Jeremiah 50:33,34 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Israel and Judah were oppressed together Not together with respect to times, for there was a distance of one hundred and fifty years between the time of Israel's and Judah's being carried away captive; nor by the same enemy; Israel being carried away by the Assyrians, Judah by the Chaldeans. Together here signifies no more than that they were both oppressed, or alike oppressed. And all that took them captives held them fast Were determined not to release them. The prophet seems here to intimate, that as their enemies were not only very powerful, but fully resolved to detain them in captivity, his predictions of their deliverance might seem to some but vain words, never likely to be fulfilled. Hence he adds, in the next verse, Their Redeemer is strong Or, their Avenger, as the word also signifies. He that has a right to them will claim his right, and make good his claim. He is stronger than their enemies who hold them fast, and can, with infinite ease, overpower all their force, and baffle all their subtlety, and put strength into his own people, though they may be very weak. The Lord of hosts is his name And he will answer his name, and make it appear that he is what his people call him. He shall thoroughly plead their cause Hebrew, ריכ וריב את ריבם, pleading he will plead it, plead it with jealousy, and effectually plead it and carry it; that he may give rest to the land To his people's land, rest from all their enemies round about; or, to the earth, as ארצ more properly signifies, namely, rest from the oppressions of the Babylonish empire; and disquiet Or, cause to tremble, as some render הרגיז, the inhabitants of Babylon Because they have disquieted his people, and caused them to tremble, for whose honour and comfort he is jealous.