Jeremiah 14:18Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

If I venture into the field and she falls victim to the sword... as a servant of God. And so they lacked understanding; consequently, some were afflicted externally, while others suffered internally, and thus they did not yield. What could be more grievous than those who are so inclined, that both the prophet and the priest, who are the primary agents of wrongdoing, are taken captive, instructed and instructed by the might of God!

As I venture into the fields, I witness the fallen, victims of the sword; when I enter a city, I see those exhausted from hunger, suffering the anguish of famine. The prophet and priest have journeyed into unknown lands, invoking sorrow, for the maiden lies broken, the daughter afflicted, and the populace laid waste. For if I desire to step beyond the city’s gates, I behold those who have perished; if I seek refuge within the walls, I encounter those faint from the devastation of famine, barely able to move. It is remarkable that these observations pertain to the masses, while even the prophets and priests, who proclaimed blessings to others and conveyed the divine law, find themselves drawn into unfamiliar territories, enduring the hardships of captivity.

When I venture into the fields, I face death by the sword, and should I enter a city, I will meet my end through disease. He adds to this the sorrows of exile: 'How the prophet and the priest have gone into a land they did not lead.' The honored prophet Daniel, along with the sacred priest and prophet Ezekiel, and many other priests, shared in these painful experiences. God, in His mercy even toward the unrighteous, sent the prophets into captivity as if they were mentors and guides, so that the people of Israel would not be completely led astray into iniquity. After recounting these matters, the prophet directs his words towards God.