Charles Ellicott Commentary Jeremiah 25:29

"For, lo, I begin to work evil at the city which is called by my name; and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished; for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith Jehovah of hosts." — Jeremiah 25:29 (ASV)

I begin to bring evil ...? —The thought is the same as that of 1 Peter 4:17, If judgment shall begin at the house of God ...? If this were His chastisement of those who were His chosen people, it followed with stronger reason that those who were less favoured and had less claims should not escape. For them, as for Judah, the one wise and safe course was to accept their punishment and submit. .