THEOSISJerome of Stridon
And the Lord spoke to me, saying, Son of man, consume your bread with concern, and drink your water with urgency and sorrow. Proclaim to the people of the land, Thus says the Sovereign Lord to those residing in Jerusalem, in the land of Israel: they will eat their bread with apprehension and drink their water with hardship, for the land will lose its bountifulness due to the injustices of its inhabitants. The cities that are currently populated will face destruction, and the land will become a wasteland; then you will know that I am the Lord. The prophecy regarding the ruler and his associates, which appeared under physical imagery, transitions to the people, conveying all that was revealed to the prophet to the residents of Jerusalem.
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During times of distress amid the siege, they will consume their bread with grief and scarcity, and partake of water not in plenty, but with anguish. This is communicated to you, O prophet, so that you can relay to your people, saying, Thus says the Lord God to those dwelling in Jerusalem, which is located in the land of Israel: You who are besieged by Nebuchadnezzar and the Chaldeans will endure the suffering of famine and thirst, for the entire land will be laid waste along with all its inhabitants. They must not presume that this has occurred without cause; convey to them that due to their wickedness, all the cities of the Jews will be rendered desolate, leading to the demise of the entire population, so that they may recognize the God who disciplines them, whom they failed to acknowledge during His merciful times. In a profound manner, we may interpret the inhabitants of Jerusalem as those who believe in Christ and belong to the Church. If through their transgressions they warrant His wrath, they will experience bread with scarcity and water with sorrow and lamentation, thirsting not for bread or water but for the teachings and word of God. When, either due to the failures of reigning authorities who should have faced capture and been delivered to the Babylonians, or because of our insistence, we lose the divine word and remain unsatisfied with the necessary water, we will take our sustenance with sorrow and deficiency, and the earth will lack the multitude of believers. The cities, signifying the Churches throughout the world, will face destruction, and the earth will become desolate so that all may witness the Lord's righteous anger. This can also be understood in the context of periods of persecution.