THEOSISTheodoret of Cyrus
And the Lord declares that from that place, He will exact vengeance upon a small remnant, and you shall wrap me in your garment. From them, you will also recover additional souls, and you shall be cast into the heart of the flames, where you will be consumed; from those flames, devastation shall spread across the entire house of Israel. Here, God signifies those who remained in Judah, whom the chief captain Nebuzaradan left in the care of Gedaliah, yet were subsequently destroyed in numerous ways, either being killed individually or fleeing to Egypt while persisting in their wicked ways. The prophecy of Jeremiah clearly reveals the fate of the seven.
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The phrase, “from this fire shall spread unto all the house of Israel,” indicates the irritation of the king of Babylon during that period, as well as the ruin that struck them in Egypt. It also prefigures the upheavals that arose following their return from exile under Antiochus Epiphanes, which led them into countless misfortunes; it particularly foreshadows the fierce opposition against the Lord Christ, their ultimate ruin, and their scattering throughout all nations after the crucifixion. After this, God instructs the Prophet to reveal the reasons behind the punishment.