Commentary on Jeremiah (In Jeremiam)

Here he consoles them by a deed. And first he marks the time of the prophecy from the time of the king: "in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah": this is the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar, as is gathered from what was said above in chapter 25, because the fourth year of Jehoiakim was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar. From the siege of the city: "at that time the army of the king of Babylon was besieging Jerusalem." Isa. 29: "I will encompass thee as a sphere round about thee, and will cast a mound against thee, and set fortifications for thy siege." And "the prophet's prison," setting forth the misery of the prison: "and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the prison." Lam. 3: "He hath built round about me, that I might not go forth; he hath made my fetter heavy." And he assigns the cause: "why dost thou prophesy?" Because he was foretelling the capture of the city: "behold, I will give this city into the hands of the king of Babylon." The captivity of the king: "and Zedekiah king of Judah shall not escape out of the hand of the Chaldeans." And the adversity of the wars: "But if you fight (...) you shall have no success." Above, 21: "I will fight against you with an outstretched hand, and with a strong arm, and in fury, and in indignation, and in great wrath, and I will strike the inhabitants of this city." Hence this chapter, according to the history, is to be joined with that one.

Second, the prophetic deed is set forth. "And Jeremiah said": and first the purchase is set forth; second, the exposition of the deed, there, "and I gave the book of possession to Baruch"; third, the confirmation of the exposition, there, "and I prayed to the Lord."

Concerning the first, three things. First is set forth the seller's invitation to buy, setting forth the word of invitation revealed to him: "behold, Hanameel shall come to thee (...) for it belongeth to thee." Lest the tribes should be intermingled, the Lord had commanded that possessions be sold to those who were of the same kindred, Num. 11, which was especially observed in the possessions of the Levites. He also sets forth the coming of the one who invited him: "and Hanameel my uncle's son came to me," according to the word of the Lord, which cannot go in vain. Num. 23: "Hath he said, and will he not do? Hath he spoken, and will he not fulfill?"

Second, the purchase is set forth: "I understood," by a prophetic spirit; otherwise it would have seemed foolish to buy a field at such a time: in which also the obedience of the prophet is noted. Above, 17: "I have not been troubled, following thee as my shepherd, and I have not desired the day of man, thou knowest." And the payment of the price is set forth: "and I weighed out," in the balance of weight, "seven staters," that is, shekels, each of which has twenty obols — Ezech. 45: "pieces of silver," the same as staters.

Third, the confirmation of the purchase is set forth: "I wrote in the book, and sealed it," with the seals of the seller and of the witnesses, "the stipulations," when, one asking and the other answering, the contract is made firm; "ratified," that is, the ratification of the sale. Isa. 8: "I took unto me faithful witnesses," etc.

1 Here is set forth the exposition of the purchase. And first he delivers the book in the sight of all the Jews who were sitting in the court of the prison, who had come to console and to consult, because the matter pertained to all. Ezech. 12: "you shall go out in the evening before them, as one going into exile goes out." Second, careful custody is enjoined: "and I charged Baruch before them, saying: thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: take these books, this sealed book of the purchase, and this book which is open," that is, not sealed, "so that when they should send it, it might be inspected." Osee 12: "I have been likened in the hands of the prophets." Third, they are assigned to custody: "and you shall put them in an earthen vessel." "Thus says the Lord." This is what Jeremiah said above, that he had understood the word of God. Zach. 8: "the vine shall give its fruit, and the earth shall give its growth, and the heaven shall give its dew," et cetera.

Here is set down the confirmation of the exposition: for since they did not believe the words of the prophet, he obtains a divine revelation concerning this, that he might satisfy their doubt. Hence first the prophet's prayer is set down; second, the Lord's response, at, "and the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah." Concerning the first, three things. First he commends the divine justice; second he sets forth the punishment justly inflicted, at, "who hast set signs"; third he wonders at the cause of the past command, at, "and thou sayest to me, Lord God." Now if justice is present, it makes a man will just things; hence for its execution two other things are required, namely, to know, and to be able. Hence, to show the perfect execution of justice, he shows the perfection of knowledge and of power. And first of power, setting down the creation of things: "behold, thou hast made." Above, 27: "I have made the earth, and men, and the beasts that are upon the face of the earth, by my great strength, and by my outstretched arm; and I have given it to him who pleased in my eyes." And he commends the perfection of power: "no word shall be difficult to thee," since thou hast done such great things. Luke 1: "no word shall be impossible with God." And he adds the execution of justice mixed with mercy: "who showest mercy," rendering rewards to the good, "unto thousands," that is, even to a thousand generations, "in the bosom of the children," at least for one generation, so that mercy might prevail over punishment. Exod. 20: "I am the Lord thy God, mighty, jealous, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me." And he bursts forth into a condemnation of power, since power is turned into the justice of mercy: "most mighty," inasmuch as he sustains all things. Heb. 1: "bearing all things by the word of his power." Job 9: "if strength be sought, he is most strong." "Great," inasmuch as the multitude of creatures does not exhaust his power, since he could still produce infinite things; "powerful," for doing all things. Wisdom 12: "for when thou wilt, power is present to thee." "Lord of hosts," as to governance, and especially of rational beings, heavenly, earthly, and infernal. Job 25: "is there any numbering of his soldiers?" Second, he shows the perfection of knowledge; first, imparting the perfection of knowledge: "great in counsel," that is, perfect in the disposition of wisdom, and "incomprehensible in thought," human thought. Job 36: "behold, God is great, surpassing our knowledge." Rom. 11: "O the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How incomprehensible are his judgments, and how unsearchable his ways!" Second, he sets down the execution of justice: "whose eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of Adam." Job 34: "his eyes are upon the ways of men, and he considers all their steps."

Here he sets forth the punishment inflicted on the Jews by divine justice; and that it may be shown to be just, he does three things.

First, he sets forth the showing of benefits in the miraculous deliverance: "even to this day" — thy signs are fulfilled. Or: thy strength appears for the salvation of Israel and of others. Ps. 77: "He wrought wonders in the land of Egypt, in the field of Thaneos." And in a rich dwelling place: "and thou hast given them this land." Lev. 20: "Possess their land, which I will give you for an inheritance, a land flowing with milk and honey."

Second, he sets forth their ingratitude: "and they went in." Deut. 32: "The beloved grew fat, and kicked: grown fat, fattened, enlarged, he forsook God his maker, and departed from God his savior." Isa. 1: "I have nourished and exalted sons; but they themselves have despised me."

Third, the infliction of punishment: "and there befell." Habac. 1: "He shall laugh at every stronghold, and shall heap up a mound, and shall take it."

Here he marvels at the divine command: and you say to me (...) buy the field? Which is a marvel, since this is not now the time for buying. Ezech. 7: he who buys, let him not rejoice, and he who sells, let him not mourn: for wrath is upon all his people.

Here the Lord's response is set forth. And first he sets forth his power: "Shall any word be difficult for me?" Gen. 18: "Why did Sarah your wife laugh, saying: Shall I, an old woman, indeed bear a child? Is anything difficult for God?" Second, from such power he shows the punishment justly inflicted, foretelling the punishment: "therefore thus says the Lord." Above 19: "the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses of the kings of Judah shall be like the place of Topheth, unclean." And he adds the fault, showing the continuity of the fault: "for they were doing evil in my eyes from their youth, when they went forth out of Egypt." Above 3: "we have sinned, we and our fathers, from our youth even to this day." Showing also the universality of the fault: "for this city has been to me in my fury and in my indignation, from the day that they built it." 1 Paral. 11: "because of malice." Isa. 3: "from the sole of the foot even to the top of the head there is no soundness in it." Above 21: "I have set my face against this city for evil, and not for good, says the Lord." Showing also the gravity of the fault as regards contempt of God: "and they turned their backs to me," through disobedience, in the manner of those who despise. Zach. 7: "they turned toward me a withdrawing shoulder, and made their ears heavy, lest they should hear." As regards the sacrilege in the pollution of the temple: "and they set up idols." Above 11: "What is it that my beloved has done many wicked deeds in my house?" And as regards the sacrilege joined to homicide: "and they built high places." Psal. 105: "they sacrificed their sons, and their daughters, to devils."

Third, he promises mercy. And first he touches upon despair: "and now because of these things, thus says the Lord:" for as regards all things I am powerful: as I have powerfully punished, so I will powerfully deliver. You say, despairing, that it will be given over — above 15: "he who is for the sword, to the sword; and he who is for famine, to famine; and he who is for captivity, to captivity."

Second, he sets forth the promise: "behold, I, you:" and first he promises the recalling. "I will gather:" Ezech. 36: "for I will indeed take you from among the nations, and will gather you from all the lands, and will bring you into your own land." And he promises to those recalled security: "and I will make them dwell confidently." Above 23: "in those days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell confidently." Second, he promises to those returned prosperity: and first as regards spiritual goods; second as regards temporal goods, there, "and I will plant them in this land." Concerning the first, three things. First he promises holiness, namely obedience toward God: "and they shall be to me for a people." Apoc. 21: "they themselves shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, their God." And concord toward neighbor: "and I will give them one heart." Act. 4: "the multitude of believers had one heart and one soul." Second, the firmness of holiness: "and I will make with them an everlasting covenant, and I will not cease to do them good," as regards the fruit of holiness which he had touched upon; "fear," as regards the gift of holiness. Isa. 55: "I will make an everlasting covenant with you, the faithful mercies of David." Third, the acceptance of holiness: "and I will rejoice," that is, I will accept their goods. Psal. 103: "the Lord shall rejoice in his works."

Here he promises temporal goods: and first, a firm dwelling in the homeland: and I will plant, so that they may not easily be uprooted, in truth, without pretense, heart, as to knowledge, soul, as to will. Above, 24: I will build them, and I will not destroy; I will plant them, and I will not uproot. And he confirms it by a comparison: for thus says the Lord: as I have brought upon this people all this great evil, so will I bring upon them all good. Baruch 4: he who brought evils upon you will himself deliver you from the hands of your enemies. Secondly, he promises the free possession of things, setting forth the fullness of possession: and the fields shall be possessed. Isaiah 34: forever they shall possess it: from generation to generation they shall dwell in it. Secondly, the freedom of contracts: fields shall be bought with money. Psalm 125: when the Lord turned back the captivity of Sion, we became like those who are consoled.