Thomas Aquinas Commentary Jeremiah 30:1-3

"The word that came to Jeremiah from Jehovah, saying, Thus speaketh Jehovah, the God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book. For, lo, the days come, saith Jehovah, that I will turn again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith Jehovah; and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it." — Jeremiah 30:1-3 (ASV)

1. After threatening, he begins here to offer consolation.

First, he offers consolation to all collectively.

Second, he offers it particularly to the royal city, Jerusalem: and the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah a second time (Jeremiah 33:1).

The first part divides into two.

First, he consoles them by word.

Second, he symbolizes the consolation through action: the word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord (Jeremiah 32:1).

The first part divides into two.

In the first, he consoles them with the fact that they have escaped adversity.

In the second, with the promise of prosperity: at that time, says the Lord (Jeremiah 31:1).

The first part divides into two.

In the first, he promises liberation in general.

In the second, he describes the promise in particular, at and these are the words which the Lord spoke (Jeremiah 30:4).

Concerning the former point, he makes two points. First, the Lord gives the prophet the command to preserve the prophecy: write for yourself all the words. This includes the words that have been foretold and those that will follow, the revelation of which he had already begun in the text. This was so that they would be preserved for a long time, which signifies that they are not to be fulfilled quickly. Take for yourself a great book, and write in it with the pen of a man: swiftly take the spoils away, quickly take the prey (Isaiah 8:1). Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he who reads it may run over it (Habakkuk 2:2).

Second, he promises the benefit of liberation: for behold, I shall turn. This means, “I will call them back from the land of captivity,” referring to the origin from which this turning begins. The text then says, the turning, because not all will return, but only those who will be worthy of such a conversion.

The prophecy mentions Israel, referring to the ten tribes, particularly those who came to King Hezekiah in Jerusalem. For they were taken captive with them, and at their return, they will also return (2 Chronicles 30:9). Alternatively, this refers to the conversion to the faith of Christ.

The phrase is repeated, And I shall turn, this time referring to the destination to which the turning is directed. As the Psalm says, When the Lord turned the captivity of Zion, we became like those who are consoled (Psalms 125:1).