Thomas Aquinas Commentary Jeremiah 1:2-3

"to whom the word of Jehovah came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, unto the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, unto the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month." — Jeremiah 1:2-3 (ASV)

1. Here, he describes the time of the prophecy, because he prophesied in succession under the three kings mentioned in 2 Kings 20.

Previously, he said, words. Why does he now use the singular, word?

In response, while the prophetic words are many, they are nevertheless one in their origin, because they come from the uncreated Word.

Yet, since that Word is eternal, as it says in John 1, how can it be said that the Word was made?

The answer is that the Word was not simply "made," but was "made known" to someone. Indeed, there was no change in the Word itself, but rather in the person to whom the revelation was given. It is in this sense that God is said to be "made" our refuge.

Another question is asked: why is there no mention of the other two kings—namely, Jehoahaz, the son of Josiah, and Jehoiachin, the son of Jehoiakim, who is also called Jeconiah?

The answer is that both of them reigned for only three months, as stated in 4 Kings 24. Because Sacred Scripture is not concerned with minute details, their reigns are included within the times of the other kings.

In the fifth month refers to when the city was destroyed, although it was captured in the fourth month, as stated below in Jeremiah 39:2.