In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword has devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.
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Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
“Some of those measures do not succeed,” you say. Is a remedy, then, to be discontinued because the illness of some patients is incurable? You are looking at those who are so hardened that they are not affected by such correction. Concerning these it has been written: “In vain have I struck your children. They have not received correction.” - "Letter 13.93"
Behold, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree. This refers to the three captivities in which the Israelites were taken away as captives, so that they might be chastened, but they were not chastened. In vain have I smitten your children, but they have not taken correction. To show that even after these things he was still patient, he said to the vinedresser, Cut it down. The vinedresser replied to him, Leave it, Lord, for another year. He agreed to be patient with the Israelites. - "Commentary on Tatian’s Diatessaron 14.26"
Prophets; Zacharias, (2 Paralipomenon xxiv. 21.) Isaias, Matthew xxiii. 34. (Calmet)
Punishment is designed by God to cause people to repent. (Worthington)
