1The severe judgment of God against Babylon in revenge of Israel. 59Jeremiah delivereth the book of this prophecy to Seraiah, to be cast into Euphrates, in token of the perpetual sinking of Babylon.
1THUS saith the LORD; Behold, I will raise up against Babylon, and against them that dwell in the 1midst of them that rise up against me, a 2destroying wind;a
1 As we also usually say in our language: in the heart of the land. Understand the inhabitants of Babel, which was the capital city of Chaldea and as in the middle or heart of the land. See Deut. 4 on verse 11.
2 Understand the Medes and the Persians, and compare Jer. 4:11.
aJer. 4:11.
2And will send unto Babylon 3fanners,b that shall fanc her, and shall empty her land: for in the day of 4trouble they 5shall be against her round about.
3 Other, send strangers that shall destroy her.
bJer. 4:11; 15:7.
c winnow
4 That is, of her mishap, calamity, which is ordained against her.
5 Hebr. have been. Spoken in a prophetical manner, that is, they shall assault her on every side.
3Against him that 6bendeth let the 7archer bend his bow, and against him that lifteth himself up in his 8brigandine:d and spare ye not 9her young men; 10destroy ye utterly all her host.
6 Against the archers of Babel.
7 Hebr. let the treader tread, that is, let the bender bend, etc. They are the words of God to the archers of the Medes and the Persians.
8 Being armed more heavy than the archers.
d coat of mail, breastplate
9 Of Babel.
10 See Deut. 2 on verse 34; Jer. 50:21.
4Thus the slain shall 11fall in the land of the Chaldeans, and they that are thrust through in her streets.e
11 Or, lie. Hebr. properly: fall; but the Hebrew word is also taken for to lie. See Jer. 9 on verse 22. Also below, verses 47 and 49, etc.
eJer. 49:26.
5For Israel hath not been 12forsaken, nor Judah of his God, of the LORD of 13hosts; though 14their land was filled with 15sin against the 16Holy One of Israel.
12 Other, be not left a widower or a widow. The Hebrew word alman is only found here, signifying anyone who is or is left in widowhood, as almana signifies a widow. The phrase refers to the spiritual marriage that God had made with His people; as if He said: Though My people has been dealt with as such for a long time as if they belonged to no one, or as their Husband and Protector were dead, and they were rejected and forsaken of Him, and of everyone besides, yet it shall not last always; I will yet show that she is My married wife, and I will maintain her cause, and avenge the wrong that is done to her. Compare John 14:18.
13 See 1 Kings 18 on verse 15.
14 Namely, of Israel and Judah. Other, because their land, namely, the land of the Chaldeans, etc.
15 Or, desolation, which they have merited by their sins. Others apply it to the Chaldeans thus: For their (the Chaldeans) land is full of guilt, against or because of the Holy One of Israel, that is, because of the sins which the Chaldeans have committed against God, for which He will punish them. Compare Jer. 50:29.
16 See Psalm 71 on verse 22.
6Fleef out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her 17iniquity; for this is the time of the LORD’S vengeance;g he will render unto her a 18recompence.
fJer. 50:8; Rev. 18:4.
17 That is, take heed that ye perish not in the punishment of her iniquity. See verse 45; Lev. 5 on verse 1; Psalm 31 on verse 10; Jer. 50:8.
gJer. 50:15, 28.
18 As such is the Hebrew word also taken Judges 9:16. See further 2 Chron. 20 on verse 11.
7Babylon hath been a golden 19cup in the LORD's hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of 20her wine; therefore the nations are 21mad.
19 The implication of this figurative phrase is that God used Babel as His servant and instrument to execute His righteous judgments upon the inhabitants of the earth. Compare Jer. 25:9 with the annotations. Likewise below, verses 20 and 21, etc.; Jer. 25:15, etc.; 49:12.
20 Of Babel.
21 Of the plagues which were sent unto them from the hand of God by the Babylonians. Compare Jer. 25:27. Of the Hebrew word see Psalm 5 on verse 5.
8Babylon is suddenly fallenh and destroyed: howl for her; take 22balmi for her pain, if so be she may be healed.
hIsa. 21:9; Rev. 14:8; 18:2.
22 See Jer. 8 on verse 22.
iJer. 8:22.
9We would have 23healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsakej her, and 24let us go every one into his own country: for her 25judgment reacheth unto heaven, and is 26lifted up even to the 27skies.
23 The Hebrew word signifies both, to physic, to medicate, to use remedies, and to heal or to make whole; both significations are used in this verse, as they would say: We have done our best to help her, but all is to no purpose.
jJer. 46:11.
24 As Jer. 46:16. These are the words of the hired soldiers of the Babylonians.
25 That is, punishment. See Jer. 48 on verse 21.
26 Or, lifteth up itself.
27 Or, thinnest clouds.
1028The LORD hath brought forth our 29righteousness: come, and let us declare in Zion the work of the LORD our God.
28 The words of God’s people.
29 That is, the justice of our cause against Babel; for, though God justly punished His people, yet Babel was not therefore guiltless. Compare Isa. 10:7; Micah 7:9, etc.
1130Makek bright the arrows; 31gather the shields: the LORD hath raised up the spirit of the kings of the 32Medes: for his device is against Babylon, to destroy it; because it is the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeancel of his 33temple.
30 Make them clean; spoken to the Babylonians in a deriding way. Compare verse 12; Jer. 46:4.
kJer. 46:4.
31 Hebr. properly: fill, occupy, that is, make them ready to the full; or, take them with a full hand, or (as some) gather them, bring them fully together. Likewise: perfect them, if anything be amiss or wanting in them. Other, fill the quivers.
32 Understand therewith also Persia. Also verse 28.
lJer. 50:28.
33 See Jer. 50 on verse 28.
12Set up the standard upon the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set up the watchmen, prepare the 34ambushes: for the LORD hath both 35devised and done that which he spake against the inhabitants of Babylon.
34 Or, liers in wait, lurkers, to watch the enemy, and to disadvantage him unawares; implying that all will not avail, for the Lord wants to say, you shall not be able with all your preparations of war to hinder God’s design and work.
35 Hebr. the LORD hath also thought or purposed, he hath also done, etc., that is, as, also, etc. Or, He has not only purposed, but also performed it, that is, He will also surely do it. Compare verse 49.
13O thou that dwellest upon many 36waters, abundant in treasures, thine 37end is come, and the 38measure of thy covetousness.
36 Because the great river Euphrates ran not only by, but also through Babel, and there were many waters round about. Compare Rev. 17:1, 15.
37 That is, the time of thy ruin, which God has appointed unto thee.
38 Hebr. cubit. Understand hereby the bounds that God had set to her insatiable desirability, which they were not able to pass over, but would therewith be at an end.
14Them LORD of hosts hath sworn by 39himself, saying, 40Surely I will fill thee with men, as with 41caterpillers; and they shall lift up a 42shout 43against thee.
mAmos 6:8.
39 Spoken of God after the manner of men; or, by his soul; as God speaks Jer. 22:24; 49:13. See Gen. 22 on verse 16.
40 As the Hebrew particles are taken Jer. 2:22; 37:10. Likewise 1 Sam. 14:39. Other, If I would not fill, and they, etc., understanding the large army of the Medes and the Persians, wherewith God shall accomplish on her His oath here made.
41 A sort of creatures, having their name in Hebrew (as some conceive) from spoiling the fruits by licking. See verse 27; Psalm 105:34; Joel 1:4; 2:25; Nahum 3:15, 16. Some call them cankerworms or herb-worms.
42 See hereof Jer. 25 on verse 30, and understand this of the enemies that would attack Babel.
43 Triumphing over thee; or, making a war cry against thee to stir up one another to attack and conquer thee, though thou wert ever so populous.
1544He hath made the earthn by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretchedo out the heaven by his understanding.
44 See Jer. 10:12, 13, 14, 15, 16, where almost the same words are found which are used here unto the 20th verse. See the annotations there.
nGen. 1:1; Jer. 10:12, etc.
oJob 9:8; Psalm 104:2; Isa. 40:22; 44:24; 51:13; Jer. 10:12.
16When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens; and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth: he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.
17Every man is brutish by his knowledge; every founderp is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.
p a person who casts metal or glass in a mould
18They are vanity, the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.
19The portionq of Jacob is not like them; for he is the former of all things: and 45Israel is the rod of his inheritance: the LORD of hosts is his name.
qJer. 10:16.
45 This word is here inserted from Jer. 10:16. Other, and he (namely, God) is the rod of his (namely, of Jacob) inheritance, that is, Who has given Himself for an inheritance unto His people.
2046Thou art my 47battle axerand 48weapons of war: for with thee 49will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms;
46 These are the words of God to the Babylonians. Others understand this as a speech directed to king Cyrus, who would conquer the Babylonians, and translate the 24th verse thus: And I will, etc.
47 Or, mallet; understand such a hammer of God which smashes all things, even the very rocks in pieces and to shivers. Compare Jer. 23 on verse 29. The similitude (as appears from the sequel) is taken from soldiers, especially from the cuirassiers, who are wont to have their poleaxes or battleaxes to cut and to break therewith the iron weapons or armor asunder, and to knock down the enemy.
rJer. 50:23.
48 Or, furniture, instruments, that is, thou shalt be an instrument and a rod of Mine anger and righteous judgment upon many nations.
49 Here God speaks in proper terms, namely, in the future tense, and not in the past tense, as otherwise is frequently done in a prophetical manner in this prediction.
21And with thee will I break in pieces the horse and his rider; and with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and his 50rider;
50 Or, him that rideth upon it. Of chariot riders, who in those times did use to fight from chariots. See 2 Sam. 10 on verse 18.
22With thee also will I break in pieces man and woman; and with thee will I break in pieces old and young; and with thee will I break in pieces the young man and the maid;
23I will also break in pieces with thee the shepherd and his flock; and with thee will I break in pieces the husbandman and his 51yoke of oxen; and with thee will I break in pieces captains and rulers.
51 Or, couple, pair of oxen, that is, the oxen that go and labor together in the yoke.
2452And I will render unto Babylon and to all the inhabitants of 53Chaldea all their evil that they have done in Zion in 54your sight, saith the LORD.
52 As if the Lord said: When I shall have used the Babylonians in all the aforementioned judgments, as Mine instrument, then I will not forbear to punish the wickedness which they in the meanwhile practiced and committed, especially towards Mine own people. Compare on verse 10.
53 That is, of the land of the Chaldeans, or of Chaldea. Also verse 35.
54 God speaks this unto His people, before whose eyes He would cause this judgment to occur upon Babel.
25Behold, I 55am against thee, O destroying 56mountain, saith the LORD, which destroyest all the 57earth: and I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and roll thee down from the 58rocks, and will make thee a 59burnt mountain.
55 As Jer. 50:31.
56 As such Babel is called by reason of her royal dignity and pomp, and her being like a mountain, in regard of her high, thick walls, and high royal buildings. Compare Rev. 17:9.
57 Compare Rev. 11:18; 13:14.
58 Cast thee down from thine high forts that thou shalt tumble and roll along as a vessel or some other thing that is rolled down from a rock, burst in pieces, and is broken all to shivers.
59 Where all things shall lie as in ashes, and nothing shall remain but mere ashes and burnt heaps of stone, as is apparent in places that are burned down. See verse 58.
26And they shall not take of thee a 60stone for a corner, nor a stone for foundations; 61but thou shalt be desolate 62for ever, saith the LORD.
60 That is, thou shalt not be built again, or thou shalt be so wasted and destroyed, that a stone shall not be found among thy remaining heaps of stone, fit for a cornerstone, or a foundation-stone.
61 Or, for.
62 Hebr. desolations of eternity. Also verse 62.
27Set ye up a standards in the land, blow the trumpet among the nations, 63prepare the nations against her, 64call together against her the kingdoms of 65Ararat, 66Minni, and 67Ashchenaz; appoint a 68captain against her; cause the horses to come up as the 69rough 70caterpillers.
s flag, banner*
63 That is, separate them, prepare them, arm them for this work of the Lord against Babel. Compare Jer. 6:4 with the annotation. Also in the next verse.
64 Hebr. properly: do or cause to be heard, that is, sometimes, to gather together by proclamation.
65 Great Armenia. See Gen. 8 on verse 4.
66 Little Armenia.
67 See Gen. 10 on verse 3. It is considered that these countries Cyrus had taken before he subdued Babel; or, that they were in part his confederates.
68 The Hebrew word is only found in this place and in Nahum 3:17, signifying (as some conceive) such a commander or officer who receives the king’s command and conveys and explains them to the soldiery. Others understand king Cyrus himself, or Darius (according to their opinion), his father-in-law.
69 Or, rugged, hairy caterpillars, whose hairs stand on end, as if they were seared, and look most terrible. Compare Job 4:15; Psalm 119:120, where the same word is used. Hebr. horse as a caterpiller, that is rough.
70 Horses in multitude, as grasshoppers. See on verse 14.
28Prepare against her the nations with the kings of the 71Medes, the captains 72thereof, and all the rulers thereof, and all the land 73of his dominion.
71 As verse 11.
72 Understand the governors or princes of Media.
73 Or, of her dominion. Hebr. of his dominion, namely, of the dominion of every king; or, the genders are changed, because the Hebrew word, which signifies land and earth, is used in both genders.
29And the land shall tremble and sorrow: for 74every purpose of the LORD shall be performed against Babylon, to make the land of Babylon a desolation without an inhabitant.
74 Hebr. the thoughts of the Lord standeth fast, that is, every one of His thoughts, that is, every purpose.
30The mighty men of Babylon have forborn to fight, they have 75remained in their holds: their might hath failed; they became ast76women: 77they have burned her dwellingplaces; her 78bars are broken.
75 They will not dare to come into the field, and look the enemy in the face.
tJer. 50:37.
76 See Jer. 50:37, and compare Isa. 3:12.
77 The enemies, Medes and Persians.
78 Of houses and little gates, which were in great abundance toward the river, Herodotus, book 1.
3179One post shall run to meet another, and one messenger to meet another, to shew the king of Babylon that his city is taken 80at one end,
79 As is usual in a sudden and unexpected invasion and inroad of the enemy.
80 Where the Persians and Medes broke in and took the city before it was known in the center and at the other end of the city, in regard of its size. This Herodotus testifies to have happened just so as it is here prophesied.
32And that the 81passages are stopped, and the 82reeds they have burned with fire, and the men of war are affrighted.
81 Because Cyrus had diverted the waters of the Euphrates, in order that thereby the soldiers passed into the city. Otherwise simply: passages, or fords.
82 Namely, the reed-pools, that were diverted from the river here and there, which might have greatly prejudiced the enemy. Some conceive that it is simply spoken by way of comparison of the water-pools that they were dried up as if they had been burnt and dried up by fire.
33For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; 83The daughter of Babylon is like a threshingfloor, it is time to 84thresh her: yet a 85little while, and the time of her 86harvest shall come.
83 That is, Babel, which is compared to a beautiful voluptuous virgin, shall now be handled like a threshingfloor, and the corn that is in it.
84 Or, cause her to be trodden, that is, level, or make hard and even, to thresh the corn on it, or, that men thresh her, for, the threshing oxen or bullocks did tread the corn.
85 Namely, a while; it will be quickly, it will not stay long.
86 And consequently, the threshing time; understand the time of her calamity by the Medes and the Persians, who would, as it were, tread them under foot and thresh them out as they had previously done to the people of God and to others. See Isa. 21 on verse 10.
3487Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon hath 88devoured me, he hath crushed me, he hath made me an empty vessel, he hath swallowed me up like a dragon, he hath filled his 89belly with my delicates,u he hath 90cast me out.
87 This is a complaint of God’s people, as the next verse shows.
88 Compare Deut. 31:17 with the annotation. Likewise Isa. 30:14; Jer. 19:11; 50:7.
89 Or, paunch, entrails. The Hebrew word is only found here.
u luxurious food
90 Out of my country. Or, he hath washed me away, all is to one sense.
35The violence done 91to me and 92to my flesh 93be upon Babylon, shall the 94inhabitant of Zion say; and my 95blood upon the inhabitants of 96Chaldea, shall Jerusalem say.
91 Hebr. my violence and of my flesh, that is, the violence that is or has been done to me and to my flesh. Compare Judges 9 on verse 24; Jer. 2 on verse 2; Obadiah on verse 10.
92 That is, my brethren and kinsmen. Compare Lev. 18:6; Rom. 11:14.
93 Or, is, that is, lies. See Judges 9 on verse 24.
94 The people that belongs to Jerusalem, or the church of God.
95 Compare Mat. 27:25.
96 That is, of Chaldea; as verse 24.
36Therefore thus saith the LORD; 97Behold, I will 98plead thy cause, and take vengeance for thee; and I will dry up her 99sea,v and make her 100springs dry.
97 God’s answer to the previous words of His people.
98 See Jer. 50:34.
99 The waters of the Euphrates, which are roundabout and in the midst of her. See of the use of the word sea Gen. 1 on verse 10, and compare Jer. 50 on verse 38.
vJer. 50:38.
100 That is, the river which proceeds from her spring.
37And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwellingplace for dragons, an 101astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant.
101 See 1 Kings 9 on verse 8; Jer. 18 on verse 16.
38102They shall roar together like lions: they shall 103yell as lions' whelps.
102 The Babylonians shall shout, rage and roar in their feasting banquets as wanton young, wild lions, to which the following verse agrees. Or (as some), they shall roar and yell like hunger-starved, young lions, because their prey is taken from them. Others understand it of the Persians and the Medes, who would roar as lions for the prey of Babel.
103 Or, grunt, that is, utter an imperfect roar, which is similar to the noise of donkeys. Others: shake out themselves, or, shake of their hair. Compare Judges 16:20 with the annotation.
39In their 104heat I will make their 105feasts, and I will make them drunken, that they may 106rejoice, and sleep a 107perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the LORD.
104 Through drunkenness in their wicked banquets. Then will I prepare them with another drink. See the accomplishment (according to the opinion of some) Daniel 5.
105 Hebr. drinkings or draughts, everyone his draught, which I have prepared for everyone in My cup of wrath, and will cause them to drink it.
106 Yet not for joy, but for fear and trembling.
107 Hebr. sleep of eternity, that is, be slain, die the long sleep, the death, and return not again into the world or into this life. Compare Psalm 76:5 and Eccl. 12:5 with the annotations, and below verse 57. Likewise Psalm 13:3.
40I will bring them down like lambs to the 108slaughter, like rams 109with he goats.
108 That is, to the slaughter, to the slaughterhouse to be killed, as Jer. 11:19; 25:34; 48:15; 50:27.
109 That is, and as he goats.
41110How is 111Sheshachw taken! and how is the 112praisex of the whole earth surprised! how is Babylon become an 113astonishment among the nations!
110 As Jer. 50:23.
111 See Jer. 25 on verse 26.
wJer. 25:26.
112 That is, renowned throughout the entire world. Compare Isa. 13:19; Jer. 49:25.
xIsa. 13:19.
113 In order that everyone admires, and is astonished at her, as verse 37, and often in previous places.
42114The sea is come up upon Babylon: she is covered with the multitude of the waves thereof.
114 An answer to the previous question in verse 41; of which the meaning is, that Babel, which seemed to be invincible, would be overwhelmed by an irresistible power, namely, by the large army of the Medes and the Persians, being brought on and strengthened by God’s mighty hand.
43Her cities are a desolation, a dry land, and a wilderness, a land 115wherein 116no man dwelleth, neither doth any son of man pass thereby.
115 Hebr. in whose or in the same cities.
116 Hebr. not every man, that is, no one, not one person.
44And I will punish 117Bel in Babylon, and I will bring forth out of his mouth that which he hath 118swallowed up: and the nations shall not 119flow together any more unto him: yea, the wall of Babylon 120shall fall.
117 See Jer. 50:2.
118 Hebr. his swallowing. Some apply this to the sacrifices that were to be offered unto this idol, of which we may read in the apocryphal writings of Daniel, and in Herodotus. Others understand it of the prey and the subdued countries, the glory of the victory whereof they ascribed unto this idol. Compare Judges 11:24; Jer. 49:1.
119 As streams of water, from which the Hebrew word is derived. Compare Psalm 34:5 with the annotation.
120 That is, shall certainly fall, even though it is counted an everlasting and invincible work, or a work that cannot be broken. See verse 58.
45My people, go ye out of the midst of her, and deliver ye every man his soul 121from the fierce anger of the LORD.
121 That ye may not likewise perish in her punishment. Compare verse 6. And that ye may escape the dangers, of which in the sequel.
46And lest your heart faint, and ye fear for the 122rumour that shall be heard in the land; a rumour shall both come 123one year, and after that in another year shall come a rumour, and violence in the land, 124ruler against ruler.
122 That is, the tidings that shall be heard of the advance, the arrival and the continuance of the kings of the Medes and the Persians against Babel. Hebr. properly: hearing.
123 Hebr. in the year and in the year; or, the year and the year through, that is, in the one year and in the other year, or one year after another, year by year, all the year through, both in the first and in the second year. Histories mention that Cyrus did not arrive at Babel the first year of his expedition against it, but in the second year.
124 Or, lord over lord, namely, the lords of the Medes and the Persians shall be upon and against the Babylonians.
47Therefore, behold, the days come, that I will do judgment upon the 125graven images of Babylon: and her whole land shall be confounded, and all 126her slain shall 127fall in the midst of her.
125 Or, carved.
126 That is, those of her people who shall be mortally wounded and cut down.
127 See on verse 4. Also in the sequel.
48Then the 128heaven and the earth, and all that is therein, shall sing 129for Babylon: for the spoilers 130shall come unto her from the 131north, saith the LORD.
128 Compare Rev. 12:12; 18:20; 19:1, etc.
129 That is, for Babel’s ruin.
130 Hebr. shall her spoilers come, etc., that is, all and every one of them that shall destroy her.
131 See Jer. 50 on verse 3.
49As Babylon hath caused the 132slain of Israel 133to fall, so 134at Babylon shall fall the slain of all the earth.
132 Since all places lay full of slain Jews (see verse 4 with the annotation), as such shall the land of Babel again be full of the slain. Hebr. Also is Babel, also shall at Babel, etc. Compare verse 12 with the annotation.
133 Hebr. for falls, that is, she labored for it, was bent to it; it was her heart and mind; she served for that purpose. Or thus: As Babel caused the slain of Israel to fall. The sense is one and the same.
134 Or, of Babel, in Babel.
50135Ye that have escaped the sword, go away, stand not still: remember the LORD 136afar off, and let Jerusalem 137come into your mind.
135 This is spoken to the captive Jews who remained in Babel.
136 From Babylon; remember then what Babel did unto Jerusalem, and how she is rewarded; and moreover, set your hearts to return again to Jerusalem, etc.
137 Compare Jer. 3:16; 7:31, with the annotations.
51138We are confounded, because we have heard reproach: shame hath covered our faces: for 139strangers are come into the sanctuaries of the LORD's house.
138 When ye remember Jerusalem.
139 The Babylonians, who burned the temple.
52140Wherefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will do judgment upon 141her graven images: and through all her land the wounded shall 142groan.
140 God’s answer to the previous complaint of His people.
141 Babel’s idols; also in the sequel.
142 Or, sigh, lament, that is, her entire land shall be full of the lamentations and cries of those who are wounded, which as slain men shall die. Compare verse 49. The Hebrew word signifies both, a mortally wounded and a slain man.
53Though Babylon should mount up to heaven, and 143though she should fortify the height of her strength, yet from me shall spoilers come unto her, saith the LORD.
143 Other, though she should fortify her strength on high. Compare Jer. 49:16; Obadiah verse 4.
54A sound of a cry cometh from Babylon, and great 144destruction from the land of the Chaldeans:
144 That is, desolation, misery, calamity, etc. See Jer. 4 on verse 6. Other, breach.
55Because the 145LORD hath spoiled Babylon, and destroyed out of her the 146great voice; when 147her waves do roar like 148great waters, a 149noise of their voice 150is uttered:
145 As the Author of this war, or the supreme Commander of the Medes and the Persians.
146 That is, the high renown, the haughty speaking and boasts of the Babylonians, which they were wont to use, when their monarchy flourished. Other, the great noise, that is, the stir that was in Babel by reason of the multitude of people in it.
147 Of the Medes and the Persians, who shall overflow Babel as a sea. See verse 42. Other, although their (of the Babylonians) waves, etc., though they make now such a stir, etc.
148 Or, many.
149 Or, droning, great noise of their voice, namely, of the Babylonians, who made a great noise and cry because of their miseries.
150 Hebr. is given, performed, that is, shall be lifted up, shall lift up itself, in order that a man shall be able to hear their coming afar off.
56151Because the spoiler is come upon her, even upon Babylon, and her mighty men are taken, every one of their bows 152is broken: for the LORD God of recompences shall 153surely requite.
151 Or, When the spoiler, etc., then shall, etc.
152 Or, their bows are broken. Hebr. is broken, that is, each one of their bows, all their bows shall be broken.
153 Hebr. paying pay.
57And I will make 154drunk her princes, and her wise men, her captains, and her rulers, and her mighty men: and they shall sleep a 155perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts.
154 Out of the cup of My wrath.
155 See on verse 39.
58Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The 156broad 157walls of Babylon shall be utterly 158broken, and her high gates shall be burned with fire; and the 159people shall labour 160in vain, and the folk in the 161fire, and they shall be weary.
156 Which was fifty royal cubits thick and wide, so that two chariots could conveniently ride abreast upon it, yet a space remaining between both, as histories testify.
157 Hebr. walls, because this wall was so exceeding thick, as if it had been many walls; as behemoth, beasts, is taken for a great beast, as an elephant, etc. See Job 40:15; Psalm 73:22.
158 Or, uncovered, namely, unto the very foundation. Compare Psalm 137:7. Other, broken.
159 Whose labors the Babylonians had used in the making of this wall.
160 Or, for emptying, that is, that all might be taken away, destroyed and scattered abroad, what was brought and plied up together for it.
161 Or, for the fire, that is, that their labor might be burned with fire; not that this was the intention or aim of the builders, but that their labor fell out as such by the Providence of God, and served for that end and purpose. Compare Hab. 2:13.
59¶The 162word which Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, when he went 163with Zedekiah the king of Judah into Babylon in the fourth year of his reign. And this Seraiah was a 164quiet prince.
162 Or, The matter which, etc.
163 Or, by reason of. The Hebrew particle is sometimes taken for from, by reason of, out of, as appears in Gen. 4:1; 44:4; Exod. 9:29; Ezek. 6:9; Micah 3:8, and at this place. Other, with Zedekiah; but this is nowhere else mentioned in Scripture, and it seems not very credible that Zedekiah, having rebelled against the king of Babel, would have adventured to go in person to Babel, but rather that he would mediate a reconciliation and peace by means of this peaceable pious ambassador.
164 Hebr. prince of rest, that is, a godly, quiet and a peaceable man, whom Jeremiah may have entrusted with this business, whereat another man in those times would have mocked, and refused to do it, as being full of danger and trouble. Other, chief of (the king’s) rest, that is, high chamberlain. Some conceive it to be a name of a certain region, whereof see 1 Chron. 2 on verse 52.
60So Jeremiah wrote in a 165book all the evil that should come upon Babylon, even all these words that are written against Babylon.
165 Understand a special book, or duplicate, copy, transcript, which he gave to Seraiah to take along with him.
61And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, When thou comest to Babylon, and shalt 166see, and shalt read all these words;
166 Or, behold or look upon, view it (namely, Babel), to compare this prophecy with the present state of Babel. Or, when thou shalt see it, etc.
62Then shalt thou say, O LORD, thou hast spoken against this place, to cut it off, that none shall remain in it, neither man nor beast, but that it shall be desolate 167for ever.
167 Hebr. desolations of eternity, as verse 26.
63And it shall be, when thou hast made an end of reading this book, that thou shalt bind a stone to it, and cast it into the midst of 168Euphrates:
168 Or, the Phrath, which ran by and through Babel.
64And thou shalt say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise 169from the evil that I will bring upon 170her: and 171they shall be weary. 172Thus far are the 173words of Jeremiah.
169 Hebr. from the face of the evil, that is, from or because of the evil of punishment, of mishap, of calamity, of destruction, etc.
170 Babel.
171 Namely, the Babylonians shall grow faint and feeble, and fail, so that they shall not be able to rise or come up again, though they labor and toil exceedingly about it
172 Compare Jer. 48:47.
173 Namely, concerning Babel’s punishment, or concerning the prophecies of Jeremiah in general, which are contained and gathered together in this book. From this is gathered by some that the next chapter was added to it by some other man of God, as a seal and further exposition of the preceding prophecies. Compare the annotation on the 34th chapter of Deuteronomy.