YHWH Challenges Them And Dares Them To Go Forth To What Is To Be His Day, A Day Of Vengeance And Sacrifice (Jeremiah 46:9-10).
But YHWH saw things differently. The Egyptian Army was composed largely of mercenaries, experienced warriors from many nations. They appeared invincible. But they are now called on to be aware that it is a day of YHWH's judgment. Thus while they may go forth proudly, they are to recognise that His sword will drink of their blood, whilst they themselves are to become a sacrifice offered up to Him. Without being aware of it the Egyptians are offering themselves up to YHWH.
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.'
For that day is of the Lord,
YHWH of hosts,
A day of vengeance,
That he may avenge him of his adversaries.
And the sword will devour and be satiated
And will drink its fill of their blood,
For the Lord, YHWH of hosts, has a sacrifice,
In the north country by the river Euphrates.'
The army is efficient and well prepared, containing horsemen, and chariots, and mighty men. The North Africans from Sudan and Libya (see Genesis 10:6 for Cush and Put) are experienced in armed warfare, while the Ludim are expert bowmen. Ludim possibly refers to Lydians, although North Africans may be in mind (see Genesis 10:13). Certainly Egyptian mercenaries would include Greeks and Jews. But despite their expertise they have no hope, for it is the Day of YHWH's vengeance, possibly for the death of Josiah, but equally possibly because they had pretensions against Palestine and were thus YHWH's adversaries. Thus it is in the end His sword, as contained in the swords of their enemies, which will smite them, and they will become a sacrificial offering made to Him, offered in Gentile territory.
‘Go up into Gilead, and take balm,
O virgin daughter of Egypt.
In vain do you use many medicines.
There is no healing for you.'
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.'
The prophecy ends with a warning that there is no cure for their ills. There is an irony in the fact that Egypt, in which the people of Judah/Israel had taken refuge, is itself seen as seeking to Israel for its healing. Gilead (east of Jordan) was famous for its healing balms (compare Jeremiah 8:22; Jeremiah 51:8), but such would be their wounds that it would offer them no hope. Indeed news of their rout would go out among the nations, and their despairing cry would be heard by all men, for so devastating would be their situation that even their mighty men, their champions, would be falling over each other and finally collapsing together.
‘O Virgin Daughter Of Egypt.' The idea of a virgin daughter may be of one well-protected and seemingly invulnerable. But it is being made clear that she is in fact vulnerable, in that she will be looking to Gilead for healing balms. We can compare the Virgin Daughter Israel/Judah (Jeremiah 14:17; Jeremiah 18:13; Jeremiah 31:4; Amos 5:2), and the Virgin Daughter of Babylon (Isaiah 47:1).