Jeremiah 51
DOYLY&c.] It was here foretold, that the Babylonians should be terrified and hide themselves within their walls; and accordingly the Babylonians, after the loss of a battle or two, never recovered their courage so as to face the enemy in the field again; they retired within their walls, and Cyrus could never draw them forth to try the fortune of arms. Bp. Newton.
Ver. 12. — in the tenth day of the month.] In the parallel place, 2 Kings xxv. 8, we read, “on the seventh day of the month.” It is probable that Nebuzar-adan came to Jerusalem on the seventh, but did not set fire to the city and temple till the tenth. Josephus relates this remarkable circumstance attending the burn-
Jeremiah 51:7
- Babylon hath been a golden cup in the Lord’s hand, &c.] In what sense Babylon is called “a cup” may be seen by comparing chap. xxv. 15. She was a splendid instrument of vengeance ordained by God against the neighbouring nations; and as all these had suffered by her, all are represented as ready to glory over her, or rejoice when her turn of suffering came. Dr. Blayney.
Jeremiah 51:9
- We would have healed Babylon.] This is spoken in the name of God’s Prophets, and the other witnesses of his truth, importing that they had sufficiently testified against her errors, and idolatries, but she was irreclaimable. And therefore it was time for all the lovers of truth to depart out of her, lest they be involved in her punishments: see ver. 6. W. Lowth. Or they are the words of the allies of Babylon, who say that they had endeavoured to support her sinking cause, but in vain; and therefore, as the case was desperate, they call one another to leave her to herself, and return every man to his own country. Poole, Dr. Blayney.
Jeremiah 51:10
- The Lord hath brought forth our righteousness.] He hath declared our cause to be just, (compare Ps. xxxvii. 6,) by bringing such remarkable judgments upon our enemies. And therefore we ought to give glory to Him in the assemblies of his Church, and in the most publick manner imaginable. W. Lowth.
Jeremiah 51:11
- — the kings of the Medes:] Neriglissar king of Babylon having formed an alliance against the Medes, Cambyses sent his son Cyrus with an army of thirty
devised and done that which he spake against the inhabitants of Babylon.
Jeremiah 51:12
- Set up the standard upon the walls of Babylon.] The Prophet ironically encourages the Babylonians to use their best skill and bravery for the defence of their city, which yet he foresees will be of no avail. See the like figure, ver. 8. W. Lowth.
Jeremiah 51:13
- O thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures.] Upon the river Euphrates, which encompassed Babylon, and ran through it, and by means of which it thought itself secure and impregnable. W. Lowth.
Jeremiah 51:14
- — with men, as with caterpillers:] Or locusts. Armies are often compared to caterpillers, locusts, and such like devouring insects: see Nahum iii. 15, 16; Joel ii. 2, 3, &c. W. Lowth.
15—19. These verses are repeated from chap. x. 12—16. See the notes there.
God’s severe judgment against Babylon in revenge of Israel. Before CHRIST 595. Or, in thee, at, by thee. inheritance: the LORD of hosts is his name.
Jeremiah 51:25
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— O destroying mountain.] Though Babylon was seated in a low watery plain, yet it is here called a “mountain,” on account of its power and greatness, as well as of the vast height of its walls and towers, its palaces and temples: and Berosus, speaking of some of its buildings, says, that they appeared most like mountains. Bp. Newton, Poole. “The rocks,” from whence it was to be “rolled,” were its strong holds. Dr. Blayney.
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— the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashchenaz; The two former of these Bochart reasonably concludes to be the greater and less Armenia: the latter to be a part of Phrygia near the Hellespont. Homer appears to speak of it by the name of Ascania. And that both the Armenians and Phrygians composed part of the army which Cyrus led against Babylon, may be seen in Xenophon. Dr. Blayney.
— as the rough caterpillars.] Or chafers; to which the hostile cavalry are compared, chiefly, I suppose, on account of their numbers. Parkhurst.
- The mighty men of Babylon have forborn to fight,
Jeremiah 51:31
- One post shall run to meet another, &c.] That is, Couriers shall run from different parts, and so fall in with one another, all carrying the same intelligence to the same person, that the city was taken on the side that each came from. Dr. Blayney.
Babylon was taken by surprise, by unexpectedly draining the river Euphrates, and entering through the channel into the city, as Herodotus relates.
For the carrying on of this stratagem, Cyrus took the opportunity of a publick festival, when the whole night was usually spent in revellings, and all manner of disorders, see ver. 39. In this time of riot the gates leading down to the river, that used to be shut every night, were left open, and gave a passage to Cyrus and his army into the city, which he became master of, while they thought themselves in the utmost security, both from the height and strength of their walls, and depth of their river: Cyrus having as yet made little progress in the siege, though he had invested the city with his army two years before. This surprise caused so many messengers to run one after the other, to acquaint the king with this unexpected news. The vast compass of this city has been observed in the notes on chap. l. 16. W. Lowth.
Before CHRIST 595. exercising desolations. God’s severe judgment against Babylon in revenge of Israel. Before CHRIST 595. Or, in the time that he thresheth her. Heb. My violence. Or, remainder. Heb. inhabitress.
Jeremiah 51:32
32.—that the passages are stopped.] Or rather, “surprised.” These were most probably the entrances into the city from the river side, which were scoured by gates, that ought, as Herodotus observes, to have been fast barred; which, if it had been done, would have effectually frustrated the attempt of the enemy; but being left open and unguarded on account of the publick festivity, the assailants were in possession of those entrances, and in the heart of the city, before the besieged were aware of it. Dr. Blayney.
—and the reeds they have burned with fire.] The soldiers, seeing the Euphrates nearly dry, set fire to the reeds which covered its borders, in order to facilitate the approach of the troops to the walls. The messengers reported to the king this circumstance, for the purpose of signifying to him that all the waters round about Babylon were dried up, and that there was no longer any thing to shelter the city from the enemy. These reeds are said to have been very large and high, and, together with the mud on which they stood, to have formed as it were another wall round the city. Calmet, Poole.
Jeremiah 51:33
33.—it is time to thresh her.] To tread, or cause the city to be trodden, as a threshing-floor. Parkhurst.
Jeremiah 51:34
- Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon hath devoured me.] A pathetick description of the calamities brought upon the Jews by Nebuchadnezzar and his forces, who after they had devoured the wealth, and laid waste the beauty of their country, then turned them out of it, and led them captives into a strange land. W. Lowth.
Jeremiah 51:35
35.—to me and to my flesh] To me and to my children. Our nearest relations are called our flesh in Scripture: see Judges ix. 5; 2 Sam. v. 1; Nehem. v. 5. W. Lowth.
Jeremiah 51:36
36.—I will dry up her sea, and make her springs dry.] See the notes on Isa. xiv. 23; and ver. 31 of this
heaps, a dwelling-place for dragons, an astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant.
Jeremiah 51:37
- And Babylon shall become heaps, &c.] See the notes on Isa. xiii. 20.
Jeremiah 51:38
- They shall roar together like lions.] Either for grief and anguish of mind: compare Zech. xi. 3; Isa. lix. 11; or else, the Prophet describes the revels and riotous noise that they made on the night of the publick festival, on which the city was taken: see the following verse. W. Lowth.
Jeremiah 51:39
- In their heat I will make their feasts, &c.] See the note on ver. 31.
Jeremiah 51:41
41.—the praise of the whole earth] Compare chap. xlix. 25; Dan. iv. 30; Isa. xiii. 19. See the note there.
Jeremiah 51:42
- The sea is come up upon Babylon.] By “the sea” any large collection of waters is denoted, and particularly the river Euphrates, ver. 36: so that the fate of Babylon is here alluded to, concerning which see ver. 64; and Isa. xiv. 23. Others by “the sea” understand metaphorically a numerous army, and by the overspreading of waters the invasion and conquest of the country. Dr. Blayney.
Jeremiah 51:44
44.—I will bring forth out of his mouth that which he hath swallowed up.] This was literally fulfilled, when the vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought from Jerusalem, and placed in the temple of Bel, Dan. i. 2, were restored by order of Cyrus, Ezra i. 7, and carried to Jerusalem again. Bp. Newton.
Before CHRIST 595. Or, shake themselves. God’s severe judgment against Babylon in revenge of Israel. Before CHRIST 595.
up: and the nations shall not flow together any more unto him: yea, the wall of Babylon shall fall.
Jeremiah 51:46
- — a rumour shall both come one year, &c.] Denoting that terrifying rumours shall continue year after year. Dr. Blayney.
— violence in the land, ruler against ruler.] This should be a time of hostile depredations and invasions. Cyrus and the king of Babylon should now appear at the head of two contending armies. W. Lowth.
Jeremiah 51:53
- Though Babylon should mount up to heaven, &c.] Though Babylon prides herself in the glory of her empire, placed above the common height of human greatness; compare Isa. xlvii. 7, 8; though she thinks herself never so secure in her high gates, ver. 58, and strength of her walls, which were three hundred and fifty feet high, according to Herodotus, yet this shall not place her out of the reach of my vengeance: compare chap. xlix. 16. W. Lowth.
Jeremiah 51:55
- — destroyed out of her the great voice;] When cities are populous, they are of course noisy. See Isa. xxii. 2. Silence is therefore a mark of depopulation; and in this sense we are to understand God’s destroying
Jeremiah 51:58
- — The broad walls—her high gates &c.] See the notes on Isa. xiii. 19—22.
— and the people shall labour in vain, &c.] In vain shall the people labour to quench that fire, which is kindled for the consuming of Babylon. Bp. Hall.
Jeremiah 51:59
- — with Zedekiah] Rather, “from Zedekiah,” or, “on his behalf,” as in the margin; or, by virtue of his commission: for we have no reason to suppose that Zedekiah went in person to Babylon at that time. W. Lowth, Dr. Blayney.
— Seraiah was a quiet prince.] “The chief chamberlain,” as in the margin. W. Lowth. So the word seems to mean: or, as we might call him, Lord Chamberlain. Parkhurst.
Before CHRIST 595. 595. Zedekiah rebelleth. His eyes are put out. Before CHRIST 595. lon, even all these words that are written against Babylon.
Jeremiah 51:63
- — thou shalt bind a stone to it, &c.] See the note on Gen. xxxii. 25. The prophets sometimes gave sensible representations of the judgments they foretold: see chap. xix. 10. This was a significant emblem of Babylon’s sinking irrecoverably under the judgments here denounced against her. Compare Rev. xviii. 21. This threatening was in a literal sense fulfilled. See the note on Isa. xiv. 22. W. Loudt.
Jeremiah 51:64
- — Thus far are the words of Jeremiah.] This is probably mentioned to shew that the next chapter was added by Ezra, or Baruch, or whoever collected this prophecy into one volume. W. Louth.
Chap. LII. This chapter was confessedly added by some one after Jeremiah’s time, probably by Ezra, or whoever revised the sacred writings after the return of the Jews from Babylon, and collected them into one Vol. II.
lon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it, and built forts against it round about.