Thomas Aquinas Commentary Jeremiah 9:15-21

"therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink. I will scatter them also among the nations, whom neither they nor their fathers have known; and I will send the sword after them, till I have consumed them. Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, Consider ye, and call for the mourning women, that they may come; and send for the skilful women, that they may come: and let them make haste, and take up a wailing for us, that our eyes may run down with tears, and our eyelids gush out with waters. For a voice of wailing is heard out of Zion, How are we ruined! we are greatly confounded, because we have forsaken the land, because they have cast down our dwellings. Yet hear the word of Jehovah, O ye women, and let your ear receive the word of his mouth; and teach your daughters wailing, and every one her neighbor lamentation. For death is come up into our windows, it is entered into our palaces; to cut off the children from without, [and] the young men from the streets." — Jeremiah 9:15-21 (ASV)

1. Here, the prophet threatens punishment against the people themselves.

   1. First, he specifies the punishment in terms of affliction: I will feed them with wormwood. This refers to the scarcity they have endured because of the Chaldeans. He adds, to drink, because the help of the Egyptians will turn bitter for them. They believed this help would allow them to avoid trouble, just as food is easily swallowed with a drink. As it is written, He has filled me with bitterness, made me drunk with wormwood (Lamentations 3:15).

      Regarding the captivity, he says, I will scatter; and regarding the slaughter, and I shall send. Compare this to Ezekiel 5:2: You shall scatter a third part to the wind, and draw the sword after them.

   2. Second, he calls them to a sorrowful lament: thus says the LORD.

      1. First, he summons the mourning women, according to Jewish custom, so that they may incite weeping: call the mourning women. This custom is mentioned in Jeremiah 22:18: they shall not lament for him, ‘Alas, lord,’ and, ‘Alas, glorious one.’ See also Luke 23:28: Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but for yourselves, and for your children.

      2. Second, he gives the command to weep:

         1. First, by pointing to the people’s present distress: let our eyes stream tears. As it is written, Let our eyes stream as a torrent day and night, and give no rest to yourself, nor let the pupil of your eye be still (Lamentations 2:18).

            He also predicts the future, which provides the substance for their present sorrow: because a voice . . . was heard. This was heard by the spirit of prophecy; alternatively, the prophet speaks of a future event as if it has already passed. For example, A voice was heard on high (Jeremiah 31:15). He then gives the reason for this lament, which is the voice of those weeping in Zion: how we are laid waste, referring to the devastation of the land, and put to shame, referring to their servitude. They cry, We have left, referring to the captivity. As it says elsewhere, Woe to us, for we are laid waste (Jeremiah 4:13).

         2. Second, by speaking directly to the mourning women, alluding to their distress: hear, therefore, O women, the word of the LORD. As Isaiah says, O fine women arise, and hear my voice (Isaiah 32:9).

            He gives the reason for this command: for death has come up. This refers to the Chaldean who brings death. The imagery signifies the speed and strength of the enemy, who is not content to enter through the door but climbs in through the roof and windows. As the prophet Joel writes, They will scale the houses, and enter through the windows as a thief (Joel 2:9).