Jeremiah 25

— all the kingdoms of the world, &c.] This must be understood with a limitation to that part of the continent which the Jews had any correspondence or acquaintance with; just as “all the world” stands for the whole Roman empire, Luke ii. 1. The ambition of a prince like Nebuchadnezzar, who aimed at universal monarchy, could not help occasioning great distress and confusion, both among those who felt, and among those who dreaded, the power of his arms. Dr. Blayney. — and the king of Sheshach shall drink after them.] Sheshach means Babylon, as appears from chap. li. 41. Dr. Blayney. It is thought that Babylon was so called from one of its idols, named Shach, which was worshipped there, and to which a festival was kept for five days together; and that the term is used by way of reproach. It is said that during this festival Cyrus took Babylon. See chap. li. 41. Burder.

Jeremiah 25:16

16. — be moved, and be mad.] That astonishment, and those unsettled counsels and resolutions, which are here mentioned as the effects of God’s judgments, are elsewhere compared to drunkenness: see chap. li. 57; Lament. iv. 21; Isa. xix. 14; Nahum iii. 11; Hab. ii. 16. W. Louth.

Jeremiah 25:17

17. Then took I the cup &c.] The Prophet either did this in vision, or else he actually did what is figuratively designed, that is, he publicly denounced the judgments of God severally against these nations. It is most likely that this narrative was either written by the Prophet himself, or dictated by him to Baruch, who wrote for him, after the destruction of Jerusalem, when a compilation was made of all his prophecies: this supposition will account for the words, “as it is this day,” found at the close of the 18th verse. Dr. Blayney.

Jeremiah 25:20

20. And all the mingled people.] Probably a mixture of several nations, who dwelt either upon the coasts of the Mediterranean, or upon those of the Red sea. W. Louth. Or, the words may be joined with the preceding, and may denote all the foreigners resident in Egypt, who had by intermarriages formed connexions with the Egyptians. In Exod. xii. 38, we read of “a mixed multitude,” distinct from the children of Israel, that went up with them out of Egypt. Dr. Blayney.

— all the kings of the land of Uz.] This was the country of Job: concerning its situation, see the note on Job i. 1.

The kings mentioned here and in the following verses were petty princes of several clans or colonies. See the note on chap. xvii. 20. W. Louth.

— the remnant of Ashdod.] Or, Azotus; which had been greatly injured by two sieges, in which it was taken, the one by Tartan, the Assyrian general, mentioned Isa. xx. 1; the other by Psammetichus, king of Egypt, who, as Herodotus relates, retook it after the longest siege that had ever been known in those times. Dr. Blayney.

Jeremiah 25:22

22. — the kings of the isles which are beyond the sea.]

Or rather, “the region by the sea-side,” as in the margin: meaning the people upon the coast of the Mediterranean sea. The word “island” in the Hebrew signifies any region or country: see the note on Isa. xx. 6. W. Louth. See also the note on Gen. x. 5.

Jeremiah 25:23

23. Dedan, and Tema, and Buz.] Dedan was descended from Abraham by Keturah, Gen. xxv. 3. It was probably he that founded the city Dedan, which however in process of time seems to have been annexed to Edom. See chap. xlix. 8; Ezek. xxv. 13. Tema was one of the sons of Ishmael, Gen. xxv. 15; and a city or district called after him was situate near the mountains which separate Arabia from Chaldea. Buz was the brother of Huz, Gen. xxii. 21; and settled most probably in his neighbourhood. Elihu, the most discreet of Job’s friends, was a Buzite, Job xxxii. 2. Dr. Blayney.

— all that are in the utmost corners.] Probably the inhabitants of the peninsula of Arabia. Dr. Blayney. See the note on chap. ix. 26.

Jeremiah 25:24

24. — the mingled people that dwell in the desert.] Meaning such as inhabited the great desert country lying between Mesopotamia and Palestine. These may have been called “mingled” either from their manner of inhabiting the desert promiscuously, and in common, without any fixed property or abode, but settling for a time where they found pasture, and then removing with their flocks to another place; or else, more probably, from their being made up of people of different descents. Dr. Blayney.

Jeremiah 25:25

25. — Zimri.] A people of Arabia, descended from Zimran, Abraham’s son by Keturah, Gen. xxv. 2. W. Louth.

— Elam, and—the Medes.] See the note on chap. xlix. 34. The Medes and Persians were commonly confederates, and partakers of the same good or ill fortune. W. Louth.

Jeremiah 25:26

26. — all the kings of the north, far and near.] By the kings of the north that were “near,” the kings of Syria were probably meant; see chap. xlix. 23. Those that are “far off” may mean the Hyrcanians and Baetrians, who are reckoned by Xenophon among those that were subjected or oppressed by the king of Babylon; and perhaps others besides of the neighbouring nations, that were compelled to submit to the Babylonish yoke. All these lay to the north of Judea, and at a great distance. Dr. Blayney.

The destruction of divers nations foretold. JEREMIAH. The howling of the shepherds. Before CHRIST about 606. all the kingdoms of the world, which are upon the face of the earth: and the king of Sheshach shall drink after them.

Jeremiah 25:28

28. And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup &c.] If they either do not believe thy threatenings, or else disregard them, as thinking themselves sufficiently provided against hostile invasion, you shall let them know, that the judgments denounced against them are God’s irreversible decree. W. Lowth.

Jeremiah 25:29

29. For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city &c.] Judgment often begins at the house of God, for the correction of God’s people, and for a warning to others; but the heaviest strokes of it are reserved for the ungodly: compare chap. xlix. 12; 1 Pet. iv. 17, 18; Luke xxiii. 31. W. Lowth.

Jeremiah 25:30

30. The Lord shall roar from on high, &c.] The Lord shall declare from heaven his great fury and indignation against the wicked: He shall roar like a fierce lion, and shout out aloud, and call up the Babylonians to their task of slaughter, as they, that tread the grapes, by their loud cries encourage each other to the work. Bp. Hall.

Jeremiah 25:34

34. Howl, ye shepherds, &c.] Shepherds are here the same with princes or generals, chap. ii. 8; vi. 3. In pursuance of the same metaphor, by the “principal of the flock” are meant the great and rich men of each nation that is here prophesied against. Of them it is foretold, that they shall “wallow themselves in the ashes,” as a token of mourning and lamenting over their misfortunes: see chap. vi. 26. W. Lowth. — and ye shall fall like a pleasant vessel.] That is, Ye who are esteemed above the common rank shall undergo the fate of a precious vessel, made of a crystal or gem, which being let fall is shattered to pieces; its original value being no security against such disasters. Dr. Blayney.

Jeremiah 25:38

38. He hath forsaken his covert, as the lion:] That is, to desolate the land, as a lion forsakes his covert to go in quest of prey. Poole.