Thomas Aquinas Commentary Jeremiah 34:8-11
Thomas Aquinas Commentary
Jeremiah 34:8-11
Thomas Aquinas Commentary
Jeremiah 34:8-11
SCRIPTURE
"The word that came unto Jeremiah from Jehovah, after that the king Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people that were at Jerusalem, to proclaim liberty unto them; that every man should let his man-servant, and every man his maid-servant, that is a Hebrew or a Hebrewess, go free; that none should make bondmen of them, [to wit], of a Jew his brother. And all the princes and all the people obeyed, that had entered into the covenant, that every one should let his man-servant, and every one his maid-servant, go free, that none should make bondmen of them any more; they obeyed, and let them go: but afterwards they turned, and caused the servants and the handmaids, whom they had let go free, to return, and brought them into subjection for servants and for handmaids." — Jeremiah 34:8-11 (ASV)
1. Here, the threat is given after the transgression of the covenant.
The author first speaks of the transgression of the covenant, and second, he gives the threat against those who transgressed, beginning with and the word came to Jeremiah from the
Concerning the transgression, three points are made.
-
The making of the covenant is described: after king Zedekiah had made a covenant (Jeremiah 34:8)—and also after he broke it—that every man should go free, according to the Law. If you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve you for six years; in the seventh he shall go free without cost (Exodus 21:2).
And in Leviticus 25 they are forbidden to take any of their brothers as slaves or to oppress them with forced servitude; instead, they are to be as hired workers and temporary residents.
- He speaks of the fact that they observed the covenant for a time: the princes and all the people heard therefore, and let go free. They did it quickly, they forgot his work, and did not keep his counsel (Psalms 105:13).
- The transgression of the covenant is described: and afterwards they turned. They turned back that they might be without yoke; they became like a treacherous bow (Hosea 7:16).