Jeremiah Chapter 46

From The Open Bible Project

46:1 The word of Yahweh which came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the nations.

  • (a) That is, nine nations which are around the land of Egypt.

46:2 Of Egypt: concerning the army of Pharaoh Necoh king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon struck in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah.

46:3 Prepare the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle!

  • (c) He warns the Egyptians to prepare themselves for war.

46:4 Harness the horses, and get up, you horsemen, and stand forth with your helmets; furbish the spears, put on the coats of mail.

46:5 Why have I seen it? they are dismayed and are turned backward; and their mighty ones are beaten down, and have fled apace, and don't look back: terror is on every side, says Yahweh.

  • (d) The prophet had this vision of the Egyptians who would be put to flight by the Babylonians at Carchemish.

46:6 Don't let the swift flee away, nor the mighty man escape; in the north by the river Euphrates have they stumbled and fallen.

  • (e) The Babylonians will discomfit them at the river Euphrates.

46:7 Who is this who rises up like the Nile, whose waters toss themselves like the rivers?

  • (f) He derides the boastings of the Egyptians, who thought by their riches and power to have overcome all the world, alluding to the Nile river, which at certain times overflows the country of Egypt.

46:8 Egypt rises up like the Nile, and his waters toss themselves like the rivers: and he says, I will rise up, I will cover the earth; I will destroy cities and its inhabitants.

46:9 Go up, you horses; and rage, you chariots; and let the mighty men go forth: Cush and Put, who handle the shield; and the Ludim, who handle and bend the bow.

  • (g) For these nations took part with the Egyptians.

46:10 For that day is [a day] of the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries: and the sword shall devour and be satiate, and shall drink its fill of their blood; for the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, has a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates.

  • (h) He calls the slaughter of God’s enemies a sacrifice, because it is a thing that pleases him, (Isaiah 34:6).
  • (i) That is, at Carchemish.

46:11 Go up into Gilead, and take balm, virgin daughter of Egypt: in vain do you use many medicines; there is no healing for you.

  • (k) For at Gilead there grew a most sovereign balm for wounds.
  • (l) So called, because Egypt had not yet been overcome by the enemy.
  • (m) He sows that no salve or medicine can prevail where God gives the wound.

46:12 The nations have heard of your shame, and the earth is full of your cry; for the mighty man has stumbled against the mighty, they are fallen both of them together.

46:13 The word that Yahweh spoke to Jeremiah the prophet, how that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon should come and strike the land of Egypt.

46:14 Declare in Egypt, and publish in Migdol, and publish in Memphis and in Tahpanhes: say, Stand forth, and prepare; for the sword has devoured around you.

46:15 Why are your strong ones swept away? they didn't stand, because Yahweh did drive them.

46:16 He made many to stumble, yes, they fell one on another: and they said, Arise, and let us go again to our own people, and to the land of our birth, from the oppressing sword.

  • (n) As they who would repent that they helped the Egyptians.

46:17 They cried there, Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a noise; he has let the appointed time pass by.

  • (o) He derides them who blame their overthrow on lack of counsel and policy, or to fortune and not observing of time: not considering that it is God’s just judgment.

46:18 As I live, says the King, whose name is Yahweh of Armies, surely like Tabor among the mountains, and like Carmel by the sea, so shall he come.

  • (p) That is, that the Egyptians will be destroyed.

46:19 You daughter who dwells in Egypt, furnish yourself to go into captivity; for Memphis shall become a desolation, and shall be burnt up, without inhabitant.

46:20 Egypt is a very beautiful heifer; [but] destruction out of the north is come, it is come.

  • (q) They have abundance of all things, and therefore are disobedient and proud.

46:21 Also her hired men in the midst of her are like calves of the stall; for they also are turned back, they are fled away together, they didn't stand: for the day of their calamity is come on them, the time of their visitation.

46:22 The sound of it shall go like the serpent; for they shall march with an army, and come against her with axes, as wood cutters.

  • (s) They will be scarcely able to speak for fear of the Chaldeans.
  • (t) Meaning Egypt.

46:23 They shall cut down her forest, says Yahweh, though it can't be searched; because they are more than the locusts, and are innumerable.

  • (x) grasshoppers, and [are] innumerable.
  • (u) That is, they will slay the great and mighty men of power.
  • (x) That is, Nebuchadnezzar’s army.

46:24 The daughter of Egypt shall be disappointed; she shall be delivered into the hand of the people of the north.

46:25 Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says: Behold, I will punish Amon of No, and Pharaoh, and Egypt, with her gods, and her kings; even Pharaoh, and those who trust in him:

  • (y) Some take the Hebrew word Amon for the kings name of No, that is, of Alexandria.

46:26 and I will deliver them into the hand of those who seek their lives, and into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of his servants; and afterwards it shall be inhabited, as in the days of old, says Yahweh.

46:27 But don't you be afraid, Jacob my servant, neither be dismayed, Israel: for, behold, I will save you from afar, and your seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be quiet and at ease, and none shall make him afraid.

  • (a) God comforts all his that were in captivity but especially the small Church of the Jews, of which were Jeremiah and Baruch, who remained among the Egyptians: for the Lord never forsakes his, (Isaiah 44:2; Jeremiah 30 :10).

46:28 Don't you be afraid, O Jacob my servant, says Yahweh; for I am with you: for I will make a full end of all the nations where I have driven you; but I will not make a full end of you, but I will correct you in measure, and will in no way leave you unpunished.

  • (b) See Geneva
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