Thomas Aquinas Commentary Jeremiah 15:10-14

"Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have not lent, neither have men lent to me; [yet] every one of them doth curse me. Jehovah said, Verily I will strengthen thee for good; verily I will cause the enemy to make supplication unto thee in the time of evil and in the time of affliction. Can one break iron, even iron from the north, and brass? Thy substance and thy treasures will I give for a spoil without price, and that for all thy sins, even in all thy borders. And I will make [them] to pass with thine enemies into a land which thou knowest not; for a fire is kindled in mine anger, which shall burn upon you." — Jeremiah 15:10-14 (ASV)

1. Here, the prophet prays for himself, as if despairing of the people.

   1. He gives his own lament and then describes the discord of the enemy: woe to me, meaning, this hangs over me because I was born. Of contention, meaning, as the one causing contention, because I prophesy unfavorable and evil things; of discord, because some attack me, and others defend me. This was also fulfilled in Christ. Why have you brought me forth from the womb? If only I had perished, that no eye might see me (Job 10:18).

      He excludes the cause of the discord, which usually arises from contracts: I have not lent on usury. All curse. They curse him, and you bless. Let those who rise against me be put to shame, but your servant shall rejoice (Psalms 108:28).

   2. He speaks of the consolation of the Lord: the LORD says.

      1. Concerning his own safety in the well-being of himself and his relatives: with your remnant, that is, with those who cling to you—for he did not have any children, as is shown later (Jeremiah 16:2); it shall surely be well, meaning, they will be well. This is aposiopesis,The figure of speech in which a sentence is deliberately and suddenly broken off. so we must supply: “I am not believed.”

         And concerning deliverance from evils: I shall surely help—I am prepared to help. Blessed be the God, and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the father of mercies, and the God of all consolation, who consoles us in all our tribulation (2 Corinthians 1:3–4).

      2. Concerning the affliction of the enemy, he threatens an implacable enemy.

         1. He excludes an agreement with the enemy, because they wished to unite with the prophet: shall the people of Judah, who are the iron because of their hardness, and bronze because of their lack of endurance, be allied with the iron of the north, that is, with the Chaldeans? It is as if he were saying, “No.” Bronze and iron, all have been corrupted. The bellows have failed; the lead is consumed in fire (Jeremiah 6:28–29).

            Alternatively, you are the iron, preaching hard things to them, who are iron and bronze, and you cannot be allied with them. Do not wonder if the world hates you; know that they hated me before you (John 15:18).

         2. He excludes reliance on an alliance, whether by gifts: I shall give your riches and your treasures freely for spoil. It is as if he were saying, “Nothing will help you,” in all, that is, for all. Take the silver, take the gold, and there is no end of riches from every goodly vessel (Nahum 2:9).

            Or whether by pleading: and I will bring. It is as if he were saying, “You will not be able to plead with them, because they will not understand.” He will raise a signal to the distant nations, and whistle to him from the ends of the earth (Isaiah 5:26).

         3. He gives the reason: for a fire is kindled. A fire is kindled in my wrath, and it shall burn to the very depths of hell, and devour the earth with its bud, and burn the foundations of the mountains (Deuteronomy 32:22).