But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.
But my words and my statutes - my determined purposes to punish for sin, which I commanded my servants-namely, to announce to your fathers.
Did they not take hold of your fathers? - i:e., overtake them, as a foe overtakes one fleeing. Did they not take hold of your fathers? - i:e., overtake them, as a foe overtakes one fleeing.
And they returned and said - turning from their former self-satisfaction, they recognized their punishment as that which God's prophets had foretold.
Like as the Lord of hosts thought to do unto us - i:e., decreed to do. Compare with this verse Lamentations 2:17.
According to our ways - evil ways (Jeremiah 4:18; Jeremiah 17:10; Jeremiah 23:2).