Commentary on Jeremiah Part 13 (No. F024xiii)

Chapter 49

Concerning the Ammonites. Thus says the LORD: "Has Israel no sons? Has he no heir? Why then has Milcom dispossessed Gad, and his people settled in its cities? ²Therefore, behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will cause the battle cry to be heard against Rabbah of the Ammonites; it shall become a desolate mound, and its villages shall be burned with fire; then Israel shall dispossess those who dispossessed him, says the LORD. ³"Wail, O Heshbon, for Ai is laid waste! Cry, O daughters of Rabbah! Gird yourselves with sackcloth, lament, and run to and fro among the hedges! For Milcom shall go into exile, with his priests and his princes. ⁴Why do you boast of your valleys, O faithless daughter, who trusted in her treasures, saying, 'Who will come against me?' ⁵Behold, I will bring terror upon you, says the Lord GOD of hosts, from all who are round about you, and you shall be driven out, every man straight before him, with none to gather the fugitives. ⁶But afterward I will restore the fortunes of the Ammonites, says the LORD." ⁷Concerning Edom. Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Is wisdom no more in Teman? Has counsel perished from the prudent? Has their wisdom vanished? ⁸Flee, turn back, dwell in the depths, O inhabitants of Dedan! For I will bring the calamity of Esau upon him, the time when I punish him. ⁹If grape-gatherers came to you, would they not leave gleanings? If thieves came by night, would they not destroy only enough for themselves? ¹⁰But I have stripped Esau bare, I have uncovered his hiding places, and he is not able to conceal himself. His children are destroyed, and his brothers, and his neighbors; and he is no more. ¹¹Leave your fatherless children, I will keep them alive; and let your widows trust in me." ¹²For thus says the LORD: "If those who did not deserve to drink the cup must drink it, will you go unpunished? You shall not go unpunished, but you must drink. ¹³For I have sworn by myself, says the LORD, that Bozrah shall become a horror, a taunt, a waste, and a curse; and all her cities shall be perpetual wastes." ¹⁴I have heard tidings from the LORD, and a messenger has been sent among the nations: "Gather yourselves together and come against her, and rise up for battle!" ¹⁵For behold, I will make you small among the nations, despised among men. ¹⁶The horror you inspire has deceived you, and the pride of your heart, you who live in the clefts of the rock, who hold the height of the hill. Though you make your nest as high as the eagle's, I will bring you down from there, says the LORD. ¹⁷"Edom shall become a horror; every one who passes by it will be horrified and will hiss because of all its disasters. ¹⁸As when Sodom and Gomor'rah and their neighbor cities were overthrown, says the LORD, no man shall dwell there, no man shall sojourn in her. ¹⁹Behold, like a lion coming up from the jungle of the Jordan against a strong sheepfold, I will suddenly make them run away from her; and I will appoint over her whomever I choose. For who is like me? Who will summon me? What shepherd can stand before me? ²⁰Therefore hear the plan which the LORD has made against Edom and the purposes which he has formed against the inhabitants of Teman: Even the little ones of the flock shall be dragged away; surely their fold shall be appalled at their fate. ²¹At the sound of their fall the earth shall tremble; the sound of their cry shall be heard at the Red Sea. ²²Behold, one shall mount up and fly swiftly like an eagle, and spread his wings against Bozrah, and the heart of the warriors of Edom shall be in that day like the heart of a woman in her pangs." ²³Concerning Damascus. "Hamath and Arpad are confounded, for they have heard evil tidings; they melt in fear, they are troubled like the sea which cannot be quiet. ²⁴Damascus has become feeble, she turned to flee, and panic seized her; anguish and sorrows have taken hold of her, as of a woman in travail. ²⁵How the famous city is forsaken, the joyful city! ²⁶Therefore her young men shall fall in her squares, and all her soldiers shall be destroyed in that day, says the LORD of hosts. ²⁷And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it shall devour the strongholds of Ben-ha'dad." ²⁸Concerning Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor which Nebuchadrez'zar king of Babylon smote. Thus says the LORD: "Rise up, advance against Kedar! Destroy the people of the east! ²⁹Their tents and their flocks shall be taken, their curtains and all their goods; their camels shall be borne away from them, and men shall cry to them: 'Terror on every side!' ³⁰Flee, wander far away, dwell in the depths, O inhabitants of Hazor! says the LORD. For Nebuchadrez'zar king of Babylon has made a plan against you, and formed a purpose against you. ³¹"Rise up, advance against a nation at ease, that dwells securely, says the LORD, that has no gates or bars, that dwells alone. ³²Their camels shall become booty, their herds of cattle a spoil. I will scatter to every wind those who cut the corners of their hair, and I will bring their calamity from every side of them, says the LORD. ³³Hazor shall become a haunt of jackals, an everlasting waste; no man shall dwell there, no man shall sojourn in her." ³⁴The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning Elam, in the beginning of the reign of Zedeki'ah king of Judah. ³⁵Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the mainstay of their might; ³⁶and I will bring upon Elam the four winds from the four quarters of heaven; and I will scatter them to all those winds, and there shall be no nation to which those driven out of Elam shall not come. ³⁷I will terrify Elam before their enemies, and before those who seek their life; I will bring evil upon them, my fierce anger, says the LORD. I will send the sword after them, until I have consumed them; ³⁸and I will set my throne in Elam, and destroy their king and princes, says the LORD. ³⁹"But in the latter days I will restore the fortunes of Elam, says the LORD."

Intent of Chapter 49

49:1-6 Against Ammon The occasion for this comparatively mild oracle against Ammon is thought to perhaps be the Ammonite raid of 601 BCE (12:7-13 n.). Ammon the brother of Moab had its lands north of Moab (Gen. 19:30-38). It had previously occupied Transjordan lands of Israel (Judg. 10:6-12:6; 2Kgs. 15:29). It was Israelite territory under David (2Sam. 12:26-31; Am. 1:13-14) and is thought to reflect their war for independence. Ammon too must suffer for its idolatry and violence. Milcom was the ammonite national God. Idolatry always followed national political divisions.

Names of the gods of the area.

Chiun, Amo.5:26; Act.7:43

Molech, called also Moloch and Milcom.

An idol of the Ammonites; Act_7:43

Worshiped by the wives of Solomon, and by Solomon: 1Kgs. 11:1-8

Children sacrificed to: 2Kgs. 23:10; Jer. 32:35; 2Kgs. 16:3; 2Kgs. 21:6; 2Ch. 28:3; Isa. 57:5; Jer. 7:31; Ezek. 16:20-21; Ezek. 20:26; Ezek. 20:31; Ezek. 23:37; Ezek. 23:39; Lev. 18:21; Lev. 20:2-5

Chemosh, An idol of the Moabites and Ammonites

1Kgs. 11:7; 1Kgs. 11:33; 2Kgs. 23:13; Jer. 48:7; Jer. 48:13; Jer. 48:46

An idol of the Amorites

Jdg. 11:24

Milcom, the same as Molech.

So also Remphan was the name of the God whose symbol was the six pointed star associated with sacrifice. It is erroneously called the Magan David or “Star of David” and occupies the Israeli flag.

Rabbah is the capital of Ammon

49:7-22 Against Edom After 587 BCE the relationship between Israel and Edom deteriorated because of Edom's occupation of Southern Judea (Lam. 4:21-22; Ezek. 25:12-14). The occupation was caused by pressure from Arab tribes. Jeremiah and Obadiah (Ob. 1-9) share an oracle which may be original with neither (see OARSV n) that describes the bleak future of Edom. (see also v. 1-6 n).

Teman Modern Tawilan, about three miles east of Sela (or Petra).

Bozrah a great fortress city in northern Edom

49:19-21 Editorial revision of 50:44-46

49:23-27 Against Damascus The occasion for this composite oracle (comp. v. 27; Amos. 1:4) is considered unidentifiable (see OARSV n). Damascus lost its independence with the capture of Arpad by Tiglath-Pileser III in 740 BCE, Hamath in 738 BCE

and Damascus in 732 BCE (Isa.10:9; 37:13).

Ben-hadad (1Kgs. 15:18,20).

vv. 28-39 Jeremiah speaks of Kedar under the Babylonians. (No. 212C)

vv. 28-33 Against Kedar and Hazor

In midwinter of 599/598 BCE Nebuchaddrezzar led a successful expedition against the Arab tribes in the desert east of Syria/Palestine. Perhaps that was the cause of the origin of this oracle (9:26; 25:23-24). The Chaldeans wide ranging attacks swept up the undefended desert people with no fortresses.

49:34-39 Against Elam

In 596 BCE Nebuchadrezzar attacked Elam east of Babylonia and was successful. Zedekiah became king in March 597 when Jehoiachin was deposed. Bow of Elam reflects the prowess of Elamite archers (Isa. 22:6).

v. 39 This verse, like 46:26; 48:47; and 49:6 is considered an editorial addition (OARSV n,) .

Ch. 49 of the later MT [RSV] is in Ch. 30 of the LXX. Note Ch. 30:6-21 MT are omitted from the LXX and the Chapter ends at v. 33. vv. 34-39 deal with Elam.

English Translation of the Greek Septuagint Bible.

Brenton, Sir Lancelot C. L... (1851)

Chapter 49 ^49:1 Then came all the leaders of the host, and Joanan, and Azarias the son of Maasaeas, and all the people great and small, ² to Jeremias the prophet, and said to him, Let now our supplication come before thy face, and pray thou to the Lord thy God for this remnant; for we are left few out of many, as thine eyes see. ³ And let the Lord thy God declare to us the way wherein we should walk, and the thing which we should do. ⁴ And Jeremias said to them, I have heard you; behold, I will pray for you to the Lord our God, according to your words; and it shall come to pass, that whatsoever word the Lord God shall answer, I will declare it to you; I will not hide anything from you. ⁵ And they said to Jeremias, Let the Lord be between us for a just and faithful witness, if we do not according to every word which the Lord shall send to us. ⁶ And whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will hearken to the voice of the Lord our God, to whom we send thee; that it may be well with us, because we shall hearken to the voice of the Lord our God. ⁷ And it came to pass after ten days, that the word of the Lord came to Jeremias. ⁸ And he called Joanan, and the Leaders of the host, and all the people from the least even to the greatest, ⁹ and he said to them, Thus saith the Lord; ¹⁰ If ye will indeed dwell in this land, I will build you, and will not pull you down, but will plant you, and in no wise pluck you up: for I have ceased from the calamities which I brought upon you. ¹¹ Be not afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom ye are afraid; be not afraid of him, saith the Lord: for I am with you, to deliver you, and save you out of their hand. ¹² And I will grant you mercy, and pity you, and will restore you to your land. ¹³ But if ye say, We will not dwell in this land, that we may not hearken to the voice of the Lord; ¹⁴ for we will go into the land of Egypt, and we shall see no war, and shall not hear the sound of a trumpet, and we shall not hunger for bread; and there we will dwell: ¹⁵ then hear the word of the Lord; thus saith the Lord; ¹⁶ If ye set your face toward Egypt, and go in there to dwell; then it shall be, that the sword which ye fear shall find you in the land of Egypt, and the famine to which ye have regard, shall overtake you, coming after you in Egypt; and there ye shall die. ¹⁷ And all the men, and all the strangers who have set their face toward the land of Egypt to dwell there, shall be consumed by the sword, and by the famine: and there shall not one of them escape from the evils which I bring upon them. ¹⁸ For thus saith the Lord; As my wrath has dropped upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so shall my wrath drop upon you, when ye have entered into Egypt: and ye shall be a desolation, and under the power of others, and a curse and a reproach: and ye shall no more see this place. ¹⁹ These are the words which the Lord has spoken concerning you the remnant of Juda; Enter ye not into Egypt: and now know ye for a certainty, ²⁰ that ye have wrought wickedness in your hearts, when ye sent me, saying, Pray thou for us to the Lord; and according to all that the Lord shall speak to thee we will do. ²¹ And ye have not hearkened to the voice of the Lord, with which he sent me to you. ²² Now therefore ye shall perish by sword and by famine, in the place which ye desire to go into to dwell there.

Chapter 50

The word which the LORD spoke concerning Babylon, concerning the land of the Chalde'ans, by Jeremiah the prophet: ²"Declare among the nations and proclaim, set up a banner and proclaim, conceal it not, and say: 'Babylon is taken, Bel is put to shame, Mer'odach is dismayed. Her images are put to shame, her idols are dismayed.' ³"For out of the north a nation has come up against her, which shall make her land a desolation, and none shall dwell in it; both man and beast shall flee away. ⁴"In those days and in that time, says the LORD, the people of Israel and the people of Judah shall come together, weeping as they come; and they shall seek the LORD their God. ⁵They shall ask the way to Zion, with faces turned toward it, saying, 'Come, let us join ourselves to the LORD in an everlasting covenant which will never be forgotten.' ⁶"My people have been lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray, turning them away on the mountains; from mountain to hill they have gone, they have forgotten their fold. ⁷All who found them have devoured them, and their enemies have said, 'We are not guilty, for they have sinned against the LORD, their true habitation, the LORD, the hope of their fathers.' ⁸"Flee from the midst of Babylon, and go out of the land of the Chalde'ans, and be as he-goats before the flock. ⁹For behold, I am stirring up and bringing against Babylon a company of great nations, from the north country; and they shall array themselves against her; from there she shall be taken. Their arrows are like a skilled warrior who does not return empty-handed. ¹⁰Chalde'a shall be plundered; all who plunder her shall be sated, says the LORD. ¹¹"Though you rejoice, though you exult, O plunderers of my heritage, though you are wanton as a heifer at grass, and neigh like stallions, ¹²your mother shall be utterly shamed, and she who bore you shall be disgraced. Lo, she shall be the last of the nations, a wilderness dry and desert. ¹³Because of the wrath of the LORD she shall not be inhabited, but shall be an utter desolation; every one who passes by Babylon shall be appalled, and hiss because of all her wounds. ¹⁴Set yourselves in array against Babylon round about, all you that bend the bow; shoot at her, spare no arrows, for she has sinned against the LORD. ¹⁵Raise a shout against her round about, she has surrendered; her bulwarks have fallen, her walls are thrown down. For this is the vengeance of the LORD: take vengeance on her, do to her as she has done. ¹⁶Cut off from Babylon the sower, and the one who handles the sickle in time of harvest; because of the sword of the oppressor, every one shall turn to his own people, and every one shall flee to his own land. ¹⁷"Israel is a hunted sheep driven away by lions. First the king of Assyria devoured him, and now at last Nebuchadrez'zar king of Babylon has gnawed his bones. ¹⁸Therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing punishment on the king of Babylon and his land, as I punished the king of Assyria. ¹⁹I will restore Israel to his pasture, and he shall feed on Carmel and in Bashan, and his desire shall be satisfied on the hills of E'phraim and in Gilead. ²⁰In those days and in that time, says the LORD, iniquity shall be sought in Israel, and there shall be none; and sin in Judah, and none shall be found; for I will pardon those whom I leave as a remnant. ²¹"Go up against the land of Meratha'im, and against the inhabitants of Pekod. Slay, and utterly destroy after them, says the LORD, and do all that I have commanded you. ²²The noise of battle is in the land, and great destruction! ²³How the hammer of the whole earth is cut down and broken! How Babylon has become a horror among the nations! ²⁴I set a snare for you and you were taken, O Babylon, and you did not know it; you were found and caught, because you strove against the LORD. ²⁵The LORD has opened his armory, and brought out the weapons of his wrath, for the Lord GOD of hosts has a work to do in the land of the Chalde'ans. ²⁶Come against her from every quarter; open her granaries; pile her up like heaps of grain, and destroy her utterly; let nothing be left of her. ²⁷Slay all her bulls, let them go down to the slaughter. Woe to them, for their day has come, the time of their punishment. ²⁸"Hark! they flee and escape from the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God, vengeance for his temple. ²⁹"Summon archers against Babylon, all those who bend the bow. Encamp round about her; let no one escape. Requite her according to her deeds, do to her according to all that she has done; for she has proudly defied the LORD, the Holy One of Israel. ³⁰Therefore her young men shall fall in her squares, and all her soldiers shall be destroyed on that day, says the LORD. ³¹"Behold, I am against you, O proud one, says the Lord GOD of hosts; for your day has come, the time when I will punish you. ³²The proud one shall stumble and fall, with none to raise him up, and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it will devour all that is round about him. ³³"Thus says the LORD of hosts: The people of Israel are oppressed, and the people of Judah with them; all who took them captive have held them fast, they refuse to let them go. ³⁴Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name. He will surely plead their cause, that he may give rest to the earth, but unrest to the inhabitants of Babylon. ³⁵"A sword upon the Chalde'ans, says the LORD, and upon the inhabitants of Babylon, and upon her princes and her wise men! ³⁶A sword upon the diviners, that they may become fools! A sword upon her warriors, that they may be destroyed! ³⁷A sword upon her horses and upon her chariots, and upon all the foreign troops in her midst, that they may become women! A sword upon all her treasures, that they may be plundered! ³⁸A drought upon her waters, that they may be dried up! For it is a land of images, and they are mad over idols. ³⁹"Therefore wild beasts shall dwell with hyenas in Babylon, and ostriches shall dwell in her; she shall be peopled no more for ever, nor inhabited for all generations. ⁴⁰As when God overthrew Sodom and Gomor'rah and their neighbor cities, says the LORD, so no man shall dwell there, and no son of man shall sojourn in her. ⁴¹"Behold, a people comes from the north; a mighty nation and many kings are stirring from the farthest parts of the earth. ⁴²They lay hold of bow and spear; they are cruel, and have no mercy. The sound of them is like the roaring of the sea; they ride upon horses, arrayed as a man for battle against you, O daughter of Babylon! ⁴³"The king of Babylon heard the report of them, and his hands fell helpless; anguish seized him, pain as of a woman in travail. ⁴⁴"Behold, like a lion coming up from the jungle of the Jordan against a strong sheepfold, I will suddenly make them run away from her; and I will appoint over her whomever I choose. For who is like me? Who will summon me? What shepherd can stand before me? ⁴⁵Therefore hear the plan which the LORD has made against Babylon, and the purposes which he has formed against the land of the Chalde'ans: Surely the little ones of their flock shall be dragged away; surely their fold shall be appalled at their fate. ⁴⁶At the sound of the capture of Babylon the earth shall tremble, and her cry shall be heard among the nations."

Intent of Chapter 50

50:1-51:64 Against Babylon

As Babylon was the enemy from the north so too is Babylon destroyed by an enemy from the north. God raised up the Medes to destroy the Chaldeans and Babylon from the north.

This destruction will continue to the Last Days. The destruction of Babylon is tied to the Babylonian system as we see from Daniel chapter 2 (F027ii). The tying in of prophecy to the last days is explained in Ezekiel in the prophecy of Pharaoh's Broken Arms (No. 036) and No. 036_2). Tied in with the empire of the Babylonian system over the Seven Times of 2520 years from the Battle of Carchemish in 605 BCE, it brings us to the Twentieth Century to 1916 and the Time of Jacob's Trouble. So also are we tied into the Last Days by the Sign of Jonah and the History of the Reconstruction of the Temple (No. 013) and in the Completion of the Sign of Jonah (No. 013B). God gave his final prophecy in the text of Revelation which ties all prophecy together. God gave another sign in the Last Days, which was hinted at in the last texts of Jeremiah, which was enacted in the capture of Babylon over the Medean invasion due to the reduction of the water levels of the Euphrates. In the Last Days prophecy says that Four great Angels are released from the pit of Tartaros at the Euphrates to kill a third of mankind (Rev. 9:14-19) (See F066ii). The structure of the prophecies includes also F066iii; iv, v. The Sign of this activity is the drying up of the Euphrates Basin to make way for the kings of the East. This was effected in 2022-2023 with the wars of the Fifth and Sixth Trumpets (See Wars of Amalek (No. 141C). The War of the Sixth Trumpet will involve a holocaust which is to occur between Pentecost 2023 and Passover 2024. The Nuclear Holocaust will be followed by the arrival of the Two Witnesses, Enoch and Elijah (see No. 141D). They will be in Jerusalem for 1260 Days from the Holocaust designed to kill a third of mankind. This period will see the formation of the Empire of the Beast (No. 299A) which will rule the earth for 42 months. After 1264 days the Heavenly Host under Messiah will arrive and reclaim the earth and destroy all opposition to the Laws of God and God's Calendar (No. 156). Only those keeping God's Law will be under God's protection or can even expect to be given that security. Those keeping Satan's false religious system, including the worship of Baal, the Queen of Heaven or Easter and the virgin or Mother goddess will not be given God's protection and Satan will kill those serving him under the false system of the planet. He has no obligation to protect them. Only the Holy Seed is to be protected (Isa. 6:9-13; Am. 9:1-15). Every single Ditheist (No. 076B), Binitarian or Trinitarian (No. 076) minister will be put to death as a matter of principle along with all other idolatrous systems (see also Daniel F027xiii). God does not have to send Messiah and the Host to kill the idolaters. He will use the Demons to do it all for him. They chose to worship these false gods. The Beast will turn on the Religious whore (see 299B). All those that claim the Law of God is done away will be put to death. All people will keep the Sabbaths and New Moons under the Temple Calendar or die (see also Isa. 66:23-24 and also Zech. 14:16-19)

The theme of Jeremiah is in two phases. The fall of Babylon as already accomplished and also as still in the future at the return of the Exiles (24:6; 29:10) and also with the Return of the Messiah as we see also in texts of Ezekiel and also in Daniel and from Isaiah. We are about to go into the last phase of the Last Days. The attitude to Babylon is somewhat harsher (50:14, 24) (see also 25:12-14) because the Babylonian system carries with it the utter destruction of the planet and has the responsibility for the deceit of the entire religious system of Israel and Judah and indeed the whole world as we see from F027xii , F027xiii. The idiom of the “Hand of Jeremiah” is also found in (Hag. 1:1; Mal. 1:1; contrast Jer. 46:1; 49:34).

50:2-3 The text refers to the destruction of the north (4:6). It may or may not refer to Cyrus and Persia. The fall was continuous over F027ii to F027xii and F027xiii.

Bel (Baal) (51:44; Isa. 46:1), originally chief God of Nippur, identified with the cosmic God Marduk in Babylon (Merodach).

50: 4-5; 6-7. Israel's homecoming (31:7-9). The sin is of Israel; for they sinned against the Lord their true habitation (2:20; 23:1-2).

50:8-16 The residents are urged to flee before Babylon's approaching doom (13:14) and desolation (18:16). Not only is the city destroyed but food production is destroyed.

50:17-20 Israel was successively subject to Assyria and Babylon. Israel was to be restored (31:4-5; 33:8) and Babylon, as Assyria earlier, was destroyed (25:12).

50:21-32 God's Judgment against Babylon was Mera-Thaim (or double rebellion) being a play on the name of southern Babylonia (Mat marati) land of the Lagoons see OARSV n.). Pekod (or “punishment”) is a play on the name pukudu which is an East Babylonian tribe (Ezek. 23:23). Babylon is here described as a smashed hammer and a captured bird (cf. 5:26-27). The prophet sees the destruction of the Temple as an affront to God which must and will be avenged (21:14; Am. 2:2)

50:33-34 While Israel is helpless, God is her Redeemer (Isa. 47:4). God will deliver her and discomfit her oppressors.

50:35-37 Oracles of the sword.

50:38-40 Babylon will lie as a desert, unproductive and inhabited by wild animals (Isa. 34:13-14).

50:41-46 Babylon once the foe from the North now stands in dread anticipation of the foe from the north. As Edom could not escape her fate (49:19-21), neither can Babylon.

The dried up Euphrates system will remain for the entire period from 2023 until 2027 so that the kings of the East can move into the Middle East for the Battles of Armageddon and the Vials of the Wrath of God. There is no king or shepherd that can successfully defy God.

The Latter Prophets from Isaiah to Malachi show that those failing to keep the Law and the Testimony (Isa. 8:20) will be put to death and only the Elect as Elohim (No. 001) will be restored under the Law and the Calendar of God. All others including those who say they are Jews but keep Hillel and not the Temple Calendar (No. 156) will repent under the Witnesses or die. These are also the Ashekenazi over this text of Jeremiah. They will be punished.

Ch. 50 in the MT [RSV] is in Ch. 27 of the LXX

English Translation of the Greek Septuagint Bible.

Brenton, Sir Lancelot C. L...

Chapter 50 ^50:1 And it came to pass, when Jeremias ceased speaking to the people all the words of the Lord, for which the Lord had sent him to them, even all these words, ² that Azarias son of Maasaeas spoke, and Joanan, the son of Caree, and all the men who had spoken to Jeremias, saying, It is false: the Lord has not sent thee to us, saying, Enter not into Egypt to dwell there: ³ but Baruch the son of Nerias sets thee against us, that thou mayest deliver us into the hands of the Chaldeans, to kill us, and that we should be carried away captives to Babylon. ⁴ So Joanan, and all the leaders of the host, and all the people, refused to hearken to the voice of the Lord, to dwell in the land of Juda. ⁵ And Joanan, and all the leaders of the host, took all the remnant of Juda, who had returned to dwell in the land; ⁶ the mighty men, and the women, and the children that were left, and the daughters of the king, and the souls which Nabuzardan and left with Godolias the son of Achicam and Jeremias the prophet, and Baruch the son of Nerias. ⁷ And they came into Egypt: for they hearkened not to the voice of the Lord: and they entered into Taphnas. ⁸ And the word of the Lord came to Jeremias in Taphnas, saying, ⁹ Take thee great stones, and hide them in the entrance, at the gate of the house of Pharao in Taphnas, in the sight of the men of Juda: ¹⁰ and thou shalt say, Thus has the Lord said; Behold, I will send, and will bring Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, and he shall place his throne upon these stones which thou hast hidden, and he shall lift up weapons against them. ¹¹ And he shall enter in, and smite the land of Egypt, delivering some for death to death; and some for captivity to captivity; and some for the sword to the sword. ¹² And he shall kindle a fire in the houses of their gods, and shall burn them, and shall carry them away captives: and shall search the land of Egypt, as a shepherd searches his garment; and he shall go forth in peace. ¹³ And he shall break to pieces the pillars of Heliopolis that are in On, and shall burn their houses with fire.

Chapter 51

Thus says the LORD: "Behold, I will stir up the spirit of a destroyer against Babylon, against the inhabitants of Chalde'a; ²and I will send to Babylon winnowers, and they shall winnow her, and they shall empty her land, when they come against her from every side on the day of trouble. ³Let not the archer bend his bow, and let him not stand up in his coat of mail. Spare not her young men; utterly destroy all her host.⁴They shall fall down slain in the land of the Chalde'ans, and wounded in her streets. ⁵For Israel and Judah have not been forsaken by their God, the LORD of hosts; but the land of the Chalde'ans is full of guilt against the Holy One of Israel. ⁶"Flee from the midst of Babylon, let every man save his life! Be not cut off in her punishment, for this is the time of the LORD's vengeance, the requital he is rendering her. ⁷Babylon was a golden cup in the LORD's hand, making all the earth drunken; the nations drank of her wine, therefore the nations went mad. ⁸Suddenly Babylon has fallen and been broken; wail for her! Take balm for her pain; perhaps she may be healed. ⁹We would have healed Babylon, but she was not healed. Forsake her, and let us go each to his own country; for her judgment has reached up to heaven and has been lifted up even to the skies. ¹⁰The LORD has brought forth our vindication; come, let us declare in Zion the work of the LORD our God. ¹¹"Sharpen the arrows! Take up the shields! The LORD has stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes, because his purpose concerning Babylon is to destroy it, for that is the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance for his temple.¹²Set up a standard against the walls of Babylon; make the watch strong; set up watchmen; prepare the ambushes; for the LORD has both planned and done what he spoke concerning the inhabitants of Babylon. ¹³O you who dwell by many waters, rich in treasures, your end has come, the thread of your life is cut. ¹⁴The LORD of hosts has sworn by himself: Surely I will fill you with men, as many as locusts, and they shall raise the shout of victory over you. ¹⁵"It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens. ¹⁶When he utters his voice there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lightnings for the rain, and he brings forth the wind from his storehouses. ¹⁷Every man is stupid and without knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols; for his images are false, and there is no breath in them. ¹⁸They are worthless, a work of delusion; at the time of their punishment they shall perish. ¹⁹Not like these is he who is the portion of Jacob, for he is the one who formed all things, and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance; the LORD of hosts is his name. ²⁰"You are my hammer and weapon of war: with you I break nations in pieces; with you I destroy kingdoms; ²¹with you I break in pieces the horse and his rider; with you I break in pieces the chariot and the charioteer; ²²with you I break in pieces man and woman; with you I break in pieces the old man and the youth; with you I break in pieces the young man and the maiden; ²³with you I break in pieces the shepherd and his flock; with you I break in pieces the farmer and his team; with you I break in pieces governors and commanders. ²⁴"I will requite Babylon and all the inhabitants of Chalde'a before your very eyes for all the evil that they have done in Zion, says the LORD. ²⁵^"Behold, I am against you, O destroying mountain, says the LORD, which destroys the whole earth; I will stretch out my hand against you, and roll you down from the crags, and make you a burnt mountain. ²⁶No stone shall be taken from you for a corner and no stone for a foundation, but you shall be a perpetual waste, says the LORD. ²⁷"Set up a standard on the earth, blow the trumpet among the nations; prepare the nations for war against her, summon against her the kingdoms, Ar'arat, Minni, and Ash'kenaz; appoint a marshal against her, bring up horses like bristling locusts. ²⁸Prepare the nations for war against her, the kings of the Medes, with their governors and deputies, and every land under their dominion. ²⁹The land trembles and writhes in pain, for the LORD's purposes against Babylon stand, to make the land of Babylon a desolation, without inhabitant. ³⁰The warriors of Babylon have ceased fighting, they remain in their strongholds; their strength has failed, they have become women; her dwellings are on fire, her bars are broken. ³¹One runner runs to meet another, and one messenger to meet another, to tell the king of Babylon that his city is taken on every side; ³²the fords have been seized, the bulwarks are burned with fire, and the soldiers are in panic. ³³For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: The daughter of Babylon is like a threshing floor at the time when it is trodden; yet a little while and the time of her harvest will come." ³⁴"Nebuchadrez'zar the king of Babylon has devoured me, he has crushed me; he has made me an empty vessel, he has swallowed me like a monster; he has filled his belly with my delicacies, he has rinsed me out. ³⁵The violence done to me and to my kinsmen be upon Babylon," let the inhabitant of Zion say. "My blood be upon the inhabitants of Chalde'a," let Jerusalem say. ³⁶Therefore thus says the LORD: "Behold, I will plead your cause and take vengeance for you. I will dry up her sea and make her fountain dry; ³⁷and Babylon shall become a heap of ruins, the haunt of jackals, a horror and a hissing, without inhabitant. ³⁸"They shall roar together like lions; they shall growl like lions' whelps. ³⁹While they are inflamed I will prepare them a feast and make them drunk, till they swoon away and sleep a perpetual sleep and not wake, says the LORD. ⁴⁰I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams and he-goats. ⁴¹"How Babylon is taken, the praise of the whole earth seized! How Babylon has become a horror among the nations! ⁴²The sea has come up on Babylon; she is covered with its tumultuous waves. ⁴³Her cities have become a horror, a land of drought and a desert, a land in which no one dwells, and through which no son of man passes. ⁴⁴And I will punish Bel in Babylon, and take out of his mouth what he has swallowed. The nations shall no longer flow to him; the wall of Babylon has fallen. ⁴⁵"Go out of the midst of her, my people! Let every man save his life from the fierce anger of the LORD! ⁴⁶Let not your heart faint, and be not fearful at the report heard in the land, when a report comes in one year and afterward a report in another year, and violence is in the land, and ruler is against ruler. ⁴⁷"Therefore, behold, the days are coming when I will punish the images of Babylon; her whole land shall be put to shame, and all her slain shall fall in the midst of her. ⁴⁸Then the heavens and the earth, and all that is in them, shall sing for joy over Babylon; for the destroyers shall come against them out of the north, says the LORD. ⁴⁹Babylon must fall for the slain of Israel, as for Babylon have fallen the slain of all the earth. ⁵⁰"You that have escaped from the sword, go, stand not still! Remember the LORD from afar, and let Jerusalem come into your mind: ⁵¹'We are put to shame, for we have heard reproach; dishonor has covered our face, for aliens have come into the holy places of the LORD's house.' ⁵²"Therefore, behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will execute judgment upon her images, and through all her land the wounded shall groan. ⁵³Though Babylon should mount up to heaven, and though she should fortify her strong height, yet destroyers would come from me upon her, says the LORD. ⁵⁴"Hark! a cry from Babylon! The noise of great destruction from the land of the Chalde'ans! ⁵⁵For the LORD is laying Babylon waste, and stilling her mighty voice. Their waves roar like many waters, the noise of their voice is raised; ⁵⁶for a destroyer has come upon her, upon Babylon; her warriors are taken, their bows are broken in pieces; for the LORD is a God of recompense, he will surely requite. ⁵⁷I will make drunk her princes and her wise men, her governors, her commanders, and her warriors; they shall sleep a perpetual sleep and not wake, says the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts. ⁵⁸"Thus says the LORD of hosts: The broad wall of Babylon shall be leveled to the ground and her high gates shall be burned with fire. The peoples labor for nought, and the nations weary themselves only for fire." ⁵⁹The word which Jeremiah the prophet commanded Serai'ah the son of Neri'ah, son of Mahsei'ah, when he went with Zedeki'ah king of Judah to Babylon, in the fourth year of his reign. Serai'ah was the quartermaster. ⁶⁰Jeremiah wrote in a book all the evil that should come upon Babylon, all these words that are written concerning Babylon. ⁶¹And Jeremiah said to Serai'ah: "When you come to Babylon, see that you read all these words, ⁶²and say, 'O LORD, thou hast said concerning this place that thou wilt cut it off, so that nothing shall dwell in it, neither man nor beast, and it shall be desolate for ever.' ⁶³When you finish reading this book, bind a stone to it, and cast it into the midst of the Euphra'tes, ⁶⁴and say, 'Thus shall Babylon sink, to rise no more, because of the evil that I am bringing upon her.'" Thus far are the words of Jeremiah.

Intent of Chapter 51

51:1-19 God's Judgment against Babylon

51:1-14 As grain is winnowed so will Babylon be cut down and winnowed (see 15:7 n.) Chaldea is written in the Hebrew text as “Leb-quamai” which is an atbash cipher (see 25:26 n).

51:5-10 This is a note reminding Israel that while they have hope, Babylon's case is hopeless (50:33-34). Babylon's religious system is hopeless and its influence on Israel is without hope. Babylon is the Golden cup from which the nations would drink of God's Wrath (25:15-29). In these latter days Babylon is smashed (46:11; Ezek. 27:27) as God delivers His people.

v. 7. “The Babylonian system will be destroyed and left desolate (as Sodom and Gomorrah) because it represents the antithesis of the covenant system God established. Thus the Day of the Lord is inextricably associated with the fall of Babylon (see also Jer. 51:6-10). Verse 11 associates the fall with the Medes, yet the wording is forward and prophetic. Note Jeremiah 51:7 uses the same language as Revelation 17:2.

51:11-19 The terse military commands in the text precede the attack by the Medes and the later Persians. The entire system is to be brought down as we see in Daniel.

The phrase Many waters refers to the system around Babylon. It is this system that is to be undone. The conflict is against this system and the demons that it represents. The oracle against the idols is as at 10:12-16; 50:38.

51:20-33 This oracle of the hammer describes Babylon as God's punitive instrument (27:6; 50:23).

51:24-26 As did Assyria (Isa. 10:5,15) so too Babylon will fall. The Great Ziggurat may well reflect the Temple systems of Baal in Babylon, thrusting into the heavens and symbolising the religion of Babylon itself. It is a burnt mountain of which nothing useful remains (Isa. 33:12). Babylonia will be a desert.

51:27-33 As Babylon subdued the Nations (25:15-26) so also the Nations will gather against Babylon in the last days. Ararat or modern Armenia, the Minni living south of Lake Urmia and all the Scythians of the North and the Ashkenazi will all be gathered together. Jerusalem's deliverance is a mighty act of God (50:34). Desolate Babylon is as barren as a threshing floor. The once mighty lion will become drunk (25:15-16) and fall into a helpless permanent sleep.

51:41-43 Babylon written as Sheshach (an atbash cypher 35:26 n.) will be inundated by the waves of her attackers (46:7-8; Isa. 8:7-8). When the flood recedes she will be a trackless wasteland.

51:44-49 In antiquity as here the fall of a land represented the fall of its Gods so especially is it with Babylon.

51:50-58 The doubt raised by the destruction of the Temple, which problem Ezekiel also raises as a judgment against Israel and Judah and their sin and idolatry. The text is considered a compilation of other verses in this collection of oracles.

51:59-64 The Oracles are written in a Book and taken to Babylon. The scholars know of no such journey by Zedekiah. It is conceded that he may have done so after the abortive plot of 594 BCE to renew his fealty to the king (chs. 27-28), once it became known to Nebuchadrezzar.

Seraiah, Brother of Baruch (32:12),

The message is that God has set aside a people to accomplish His purpose. All things work together for the good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose (Rom. 8:28). Israel, as the army of God, has no choice. It must fight or die according to the rules God has given. The nation will perish because of its iniquity. The elect cannot avoid judgment and involvement. They are in for the duration.”

The Covenant of God (No. 152)

51:63 By a symbolic act the oracle against Babylon is emphasised. This may have been the causative factor of the compilation of 50:1-51:58.

The very purpose of the power of Babylon is listed in the texts of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel and the Twelve Prophets.

Jamieson-Faucett-Brown state on Jer_51:64. [RSV] “Jeremiah, having already (thirty-ninth and fortieth chapters) given the history in the proper place, was not likely to repeat it here. Its canonical authority as inspired is shown by its being in the Septuagint version. It contains the capture and burning of Jerusalem, etc., Zedekiah’s punishment, and the better treatment of Jehoiachin under Evil-merodach, down to his death. These last events were probably subsequent to Jeremiah’s time. Written by some other than Jeremiah (probably Ezra) as an historical supplement to the previous prophecies.”

The real reason was also that this was a reiteration of the final destruction of the Babylonian system in the Last Days as given in Daniel at (F027ii, xi, xii, xiii) and Revelation Chs. 19-22 (F066v). Modern pseudo-Christianity appears unable to face the reality of Bible prophecy.

The LXX on Ch. 51 is contained in Ch. 44 of the RSV. The RSV text of Ch. 51 is in Ch. 28 of the LXX.

English Translation of the Greek Septuagint Bible.

Brenton, Sir Lancelot C. L...

Chapter 51 ^51:1 THE WORD THAT CAME TO JEREMIAS for all the Jews dwelling in the land of Egypt, and for those settled in Magdolo and in Taphnas, and in the land of Pathura, saying, ² Thus has the Lord God of Israel said; Ye have seen all the evils which I have brought upon Jerusalem, and upon the cities of Juda; and, behold, they are desolate without inhabitants, ³ because of their wickedness, which they have wrought to provoke me, by going to burn incense to other gods, whom ye knew not. ⁴ yet I sent to you my servants the prophets early in the morning, and I sent, saying, Do not ye this abominable thing which I hate. ⁵ But they hearkened not to me, and inclined not their ear to turn from their wickedness, so as not to burn incense to strange gods. ⁶ So mine anger and my wrath dropped upon them, and was kindled in the gates of Juda, and in the streets of Jerusalem; and they became a desolation and a waste, as at this day. ⁷ And now thus has the Lord Almighty said, Wherefore do ye commit these great evils against your souls? to cut off man and woman of you, infant and suckling from the midst of Juda, to the end that not one of you should be left; ⁸ by provoking me with the works of your hands, to burn incense to other gods in the land of Egypt, into which ye entered to dwell there, that ye might be cut off, and that ye might become a curse and a reproach among all the nations of the earth? ⁹ Have ye forgotten the sins of your fathers, and the sins of the kings of Juda, and the sins of your princes, and the sins of your wives, which they wrought in the land of Juda, and in the streets of Jerusalem? ¹⁰ And have not ceased even to this day, and they have not kept to my ordinances, which I set before their fathers. ¹¹ Therefore thus saith the Lord; Behold I do set my face against you ¹² to destroy all the remnant that are in Egypt; and they shall fall by the sword, and by famine, and shall be consumed small and great: and they shall be for reproach, and for destruction, and for a curse. ¹³ And I will visit them that dwell in the land of Egypt, as I have visited Jerusalem, with sword and with famine: ¹⁴ and there shall not one be preserved of the remnant of Juda that sojourn in the land of Egypt, to return to the land of Juda, to which they hope in their hearts to return: they shall not return, but only they that escape. ¹⁵ Then all the men that knew that their wives burned incense, and all the women, a great multitude, and all the people that dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathura, answered Jeremias, saying, ¹⁶ As for the word which thou hast spoken to us in the name of the Lord, we will not hearken to thee. ¹⁷ For we will surely perform every word that shall proceed out of our mouth, to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour drink-offerings to her, as we and our fathers have done, and our kings and princes, in the cities of Juda, and in the streets of Jerusalem: and so we were filled with bread, and were well, and saw no evils. ¹⁸ But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, we have all been brought low, and have been consumed by sword and by famine. ¹⁹ And whereas we burned incense to the queen of heaven, and poured drink-offerings to her, did we make cakes to her, and pour drink-offerings to her, without our husbands? ²⁰ Then Jeremias answered all the people, the mighty men, and the women, and all the people that returned him these words for answer, saying, ²¹ Did not the Lord remember the incense which ye burned in the cities of Juda, and in the streets of Jerusalem, ye, and your fathers, and your kings, and your princes, and the people of the land? and came it not into his heart? ²² And the Lord could no longer bear you, because of the wickedness of your doings, and because of your abominations which ye wrought; and so your land became a desolation and a waste, and a curse, as at this day; ²³ because of your burning incense, and because of the things wherein ye sinned against the Lord: and ye have not hearkened to the voice of the Lord, and have not walked in his ordinances, and in his law, and in his testimonies; and so these evils have come upon you. ²⁴ And Jeremias said to the people, and to the women, Hear ye the word of the Lord. ²⁵ Thus has the Lord God of Israel said; Ye women have spoken with your mouth, and ye fulfilled it with your hands, saying, We will surely perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour drink-offerings to her: full well did ye keep to your vows, and ye have indeed performed them. ²⁶ Therefore hear ye the word of the Lord, all Jews dwelling in the land of Egypt; Behold, I have sworn by my great name, saith the Lord, my name shall no longer be in the mouth of every Jew to say, The Lord lives, in all the land of Egypt. ²⁷ For I have watched over them, to hurt them, and not to do them good: and all the Jews dwelling in the land of Egypt shall perish by sword and by famine, until they are utterly consumed. ²⁸ And they that escape the sword shall return to the land of Juda few in number, and the remnant of Juda, who have continued in the land of Egypt to dwell there, shall know whose word shall stand. ²⁹ And this shall be a sign to you, that I will visit you for evil. ³⁰ Thus said the Lord; Behold, I will give Uaphres king of Egypt into the hands of his enemy, and into the hands of one that seeks his life; as I gave Sedekias king of Juda into the hands of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, his enemy, and who sought his life.

Chapter 52

Zedeki'ah was twenty-one years old when he became king; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hamu'tal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. ²And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that Jehoi'akim had done. ³Surely because of the anger of the LORD things came to such a pass in Jerusalem and Judah that he cast them out from his presence. And Zedeki'ah rebelled against the king of Babylon. ⁴And in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, Nebuchadrez'zar king of Babylon came with all his army against Jerusalem, and they laid siege to it and built siegeworks against it round about. ⁵So the city was besieged till the eleventh year of King Zedeki'ah. ⁶On the ninth day of the fourth month the famine was so severe in the city, that there was no food for the people of the land. ⁷Then a breach was made in the city; and all the men of war fled and went out from the city by night by the way of a gate between the two walls, by the king's garden, while the Chalde'ans were round about the city. And they went in the direction of the Arabah. ⁸But the army of the Chalde'ans pursued the king, and overtook Zedeki'ah in the plains of Jericho; and all his army was scattered from him. ⁹Then they captured the king, and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, and he passed sentence upon him. ¹⁰The king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedeki'ah before his eyes, and also slew all the princes of Judah at Riblah. ¹¹He put out the eyes of Zedeki'ah, and bound him in fetters, and the king of Babylon took him to Babylon, and put him in prison till the day of his death. ¹²In the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month--which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadrez'zar, king of Babylon--Nebu'zarad'an the captain of the bodyguard who served the king of Babylon, entered Jerusalem. ¹³And he burned the house of the LORD, and the king's house and all the houses of Jerusalem; every great house he burned down. ¹⁴And all the army of the Chalde'ans, who were with the captain of the guard, broke down all the walls round about Jerusalem. ¹⁵And Nebu'zarad'an the captain of the guard carried away captive some of the poorest of the people and the rest of the people who were left in the city and the deserters who had deserted to the king of Babylon, together with the rest of the artisans. ¹⁶But Nebu'zarad'an the captain of the guard left some of the poorest of the land to be vinedressers and plowmen. ¹⁷And the pillars of bronze that were in the house of the LORD, and the stands and the bronze sea that were in the house of the LORD, the Chalde'ans broke in pieces, and carried all the bronze to Babylon. ¹⁸And they took away the pots, and the shovels, and the snuffers, and the basins, and the dishes for incense, and all the vessels of bronze used in the temple service; ¹⁹also the small bowls, and the firepans, and the basins, and the pots, and the lampstands, and the dishes for incense, and the bowls for libation. What was of gold the captain of the guard took away as gold, and what was of silver, as silver. ²⁰As for the two pillars, the one sea, the twelve bronze bulls which were under the sea, and the stands, which Solomon the king had made for the house of the LORD, the bronze of all these things was beyond weight. ²¹As for the pillars, the height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits, its circumference was twelve cubits, and its thickness was four fingers, and it was hollow. ²²Upon it was a capital of bronze; the height of the one capital was five cubits; a network and pomegranates, all of bronze, were upon the capital round about. And the second pillar had the like, with pomegranates. ²³There were ninety-six pomegranates on the sides; all the pomegranates were a hundred upon the network round about. ²⁴And the captain of the guard took Serai'ah the chief priest, and Zephani'ah the second priest, and the three keepers of the threshold; ²⁵and from the city he took an officer who had been in command of the men of war, and seven men of the king's council, who were found in the city; and the secretary of the commander of the army who mustered the people of the land; and sixty men of the people of the land, who were found in the midst of the city. ²⁶And Nebu'zarad'an the captain of the guard took them, and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah. ²⁷And the king of Babylon smote them, and put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was carried captive out of its land. ²⁸This is the number of the people whom Nebuchadrez'zar carried away captive: in the seventh year, three thousand and twenty-three Jews; ²⁹in the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrez'zar he carried away captive from Jerusalem eight hundred and thirty-two persons; ³⁰in the twenty-third year of Nebuchadrez'zar, Nebu'zarad'an the captain of the guard carried away captive of the Jews seven hundred and forty-five persons; all the persons were four thousand and six hundred. ³¹And in the thirty-seventh year of the captivity of Jehoi'achin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-fifth day of the month, E'vil-mer'odach king of Babylon, in the year that he became king, lifted up the head of Jehoi'achin king of Judah and brought him out of prison; ³²and he spoke kindly to him, and gave him a seat above the seats of the kings who were with him in Babylon. ³³So Jehoi'achin put off his prison garments. And every day of his life he dined regularly at the king's table; ³⁴as for his allowance, a regular allowance was given him by the king according to his daily need, until the day of his death as long as he lived.

Intent of Chapter 52

52:1-34 Historical Appendix

The text is considered a duplicate of 2Kgs. 24:18-25:30. This historical section, together with 39:1-10 and 40:7-43:7 provides much important complimentary information (cf. Isa. Chs 36-39).

52:1-3 Reign of Zedekiah. (2Kgs. 24:18-20 (597-587 BCE). For details in the contemporary religious situation see Ezek. Ch 8.

52:4-27 Siege and Fall of Jerusalem (39:1-10; 2Kgs. 24:20b-25:26).

52:4-11 Jan. 588 BCE-Aug. 587 BCE. The last scene enacted before Zedekiah (37:1; Ez. 17:18-21) at Nechadrezzar's HQ at Riblah NW of Byblos was the slaughter of his sons and court officials. He was then blinded and taken to Babylon to die in prison.

52:12-16 (Aug. 587 BCE) The reasons for the actions of Nebuzaradan, Nebuchadnezzar's field general are not known.

52:17-23 (a detailed description of the booty taken from the Temple)

52:24-27 2Kgs. 25:18-21. Seraiah, perhaps the same as in 36:26. Zephaniah 21:1; 29:29.

52:28-30 The three deportations listed here coincide with the surrender of Jehoiachin, (597 BCE; 2Kgs. 24:12-16; the suppression of Zedekiah's revolt (587 BCE). And the reprisals for Gedaliah's assassination 582 BCE; 40:7-41:18; 2Kgs. 25:22-26).

52:31-34 2Kgs. 25:27-30 It is considered that the presence of this material proves that the editing of Jeremiah was later than 560 BCE. Jehoiachin's restoration may well have been viewed by his contemporaries as the beginning of Judah's restoration (23:5-6) (see also OARSV n.).

Chapter 52 of the RSV is also in the LXX however the LXX omits vv. 28-30 which appear to be later additions.

English Translation of the Greek Septuagint Bible.

Brenton, Sir Lancelot C. L...

Chapter 52 ^52:1 THE WORD WHICH JEREMIAS THE PROPHET spoke to Baruch son of Nerias, when he wrote these words in the book from the mouth of Jeremias, in the fourth year of Joakim the son of Josias king of Juda. ² Thus has the Lord said to thee, O Baruch. ³ Whereas thou hast said, Alas! alas! for the Lord has laid a grievous trouble upon me; I lay down in groaning, I found no rest; ⁴ say thou to him, Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I pull down those whom I have built up, and I pluck up those whom I have planted. ⁵ And wilt thou seek great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I bring evil upon all flesh, saith the Lord: but I will give to thee thy life for a spoil in every place whither thou shalt go. It was the twenty-first year of Sedekias, when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Amitaal, the daughter of Jeremias, of Lobena. ⁴ And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the ninth month, on the tenth day of the month, that Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon came, and all his host, against Jerusalem, and they made a rampart round it, and built a wall round about it with large stones. ⁵ So the city was besieged, until the eleventh year of king Sedekias, ⁶ on the ninth day of the month, and then the famine was severe in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land. ⁷ And the city was broken up, and all the men of war went out by night by the way of the gate, between the wall and the outworks, which were by the king’s garden; and the Chaldeans were by the city round about; and they went by the way leading to the wilderness. ⁸ But the host of the Chaldeans pursued after the king, and overtook him in the country beyond Jericho; and all his servants were dispersed from about him. ⁹ And they took the king, and brought him to the king of Babylon to Deblatha, and he judged him. ¹⁰ And the king of Babylon slew the sons of Sedekias before his eyes; and he slew all the princes of Juda in Deblatha. ¹¹ And he put out the eyes of Sedekias, and bound him in fetters; and the king of Babylon brought him to Babylon, and put him into the grinding-house, until the day when he died. ¹² And in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, Nabuzardan the captain of the guard, who waited on the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem; ¹³ and he burnt the house of the Lord, and the king’s house; and all the houses of the city, and every great house he burnt with fire. ¹⁴ And the host of the Chaldeans that was with the captain of the guard pulled down all the wall of Jerusalem round about. ¹⁵ ¹⁶ But the captain of the guard left the remnant of the people to be vinedressers and husbandmen. ¹⁷ And the Chaldeans broke in pieces the brazen pillars that were in the house of the Lord, and the bases, and the brazen sea that was in the house of the Lord, and they took the brass thereof, and carried it away to Babylon. ¹⁸ Also the rim, and the bowls, and the flesh-hooks, and all the brazen vessels, wherewith they ministered; ¹⁹ and the basons, and the snuffers, and the oil-funnels, and the candlesticks, and the censers, and the cups, the golden, of gold, and the silver, of silver, the captain of the guard took away. ²⁰ And the two pillars, and the one sea, and the twelve brazen oxen under the sea, which things king Solomon made for the house of the Lord; the brass of which articles was without weight. ²¹ And as for the pillars, the height of one pillar was thirty-five cubits; and a line of twelve cubits compassed it round; and the thickness of it all round was four fingers. ²² And there was a brazen chapter upon them, and the length was five cubits, even the height of one Chapiter; and there were on the chapiter round about network and pomegranates, all of brass: and correspondingly the second pillar had eight pomegranates to a cubit for the twelve cubits. ²³ And the pomegranates were ninety-six on a side; and all the pomegranates on the network round about were a hundred. ²⁴ And the captain of the guard took the chief priest, and the second priest, and those that kept the way; ²⁵ and one eunuch, who was over the men of war, and seven men of renown, who were in the king’s presence that were found in the city; and the scribe of the forces, who did the part of a scribe to the people of the land; and sixty men of the people of the land, who were found in the midst of the city. ²⁶ And Nabuzardan the captain of the king’s guard took them, and brought them to the king of Babylon to Deblatha. ²⁷ And the king of Babylon smote them in Deblatha, in the land of Æmath. ²⁸ ²⁹ ³⁰ ³¹ And it came to pass in the thirty-seventh year after that Joakim king of Juda had been carried away captive, in the twelfth month, on the four and twentieth day of the month, that Ulaemadachar king of Babylon, in the year in which he began to reign, raised the head of Joakim king of Juda, and shaved him, and brought him out of the house where he was kept, ³² and spoke kindly to him, and set his throne above the kings that were with him in Babylon, ³³ and changed his prison garments: and he ate bread continually before him all the days that he lived. ³⁴ And his appointed portion was given him continually by the king of Babylon from day to day, until the day when he died.

Bullinger’s Notes on Chs. 49-52 (for KJV)

Chapter 49

Concerning, &c. Supply the Ellipsis, from Jeremiah 47:1.

Ammonites. sons of Ammon, north of Moab. When the tribes east of Jordan were carried away by Tiglath-pileser (2 Kings 15:29), Ammon supplanted Gad. This is the sin dealt with here.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.

Verse 2

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos.

Rabbah. Now 'Amman, on the highlands of Gilead.. large Roman city was built there four centuries later, called "Philadelphia". Its ruins yet remain.

heap. tel.

daughters: i.e. villages, or smaller dependent towns.

Verse 3

Heshbon. Compare Jeremiah 48:2.

Ai. An Ammonite town, not yet identified.

cry. cry sadly.

hedges. fences.

Verse 4

Wherefore... ? Who... ? Figure of speech Erotesis.

thy flowing valley. thy valley flowing [with blood].

trusted. confided. Hebrew. bat. h. App-69.

saying. Some codices, with three early printed editions, read "she who is saying in her heart".

Verse 6

bring again, &c. See note on Jeremiah 48:47.

children. sons. Not the same word as Jeremiah 49:11.

Verse 7

The Forty-Sixth Prophecy of Jeremiah (see book comments for Jeremiah).

Edom. From Esau. Judgment for his unbrotherly conduct to Israel. Compare Psalms 137:7; Isaiah 63:1.Ezekiel 25:12-14. and Obadiah.

the LORD of hosts. See note on Jeremiah 6:6.

Is... ? is... ? Figure of speech Erotesis.

wisdom... Teman?. grandson of Esau. See notes on p. 666.

Teman.. town in Edom. Not yet identified. Compare Job 2:11.Amos 1:12.Obadiah 1:9; Habakkuk 3:3.

Verse 8

dwell deep: i.e. in out of the way recesses.

Dedan. Not identified. He was. grandson of Abraham (Genesis 25:1-3). Compare Isaiah 21:13.Ezekiel 25:13. A tribe descended from Abraham by Keturah (Genesis 25:3).

Verse 9

grapegatherers. Compare Obadiah 1:5.

Verse 10

But. Supply the Ellipsis thus: But [not so I], for. have laid Esau bare, &c.

Verse 11

children. young children. Not the same word as in Jeremiah 49:6.trust. confide. Hebrew. batah. App-69.

Verse 12

the cup. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), for its contents. See Jeremiah 25:15.

Verse 13

I have sworn. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 22:16). App-92.

Bozrah. Now el Buseirah, south-east of the Dead Sea. Not the Bozrah of Jeremiah 48:24.

Verse 14

heathen. nations.

ye together =. yourselves out [to war].

Verse 15

men. Hebrew. 'adam (with Art.) App-14.

Verse 16

terribleness. monstrous thing: i.e. an Edomite Asherah. App-42.

pride. insolence.

the rock. Probably Sela.

nest. Compare Obadiah 1:4.

eagle. vulture.

Verse 17

a desolation. an astonishment.

Verse 18

the overthrow, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 19:25.Deuteronomy 29:23; Deuteronomy 29:23). App-92. A word almost restricted to that event.

Verse 19

he. Nebuchadnezzar. See note on Jeremiah 48:40.

like. lion. Figure of speech Simile. Contrast Jeremiah 4:7, where the assault is against Zion and the feelings are more deeply stirred.

swelling. Hebrew pride. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), for the proud beasts in the undergrowth of its banks. See Jeremiah 12:5; Jeremiah 50:44. Compare Job 41.

the strong. a strong one.

but. for.

him: i.e. Edom.

from her: i.e. from Idumea.

a chosen man: i.e. Nebuchadnezzar.

over her. over the pasturage.

who is like Me? Compare note on Exodus 15:11.

appoint Me the time? i.e. who will summon or arraign Me?

shepherd. ruler.

Verse 20

counsel. Referring to Teman's wisdom. Compare Jeremiah 49:7.

taken. counselled. Figure of speech Polyptoton.

draw them out. As. dog drags away and tears. dead body.

habitations: or, folds.

Verse 21

the noise thereof. Hebrew. its sound. Some codices, with eight early printed editions and Aramaean, read "at their noise" (plural)

in. at.

Verse 22

fly as the eagle. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 28:49). App-92. Compare Jeremiah 48:40.

mighty men. Hebrew. geber. App-14.

Verse 23

The Forty-Seventh Prophecy of Jeremiah (see book comments for Jeremiah).

Damascus. The prophecy concerns Syria generally, of which Damascus was the principal city.

Hamath. Now Hama, in the valley of the Greekntes, north of Damascus.

Arpad. Now Tell Erfad, thirteen miles north of Aleppo. Compare 2 Kings 18:34; 2 Kings 19:13.Isaiah 10:9; Isaiah 36:19; Isaiah 37:13.

evil tidings. calamitous report. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44.

sorrow. anxiety, or trouble. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44. Not the same word as in Jeremiah 49:24. be quiet. rest.

Verse 24

sorrows. pangs. Hebrew. hebel, as in Jeremiah 13:21.

Verse 25

not left. not restored, strengthened, or fortified.. Homonym. Here the meaning is as in Nehemiah 3:8. See notes on Exodus 23:5. Deu 32:36. 1 Kings 14:10; 2 Kings 14:26. 2Ki 49:25. Not its other meaning, to leave or forsake, as in Genesis 2:24; Genesis 39:6; Nehemiah 5:10; Psalms 49:10. Mai. Jeremiah 4:1 (Hebrew. Ch. Jeremiah 3:19).

Verse 26

men. Hebrew, plural of' 'enosh. App-14.

Verse 27

Ben-hadad. Three kings of Damascus bore this official name. See 1Ki 15:18. 2 Kings 13:3; 2 Kings 13:25.

Verse 28

The Forty-Eighth Prophecy of Jeremiah (see book comments for Jeremiah).

Kedar. Name of the Bedouin dwelling in tents (Jeremiah 2:10), east of Palestine.

Hazor. Near the Euphrates and the Persian Gulf.

men. sons.

Verse 29

Fear is on every side. Hebrew. magor missabib. Compare Jeremiah 6:25; Jeremiah 20:3; Jeremiah 20:10; Jeremiah 46:5.Lamentations 2:22.

Verse 30

conceived. purpose. devised. device. Figure of speech Polyptoton.

Verse 31

which dwell alone. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 23:9; Deuteronomy 33:28).

Verse 32

all winds. all quarters. winds. Hebrew. ruach. App-9.

in the utmost corners. have the corners of their hair or beards polled. Compare Jeremiah 9:26.

Verse 33

dragons. jackals.

Verse 34

The Forty-Ninth Prophecy of Jeremiah (see book comments for Jeremiah).

Elam. The country east of the Tigris. Compare Daniel 8:1; Daniel 8:2. Its subjugation by Nebuchadnezzar (Jeremiah 25:25). Compare Habakkuk 2:8.

Verse 36

four. The number connected with the earth (App-10).

Verse 37

life. soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.

Verse 39

the latter days. The end or after part of the days.

bring again, &c. See note on Jeremiah 48:47. Compare Deuteronomy 30:3.

Chapter 50

Verse 1

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.

and. Some codices, with three early printed editions, Aramaean, Syriac, and Vulgate, read this "and" in the text.

by. Hebrew idiom. by the hand of; "hand" being put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), for the instrumentality or agency, especially in the inspiration of the written words. See note on Zechariah 7:12.

Verse 2

publish... conceal not. Not now using symbols as in Jeremiah 25:15.

set up. lift up.

Babylon is taken. Compare Revelation 14:8; Revelation 18:6; Revelation 18:10; Revelation 18:21: showing that this prophecy is still future.

Bel. Contracted from the Aramaic form of Ba'al, the national god of Babylon. See Isaiah 46:1.

Merodaoh. Another name for Bel (= Baal), Babylon '. god.

images. manufactured gods. Compare Leviticus 26:30.

Verse 3

the north. Referring to Medo-Persia, which was on the northwest of Chaldea. But. future enemy is foretold.

none shall dwell therein. Showing that the fulfilment is still future.

Verse 4

In those days. This prophecy awaits its fulfilment. The conquest by Medo-Persia did not exhaust it.

children. sons.

together. Another proof that this prophecy refers to the future. Never yet fulfilled.

going and weeping. Hebrew. weeping as they travel, so shall they journey on.

weeping. For their past sins. Compare Jeremiah 31:9; Jeremiah 31:18; Joel 2:12.Zechariah 12:10-14.Revelation 1:7.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. (with ' eth). App-4.

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4.

Verse 5

thitherward. Hebrew. hitherward. Jeremiah was therefore not in Babylon, but in Egypt.

perpetual. Another evidence that this prophecy refers to the future covenant. Compare Jeremiah 3:18 Jeremiah 4:2; Jeremiah 11:1-6; Jeremiah 31:31.

Verse 6

lost sheep. Compare Matthew 10:6; Matthew 15:24.

shepherds: i.e. rulers.

they have turned them away on the mountains. on the mountains they seduced them: i.e. by the idolatrous worship practiced there.

Verse 7

We offend not, &c. Compare verses: Jeremiah 50:15; Jeremiah 50:23; Jeremiah 50:29; Jeremiah 2:3; Jeremiah 25:14; Jeremiah 25:15, &c.

offend. Hebrew. 'asham. App-44.

sinned. Hebrew. chata.

Habitation. pasturage. Compare Jeremiah 31:23.

justice. righteousness. In Ch. Jeremiah 31:23 this is applied to Jerusalem. Here Jehovah Himself is the pasturage in which His People find rest.

the Hope of their fathers. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6, by which "hope" is put for the God in Whom their fathers hoped. Compare 1 Timothy 1:1.

Verse 8

go forth. Hebrew text reads "they will go forth"; but margin, with some codices and two early printed editions, reads "go ye forth". Compare Jeremiah 51:4; Jeremiah 51:6; Revelation 18:4.

Verse 9

assembly. a gathered host, or convocation. great nations. Compare Isaiah 13:3; Isaiah 13:4.

mighty... man. Hebrew. gibbor. App-14.

expert. successful. Compare Jeremiah 10:21; Jeremiah 23:5.

Verse 10

shall be satisfied. Compare Jeremiah 49:9.

Verse 11

destroyers. spoilers, or plunderers.

Verse 12

the hindermost. the last. Compare Jeremiah 50:17; Jeremiah 25:26.

Verse 13

not be inhabited. Not yet fulfilled. Compare 1 Peter 5:13.

Verse 15

given her hand. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6, for what is done by it. Here the token of submission. Compare Lamentations 5:6; Ezekiel 17:18.

as. according as. Compare Revelation 18:6; Revelation 18:7.

Verse 16

every one. Hebrew. 'ish. App-14.

Verse 17

Israel. Now. united nation. See note on Jeremiah 50:4.

last. See note on "hindermost", Jeremiah 50:12.

Verse 18

the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel. See note on Jeremiah 7:3.

Verse 19

mount. the hill country of.

Verse 21

Merathaim. double rebellion. So called, here, because the empire was founded in. double rebellion.

Pekod. Visitation: i.e. in judgment.

destroy. devote to extermination. Hebrew. karam. The same word as Jeremiah 50:26. not the same as verses: Jeremiah 50:11; Jeremiah 50:22.

Verse 22

destruction. smash; or, breaking down. Hebrew. shabar. Not the same word as in verses: Jeremiah 50:11; Jeremiah 50:21; Jeremiah 50:26.

Verse 25

His armoury. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia.

Verse 26

from the utmost border. from the farthest parts, or every quarter.

Verse 27

visitation. See note on "Pekod", Jeremiah 50:21.

Verse 28

vengeance. avenging. Son 51:11. Compare Daniel 5:3.

Verse 29

recompense her. See Revelation 18:6.

according to. See note on "as", Jeremiah 50:15. Compare Revelation 18:6.

the Holy One of Israel. See note on Psalms 71:22.

Verse 34

Redeemer. Kinsman-Redeemer. Hebrew. ga'al. See notes on Isaiah 60:16, and Exodus 6:6.

strong. strong (to hold fast). Hebrew. hazak. Not the same word as in Jeremiah 50:44.

Verse 35

A sword. Note the Figure of speech Anaphora, in five successive sentences.

Verse 36

liars. praters.

dote. be shown to be foolish.

Verse 37

the mingled people. the rabble.

Verse 38

idols. horrors.

Verse 39

no more inhabited, &c. Therefore the fulfilment still future.

Verse 40

overthrew, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 19:25). App-92. Compare Jeremiah 49:18.

man. Hebrew. Ish. App-14.

Verse 41

a great nation: i.e. Medo-Persia.

coasts. sides: i.e. remote parts.

Verse 43

his hands, &c. See fulfilment in Daniel 5:6.

Verse 44

like. lion, &c. See note on Jeremiah 49:19 for this verse and Jeremiah 50:45, there spoken of Edom.

Verse 45

taken. counselled.

land. Some codices, with three early printed editions and Aramaean, read "inhabitants of the land".

Chapter 51

Verse 1

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos.

Me.. Massoretic note (App-30) says that this is. cryptogram (Hebrew " Casdim "), meaning "the Chaldees". See note on Jeremiah 51:41; Jeremiah 25:26.

destroying. laying waste. Hebrew. shahath. The same word as in verses: Jeremiah 51:11; Jeremiah 51:20; Jeremiah 51:25. Not the same as in verses: Jeremiah 51:3; Jeremiah 51:8; Jeremiah 51:54; Jeremiah 1:55.

wind. Hebrew. ruach. App-9.

51:2

fanners... fan. winnowers... winnow. Figure of speech Polyptoton. App-6.

51:3

Against him that bendeth, &c. The Massorah (App-30), instead of cancelling the repeated word "against... and against" ('el), directs the substitution of 'al, "not... and not". The verse will then read, "Let not the archer bend his bow, nor let him lift himself up in his coat of mail" (i.e. in defence of Babylon). This is so read in two early printed editions, Chaldee, Syriac, Vulgate, and Revised Version.

brigandine. coat of mail.

destroy. break down. Hebrew. haram. Same word as Jeremiah 51:54. Not the same as verses: Jeremiah 51:1; Jeremiah 51:8; Jeremiah 51:11; Jeremiah 51:20; Jeremiah 51:25; Jeremiah 51:25; Jeremiah 51:54; Jeremiah 51:55.

51:5

Israel... Judah. Now one People again.

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4.

the LORD of Hosts. See note on Jeremiah 6:6, and 1 Samuel 1:3.

sin. Hebrew. chata.

the Holy One of Israel. See note on Psalms 71:22.

51:6

every man. Hebrew. 'ish. App-14.

soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.

iniquity. Hebrew. 'avah. App-44. Put by Fig, Metonymy (of Cause), for the judgment brought down by it. Compare Revelation 18:4.

51:7

made all the earth drunken. Compare Revelation 17:4.

wine. Hebrew. yayin. App-27.

51:8

is suddenly, &c. This must refer to. future fulfilment, for the present condition came gradually, See Isaiah 21:9; Isaiah 47:9; Isaiah 47:11. Compare Revelation 14:8; Revelation 18:8; Revelation 18:10; Revelation 18:17; Revelation 18:19.

destroyed. broken down. Hebrew. shabar. Not the same as in verses: Jeremiah 51:1; Jeremiah 51:3; Jeremiah 51:11; Jeremiah 1:20; Jeremiah 1:25; Jeremiah 1:25; Jeremiah 1:55.

take balm. fetch balSamaritan Pentateuch Compare Jeremiah 8:22; Jeremiah 46:11.

51:9

We. Note this remarkable pronoun.

every one. Hebrew. 'Ish. App-14.

is lifted up. mounteth.

51:11

spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9.

the Medes. In the person of Cyrus and others (App-57). Here the then immediate calamity is referred to.

vengeance. avengement.

51:12

make the watch, &c. Compare Isaiah 21:5; Isaiah 21:6.

51:13

upon many waters. Compare Jeremiah 51:42, and Jeremiah 50:38, also Revelation 17:1; Revelation 17:15.

covetousness. dishonest or unrighteous gain.

51:14

by Himself. by His soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia.

caterpillers. locusts. Compare Joel 2:2.Nahum 3:15.

they: i.e. the assailants.

51:15

made the earth, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 1). Compare Jeremiah 10:12, &c. verses: Jeremiah 51:15-19 are repeated from Jeremiah 10:12-16.

51:16

multitude. noise.

lightnings, &c. Compare Jeremiah 10:13.

51:17

is brutish by, &c.. is become too brutish to know.

confounded. put to shame.

breath. Hebrew. ruach. App-9.