Commentary on Jeremiah (In Jeremiam)

Here is set forth a consolation specifically for the two tribes, and especially with regard to Jerusalem, where was the seat of the kingdom and of the priesthood: and concerning this, two things. First he sets down the title of the prophecy, in which he sets down the prophet's imprisonment: since he was still shut up in the court of the prison, by Sedecias. Secondly, with respect to a preceding vision made a second time, promising authority: "thus says the Lord," who is about to make — as a craftsman in preparing the matter; about to form — by leading to the completion of the form; about to prepare — by ordering to the end: "the Lord is his name," because he alone is singularly the Lord of all. Ps. 82: "for your name is the Lord, you alone are the Most High over all the earth." The firmness and greatness of the promise: "cry to me," praying for the people, "and I will hear you" — not that I will not bring evils, but that after the evils brought I will deliver. And thus it is not contrary to what was said above, 7, where it was said: "therefore do not pray for this people, and do not take up praise and prayer for them, and do not withstand me, because I will not hear you." "Because he does not know," that is, could not conjecture by human reckoning. Isa. 48: "I have made new things heard to you from that time, and things you do not know have been kept." Secondly he sets down the word of the prophecy: and first the promise is set forth as to the people; secondly as to the kingdom and the priesthood, at "behold the days are coming." Concerning the first, three things. First he promises the healing of the plague inflicted; secondly, the gladness of heart, at "thus says the Lord: yet again shall be heard in this place"; thirdly, the tranquility of peace, at "thus says the Lord of hosts," et cetera. Concerning the first, three things. First he touches on the wound inflicted: "because thus says the Lord," as to the destruction of buildings, "unto the houses." Lam. 2: "the Lord has cast down, and has not spared, all the beautiful things of Jacob; he has destroyed in his fury the fortifications of the virgin of Judah, and has cast them down to the ground." And as to the killing of men: and "unto the sword of those coming," in aid, in Jerusalem — either from the Gentiles, or from the kingdom of the two tribes — "and let them fill it," occasioned by this, because taking confidence from them, they resisted the enemies and were slain; "hiding my face," that is, withdrawing protection. Ezech. 39: "the nations shall know that for its iniquities the house of Israel was taken captive, and because it forsook me, and because I hid my face from them." Secondly he promises the benefit of healing in general: "behold, I will bring over them a scar." Above, 30: "I will bring a scar over you, and from your wounds I will heal you." And in particular, as to the hearing of prayer: "and I will reveal," by fulfilling the intent, "the entreaty," because from me they have sought peace with one another, and the truth of religion. Isa. 39: "let there only be peace and truth in my days." As to the restoration of the homeland: "and I will turn back." Above, 30: "I will turn back the turning of the tabernacles of Jacob, and I will have mercy on its roofs." As to the remission of sin, according to the purging from guilt: "and I shall be cleansed." Ezech. 36: "you shall be cleansed from all your defilements, and from all your idols I will cleanse you." And according to the absolution from punishment: "and I will be propitious to all their iniquities." Ps. 102: "who is propitious to all your iniquities, who heals all your infirmities." Thirdly he sets down the fruit of the liberation as to the divine glory: "and it shall be to me for a name." Above, 32: "I will rejoice over them, when I shall have done well by them." Isa. 43: "this people I have formed for myself, it shall declare my praise." As to the joy of friends: "and for exultation to all the nations of the earth." Ps. 47: "Mount Sion is founded in the exultation of the whole earth, the sides of the north, the city of the great king." As to the anguish of the envious: "and they shall dread." Isa. 26: "let the zealous of the people see and be confounded, and let fire devour your enemies."

Here he promises its gladness: first, temporal — the voice of gladness. Above, 25: "I will destroy from them the voice of gladness and the voice of joy, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of the millstone, and the light of the lamp." Second, spiritual, expressed through divine praises: the voice of those saying, "Give praise to the Lord." Isa. 51: "Joy and gladness shall be found in her, thanksgiving, and the voice of praise." Tob. 13: "Through all her streets alleluia shall be sung." And in the offerings; and of those bringing vows into the house of the Lord, Isa. 19: "They shall worship him with sacrifices, and with offerings, and they shall vow vows to the Lord, and fulfill them." Third, he assigns the reason: "for I will bring back the turning of the land." Lam., last chapter: "Renew our days as from the beginning."

Here he promises them the tranquility of peace, which he signifies through the secure dwelling of the homeland: the flocks shall pass by the hand of him who counts them; as if to say: they shall obtain such security that they will be able to count their sheep freely. Ezech. 34: in the most fruitful pastures I will feed them, and their pastures shall be on the high mountains of Israel.

Here is set forth the consolation as regards the kingdom and the priesthood: and first the restoration of both is promised; second, the confirmation of the promise is set forth, at the place, "and the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah." Concerning the first, two things. First he promises the restoration of the kingdom; second, of the priesthood, at the place, "and of the priests, and of the Levites there shall not fail a man." Concerning the first, three things. First he designates the fitness of the time: "behold, the days come," namely of grace, and "I will raise up," "I will fulfill," "the good word," which I promised concerning the restoration of the kingdom. Hosea 1: "and the children of Juda and the children of Israel shall be gathered together, and they shall appoint themselves one head, and shall come up out of the land." Which was fulfilled in Christ. Second, the condition of the kingdom as regards the nobility of the rule: "in those days I will make to spring forth unto David a branch of justice," Christ, who is justice itself. Isaiah 11: "there shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse, and a flower shall rise up out of his root." "And he shall do judgment": in the first coming, for the world; in the second, concerning the world; "and justice," teaching by word, fulfilling in himself by deed, and in others by the gift of grace. Psalm 118: "I have done judgment and justice." And as regards the usefulness of the rule unto the salvation of the people: "in those days Juda shall be saved," as regards those who believed at the first, and shall believe at the second coming. Hosea 1: "I will save them in the Lord their God." In the security of peace: "and Israel shall dwell confidently." Isaiah 32: "my people shall sit in the beauty of peace, in the tabernacles of confidence, and in wealthy rest." And in the confession of true faith: "and this is the name (...) the Lord our just one." Psalm 118: "thou art just, O Lord, and right is thy judgment." Third, he sets forth the duration of the kingdom: "for thus saith the Lord, there shall not fail of David a man," Christ, and his kingdom. Daniel 7: "his power is an everlasting power, which shall not be taken away, and his kingdom that shall not be destroyed."

Here he sets down the restoration of the priesthood. And just as the kingdom is restored in Christ himself, and in his members, so also the priesthood. For he himself is both king and priest. Ps. 109: You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchisedech. And he made his members kings and priests. Apoc. 5: You have made us a kingdom and priests to our God. Eph. 5: He offered himself a sacrifice to God for an odor of sweetness. And he causes his members to offer spiritual sacrifices to God. Ezech. 44: The priests and Levites, sons of Zadok, who kept the ceremonies of my sanctuary when the children of Israel strayed from me: they shall approach me to minister to me, and shall stand in my sight, to offer me the fat and the blood, says the Lord God.

Here the confirmation of the promise is set down: first, from the duration of creatures: if my covenant with the day can be made void, as if he were to say: it cannot be void until the end of the world. Psalm 88: I will set his seed forever and ever, and his throne as the days of heaven. Second, from their multitude: just as the stars of heaven cannot be numbered, except by God alone, so too the number of the elect is known to God alone. Gen. 22: I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand that is on the shore of the sea.

Here he repels the mockery of the enemies. And first the insult is set forth: the two kindreds, namely the royal and the priestly, or the ten and the two tribes. Psalm 70: they who kept watch over my soul have taken counsel together, saying: God has forsaken him; pursue and seize him, for there is no one to deliver him. Secondly the refutation is set forth: thus says the Lord. Romans 11: Has God cast off his people? God forbid, et cetera.