Jeremiah 46:1-28 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

Reader Related Verse
Bible Comments

Jeremiah 46-51. The Foreign Prophecies. These form the third principal division of the Book of Jeremiah. As already seen (Jeremiah 1:5; Jeremiah 1:10; Jeremiah 25:15), Jeremiah's prophetic horizon naturally included the surrounding nations; how far the prophecies that follow are his can be decided only by detailed criticism in each case. They refer, though in somewhat different order, to the several nations enumerated in Jeremiah 25:19-26 (which may be regarded as an introduction to them), except that an oracle on Damascus here replaces the reference to Tyre, Sidon, and the Mediterranean. (The LXX, which places this group of prophecies after Jeremiah 25:13, follows a third order.) It is generally admitted that the long prophecy on Babylon (Jeremiah 50 f.) is not by Jeremiah (see prefatory note). As to Jeremiah 46-49, there is considerable difference of opinion, ranging from Duhm's rejection of the whole, through Giesebrecht's acceptance of Jeremiah 47 (except towards end), with the nucleus of Jeremiah 46:2-12; Jeremiah 49:7-11, up to Cornill's acceptance of most of Jeremiah 46-49 (so also Peake). It is in any case natural to suppose that there are genuine prophecies by Jeremiah which underlie these Chapter s, though they have been worked over, or incorporated with other non-Jeremianic prophecies (e.g. Jeremiah 48) by later writers. For details, the larger commentaries must be consulted.

Jeremiah 46. Egypt. (a) Jeremiah 46:2-12, the defeat of Pharaoh Necho (610- 594) in 605 at Carchemish (NW. Mesopotamia, near junction of Sagur with Euphrates) by Nebuchadrezzar (who became formally king of Babylon in 604). The prophet summons Egypt to battle array (Jeremiah 46:3 f.), and dramatically describes its defeat (Jeremiah 46:5 f.). He compares Egypt's efforts with an inundation of the Nile (Jeremiah 46:7; cf. Isaiah 8:7, of the Euphrates), and introduces Pharaoh (Jeremiah 46:8) as boasting of his strength, and calling his warriors to the fray (Jeremiah 46:9; the contingents here named are those of the Ethiopians, the Libyans, and some unknown peoples of NE. Africa, respectively; cf. Ezekiel 30:5). The prophet declares (Jeremiah 46:10) that the Babylonian sword is executing the vengeance of Yahweh, and (Jeremiah 46:11) ironically bids Egypt (famed for its skill in medicine) seek a plaster for its wounds (Jeremiah 8:22; Jeremiah 30:13).

Jeremiah 46:4. get up, ye horsemen: rather mount the chargers.

Jeremiah 46:5. Begin, with LXX, Wherefore are they dismayed, etc.; for the characteristic phrase, terror is on every side, see Jeremiah 6:25; Jeremiah 20:10; Jeremiah 49:29.

Jeremiah 46:10. Cf. Isaiah 34:6, and note the defeat of Israel by this Pharaoh at Megiddo, three years before the date of this prophecy.

Jeremiah 46:12. Cf. Leviticus 26:37.

(b) Jeremiah 46:13-26, the coming invasion of Egypt by Nebuchadrezzar, either as sequel to its defeat at Carchemish, or with reference to Jeremiah 43:8-13. The Egyptians are summoned to withstand the invaders, and their utter overthrow is described (Jeremiah 46:14-17; see critical notes). Nebuchadrezzar comes in towering strength (Jeremiah 46:18), and Egypt must prepare for exile (Jeremiah 46:19, mg. 2; cf. Ezekiel 12:3), since the capital, Noph (Memphis) is to be destroyed. She is like a graceful heifer, stung by a gad-fly (Jeremiah 46:20, both mgg.), but her mercenary soldiers (e.g., the Ionians and Carians) are like fatted calves, useless to defend her (Jeremiah 46:21). The foe is irresistible (Jeremiah 46:22-24). Yahweh is punishing Amon the god of No (Thebes, Nahum 3:8) and Pharaoh, but promises ultimate restoration of the Egyptians to their land (Jeremiah 46:25 f.). A promise of comfort for Israel (found elsewhere as mg.) has been attached to this prophecy (Jeremiah 46:27 f.).

Jeremiah 46:14. Omit, with LXX, in Egypt and publish, also and in Tahpanhes; cf. Jeremiah 2:16; Jeremiah 44:1.

Jeremiah 46:15. Read with LXX (cf. mgg.), Why is Apis fled? Thy strong one (i.e. Apis, the sacred bull of Egypt LXX, thy choice calf) stood not, because Yahweh did thrust him down.

Jeremiah 46:16. Read, after LXX, Thy mixed people (i.e. trading foreigners) have stumbled and fallen, and they said one to another, etc.

Jeremiah 46:17. The Hebrew consonants should be read, Call ye the name of Pharaoh, king of Egypt (so far LXX) shâ-'ô n he- ebî r hammô-ç d. This mocking title (see on Isaiah 30:7) might be freely rendered, Irretrievable Ruin (lit. a Crash, he has let pass the fixed time). The middle word, he- ebî r, perhaps contains a play on the Egyptian name of Hophra (Uah-ab-ra), 589- 564, cf. Jeremiah 44:30; this would fix the period of the prophecy (so Cornill).

Jeremiah 46:22. As mg., except that the serpent as it goeth should probably be a hissing serpent, with LXX; Egypt withdraws as a serpent into its forest (so Isaiah 10:18, of Assyria), whilst the invaders are like men advancing to hew the trackless forest down (Jeremiah 46:23 mg.).

Jeremiah 46:25. Omit, with LXX, Pharaoh and Egypt with her gods and her kings even.

Jeremiah 46:26. Ezekiel 29:13 f. promises restoration to Egypt after forty years (from 587).

Related Commentaries of Jeremiah 46:1

Jeremiah 46:1-28

1 The word of the LORD which came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Gentiles;

2 Against Egypt, against the army of Pharaohnecho king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon smote in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah.

3 Order ye the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle.

4 Harness the horses; and get up, ye horsemen, and stand forth with your helmets; furbish the spears, and put on the brigandines.

5 Wherefore have I seen them dismayed and turned away back? and their mighty ones are beaten down, and are fled apace, and look not back: for fear was round about, saith the LORD.

6 Let not the swift flee away, nor the mighty man escape; they shall stumble, and fall toward the north by the river Euphrates.

7 Who is this that cometh up as a flood, whose waters are moved as the rivers?

8 Egypt riseth up like a flood, and his waters are moved like the rivers; and he saith, I will go up, and will cover the earth; I will destroy the city and the inhabitants thereof.

9 Come up, ye horses; and rage, ye chariots; and let the mighty men come forth; the Ethiopiansa and the Libyans, that handle the shield; and the Lydians, that handle and bend the bow.

10 For this is the day of the Lord GOD of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries: and the sword shall devour, and it shall be satiate and made drunk with their blood: for the Lord GOD of hosts hath a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates.

11 Go up into Gilead, and take balm, O virgin, the daughter of Egypt: in vain shalt thou use many medicines; for thou shalt not be cured.

12 The nations have heard of thy shame, and thy cry hath filled the land: for the mighty man hath stumbled against the mighty, and they are fallen both together.

13 The word that the LORD spake to Jeremiah the prophet, how Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon should come and smite the land of Egypt.

14 Declare ye in Egypt, and publish in Migdol, and publish in Noph and in Tahpanhes: say ye, Stand fast, and prepare thee; for the sword shall devour round about thee.

15 Why are thy valiant men swept away? they stood not, because the LORD did drive them.

16 He made many to fall, yea, one fell upon another: and they said, Arise, and let us go again to our own people, and to the land of our nativity, from the oppressing sword.

17 They did cry there, Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a noise; he hath passed the time appointed.

18 As I live, saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts, Surely as Tabor is among the mountains, and as Carmel by the sea, so shall he come.

19 O thou daughter dwelling in Egypt, furnishb thyself to go into captivity: for Noph shall be waste and desolate without an inhabitant.

20 Egypt is like a very fair heifer, but destruction cometh; it cometh out of the north.

21 Also her hired men are in the midst of her like fattedc bullocks; for they also are turned back, and are fled away together: they did not stand, because the day of their calamity was come upon them, and the time of their visitation.

22 The voice thereof shall go like a serpent; for they shall march with an army, and come against her with axes, as hewers of wood.

23 They shall cut down her forest, saith the LORD, though it cannot be searched; because they are more than the grasshoppers, and are innumerable.

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

25 The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saith; Behold, I will punish the multituded of No, and Pharaoh, and Egypt, with their gods, and their kings; even Pharaoh, and all them that trust in him:

26 And I will deliver them into the hand of those that seek their lives, and into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of his servants: and afterward it shall be inhabited, as in the days of old, saith the LORD.

27 But fear not thou, O my servant Jacob, and be not dismayed, O Israel: for, behold, I will save thee from afar off, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and be in rest and at ease, and none shall make him afraid.

28 Fear thou not, O Jacob my servant, saith the LORD: for I am with thee; for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee: but I will not make a full end of thee, but correct thee in measure; yet will I not leave thee wholly unpunished.