Thomas Aquinas Commentary Jeremiah 29:17-20

"thus saith Jehovah of hosts; Behold, I will send upon them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like vile figs, that cannot be eaten, they are so bad. And I will pursue after them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be tossed to and fro among all the kingdoms of the earth, to be an execration, and an astonishment, and a hissing, and a reproach, among all the nations whither I have driven them; because they have not hearkened to my words, saith Jehovah, wherewith I sent unto them my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them; but ye would not hear, saith Jehovah. Hear ye therefore the word of Jehovah, all ye of the captivity, whom I have sent away from Jerusalem to Babylon." — Jeremiah 29:17-20 (ASV)

1. Here, the prophet excludes false repentance. Those in captivity might have come to regret surrendering when they saw others still remaining in Jerusalem. Therefore, those who remained are threatened with the severe punishment of death. As it says above: he who shall dwell in this city shall die by the sword, and the famine, and the plague; but he who shall go out and flee over to the Chaldeans, who besiege you, shall live (Jeremiah 21:9). And regarding their affliction: I shall make... This means they will find no favor with Me, nor with their captors, just as bad figs do not please those who gather them. As it says above: as the bad figs, which cannot be eaten, because they are bad, thus says the Lord: so shall I make Zedekiah, the king of Judah, and his princes, and the remnant of Jerusalem, who remain in this city, and who dwell in the land of Egypt (Jeremiah 24:8).

   He gives the reason: because they did not listen. Specifically, they did not listen to the command to surrender to Nebuchadnezzar and cease from their sins. As it says above: rising early, I warned them, and said: listen to my voice. But they did not listen, nor did they incline their ear, but turned away, each one in the depravity of his own evil heart (Jeremiah 11:7–8).

   Next, he introduces the intended conclusion: therefore, listen to the word of the Lord, so that you will not suffer punishment, seeing that you have obeyed Me in this. Hear, O sons, the discipline of your father (Proverbs 4:1).