When they fast, I will not hear their cry
Or, "though they fast" F11; very probably on account of the want of rain, and the dearth or famine, a fast was proclaimed; see ( Jeremiah 36:9 ) , when they prayed and cried aloud, and made a great noise; but their prayers being hypocritical, and not arising from a pure heart, or offered up in faith and love, were not heard and accepted by the Lord: and when they offer burnt offerings and an oblation;
or a meat or bread offering, which went along with the burnt offering; thinking by those outward things to atone for their sins, without true repentance for them, or faith in the atoning sacrifice of Christ: I will not accept them;
neither their offerings, nor their persons: but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the
pestilence;
the Lord not only determines the continuance of the famine, notwithstanding the prayers of the prophet; but adds two other judgments, the sword and pestilence, by which he was resolved to consume them; and therefore it was to no purpose to pray to him on their behalf, he was inexorable.