Jeremiah 51

Jer 51:1-64.

CONTINUATION OF THE

PROPHECY AGAINST

BABYLON

BEGUN IN THE

FIFTIETH

CHAPTER.

1. in the midst of them that rise . . . against

me--literally, "in the heart" of them. Compare

Ps 46:2,

"the midst of the sea," Margin;

Eze 27:4,

"the heart of the seas"; Margin;

Mt 12:40.

In the center of the Chaldeans. "Against Me," because they persecute My

people. The cabalistic mode of interpreting Hebrew words (by

taking the letters in the inverse order of the alphabet, the last

letter representing the first, and so on,

Jer 25:26)

would give the very word Chaldeans here; but the mystical

method cannot be intended, as "Babylon" is plainly so called in the

immediately preceding parallel clause.

wind--God needs not warlike weapons to "destroy" His foes; a wind or blast is sufficient; though, no doubt, the "wind" here is the

invading host of Medes and Persians

(Jer 4:11;

2Ki 19:7).

2. fanners--(See on

Jer 15:7).

The fanners separate the wheat from the chaff; so God's judgments shall

sweep away guilty Babylon as chaff

(Ps 1:4).

3. Against him that bendeth--namely, the bow; that is, the Babylonian

archer.

let the archer bend--that is, the Persian archer

(Jer 50:4).

The Chaldean version and JEROME, by

changing the vowel points, read, "Let not him (the Babylonian) who

bendeth his bow bend it." But the close of the verse is addressed to

the Median invaders; therefore it is more likely that the first part of

the verse is addressed to them, as in English Version, not to

the Babylonians, to warn them against resistance as vain, as in

the Chaldean version. The word "bend" is thrice repeated:

"Against him that bendeth let him that bendeth bend," to imply the

utmost straining of the bow.

4. (See on

Jer 49:26;

Jer 50:30;

Jer 50:37).

5. forsaken--as a widow (Hebrew). Israel is not severed from her

husband, Jehovah

(Isa 54:5-7),

though . . . sin--though the land of Israel has been filled with

sin, that is, with the punishment of their sin, devastation. But,

as the Hebrew means "for," or "and therefore," not "though," translate,

"and therefore their (the Chaldeans') land has been filled with

(the penal consequences of) their sin" [GROTIUS].

6. Warning to the Israelite captives to flee from Babylon, lest they

should be involved in the punishment of her "iniquity." So as to

spiritual Babylon and her captives

(Re 18:4).

7. Babylon is compared to a cup, because she was the vessel in

the hand of God, to make drunken with His vengeance the other peoples

(Jer 13:12; 25:15, 16).

Compare as to spiritual Babylon,

Re 14:8; 17:4.

The cup is termed "golden," to express the splendor and opulence of

Babylon; whence also in the image seen by Nebuchadnezzar

(Da 2:38)

the head representing Babylon is of gold (compare

Isa 14:4).

8, 9. Her friends and confederates, who behold her fall, are invited

to her aid. They reply, her case is incurable, and that they must leave

her to her fate.

(Isa 21:9;

Re 14:8; 18:2, 9).

balm--

(Jer 8:22; 46:11).

9. We would have healed--We attempted to heal.

her judgment--her crimes provoking God's "judgments"

[GROTIUS].

reacheth unto heaven--

(Ge 18:21;

Jon 1:2;

Re 18:5).

Even the heathen nations perceive that her awful fall must be God's

judgment for her crying sins

(Ps 9:16; 64:9).

10. Next after the speech of the confederates of Babylon, comes that

of the Jews celebrating with thanksgivings the promise-keeping

faithfulness of their covenant God.

brought forth, &c.--

(Ps 37:6).

our righteousness--not the Jews' merits, but God's faithfulness to

Himself and to His covenant, which constituted the "righteousness" of

His people, that is, their justification in their controversy with

Babylon, the cruel enemy of God and His people. Compare

Jer 23:6,

"The Lord our righteousness";

Mic 7:9.

Their righteousness is His righteousness.

declare in Zion--

(Ps 102:13-21).

11. Make bright--literally, "pure." Polish and sharpen.

gather--literally, "fill"; that is, gather in full number, so that

none be wanting. So, "gave in full tale"

(1Sa 18:27).

GESENIUS, not so well, translates, "Fill with

your bodies the shields" (compare

So 4:4).

He means to tell the Babylonians, Make what preparations you will, all

will be in vain (compare

Jer 46:3-6).

kings of . . . Medes--He names the Medes rather than the Persians,

because Darius, or Cyaxares, was above Cyrus in power and the greatness

of his kingdom.

temple--

(Jer 50:28).

12. With all your efforts, your city shall be taken.

standard--to summon the defenders together to any point threatened

13. waters--

(Jer 51:32, 36;

see on

Isa 21:1).

The Euphrates surrounded the city and, being divided into many

channels, formed islands. Compare as to spiritual Babylon "waters,"

that is, "many peoples,"

Re 17:1, 15.

A large lake also was near Babylon.

measure--literally, "cubit," which was the most common measure, and

therefore is used for a measure in general. The time for putting a

limit to thy covetousness

[GESENIUS]. There is no "and" in the

Hebrew: translate, "thine end, the retribution for thy

covetousness" [GROTIUS].

MAURER takes the image to be from weaving: "the

cubit where thou art to be cut off"; for the web is cut off, when the

required number of cubits is completed

(Isa 38:12).

14. by himself--literally, "by His soul"

(2Sa 15:21;

Heb 6:13).

fill . . . with caterpillars--locusts

(Na 3:15).

Numerous as are the citizens of Babylon, the invaders shall be more

numerous.

15-19. Repeated from

Jer 10:12-16;

except that "Israel" is not in the Hebrew of

Jer 51:19,

which ought, therefore, to be translated, "He is the Former of all

things, and (therefore) of the rod of His inheritance" (that is, of the

nation peculiarly His own). In

Jer 10:1-25

the contrast is between the idols and God; here it is between

the power of populous Babylon and that of God: "Thou

dwellest upon many waters"

(Jer 51:13);

but God can, by merely "uttering His voice," create "many waters"

(Jer 51:16).

The "earth" (in its material aspect) is the result of His

"power"; the "world" (viewed in its orderly system) is the

result of His "wisdom," &c.

(Jer 51:15).

Such an Almighty Being can be at no loss for resources to effect His

purpose against Babylon.

20. (See on

Jer 50:23).

"Break in pieces" refers to the "hammer" there (compare

Na 2:1,

Margin). The club also was often used by ancient

warriors.

22. old and young--

(2Ch 36:17).

24. The detail of particulars

(Jer 51:20-23)

is in order to express the indiscriminate slaughters perpetrated by

Babylon on Zion, which, in just retribution, are all to befall her in

turn

(Jer 50:15, 29).

in your sight--addressed to the Jews.

25. destroying mountain--called so, not from its position, for it

lay low

(Jer 51:13;

Ge 11:2, 9),

but from its eminence above other nations, many of which it had

"destroyed"; also, because of its lofty palaces, towers, hanging

gardens resting on arches, and walls, fifty royal cubits broad and two

hundred high.

roll thee down from the rocks--that is, from thy rock-like

fortifications and walls.

burnt mountain--

(Re 8:8).

A volcano, which, after having spent itself in pouring its "destroying"

lava on all the country around, falls into the vacuum and becomes

extinct, the surrounding "rocks" alone marking where the crater had

been. Such was the appearance of Babylon after its destruction, and as

the pumice stones of the volcano are left in their place, being unfit

for building, so Babylon should never rise from its ruins.

26. corner . . . stone . . .

foundations--The corner-stone was the most important one in

the building, the foundation-stones came next in importance

(Eph 2:20).

So the sense is, even as there shall be no stones useful for building

left of thee, so no leading prince, or governors, shall

come forth from thy inhabitants.

27.

(Jer 50:29).

As in

Jer 51:12

the Babylonians were told to "set up the standard," so here her foes

are told to do so: the latter, to good purpose; the former, in vain.

Ararat--Upper or Major Armenia, the regions about Mount Ararat.

Minni--Lower or Lesser Armenia.

RAWLINSON says that Van was the

capital of Minni. It was conquered by Tettarrassa, the general of

Tetembar II, the Assyrian king whose wars are recorded on the black

obelisk now in the British Museum.

Ashchenaz--a descendant of Japheth

(Ge 10:3),

who gave his name to the sea now called the Black Sea; the region

bordering on it is probably here meant, namely, Asia Minor, including

places named Ascania in Phrygia and Bithynia. Cyrus had subdued Asia

Minor and the neighboring regions, and from these he drew levies in

proceeding against Babylon.

rough caterpillars--The horsemen in multitude, and in appearance

bristling with javelins and with crests, resemble "rough caterpillars,"

or locusts of the hairy-crested kind

(Na 3:15).

28. kings of . . . Medes--

(Jer 51:11).

The satraps and tributary kings under Darius, or Cyaxares.

his dominion--the king of Media's dominion.

29. land shall tremble . . . every purpose of

. . . Lord shall be performed--elegant antithesis between

the trembling of the land or earth, and the stability of

"every purpose of the Lord" (compare

Ps 46:1-3).

30. forborne to fight--for the city was not taken by force of arms,

but by stratagem, according to the counsel given to Cyrus by two eunuchs

of Belshazzar who deserted.

remained in . . . holds--not daring to go forth to fight; many, with

Nabonidus, withdrew to the fortified city Borsippa.

31. (See on

Jer 50:24).

One post--One courier after another shall announce the capture

of the city. The couriers despatched from the walls, where Cyrus enters,

shall "meet" those sent by the king. Their confused running to and

fro would result from the sudden panic at the entrance of Cyrus into the

city, which he had so long besieged ineffectually; the Babylonians had

laughed at his attempts and were feasting at the time without fear.

taken at one end--which was not known for a long time to the king

and his courtiers feasting in the middle of the city; so great was its

extent that, when the city was already three days in the enemy's hands,

the fact was not known in some parts of the city

[ARISTOTLE,

Politics, 3.2].

32. passages are stopped--The guarded fords of the Euphrates are

occupied by the enemy (see on

Jer 50:38).

reeds . . . burned--literally, "the marsh." After draining off the

river, Cyrus "burned" the stockade of dense tree-like "reeds" on its

banks, forming the outworks of the city's fortifications. The burning of

these would give the appearance of the marsh or river itself being

on "fire."

33. like a threshing-floor, it is time to thresh her--rather,

"like a threshing-floor at the time of threshing," or "at the time when

it is trodden." The treading, or threshing, here put

before the harvest, out of the natural order, because the

prominent thought is the treading down or destruction of

Babylon. In the East the treading out of the corn took place only at

harvest-time. Babylon is like a threshing-floor not trodden for a long

time; but the time of harvest, when her citizens shall be trodden under

foot, shall come [CALVIN]. "Like a threshing-floor

full of corn, so is Babylon now full of riches, but the time of harvest

shall come, when all her prosperity shall be cut off" [LUDOVICUS DE DIEU].

GROTIUS distinguishes the "harvest" from the

"threshing"; the former is the slaying of her citizens, the latter the

pillaging and destruction of the city (compare

Joe 3:13;

Re 14:15, 18).

34. me--Zion speaks. Her groans are what bring down retribution in kind

on Babylon

(Jer 50:17;

Ps 102:13, 17, 20).

empty vessel--He has drained me out.

dragon--The serpent often "swallows" its prey whole; or a sea monster

[GROTIUS].

filled his belly . . . cast me out--like a beast, which, having

"filled" himself to satiety, "casts out" the rest

[CALVIN]. After

filling all his storehouses with my goods, he has

cast me out of this land [GROTIUS].

35. my flesh--which Nebuchadnezzar hath "devoured"

(Jer 51:34).

Zion thus calls her kinsmen

(Ro 11:14)

slain throughout the country or carried captives to Babylon [GROTIUS]. Or, as "my blood" follows, it and "my flesh"

constitute the whole man: Zion, in its totality, its citizens

and all its substance, have been a prey to Babylon's violence

(Ps 137:8).

36. plead . . . cause--

(Jer 50:34).

sea--the Euphrates

(Jer 51:13;

Jer 50:38).

Compare

Isa 19:5,

"sea," that is, the Nile

(Isa 21:1).

37.

(Jer 50:26, 39;

Re 18:2).

38, 39. The capture of Babylon was effected on the night of a

festival in honor of its idols.

roar . . . yell--The Babylonians were shouting in drunken

revelry (compare

Da 5:4).

39. In their heat I will make their feasts--In the midst of their

being heated with wine, I will give them "their" potions,--a very

different cup to drink, but one which is their due, the wine cup of

My stupefying wrath

(Jer 25:15; 49:12;

Isa 51:17;

La 4:21).

rejoice, and sleep . . . perpetual, &c.--that they may

exult, and in the midst of their jubilant exultation sleep the

sleep of death

(Jer 51:57;

Isa 21:4, 5).

41. Sheshach--Babylon (compare Note, see

Jer 25:26);

called so from the goddess Shach, to whom a five days' festival was

kept, during which, as in the Roman Saturnalia, the most unbridled

licentiousness was permitted; slaves ruled their masters, and in every

house one called Zogan, arrayed in a royal garment, was chosen to rule

all the rest. He calls Babylon "Sheshach," to imply that it was during

this feast the city was taken [SCALIGER].

42. The sea--the host of Median invaders. The image (compare

Jer 47:2;

Isa 8:7, 8)

is appropriately taken from the Euphrates, which, overflowing in

spring, is like a "sea" near Babylon

(Jer 51:13, 32, 36).

43. Her cities--the cities, her dependencies. So, "Jerusalem and the

cities thereof"

(Jer 34:1).

Or, the "cities" are the inner and outer cities, the two parts into

which Babylon was divided by the Euphrates [GROTIUS].

44. Bel . . . swallowed--in allusion to the many sacrifices to the

idol which its priests pretended it swallowed at night; or rather, the

precious gifts taken from other nations and offered to it (which it is

said to have "swallowed"; compare "devoured," "swallowed,"

Jer 51:34;

Jer 50:17),

which it should have to disgorge (compare

Jer 51:13;

Jer 50:37).

Of these gifts were the vessels of Jehovah's temple in Jerusalem

(2Ch 36:7;

Da 1:2).

The restoration of these, as foretold here, is recorded in

Ezr 1:7-11.

flow--as a river; fitly depicting the influx of pilgrims of all

"nations" to the idol.

45, 46. (See on

Jer 51:6).

46. And lest--Compare, for the same ellipsis,

Ge 3:22;

Ex 13:17;

De 8:12.

"And in order that your heart may not faint at the (first) rumor" (of

war), I will give you some intimation of the time. In the first "year"

there shall "come a rumor" that Cyrus is preparing for war against

Babylon. "After that, in another year, shall come a rumor," namely,

that Cyrus is approaching, and has already entered Assyria. Then is

your time to "go out"

(Jer 51:45).

Babylon was taken the following or third year of Belshazzar's reign

[GROTIUS].

violence in the land--of Babylon

(Ps 7:16).

ruler against ruler--or, "ruler upon ruler," a continual change of

rulers in a short space. Belshazzar and Nabonidus, supplanted by Darius

or Cyaxares, who is succeeded by Cyrus.

47. GROTIUS translates, "Because then (namely, on the third year)

the time shall have come that," &c.

confounded--at seeing their gods powerless to help them.

her slain--in retribution for "Israel's slain"

(Jer 51:49)

who fell by her hand. GROTIUS translates, "her

dancers," as in

Jud 21:21, 23;

1Sa 18:6,

the same Hebrew word is translated, alluding to the dancing

revelry of the festival during which Cyrus took Babylon.

48. heaven . . . earth . . . sing for

Babylon--

(Isa 14:7-13; 44:23;

Re 18:20).

49. caused . . . to fall--literally, "has been for the

falling," that is, as Babylon made this its one aim to fill all places

with the slain of Israel, so at Babylon shall all the slain of that

whole land (not as English Version, "of all the

earth") [MAURER]. HENDERSON translates, "Babylon also shall fall, ye slain

of Israel. Those also of Babylon shall fall, O ye slain of all the

earth." But, "in the midst of her,"

Jer 51:47,

plainly answers to "at Babylon,"

Jer 51:49,

English Version.

50. escaped . . . sword--namely, of the Medes. So great will be the

slaughter that even some of God's people shall be involved in it, as

they had deserved.

afar off--though ye are banished far off from where ye used formerly

to worship God.

let Jerusalem come into your mind--While in exile remember your temple

and city, so as to prefer them to all the rest of the world wherever ye

may be

(Isa 62:6).

51. The prophet anticipates the Jews' reply; I know you will say in

despair, "We are confounded," &c. "Wherefore (God saith to you)

behold, I will," &c.

(Jer 51:52)

[CALVIN]. I prefer taking

Jer 51:51

as the prayer which the Jews are directed to offer in exile

(Jer 51:50),

"let Jerusalem come into your mind" (and say in prayer to God), "We are

confounded." This view is confirmed by

Ps 44:15, 16; 79:4; 102:17-20;

Isa 62:6, 7.

for strangers--The "reproach," which especially has stung us, came

when they taunted us with the fact that they had burned the temple, our

peculiar glory, as though our religion was a thing of naught.

52. Wherefore--because of these sighs of the Jews directed to God

(Jer 51:21).

I . . . judgment upon . . . images--in

opposition to the Babylonian taunt that Jehovah's religion was a thing

of naught, since they had burned His temple

(Jer 51:51):

I will show that, though I have thus visited the Jews neglect of Me,

yet those gods of Babylon cannot save themselves, much less their

votaries, who shall "through all her land" lie and "groan" with

wounds.

53. We are not to measure God's power by what seems to our perceptions

natural or probable. Compare

Ob 4

as to Edom

(Am 9:2).

55. great voice--Where once was the great din of a mighty

city, there shall be the silence of death

[VATABLUS]. Or, the "great voice" of the revellers

(Jer 51:38, 39;

Isa 22:2).

Or, the voice of mighty boasting [CALVIN],

(compare

Jer 51:53).

her waves--"when" her calamities shall cause her to give forth a widely

different "voice," even such a one as the waves give that lash the

shores

(Jer 51:42)

[GROTIUS]. Or, "when" is connected thus: "the

great voice" in her, when her "waves," &c. (compare

Jer 51:13).

CALVIN translates, "their waves," that is,

the Medes bursting on her as impetuous waves; so

Jer 51:42.

But the parallel, "a great voice," belongs to her, therefore the

wave-like "roar" of "their voice" ought also belong to her

(compare

Jer 51:54).

The "great voice" of commercial din, boasting, and feasting, is

"destroyed"; but in its stead there is the wave-like roar of her

voice in her "destruction"

(Jer 51:54).

56. taken--when they were least expecting it, and in such a way that

resistance was impossible.

57.

(Jer 51:39;

Da 5:1,

&c.).

58. broad walls--eighty-seven feet broad

[ROSENMULLER]; fifty cubits

[GROTIUS]. A chariot of four horses abreast could meet another on it

without collision. The walls were two hundred cubits high, and four

hundred and eighty-five stadia, or sixty miles in extent.

gates--one hundred in number, of brass; twenty-five on each of the

four sides, the city being square; between the gates were two hundred

and fifty towers.

BEROSUS says triple walls encompassed the outer, and

the same number the inner city. Cyrus caused the outer walls to be

demolished. Taking the extent of the walls to be three hundred and

sixty-five stadia, as

DIODORUS states, it is said two hundred thousand

men completed a stadium each day, so that the whole was completed in one

year.

labour . . . in the fire--The event will show that the builders of

the walls have "labored" only for the "fire" in which they shall be

consumed, "In the fire" answers to the parallel, "burned with fire."

Translate, "shall have labored in vain," &c. Compare

Job 3:14,

"built desolate places for themselves," that is, grand places, soon

about to be desolate ruins. Jeremiah has in view here

Hab 2:13.

59-64. A special copy of the prophecy prepared by Jeremiah was

delivered to Seraiah, to console the Jews in their Babylonian exile.

Though he was to throw it into the Euphrates, a symbol of Babylon's

fate, no doubt he retained the substance in memory, so as to be able

orally to communicate it to his countrymen.

went with Zedekiah--rather, "in behalf of Zedekiah"; sent by Zedekiah

to appease Nebuchadnezzar's anger at his revolt

[CALVIN].

fourth year--so that Jeremiah's prediction of Babylon's downfall was

thus solemnly written and sealed by a symbolical action, six whole years

before the capture of Jerusalem by the Babylonians.

quiet prince--Compare

1Ch 22:9,

"a man of rest." Seraiah was not one of the courtiers hostile to God's

prophets, but "quiet" and docile; ready to execute Jeremiah's

commission, notwithstanding the risk attending it. GLASSIUS translates, "prince of Menuchah" (compare

1Ch 2:52,

Margin). MAURER translates, "commander of

the caravan," on whom it devolved to appoint the resting-place for the

night. English Version suits the context best.

61. read--not in public, for the Chaldeans would not have understood

Hebrew; but in private, as is to be inferred from his addressing

himself altogether to God

(Jer 51:62)

[CALVIN].

62. O Lord, thou--and not merely Jeremiah or any man is the author

of this prophecy; I therefore here in Thy presence embrace as true all

that I read.

63. bind a stone, &c.--

(Re 18:21).

So the Phoceans in leaving their country, when about to found

Marseilles, threw lead into the sea, binding themselves not to return

till the lead should swim.

64. they shall be weary--The Babylonians shall be worn out, so as

not to be able to recover their strength.

Thus far . . . Jeremiah--Hence it is to be inferred that the last

chapter is not included in Jeremiah's writings but was added by some

inspired man, mainly at

2Ki 24:18-25:30

to explain and confirm what precedes [CALVIN].