THEOSISJerome of Stridon
The one who sells will not return to the one who sold, reflecting the customs of the Jewish people. In the year of jubilee, which is the fiftieth year of release, any property sold is returned to its original owner. Therefore, prior to this year of release, a captivity will come that will dismantle all the customs of the city. Moreover, as translated by the Seventy, “For whosoever shall buy shall not return to the seller,” this statement may not seem connected when considered historically, but through a deeper interpretation, it suggests that when someone misled by heretical beliefs recognizes the deceit of their teacher, they will no longer return to that teacher, treating him with disdain.
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Even so, among the living, their lives will not be restored, as the vision meant for the multitude will not be retraced. Just as property will not revert to its previous owner due to the impending destruction of the city, likewise, the prophetic warning directed at the city's inhabitants will inevitably come to fruition, fulfilled in the very lives of those to whom it was spoken. This serves to underscore the anticipated captivity rather than adhering strictly to tradition: the fulfillment of this vision will take time, occurring after many days.
We might also reflect upon the notion that once prophetic vision is withdrawn from the Jewish people—since the prophets and the law existed before John the Baptist (Matt. 13:11)—after the crucifixion of the Savior, it will not return to them, nor will they again receive any prophets. It is often said that “the vision shall not return to the whole multitude.” However, it will return to those Jews who believed in the Lord, namely the apostles and the remnant of Israel who were saved. Notably, these two verses are also absent from the Seventy’s translation.
A man caught in the iniquities of life will not be strong, as the LXX states: “And a man in the eyes of his life shall not possess.” The implication, according to the Hebrew text, is that a man’s iniquities render him ineffective and provide him with no aid. According to the Seventy, the man who craves what he deems valuable in the world will not acquire it, and with the loss of freedom, all that is good will be forfeited. The ambiguity between the Hebrew letters iod (י) and vav (ו), which differ only subtly, led to one being translated as iniquity and the other as eyes.