift up therefore a prayer for the remnant that is found."

Second is set forth the prophet's response: "And Jeremiah said." And first he threatens punishment as regards the time before the city's capture, against three things in which they trusted: namely, in the fortification of arms: "Behold, I will turn"; as if to say: the arms which you took up against the enemies will be turned against yourselves, because you will fight against one another. Psalm 7: "His sorrow shall be turned upon his own head, and his iniquity shall descend upon his crown." Or, they shall be turned, as it were, without fruit.

They trusted also in the strength of the walls; against which he says: "and the Chaldeans, who besiege round about the walls"; as if to say, the walls not hindering them. Lamentations 4: "The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the enemy and the foe would enter in through the gates of Jerusalem."

They trusted also in divine protection; against which he says: "and I will fight against you with an outstretched hand," that is, with my power prepared for vengeance, "strong," which cannot be resisted, "in fury," as regards the worst, "in indignation," as regards those who sin less, "in great wrath," against those of a middling sort.

Here he touches on the manner of the assault. Ezech. 20: with a mighty hand, and an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out, I will reign over you, and I will bring you into the desert of peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you, face to face. And as to the time, after the capture of the city: and after this, threatening punishment, I will give Zedekiah. Thren. 1: the Lord has given me into a hand from which I will not be able to flee. And he excludes mercy: he will not be bent, by prayers or by gifts; nor will he spare, on account of former friendship; nor will he have mercy, out of compassion for misery. Proverb. 6: the jealousy and fury of a man will not spare in the day of vengeance, nor will he consent to anyone's prayers, nor will he accept many gifts in place of a ransom. And this because he did not keep the covenant. Ezech. 17: he who has broken the covenant, shall he escape? Second, he sets before them the way of salvation as regards the people: and to this people you shall say. And first he gives them the freedom of choosing: behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death. Eccl. 15: before man are life and death, good and evil: whatever pleases him will be given to him. He sets down the disjunction: he who dwells in this city will die (...) but he who has gone out (...) will live. Isa. 51: go out from her midst, my people, that each one may save his soul from the wrath of the Lord's fury. And he assigns the reason: for I have set my face against this city. Supra 1: I see a boiling pot. And to the king: and to the house of the king of Judah, namely, you shall say, setting down counsel: judge in the morning. Psal. 81: rescue the poor, and deliver the needy from the hand of the sinner. And he sets down the imminent danger: lest my indignation go forth like fire. Deut. 32: a fire is kindled in my fury, and it will burn even to the depths of hell. Third, he excludes false confidence, setting down the cause of that confidence: behold, I am against you, that is, the citadel of Jerusalem, inhabitant of the solid and level valley: for Jerusalem was on the side of a mountain facing the valley of Arnon: therefore part of it was in the valley. Or it is said contemptuously, as in Isa. 22: the burden of the valley of vision, et cetera. And also from the mountain it had solidity, strength, and firmness; and from the fruitful valleys it had fertility. And proud boldness: you who say, who will strike us? Abdias 2: you who say in your heart, who will bring me down to the ground? And he threatens punishment: and I will visit, and I will kindle a fire in the forest, the unfruitful people, Joelis 1: fire has devoured the beautiful places of the desert, and flame has burned up all the trees of the region.