Jeremiah 46

The title of the following prophesies verse 1 a prophesy of discomfiture of the king of Egypt Pharaoh-Necho 2 and further of the total destruction of Egypt by Nebuchadnezzar with an additional promise 13 Gods people are comforted in their affliction 27.

1. The word of the Lord which came unto Jeremiah against the Gentiles.

2. Against Egypt [or concerning Egypt or Egyptians against the army of Pharaoh Necho king of Egypt which [or who to wit Pharaoh Necho]was at the river Phrath [Euphates see Genesis 2 on verse 14 so in the sequel]by Carchermis [ or at Carchemis understanding it of Pharaoh-Necho himself who had himself who had his army thereabout it being uncertain whether in the time of Josiah whom he conquered after he took this city which Sennecheribhad taken from the Syrians or whether he was again before it with his army to subdue it or whether he had continued the siege from that very time see 2Kings 3 on verse 29 and 2 Chronicles 35:20 also Joshua 10.9which Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babel smote in forth year of Johoiakim the son of Josiah the king of Judah [to wit in the lifetime of his father Nabopolassar after that Jeremiah had prophesied of all these things before as followeth after which discomfiture the king of Egypt tarried at home though he undertook another expedition yet in Zedekiah’s time but in vain see 2Kings 4.7 and above chapter 37.5,11]

3. Make ready the shield and the butlers and draw near to the battle [to give birth thus the prophet speaketh to the Egyptian soldiers in the deriding way as if he had said prepare yourself as well as ye may it will be but in vain ye shall not withstanding the smitten compare below chapter 5.11.]

4. Tie harness the horses [to wit to the carets out of which the carets horsemen in those times were wont to fight see 2 Samuel 10 on verse 18Heb. Bond compare Genesis 46:29 and Exodus 14.61Kings 18.44 where the same Hebrew word is used other saddle the horses]and get up ye horsemen and set yourself with your helmets scour the spear put on the brigandines.

5. Wherefore do I see [in a prophetical vision which God shewed him concerning the matter] that they are dismayed and driven back ? even then their champions are smitten and take the flight [Heb flee the flight]and look not back there is fear round about saith the Lord.

6. Let not he swift [Heb light to wit of foot as2samuel 2.18that is swift in running] flee away neither let the champion escape [God meaneth that neither swiftness nor strength shall avail them others the swift shall not flee away neither shall the champion escape]they stumbled and fell towards the north by the bank [Heb by the hand or side see above chapter 41.9] of the river Phrath.

7. Who is this that marcheth up as a stream whose waters are moved as rivers ?[this similitude hath respect to the situation of Egypt that hath many rivers or streams of water understand hereby the multitude of soldiers with whom Pharaoh came marching on mostly proudly.]

8. Egypt [that is the Egyptians] marched up like a stream and his waters are moved like rivers and he saith I will march up I will cover the earth [with the multitude of my soldiers as with a cloud I will destroy the city and them that dwell therein] if by the city here be meant Cachermis whereof above verse 2 then he had not yet taken this city but intended now to subdue and conquer it others understand by the city cities and the inhabitants in general see below chapter 47.2.]

9. March up ye horses and rage ye carets that is march madly and furiously and let champions march forth the Ethiopians [Heb. Cush see of these and the Puteans and the Lydeans of whom in the sequel genesis 10 on verse 6,13 these were hired by the king of Egypt see verse 16,17,21] and the Puteans that handle [that is bear practice exercise] the shield the Lydians that handle and band [Heb properly tread see Psalms 7:13.] the bow.

10. But this day as the Lord the Lord of hosts [see 1 Kings 18 on verse 15] a day of vengeance that he may avenge himself of the adversaries and the sword shall devour by the satiate and made drunk with their blood for the Lord of hosts hath slay offering [or slay]that is he will cause his enemies to be slain and his righteous judgments shall be so acceptable unto him as a slay offering for his name shall be thereby glorified compare Isaiah 34:6 Ezekiel 39:17 with the annotate] in the land of the north[for Carchemis lay northwards from Egypt] by the river Phrath.

11. Go up to Gilead [see Genesis 37 on verse 25 with the annotate] and fetch [Heb take see above chapter 37on verse 17] balm [to cure the wounds of the given compare above chapter 8.22 and below chapter 51.8] thou virgin daughter Egypt [that is ye people or inhabitants of Egypt that boast of your power prosperity and conquerableness as if none were able to master of force you as a virgin is proud of her beauty or virginity compare 2Kings 19 on verse 21] in vain dost thou multiply medicines there is no cure for thee[or plaster &c Heb rising coming up c see above chapter 30 on verse 13 and 17 so that all your talking physic will not help you.]

12. The nations have heard thy shame and the land is full of thy cry for they have stumbled champion against champion they are fallen both together [Heb champion against champion offended themselves or champion hath fallen by or over champion.]

13. The word of the Lord spake unto Prophet Jeremiah concerning the coming Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babel to smite the land of Egypt [that is to subdue the land and smite the inhabitants thereof compare above chapter 43.11 and below chapter 47.1c. this is now a prophesy of Nebuchadnezzar marching up into Egypt compare Isaiah 19:1 and Ezek chapter 29.30 and 32.]

14. Declare it in Egypt and cause it to be heard in Migdol [see of this place above chapter 44 on verse 1] cause it also to be heard at Noph and at Tahpanhes say stand up say stand up [for thine own defense as above verse 4]make thee ready for the sword hath consumed whatsoever is round about thee [that is shall certainly do it or as the sword of the Babylonians hath devoured whatsoever is round about thee so shall it be thy turn also.]

15. Why are thy strongmen swept away [in the Hebrew that word strong men is put in plural number and the word swept away in singular that is everyone of thy strong or valiant soldiers so in the sequel] they stood not [they nether could nor durst stand against the Babylonians]because the Lord drove them on[or thrust them on thrust them down]

16. He made many stumbling ones [Heb he multiplied the stumbling ones] yea one fell upon another [Heb the man upon or with her neighbor] so that they said arise and let us return to our to our own people to the land of nativity [that is our own country]because of [or barely for some] Heb. From the face of those of oppressing sword [others because of the sword of oppressing land see above chapter 25 on verse 38 those that were come out of other countries to help Pharaoh saying thus saith to one another compare Isaiah 13:16]

17. they did cry there Pharaoh the King of Egypt is but a noise [that is a mere boaster and bragger that maketh a great stir ado but to little purpose he hath but as followeth carelessly over split his time he is risen too late and we must suffer for it now others is wasted or ruined Heb. A great noise or a desolation which is done with great noise or cracking] he hath let the appointed time pass [or let slip the opportunity or season to fight or to prevent this mischief according to the warning given him.]

18. As true as I live said king whose name is the Lord of hosts he shall surely come as Tabor among the mountains and as Carmel by the sea[that is as mountain Tabor exceeding all other mountains and as mount Carmel is seen afar off in the season shall Nebuchadnezzar surpass all his enemies and subdue them under him others take it as an abrupt kind of an oath in this sense as certainly as those mountains are firmly and well rooted shall this work of mine be likewise fulfilled of Tabor see Judges 4 on verse 6of Carmel 1 Kings 18 on verse 19.]

19. make furniture of carrying away captive for thy self[that is pack up all get bag and baggage ready which thou mayest have need of when thou goest into captivity compare Ezekiel 12:4 &c] thou inhabitants [thou imaginest that thou dwellest so safe and secure compare Isaiah 47:8 and 48.18] thou daughter of Egypt for Noph [as above verse 14] shall become a desolation and shall be burnt [others shall be waste or desolate] so that none shall dwell in it .

20. Egypt is a very fair heifer [that is like a young cow calf a young fat wanton and lusty] the slayer[or carver brewer Heb the carving cutting asunder that is he whom we call the slaughter man or the butcher see Lob 35 on verse 13 and 33 on verse 6] cometh he cometh from the north [or the slayer of the north he cometh he cometh that is he will certainly or suddenly come.]

21. And even the hired ones [those soldiers which Egypt that young heifer that wanton daughter had hired and taken on the lifted for money or wages which are among her forces]in the midst of her are like fatted calves [Heb calves of fatting] but they also turned back[or will be turned back and so in the sequel] they are fled away together they did not stand for the day of their destruction [or ruin deadly mischief] is come upon them the time of their visitation[that is punishment see genesis 21 on verse1]

22. Her voice shall go like a serpent that is Egypt shall not brag boats so anymore as she did in times past but on the contrary utter a low voice and speak humbly when the Babylonians shall come upon her compare Isaiah 29:4] for they [the Babylonians] shall march along with an army and come unto her with axes and hewers of wood.

23. They have hewen down her forest [that is for cities and villages also the people or soldiers of Egypt which by reason of great multitude of people are compare to a forest full of trees compare Isaiah 10:18,19] saith the Lord though it is not to be searched [to wit the number of trees that is of men] for they are more than grasshoppers so that man can not number them [Heb they have no number so Judges6 on verse 5]

24. The daughter of Egypt is ashamed she is given into the hand of the people of the north [that is of the Babylonians.]

25. The Lord of hosts the God of Israel saith I will visit upon the multitude of No[or the common people of c the Hebrew word Amon is likewise taken in this book below chapter 52.15 for Hamon that is multitude company of people or assembly of men and women that by their stirring and multitude make noise compare Ezekiel 30.15at the time the city of No that is according to the common opinion Alexandra was a very famous and populous city of traffic in Egypt otherwise Amon signigfieth a nourisher foster-father or a nursing child which is fed and brought by others therefore some render it here the nursing father or the nursing children that is those that have maintenance by No as that may be truly affirmed of great cities of trading of many men have their livelihood by them compare Nahum 3:8] and upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt and their gods and upon their kings [that is not only the king [that is not only the king but also the successors or the princes and rulers of Egypt who put their confidence in their king and were likewise as pretty kings in so great and mighty a kingdom compare above chapter 19 on verse 3 and further Genesis 14 on verse 5also Josiah 12.9&c] yea upon Pharaoh and them that trust in him.

26. And I will deliver them into the hands of those that seek their soul [that is that seek to take away their lives as above often] and into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babel and into the hand of his servants but afterwards it [namely the daughter of Egypt that is the land of Egypt see verse 24 and 11 with the annotate] shall be inhabited as in the days of old [compare Ezekiel 20:11,13,14and see the contrary of Babel below chapter 50.39] saith the Lord.

27. But thou my servant Jacob fear not and be dismayed O Israel for behold I will deliver thee out of the far countries and thy seed [that is the posterity] out of the land of their captivity and Jacob shall return and be still and be quiet and none shall make him afraid [or cause him to quake or tremble.]

28. Thou then my servant Jacob fear not saith the Lord for I am thee for I will make a full end of the heathen [see above chapter 4 on verse 27] whither I shall have driven thee but I will not make a full end of thee [see above chapter 10 on verse 24 and 30.11] and not hold thee and altogether guiltless [Heb holding guiltless as above chapter 30.11 that is not let thee utterly go unpunished.]