Jeremiah 50

A large prophesy concerning the destruction of the city of Babel and the land of the Chaldeans by the Persian and Medes because of their idolatry tyranny and pride with gracious promises inserted between concerning the deliverance of the people of the Jews from the Babylonians captivity and of the universal church from the spiritual captivity by the Messiah .

1. The word of the Lord spake against Babel against the land of the Chaldeans by the ministry [Heb hand of the prophet Jeremiah .

2. Declare among the heathen and cause it to be heard and cause it to be heard and cast up a banner [to stir up everyone to and specially to summon Gods own people together as it were by a token and signal and to certify tem to this strange and otherwise incredible the certain fall and ruin of Babel whereof in the sequel and also the redemption of Gods people to his glory and to comfort of all the believers the phrase is taken from warlike affairs]cause it to be heard hide it not say Babel is taken [that is it shall be as surely taken as if it ere done already so in the sequel] Bel [the chiefest idol of the Babylonian see Isaiah 46:1 and below chapter 51.44] is confounded Marodach [this seemeth also to have been a name of an idol although there be also some kings of Babel mentioned that have borne that name se Isaiah 39:2 it may be to the honor of this idol as the children of Israel frequently used the name of God Ja and El in their own names so did the Babylonians likewise make use of the names of their idols Bel and Nebo or Nebu c.] is broken to shiver her [the city of Babel] idols [see of the Hebrew word 1Samuel 31 on verse 9 and 2 Samuel 5 on verse 21] are confounded he dung gods [see Levit 26 on verse 30.] are broken to shivers.

3. For a nation cometh up against her from the north [meaning the Persians and the Medes which lay northwards from Chaldea by whom this judgment of God whereof in the sequel should be and consequently prosecuted from time to time even to a final and total desolation] which shall make her land desolate that there shall be no inhabitants in it from men to beasts [Heb from men to beast a phrase signifieth utter desolation see above chapter 4.25 and 9.10.]

4. In those days and at that time saith the Lord the children of Israel shall come they and the children of Judah together they shall go working and weeping [because of their unworthiness and Gods grace undeserved Mercy]and seek the Lord their God [for as much as this promise may concern this deliverance from the captivity of Babel we may understand this of those of Judah and Benjamin and should return home out of captivity with them see 1 Chronicles 9:3 and Nehemiah 11 on verse 3 as for the spiritual redemption which is the chiefest thing here intended see above chapter 3.18 with the annotations]

5. They shall enquire after Zion their face faces shall be on the way thither wards [that is they shall go straight forward towards Zion without looking back where their heart is thither wards shall they make hast]they shall come and be joined to the Lord [others say come and let us join to ourselves to the Lord] with an everlasting covenant that shall not be forgotten [or the everlasting covenant shal not be forgotten [Heb covenant of eternity shall not be forgotten Heb covenant of eternity se above chapter 31.31,32,33.]

6. My people where lost sheep their shepherds [ecclesiastical and political governors] had seduced them they had carried them to the mountains they went from mountain to hill they forgot their resting-place [as the flocks were wont to have their resting places where they lie down the meaning is that Gods people were bereaved both of spiritual and corporal welfare and rest as is declared in the sequel .]

7. All that found them did eat them up [compare Deuteronomy 7 on verse 16 and Psalms 14 on verse 4so below chapter 51.34] and their adversaries said we shall not be guilty because they have sinned against the Lord in the habitation of righteousness ] namely in Judea and especially in Jerusalem where God and his people dwelt and where god manifested true righteousness see above verse 31.23] yea against the Lord the expectation of their fathers [or there although the Lord hath been the expectation of their fathers that is in he whom their forefathers hoped see above chapter 14 .8 whose footsteps they at present had not followed and therefore were justly punished by him and likewise plagued by us will they saying a scoffing way]

8. Flee away from the midst of Babel and depart out of the land of the Chaldeans [compare Isaiah 48:2 and below chapter 51.6 Revelations 18.4] and be as the goats before the flock [going on boldly and undauntedly as he goats do match courageously and undauntedly before the flock Heb. Before the face of the flock]

9. For lo I will raise and bring up Babel an assembly of great nations from the land of the north they prepare themselves [or set themselves in array] so verse 14[against her from thence she shall be taken their arrows [the arrows of the aforesaid assembly]shall as of valiant [or expert]champion [others of champion that is bereaved others of children that is that cutteth off the young men of the youth] none shall return empty [none o their arrows shall be shot in vain compare 2 Samuel 1:22 or that to wit champion returneth not empty [without the overthrow of his enemy]

10. And Chaldea shall be a spoil that spoil it shall be satisfied [be filled with booty and spoil] saith the Lord.

11. Because ye were glad because ye leaped for joy ye plunders [o plunders or when ye plundered] of mine heritage [of the land of Canaan and of mine people] because ye are grown wanton as an heir of grass or are grown increased I body as heifers that goeth to seed in young tender grass] and in neighed lie strong horses[compare as above chapter 47.3.]

12. Therefore your mother[Babylon the chief city of Chaldea] is fore confounded she that bare ye blusheth because she is become the hindermost of the heathen [that is the vilest basest meanest among all nations Heb the hindmost part] a desert draught a wilderness .

13. Because of the wrath of the Lord shall not be inhabited but she shall wholly become a desolation everyone that goeth by Babel shall be astonished and whistle [or hiss see above chapter 18.16] at all her plagues [compare above chapter 49.17]

14. Prepare yourselves against Babel round about all ye that bend [Heb tread] the bow shoot in [or at against] her spare not arrows [Heb arrows] for she hath sinned against the Lord .

15. shout against hr round about for she hat given hand [that is submitted herself to the Persians and Medes see 2 Chronicles 30:8 with the annotate] her foundation are fallen her walls are broken down for that is the vengeance of the Lord take vengeance upon her according as she hath done [as below verse 29]

16. Cut of the sower [even the husbandmen that for the most part are unarmed and yet are very necessary in the land] form Babel and him that handleth the sickle in the time of harvest [that is the reaper]because of the oppressing sword [compare above chapter 25.38 and 46.16 with the annotate] let them turn everyone to his people and flee everyone to his own land [or they shall turn flee c to wit those that wee come out of the countries to dwell there as in the very rich country or those whom they had brought in bondage or it may be where come to help them .]

17. Israel is a lamb which the lions have chased away the first that did eat him up [as above verse 7] was the king of Assur [that is the Assyrian to wit PulTiglath-Pilezer and Salmannassar see 2Kings 15.19,20,29 and 16.7 and 17.3c.] and the men the last Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babel hath broken his bones in pieces [as if he should say hath boned or unboned him up that is hath utterly destroyed and made him impotent.]

18. Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts he God of Israel behold I will visits [with punishments see Genesis21 on verse1] upon the king of Babel and his land according as I have visited according the king of Assur[see 2Kings 19.35,37 Isaiah 37:36,38.]

19. And I will bring Israel again to his habitation [this m ay be in some sort be applied to the corporal but it looketh principally to the spiritual gathering unto the church of God by the Messiah as above frequently] and he shall feed upon camel and upon Basan [both lying in very and fruitful countries and famous for them of Basan see Deuteronomy 32 on verse 14 and Psalms 22 on verse 13 of camel see 1 Kings 18 on verse 19and another camel 2 Samuel 25.7c where Nabal had his sheep yea the word camel is also used generally to signify a fruitful country above chapter 2 on verse 7] and his soul shall be satisfied upon mount Ephraim and Gilead.

20. In those days and at that time saith the Lord the iniquity of Israel shall be sort but it shall not be there and the sins of the Judah shall not be found [it implies hath the Lord shall fully be reconciled with his people by the Messiah Jesus Christ compare above chapter 31.34 and 33.8 c] for I will pardon them whom I shall cause to remain [compare Isaiah 10:22 Romans 9:27, 28, 29.]

21. Against the land of Marathaim march up against it and the inhabitants of Pekod [Gods charge to king Cyrus concerning his marching up against Babel compare Isaiah 45.1c many render the word Marathaim here used the land of Rebels , to wit the Babylonians that had rebellious and bitter against God and his people see verse 24.29 or the two rebels to wit the Assyrians and the Babylonians others hold it to be a proper name of a certain country in Assyria where a certain people called Mardi did inhabit and meaning that God here giveth charge and instruction to the king of Cyrus to march up through Marathaem and Pekod and to wast and destroy whatsoever lay behind these countries as followeth of Pekod see Ezekiel 23:23 where also mention is made of this country] wast and ban [see Deuteronomy 2 on verse 34 also below verse 26] after them saith the Lord and do according to all that I have commanded thee.

22. There is a cry of war in the land and a great breach [see above chapter 4 on verse 6]

23. How is the hammer of the whole earth [the Babylonian by whom God hath executed the judgments upon many nation whom he by him as with an hammer had smitten and dashed in pieces compare below chapter 51.20 and above chapter 25 on verse 9 Isaiah 41:7] so hen down and broken ? how is Babel become an astonishment [or desolation] among the heathen ? [a question arising from an admiration as below chapter 51.41.]

24. I have laid a snare for thee therefore thou art also taken [as a great wild beast] O Babel [this is Gods answer to a question that proceedeth by admiration at a thing which seemed to be impossible unto men] which thou knowest not [that is unaware so as thou thoughtest not of it or expectedst not for Cyrus having turned away Euphrates invaded the city unaware by night compare below verse 38. Daniel 5:30,31] thou art found [that is caught overtaken compare chapter 2.26] and also thou taken because thou hast mingled thyself in battle against the Lord [that is hast sought against God whose people plagued the phrase is found thus entire Deuteronomy 2:9,24c.]

25. The Lord hath opened his treasury [that is armory] and brought forth the instruments of his wrath [that is arms or weapons which he will use for the execution of his righteous and judgment upon Babel so Isaiah 13:5 compare Psalms 7:13,14c] for thus a work of the Lord of the Lord the Lord of hosts in the land of the Chaldeans [as above chapter 48.10.]

26. Come against her [namely Babel or against it to wit the land of the Chaldeans so in the sequel] from the uttermost part [of the earth of the land so as thou that begin from the end others from that or against that her end is at hand or because of the end this may also be compared with below chapter 51.31] open her store-houses tread on her as on corn-heap [as the threshing oxen tread on the corn compare Isaiah 21:10 and below chapter 51.33 others cast her up as heaps of the slain or cast all an heap make them mere heaps cast up] and ban them [as above verse 21] let her have no remnant.

27. Kill with the sword [in the Hebrew is a word as if a man should say sword it that is smite kill with a sword] all her bullocks [ that is rich mighty stout men compare Psalms 22:13 and 68.21 &c let them go down to the slaughter [as above chapter 48.15] wo unto them for their day [that is the time of their punishment ordained for them by God see Psalms 37 on verse 13 so verse 31] is come the time of their visitation .

28. Thee is a voice of the fugitives and the escaped ones out of the land of Babel [that is of the Jews that should escape from thence] to declare in Zion the vengeance of the Lord Gods that is to publish the wonderful work of God ] the vengeance of his temple [which God exercised on the Chaldeans because they had destroyed and burnt the temple 2Kings 25.9 so below chapter 51.11.]

29. Cause yourselves to be heard against Babel ye archers[so is the Hebrew word also taken Genesis 49:23 Job 16:13 see also Psalms 18 on verse 15] all ye that bend [Heb tread] the bow camp your selves against her round about let none of her escape ] recompense her according to her works do unto her according to all that she hath done [so above verse 15] for she had dealt proudly against the Lord against the holy one of Israel [Psalms 71 on verse 22.]

30. Therefore her young men shall fall in the streets [compare above chapter 40.26] all her soldiers shall be cut off in that day saith the Lord.

31. Behold I will be upon thee [see above chapter 21 on verse 13] thou insolent one [Heb insolence caughtiness high-mindedness see of such use of the Hebrew language Job 35 on verse 13 the meaning is that so insolence as that he is or may be called insolence itself so in the next verse] saith the Lord of hosts for thy day [as above verse 27] is come the time that I will visit thee.

32. Then shall the insolent one stumble and fall there shall be none to raise him up yea I will kindle a fire upon his cities the same shall consume places round about him.

33. Thus saith the Lord of hosts the children of Israel and the children of Judah have been oppressed together and all that took them captive held them fast they refused to let them go.

34. But the redeemer is strong the Lord of host is his name shall surely plead [Heb pleading plead see Psalms 33 on verse1 so below chapter 51.36] their cause that he may bring their land to rest [to wit the land the land of Judah or his church principally and likewise other lands that where plagued by Babel but disquiet the inhabitants of Babel .

35. The sword shall be upon the Chaldeans saith the Lord and upon the inhabitants of Babel and upon her princes and her and upon her wise men.

36. The sword shall upon the liars [or inventors of lies meaning sooth sayers stars gazers whereof Chaldeans was full so Isaiah 44:25] that they grow Scottish the sword shall become their champion so they dismayed.

37. the sword shall be upon his horses and upon his carets [the feminine gender used here for the most part is here twice turned into masculine this may be applied either to the king of his people] and upon all the mingled heap soldiers and other common people consisting of all kinds of nations] that is in the midst of her that they become women [that is saint hearted and unable to make resistance see below chapter 51.50 compare Isaiah 19:16 Nehemiah 13c] the sword shall be upon her treasures so that they may not be spoiled.

38. Draught shall be upon her waters so that they shall be dried up[compare above the annotate on verse 24] for it is the land carved images [full of idolatry which they commit carved images] and they are mad [like mad frantic men see of the Hebrew word Psalms 5 on verse 6] after the terrible idols [Heb. Terrors so idols may justly be called because some of them are of a terrible shape and do generally bring terror upon unto idolaters as they elsewhere for the like cause are called sorrows see 2 Samuel 5:21 by the same name Emim certain Giants have been formerly called by reason of their terribleness see Genesis 14:5 Deuteronomy 2:10 with the annotate and such kind of men where wont to be usurp authority and dominion over others and consequently after the custom of the heathen to be made idols such an one question less was Namrod the first raiser or founder of the Assyrians and the Babylonians monarchy see Genesis 6 on verse4 and 10.8.]

39. Therefore wild beasts of the deserts with the wild beasts of the island [Heb Tsum and Lim the first hath its name from dry waste places the other from Islands see Isaiah 13:21,22 with the annotate] shall dwell therein also the young ostriches [Heb ostriches daughters others young owls] shall dwell therein men shall have no more abode[see of such use of the Hebrew word above chapter 17 on verse 6] there for ever neither shall it inhabited [see of such use of the Hebrew word on above chapter 17 on verse 6]from generation to generation [Heb. Unto generation and generation.]

40. As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorra their neighbors [Heb. As God overthrew of Sodom c compare above chapter 49.18 Genesis 19:25] saith the Lord so no man shall dwell there in Babel nor any man converse in it.

41. Behold there cometh a people from the north [see above on verse 3] and a great nation and mighty[or many] kings shall be raised up from the sides of the earth [or the land see above chapter 6.22,23,24 where there is a like prophesy of Babel coming against Judah as here of the Medes and Persians against Babel .]

42. They shall bear the bow and the spear they are cruel and will not be merciful their roar like the sea shall ride upon horses it prepared [to wit the people or everyone of them is prepare [to wit the people or every one of them as above chapter 6.23 of Babel against the daughter of Zion] like a man for war against thee O daughters of Babel.

43. The king of Babel hath heard the report of them and his hands waxed feeble anguish took hold of him sorrow as a woman in travail [compare above chapter 49.24.]

44. Behold he shall come like a lion from the lifting up of Jordan against the strong habitations [see above chapter 49.19 and the following verse to the 22 verse where almost in every same word I prophesied of the king of Babel marching up against Edom which are here used of Cyrus his marching up against of Babel to signify that it should be done unto Babel against as she had done unto other nation see the annotate there and compare revelations 18.6] for I will in moment make them run away from thence [to wit the Babylonians from Babel and he that is chosen for it him I will appoint against her for who is like me ? and who should summon me ? and who is shepherd that should stand before my face?

45. Therefore hear the counsel of the Lord that he hath counseled against Babel and his thought against the thought against the land of the Chaldeans if the meanest of the flock shall pull them, down if he shall not make their habitations desolate upons them !

46. The earth became trembling at the sound [or report Heb voice] of the taking of Babel and the cry is heard among the nations.