For behold I have made thee this day a fortified city, and a pillar of iron, and a wall of brass, over all the land, to the kings of Juda, to the princes thereof, and to the priests, and to the people of the land.

“A saint is different from a sinner, not because he or she is not tempted in the same way but because he or she is not defeated even by a great assault, while the other is overcome even by a slight temptation. The strength of any good person would not, as we said, be worthy of praise, if the victory was gained without being tempted. Most certainly there is no room for victory where there is no struggle and conflict. "Blessed is the one who endures trial, for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." According to the apostle Paul also, "power is made perfect" not in ease and delights but "in weakness." "And behold," says he, "I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its princes, its priests and the people of the land. They will fight against you; but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, says the Lord, to deliver you."”

“Here he sets down the destruction of the city itself. First is set down the rousing to see: "What dost thou see?" As above. Second, the vision: "And I said: A kindled pot," which signifies the burning of the city; and "the face" — the base — "of the north," whence the fire was kindled. Ezek. 24: Set the pot empty upon the coals, that it may grow hot, and its bronze may melt, and its filth may be melted together in the midst of it, and its rust may be consumed. Third is set down the exposition: "And the Lord said"; and first it is expounded in general: "from the north" — that is, from the king of Babylon, who was to the north with respect to the holy land — "the inhabitants of the land" — of Jerusalem, or of the other neighboring places, which were laid waste by him. Below, 10: Behold, a great commotion shall come from the land of the north, to make the cities of Judah wildernesses and habitations of dragons. Second, he pursues the whole order of the matter. And first is set down the summoning of the army: "for behold, I will call together" — by inspiring — "the kingdoms" — those subject to Nebuchadnezzar. Isaiah 5: He shall lift up a sign to the nations afar off. Second is set down the siege of the city: "and there shall come ... a throne, a tent, at the entrance of the gates," as though they will lay siege all the way to the walls. Isa. 22: Horsemen shall set their seats in the gate, and the covering of Judah shall be uncovered. Or he sets down the very captivity of the city: and what is found below, 39, is touched upon: "all the princes of the king of Babylon entered in, and sat in the middle gate." Third is set down the punishment of the inhabitants: "and I will speak judgment" — not with words, but with punishments. Ezek. 16: They shall judge thee with the judgments of adulteresses, and of them that shed blood. "Thou therefore gird thyself." Here he teaches the manner of carrying it out. And first, that he execute it promptly: "gird thy loins," as one who prepares himself to go quickly. Job 40: Gird thy loins like a man. Second, that he do it securely; and concerning this, first he excludes fear. "Be not afraid." Ezek. 3: Fear them not, neither be thou afraid of their face, for it is a provoking house. Isaiah 51: Who art thou, that thou shouldst be afraid of a mortal man, and of the son of man, who shall wither away like grass, and hast forgotten the Lord thy maker, who stretched out the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast been afraid all the day at the face of his fury who afflicted thee, and had prepared to destroy? Where is now the fury of the oppressor? Second, he promises strength to resist: "for I have this day made thee a city" — for sustaining others — "a pillar." Isa. 50: The Lord hath given me a learned tongue, that I should know how to sustain by a word him that is fallen, and that he should not fail in himself. "And a wall of brass." Ezek. 3: I have made thy face like an adamant and like flint. Third, he promises the frustration of the enemies: "and they shall fight, and shall not prevail" — they will not be able to turn thee away from the truth. Below, 15: I will make thee to this people as a strong wall of brass; and they shall fight against thee, and shall not prevail, for I am with thee to save thee, and to deliver thee, saith the Lord. Concerning the foregoing, it should be known, first, that God can have knowledge of someone by way of approbation, as has been said. Of foresight. Eccl. 23: To the Lord God, before they were created, all things are known; and so too, after they are perfected, he beholds all things. Of predestination. 2 Tim. 2: The Lord knoweth who are his. Of the infusion of grace. John 10: I know my sheep, and mine know me. Of special familiarity. Exod. 33: and I have known even thee by name. Of glorification. Eccl. 44: he knew him in his blessings, and gave him an inheritance. Likewise it should be noted, that the Lord touches some by reproving them. Job 19: Have pity on me, have pity on me, at least you my friends, because the hand of the Lord hath touched me. By cleansing from sins. Matt. 8: And Jesus touched him, saying: I will; be thou made clean. By infusing grace. Cant. 5: My beloved put his hand through the hole, and my belly trembled at his touch. By strengthening in grace. Dan. 10: And behold, a hand touched me, and set me up upon my knees, and upon the joints of my hands. By rousing fervor. Ps. 143: Touch the mountains, and they shall smoke. Likewise it should be noted, that the sinful soul is called a pot on account of the fervor of concupiscence. Job 41: He shall make the deep of the sea boil like a pot, and shall make it like ointments boiling. On account of the carnality of the work. Mich. 3: They have broken their bones, and cut them in pieces as in a caldron, and as flesh in the midst of a pot. On account of the blackness of the stain. Nahum 2: The faces of all as the blackness of a pot. Likewise it should be noted, that the aforesaid pot is kindled by the fire of disordered love. Ps. 79: Burnt with fire, and undermined, they shall perish at the rebuke of thy countenance. Of wrath, and of contention. Isa. 50: Behold, all you that kindle a fire, girded about with flames. Of eternal damnation. Deut. 32: A fire is kindled in my rage, and shall burn even to the lowest hell. Likewise it should be noted, that the Devil is called the North on account of the onslaught of temptation. Eccl. 43: The voice of his thunder struck the earth, the storm of the north, and the gathering together of the wind. Because he hinders the fruit of a good work. Cant. 4: Arise, O north wind, and come, O south wind, blow through my garden, and its spices shall flow. Because he dries up the river of tears. Prov. 25: The north wind driveth away rains, as doth a sad countenance a backbiting tongue. Likewise it should be noted, that the Church, or the soul, is fortified by divine help. Zach. 2: I will be to them a fire round about, and I will be in glory in the midst of it. By the guard of angels. Isa. 33: The fortifications of rocks are his height. By the example of the holy fathers. Cant. 4: The tower of David is thy neck, which is built with bulwarks. By the support of brothers. Prov. 18: A brother that is helped by his brother is like a strong city. By the remedy of the sacraments. Cant. 8: I am a wall, and my breasts are as a tower, since I have become in his presence as one finding peace.”

“For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city,.... Or, "as" one; so read the Targum, Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions; which is inexpungible, and cannot be taken: and an iron pillar; which cannot be removed out of its place: and brasen walls; which cannot be broken down. All these metaphors show the safety and security of the prophet, being surrounded by the power of God; his constancy, immovableness, and invincibleness in the work of the Lord, having such a spirit of power, fortitude, and of a sound mind, that nothing was able to move and shake him, or to deter him from the execution of his office; and that he should stand inflexible against the whole land; of Judea, and all the inhabitants of it: against the kings of Judah; in successive reigns, as Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, or Jechonias, and Zedekiah: against the princes thereof; who desired he might be put to death, Jer 38:4, against the priests thereof; who all of them dealt falsely, and were given to covetousness, Jer 8:10, and against the people of the land; who were grievously addicted to idolatry, and all manner of wickedness.”

“defenced city, &c.--that is, I will give thee strength which no power of thine enemies shall overcome (Jer 6:27; Jer 15:20; Isa 50:7; Isa 54:17; Luk 21:15; Act 6:10). walls--plural, to express the abundant strength to be given him. DE ROSSI'S'S manuscripts read singular, "wall." people of the land--the general masses, as distinguished from the princes and priests. Probably in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah (Jer 1:2; compare Jer 3:6, "also . . . in . . . days of Josiah"). The warning not to rely as they did on Egypt (Jer 2:18), was in accordance with Josiah's policy, who took part with Assyria and Babylon against Egypt (Kg2 23:29). Jeremiah, doubtless, supported the reformation begun by Josiah, in the previous year (the twelfth of his reign), and fully carried out in the eighteenth. Next: Jeremiah Chapter 2”