Thomas Aquinas Commentary Jeremiah 14:1-6

"The word of Jehovah that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought. Judah mourneth, and the gates thereof languish, they sit in black upon the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up. And their nobles send their little ones to the waters: they come to the cisterns, and find no water; they return with their vessels empty; they are put to shame and confounded, and cover their heads. Because of the ground which is cracked, for that no rain hath been in the land, the plowmen are put to shame, they cover their heads. Yea, the hind also in the field calveth, and forsaketh [her young], because there is no grass. And the wild asses stand on the bare heights, they pant for air like jackals; their eyes fail, because there is no herbage." — Jeremiah 14:1-6 (ASV)

1. Here, the prophet begins to intercede with his prayer to God on their behalf, so that they might obtain mercy in some way, at least after some chastisements.

This section is divided into two parts. In the first, a discussion the prophet had with the Lord is presented to obtain mercy through entreaty. Afterward, in the second part, the final decision is set forth: and the LORD said to me (Jeremiah 15:1).

Regarding the first part, there are two points. First is the affliction of the people, which is the reason for the prophet’s prayer. Second is the prophet’s discussion with the Lord, which begins with the words, if our iniquities (Jeremiah 14:7).

Concerning the first of these points—the affliction of the people—there are also two points. First is the title of the prophecy: the word, which came from an internal revelation; which came... concerning the words, which were to be announced externally; and of the drought, which came upon them when the captivity was imminent.

Alternatively, the phrase concerning the words of the drought means a drought so severe it is worthy of being spoken about.

Second, the hardship of the drought is described, beginning with the affliction of the people and the lack of drinking water. The author speaks of their sadness: Judah has mourned, afflicted with thirst. The vintage has mourned, the vine is weakened, and all who were joyful in heart have sighed (Isaiah 24:7).

The gates—that is, the judges who used to sit at the gates—have fallen from their former joy. They are darkened, meaning they are shrouded in the darkness of tribulation. He has struck her gates to the ground; he has destroyed and broken her bars (Lamentations 2:2).Heb. מִבְצְרֵ֥י בַת־יְהוּדָ֖ה הִגִּ֣יעַ לָאָ֑רֶץ חִלֵּ֥ל מַמְלָכָ֖ה וְשָׂרֶֽיהָ: he has struck down the strongholds of Judah; he has polluted her princes.

Alternatively, this could mean that the walls were becoming loose from the extreme dryness, so when the gates collapsed it was impossible to repair them due to the water shortage. Their cry is one of complaint and lament: There shall be a cry for wine in the streets; all happiness, and joy has been taken away from the land (Isaiah 24:11).

He then gives the cause of this sadness: the nobles have sent their inferiors to the water. The poor and needy seek water, and there is none; their tongue has become dry with thirst (Isaiah 41:17).

Regarding the barrenness of the land, a blow against their possessions, the prophet says, they were confounded and afflicted, and covered their heads as a sign of shame. You shall be ashamed of your fruits, because of the wrath of the fury of the LORD (Jeremiah 12:13).

The drought also afflicted the farmers: for the rain has not come. The farmers are confounded; the vinedressers have wailed, for the grain and the barley, for the harvest of the field has perished, the vineyard is confounded, and the fig tree has grown weak (Joel 1:11).

Second, he speaks of the suffering of the wild animals. Regarding the deer: for the hind also has given birth in the field, and left it. The hind is an animal that normally has great concern for her offspring. Have you known the time when the ibex give birth on the rocks, or have you seen the hinds bring forth young? (Job 39:1).

Regarding the wild asses: and the wild asses, which can normally endure thirst for long periods. The wild asses will wait in their thirst on the cliffs (Psalms 103:11), where there is more wind. They snuffed up the air for relief from their thirst, like dragons, which pant for air because of their thirst. As a wild ass accustomed to the wilderness, in his desire he has snuffed up the air of his love (Jeremiah 2:24).