1The wordH1697 that the LORDH3068 spakeH1696 against BabylonH894 and against the landH776 of the ChaldeansH3778 byH3027 JeremiahH3414 the prophetH5030. 2DeclareH5046 ye among the nationsH1471, and publishH8085, and set upH5375 a standardH5251; publishH8085, and concealH3582 not: sayH559, BabylonH894 is takenH3920, BelH1078 is confoundedH3001, MerodachH4781 is broken in piecesH2865 ; her idolsH6091 are confoundedH3001, her imagesH1544 are broken in piecesH2865 . 3For out of the northH6828 there cometh upH5927 a nationH1471 against her, which shall makeH7896 her landH776 desolateH8047, and none shall dwellH3427 therein: they shall removeH5110, they shall departH1980, both manH120 and beastH929. 4In those daysH3117, and in that timeH6256, saithH5002 the LORDH3068, the childrenH1121 of IsraelH3478 shall comeH935, they and the childrenH1121 of JudahH3063 togetherH3162, goingH1980 and weepingH1058 : they shall goH3212, and seekH1245 the LORDH3068 their GodH430. 5They shall askH7592 the wayH1870 to ZionH6726 with their facesH6440 thitherwardH2008, saying, ComeH935, and let us joinH3867 ourselves to the LORDH3068 in a perpetualH5769 covenantH1285 that shall not be forgottenH7911 . 6My peopleH5971 hath been lostH6 sheepH6629: their shepherdsH7462 have caused them to go astrayH8582, they have turned them awayH7725 H7726 on the mountainsH2022: they have goneH1980 from mountainH2022 to hillH1389, they have forgottenH7911 their restingplaceH7258. 7All that foundH4672 them have devouredH398 them: and their adversariesH6862 saidH559, We offendH816 not, because they have sinnedH2398 against the LORDH3068, the habitationH5116 of justiceH6664, even the LORDH3068, the hopeH4723 of their fathersH1. 8RemoveH5110 out of the midstH8432 of BabylonH894, and go forthH3318 H3318 out of the landH776 of the ChaldeansH3778, and be as the he goatsH6260 beforeH6440 the flocksH6629. 9For, lo, I will raiseH5782 and cause to come upH5927 against BabylonH894 an assemblyH6951 of greatH1419 nationsH1471 from the northH6828 countryH776: and they shall set themselves in arrayH6186 against her; from thence she shall be takenH3920 : their arrowsH2671 shall be as of a mightyH1368 expert manH7919 H7921 ; none shall returnH7725 in vainH7387. 10And ChaldeaH3778 shall be a spoilH7998: all that spoilH7997 her shall be satisfiedH7646, saithH5002 the LORDH3068. 11Because ye were gladH8055, because ye rejoicedH5937, O ye destroyersH8154 of mine heritageH5159, because ye are grown fatH6335 as the heiferH5697 at grassH1877 H1758, and bellowH6670 as bullsH47; 12Your motherH517 shall be soreH3966 confoundedH954 ; she that bareH3205 you shall be ashamedH2659 : behold, the hindermostH319 of the nationsH1471 shall be a wildernessH4057, a dry landH6723, and a desertH6160. 13Because of the wrathH7110 of the LORDH3068 it shall not be inhabitedH3427, but it shall be wholly desolateH8077: every one that goethH5674 by BabylonH894 shall be astonishedH8074, and hissH8319 at all her plaguesH4347. 14Put yourselves in arrayH6186 against BabylonH894 round aboutH5439: all ye that bendH1869 the bowH7198, shootH3034 at her, spareH2550 no arrowsH2671: for she hath sinnedH2398 against the LORDH3068. 15ShoutH7321 against her round aboutH5439: she hath givenH5414 her handH3027: her foundationsH803 are fallenH5307, her wallsH2346 are thrown downH2040 : for it is the vengeanceH5360 of the LORDH3068: take vengeanceH5358 upon her; as she hath doneH6213, doH6213 unto her. 16Cut offH3772 the sowerH2232 from BabylonH894, and him that handlethH8610 the sickleH4038 in the timeH6256 of harvestH7105: for fearH6440 of the oppressingH3238 swordH2719 they shall turnH6437 every oneH376 to his peopleH5971, and they shall fleeH5127 every oneH376 to his own landH776. 17IsraelH3478 is a scatteredH6340 sheepH7716; the lionsH738 have driven him awayH5080 : firstH7223 the kingH4428 of AssyriaH804 hath devouredH398 him; and lastH314 this NebuchadrezzarH5019 kingH4428 of BabylonH894 hath broken his bonesH6105 . 18Therefore thus saithH559 the LORDH3068 of hostsH6635, the GodH430 of IsraelH3478; Behold, I will punishH6485 the kingH4428 of BabylonH894 and his landH776, as I have punishedH6485 the kingH4428 of AssyriaH804. 19And I will bringH7725 IsraelH3478 againH7725 to his habitationH5116, and he shall feedH7462 on CarmelH3760 and BashanH1316, and his soulH5315 shall be satisfiedH7646 upon mountH2022 EphraimH669 and GileadH1568. 20In those daysH3117, and in that timeH6256, saithH5002 the LORDH3068, the iniquityH5771 of IsraelH3478 shall be sought forH1245, and there shall be none; and the sinsH2403 of JudahH3063, and they shall not be foundH4672 : for I will pardonH5545 them whom I reserveH7604 . 21Go upH5927 against the landH776 of MerathaimH4850, even against it, and against the inhabitantsH3427 of PekodH6489: wasteH2717 and utterly destroyH2763 afterH310 them, saithH5002 the LORDH3068, and doH6213 according to all that I have commandedH6680 thee. 22A soundH6963 of battleH4421 is in the landH776, and of greatH1419 destructionH7667. 23How is the hammerH6360 of the whole earthH776 cut asunderH1438 and brokenH7665 ! how is BabylonH894 become a desolationH8047 among the nationsH1471! 24I have laid a snareH3369 for thee, and thou art also takenH3920, O BabylonH894, and thou wast not awareH3045 : thou art foundH4672, and also caughtH8610, because thou hast strivenH1624 against the LORDH3068. 25The LORDH3068 hath openedH6605 his armouryH214, and hath brought forthH3318 the weaponsH3627 of his indignationH2195: for this is the workH4399 of the LordH136 GODH3069 of hostsH6635 in the landH776 of the ChaldeansH3778. 26ComeH935 against her from the utmost borderH7093, openH6605 her storehousesH3965: cast her upH5549 as heapsH6194, and destroy her utterlyH2763 : let nothing of her be leftH7611. 27SlayH2717 all her bullocksH6499; let them go downH3381 to the slaughterH2874: woeH1945 unto them! for their dayH3117 is comeH935, the timeH6256 of their visitationH6486. 28The voiceH6963 of them that fleeH5127 and escape outH6405 of the landH776 of BabylonH894, to declareH5046 in ZionH6726 the vengeanceH5360 of the LORDH3068 our GodH430, the vengeanceH5360 of his templeH1964. 29Call togetherH8085 the archersH7228 against BabylonH894: all ye that bendH1869 the bowH7198, campH2583 against it round aboutH5439; let none thereof escapeH6413: recompenseH7999 her according to her workH6467; according to all that she hath doneH6213, doH6213 unto her: for she hath been proudH2102 against the LORDH3068, against the Holy OneH6918 of IsraelH3478. 30Therefore shall her young menH970 fallH5307 in the streetsH7339, and all her menH582 of warH4421 shall be cut offH1826 in that dayH3117, saithH5002 the LORDH3068. 31Behold, I am against thee, O thou most proudH2087, saithH5002 the LordH136 GODH3069 of hostsH6635: for thy dayH3117 is comeH935, the timeH6256 that I will visitH6485 thee. 32And the most proudH2087 shall stumbleH3782 and fallH5307, and none shall raise him upH6965 : and I will kindleH3341 a fireH784 in his citiesH5892, and it shall devourH398 all round aboutH5439 him. 33Thus saithH559 the LORDH3068 of hostsH6635; The childrenH1121 of IsraelH3478 and the childrenH1121 of JudahH3063 were oppressedH6231 togetherH3162: and all that took them captivesH7617 held them fastH2388 ; they refusedH3985 to let them goH7971 . 34Their RedeemerH1350 is strongH2389; the LORDH3068 of hostsH6635 is his nameH8034: he shall throughlyH7378 pleadH7378 their causeH7379, that he may give restH7280 to the landH776, and disquietH7264 the inhabitantsH3427 of BabylonH894. 35A swordH2719 is upon the ChaldeansH3778, saithH5002 the LORDH3068, and upon the inhabitantsH3427 of BabylonH894, and upon her princesH8269, and upon her wiseH2450 men. 36A swordH2719 is upon the liarsH907; and they shall doteH2973 : a swordH2719 is upon her mighty menH1368; and they shall be dismayedH2865 . 37A swordH2719 is upon their horsesH5483, and upon their chariotsH7393, and upon all the mingled peopleH6153 that are in the midstH8432 of her; and they shall become as womenH802: a swordH2719 is upon her treasuresH214; and they shall be robbedH962 . 38A droughtH2721 is upon her watersH4325; and they shall be dried upH3001 : for it is the landH776 of graven imagesH6456, and they are madH1984 upon their idolsH367. 39Therefore the wild beasts of the desertH6728 with the wild beasts of the islandsH338 shall dwellH3427 there, and the owlsH1323 H3284 shall dwellH3427 therein: and it shall be no more inhabitedH3427 for everH5331; neither shall it be dweltH7931 in from generationH1755 to generationH1755. 40As GodH430 overthrewH4114 SodomH5467 and GomorrahH6017 and the neighbourH7934 cities thereof, saithH5002 the LORDH3068; so shall no manH376 abideH3427 there, neither shall any sonH1121 of manH120 dwellH1481 therein. 41Behold, a peopleH5971 shall comeH935 from the northH6828, and a greatH1419 nationH1471, and manyH7227 kingsH4428 shall be raised upH5782 from the coastsH3411 of the earthH776. 42They shall holdH2388 the bowH7198 and the lanceH3591: they are cruelH394, and will not shew mercyH7355 : their voiceH6963 shall roarH1993 like the seaH3220, and they shall rideH7392 upon horsesH5483, every one put in arrayH6186, like a manH376 to the battleH4421, against thee, O daughterH1323 of BabylonH894. 43The kingH4428 of BabylonH894 hath heardH8085 the reportH8088 of them, and his handsH3027 waxed feebleH7503 : anguishH6869 took holdH2388 of him, and pangsH2427 as of a woman in travailH3205 . 44Behold, he shall come upH5927 like a lionH738 from the swellingH1347 of JordanH3383 unto the habitationH5116 of the strongH386: but I will makeH7323 them suddenlyH7280 run awayH7323 H7323 from her: and who is a chosenH977 man, that I may appointH6485 over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the timeH3259 ? and who is that shepherdH7462 that will standH5975 beforeH6440 me? 45Therefore hearH8085 ye the counselH6098 of the LORDH3068, that he hath takenH3289 against BabylonH894; and his purposesH4284, that he hath purposedH2803 against the landH776 of the ChaldeansH3778: Surely the leastH6810 of the flockH6629 shall draw them outH5498 : surely he shall make their habitationH5116 desolateH8074 with them. 46At the noiseH6963 of the takingH8610 of BabylonH894 the earthH776 is movedH7493, and the cryH2201 is heardH8085 among the nationsH1471.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 BABYLON'S COMING DOWNFALL; ISRAEL'S REDEMPTION. (Jer. 50:1-46)
Compare Isa. 45:1-47:15. But as the time of fulfilment drew nearer, the prophecies are now proportionally more distinct than then.
2 Declare . . . among . . . nations--who would rejoice at the fall of Babylon their oppressor.
standard--to indicate the place of meeting to the nations where they were to hear the good news of Babylon's fall [ROSENMULLER]; or, the signal to summon the nations together against Babylon (
Jer 51:12,
Jer 51:27), [MAURER].
Bel--the tutelary god of Babylon; the same idol as the Phśnician Baal, that is, lord, the sun (
Isa 46:1).
confounded--because unable to defend the city under their protection.
Merodach--another Babylonian idol; meaning in Syria "little lord"; from which Merodach-baladan took his name.
3 a nation--the Medes, north of Babylon (
Jer 51:48). The devastation of Babylon here foretold includes not only that by Cyrus, but also that more utter one by Darius, who took Babylon by artifice when it had revolted from Persia, and mercilessly slaughtered the inhabitants, hanging four thousand of the nobles; also the final desertion of Babylon, owing to Seleucia having been built close by under Seleucus Nicanor.
4 Fulfilled only in part when some few of the ten tribes of "Israel" joined Judah in a "covenant" with God, at the restoration of Judah to its land (
Neh 9:38;
Neh 10:29). The full event is yet to come (
Jer 31:9;
Hos 1:11;
Zech 12:10).
weeping--with joy at their restoration beyond all hope; and with sorrow at the remembrance of their sins and sufferings (
Ezra 3:12-
Ezra 3:13;
Ps 126:5-
Ps 126:6).
seek . . . Lord-- (
Hos 3:5).
5 thitherward--rather, "hitherward," Jeremiah's prophetical standpoint being at Zion. "Faces hitherward" implies their steadfastness of purpose not to be turned aside by any difficulties on the way.
perpetual covenant--in contrast to the old covenant "which they brake" (
Jer 31:31, &c.;
Jer 32:40). They shall return to their God first, then to their own land.
6 (
Isa 53:6).
on the mountains--whereon they sacrificed to idols (
Jer 2:20;
Jer 3:6,
Jer 3:23).
resting-place--for the "sheep," continuing the image; Jehovah is the resting-place of His sheep (
Matt 11:28). They rest in His "bosom" (
Isa 40:11). Also His temple at Zion, their "rest," because it is His (
Ps 132:8,
Ps 132:14).
7 devoured-- (
Ps 79:7). "Found them" implies that they were exposed to the attacks of those whoever happened to meet them.
adversaries said--for instance, Nebuzara-dan (
Jer 40:2-
Jer 40:3; compare
Zech 11:5). The Gentiles acknowledged some supreme divinity. The Jews' guilt was so palpable that they were condemned even in the judgment of heathens. Some knowledge of God's peculiar relation to Judea reached its heathen invaders from the prophets (
Jer 2:3;
Dan 9:16); hence the strong language they use of Jehovah here, not as worshippers of Him themselves, but as believing Him to be the tutelary God of Judah ("the hope of their fathers,"
Ps 22:4; they do not say our hope), as each country was thought to have its local god, whose power extended no farther.
habitation-- (
Ps 90:1;
Ps 91:1). Alluding to the tabernacle, or, as in
Ezek 34:14, "fold," which carries out the image in
Jer 50:6, "resting-place" of the "sheep." But it can only mean "habitation" (
Jer 31:23), which confirms English Version here.
hope of their fathers--This especially condemned the Jews that their apostasy was from that God whose faithfulness their fathers had experienced. At the same time these "adversaries" unconsciously use language which corrects their own notions. The covenant with the Jews' "fathers" is not utterly set aside by their sin, as their adversaries thought; there is still "a habitation" or refuge for them with the God of their fathers.
8 (
Jer 51:6,
Jer 51:45;
Isa 48:20;
Zech 2:6-
Zech 2:7;
Rev 18:4). Immediately avail yourselves of the opportunity of escape.
be as . . . he-goats before . . . flocks--Let each try to be foremost in returning, animating the weak, as he-goats lead the flock; such were the companions of Ezra (
Ezra 1:5-
Ezra 1:6).
9 from thence--that is, from the north country.
expert--literally, "prosperous." Besides "might," "expertness" is needed, that an arrow may do execution. The Margin has a different Hebrew reading; "destroying," literally, "bereaving, childless-making" (
Jer 15:7). The Septuagint and Syriac support English Version.
In vain--without killing him at whom it was aimed (
2Sam 1:22).
11 (
Isa 47:6).
grown fat--and so, skip wantonly.
at grass--fat and frisky. But there is a disagreement of gender in Hebrew reading thus. The Keri is better: "a heifer threshing"; the strongest were used for threshing, and as the law did not allow their mouth to be muzzled in threshing (
Deut 25:4), they waxed wanton with eating.
bellow as bulls--rather, "neigh as steeds," literally, "strong ones," a poetical expression for steeds (see on
Jer 8:16) [MAURER].
12 Your mother--Babylon, the metropolis of the empire.
hindermost--marvellous change, that Babylon, once the queen of the world, should be now the hindermost of nations, and at last, becoming "a desert," cease to be a nation!
13 (
Isa 13:20).
14 Summons to the Median army to attack Babylon.
against the Lord--By oppressing His people, their cause is His cause. Also by profaning His sacred vessels (
Dan 5:2).
15 Shout--Inspirit one another to the onset with the battle cry.
given . . . hand--an idiom for, "submitted to" the conquerors (
1Chr 29:24, Margin;
Lam 5:6).
as she hath done, do unto her--just retribution in kind. She had destroyed many, so must she be destroyed (
Ps 137:8). So as to spiritual Babylon (
Rev 18:6). This is right because "it is the vengeance of the Lord"; but this will not justify private revenge in kind (
Matt 5:44;
Rom 12:19-
Rom 12:21); even the Old Testament law forbade this, though breathing a sterner spirit than the New Testament (
Exod 23:4-
Exod 23:5;
Pro 25:21-
Pro 25:22).
16 Babylon had the extent rather of a nation than of a city. Therefore grain was grown within the city wall sufficient to last for a long siege [ARISTOTLE, Politics, 3.2; PLINY, 18.17]. Conquerors usually spare agriculturists, but in this case all alike were to be "cut off."
for fear of . . . oppressing sword--because of the sword of the oppressor.
every one to his people--from which they had been removed to Babylon from all quarters by the Chaldean conquerors (
Jer 51:9;
Isa 13:14).
17 lions--hostile kings (
Jer 4:7;
Jer 49:19).
Assyria-- (
2Kgs 17:6, Shalmaneser;
Ezra 4:2, Esar-haddon).
Nebuchadnezzar-- (
2Kgs 24:10,
2Kgs 24:14).
18 punish . . . king of Babylon--Nabonidus, or Labynitus.
as . . . punished . . . Assyrian--Sennacherib and other kings [GROTIUS] (
2Kgs 19:37).
19 (
Isa 65:10;
Ezek 34:13-
Ezek 34:14).
20 The specification of "Israel," as well as Judah, shows the reference is to times yet to come.
iniquity . . . none--not merely idolatry, which ceased among the Jews ever since the Babylonian captivity, but chiefly their rejection of Messiah. As in a cancelled debt, it shall be as if it had never been; God, for Christ's sake, shall treat them as innocent (
Jer 31:34). Without cleansing away of sin, remission of punishment would be neither to the honor of God nor to the highest interests of the elect.
whom I reserve--the elect "remnant" (
Isa 1:9). The "residue" (
Zech 14:2;
Zech 13:8-
Zech 13:9).
21 Merathaim--a symbolical name for Babylon, the doubly rebellious, namely, against God. Compare
Jer 50:24, "thou hast striven against the Lord"; and
Jer 50:29, "proud against the Lord." The "doubly" refers to: first, the Assyrian's oppression of Israel; next, the kindred Chaldean's oppression of Judah (compare
Jer 50:17-
Jer 50:20,
Jer 50:33; especially
Jer 50:18).
Pekod-- (
Ezek 23:23); a chief province of Assyria, in which Nineveh, now overthrown, once lay. But, as in Merathaim, the allusion is to the meaning of Pekod, namely, "visitation"; the inhabitants whose time of deserved visitation in punishment is come; not, however, without reference to the now Babylonian province, Pekod. The visitation on Babylon was a following up of that on Assyria.
after them--even their posterity, and all that is still left of Babylon, until the very name is extinct [GROTIUS]. Devastate the city, after its inhabitants have deserted it.
all . . . I . . . commanded--by Isaiah (
Isa 13:1, &c.).
23 hammer--that is, Babylon, so called because of its ponderous destructive power; just as "Martel," that is, "a little hammer," was the surname of a king of the Franks (
Isa 14:6).
24 I--Thou hast to do with God, not merely with men.
taken . . . not aware--HERODOTUS relates that one half of the city was taken before those in the other half were "aware" of it. Cyrus turned the waters of the Euphrates where it was defended into a different channel, and so entered the city by the dried-up channel at night, by the upper and lower gates (
Dan 5:30-
Dan 5:31).
25 weapons of his indignation--the Medes and Persians (
Isa 13:5).
26 from the utmost border--namely, of the earth. Or, from all sides LUDOVICUS DE DIEU].
storehouses--or, "her houses filled with men and goods" [MICHAELIS]. When Cyrus took it, the provisions found there were enough to have lasted for many years.
as heaps--make of the once glorious city heaps of ruins. Vast mounds of rubbish now mark the site of ancient Babylon. "Tread her as heaps of corn which are wont to be trodden down in the threshing-floor" [GROTIUS].
27 bullocks--that is, princes and strong warriors (
Jer 46:21;
Ps 22:12;
Isa 34:7).
go down to . . . slaughter--The slaughterhouses lay low beside the river; therefore it is said, "go down"; appropriate to Babylon on the Euphrates, the avenue through which the slaughterers entered the city.
28 declare in Zion . . . temple--Some Jews "fleeing" from Babylon at its fall shall tell in Judea how God avenged the cause of Zion and her temple that had been profaned (
Jer 52:13;
Dan 1:2;
Dan 5:2).
29 archers--literally, "very many and powerful"; hence the Hebrew word is used of archers (
Job 16:13) from the multitude and force of their arrows.
according to all that she hath done--(See on
Jer 50:15).
proud against the Lord--not merely cruel towards men (
Isa 47:10).
30 (See on
Jer 49:26).
in the streets--The Babylonians were so discouraged by having lost some battles that they retired within their walls and would not again meet Cyrus in the field.
31 most proud--literally, "pride"; that is, man of pride; the king of Babylon.
visit--punish (
Jer 50:27).
33 Israel and . . . Judah were oppressed--He anticipates an objection, in order to answer it: Ye have been, no doubt, "oppressed," therefore ye despair of deliverance; but, remember your "Redeemer is strong," and therefore can and will deliver you.
34 strong--as opposed to the power of Israel's oppressor (
Rev 18:8).
plead . . . cause--as their advocate. Image from a court of justice; appropriate as God delivers His people not by mere might, but by righteousness. His plea against Satan and all their enemies is His own everlasting love, reconciling mercy and justice in the Redeemer's work and person (
Mic 7:9;
Zech 3:1-
Zech 3:5;
1John 2:1).
give rest . . . disquiet--There is a play on the similarity of sounds in the two Hebrew verbs to express more vividly the contrast: "that He may give quiet to the land of Judah (heretofore disquieted by Babylon); but disquiet to the inhabitants of Babylon" (heretofore quietly secure) (
Isa 14:6-
Isa 14:8).
35 The repetition of "A sword" in the beginning of each verse, by the figure anaphora, heightens the effect; the reiterated judgment is universal; the same sad stroke of the sword is upon each and all connected with guilty Babylon.
wise men-- (
Isa 47:13). Babylon boasted that it was the peculiar seat of wisdom and wise men, especially in astronomy and astrology.
36 liars--Those whom he before termed "wise men," he here calls "liars" (impostors), namely, the astrologers (compare
Isa 44:25;
Rom 1:21-
Rom 1:25;
1Cor 1:20).
37 as women--divested of all manliness (
Nah 3:13).
38 drought--Altering the pointing, this verse will begin as the three previous verses, "A sword." However, all the pointed manuscripts read, "A drought," as English Version. Cyrus turned off the waters of the Euphrates into a new channel and so marched through the dried-up bed into the city (
Jer 51:32). Babylonia once was famed for its corn, which often yielded from one to two hundredfold [HERODOTUS]. This was due to its network of water-courses from the Euphrates for irrigation, traces of which [LAYARD] are seen still on all sides, but dry and barren (
Isa 44:27).
their idols--literally, "terrors." They are mad after idols that are more calculated to frighten than to attract (
Jer 51:44,
Jer 51:47,
Jer 51:52;
Dan 3:1). Mere bugbears with which to frighten children.
39 wild beasts of the desert--wild cats, remarkable for their howl [BOCHART].
wild beasts of the islands--jackals (See on
Isa 13:21).
owls--rather, "female ostriches"; they delight in solitary places. Literally, "daughters of crying." Compare as to spiritual Babylon,
Rev 18:2.
no more inhabited for ever--The accumulation of phrases is to express the final and utter extinction of Babylon; fulfilled not immediately, but by degrees; Cyrus took away its supremacy. Darius Hystaspes deprived it, when it had rebelled, of its fortifications. Seleucus Nicanor removed its citizens and wealth to Seleucia, which he founded in the neighborhood; and the Parthians removed all that was left to Ctesiphon. Nothing but its walls was left under the Roman emperor Adrian.
40 (
Isa 13:19). Repeated from
Jer 49:18.
41 (Compare
Jer 6:22-
Jer 6:24). The very language used to describe the calamities which Babylon inflicted on Zion is that here employed to describe Babylon's own calamity inflicted by the Medes. Retribution in kind.
kinds--the allies and satraps of the various provinces of the Medo-Persian empire: Armenia, Hyrcania, Lydia, &c.
coasts--the remote parts.
42 cruel--the character of the Persians, and even of Cyrus, notwithstanding his wish to be thought magnanimous (
Isa 13:18).
like a man--So orderly and united is their "array," that the whole army moves to battle as one man [GROTIUS].
43 hands waxed feeble--attempted no resistance; immediately was overcome, as HERODOTUS tells us.
44 Repeated mainly from
Jer 49:19-
Jer 49:21. The identity of God's principle in His dealing with Edom, and in that with Babylon, is implied by the similarity of language as to both.
46 cry . . . among the nations--In Edom's case it is, "at the cry the noise thereof was heard in the Red Sea." The change implies the wider extent to which the crash of Babylon's downfall shall be heard.