My people, go ye out of the midst of her, and deliver ye every man his soul from the fierce anger of the LORD.
My people, go ye, out of the midst of her - (note, Jeremiah 51:6). The frequent repetition of the same charge (Jeremiah 50:8; Jeremiah 51:6; Jeremiah 51:45) implies the earnest concern God has for His people, just as when "Lot lingered" in doomed Sodom, on the eve of its destruction, the angels "laid hold upon his hand ... the Lord being merciful to him, and brought him forth, and set him without the city, and said Escape for thy life" (Genesis 19:16-17).
Verse 46. And lest your heart faint ... a rumour shall both come one year, and after that in another year shall come a rumour. Compare, for the same ellipsis, Genesis 3:22; Exodus 13:17; Deuteronomy 8:12. Supply the ellipsis thus, 'And in order that your heart may not faint at the (first) rumour' (of war), I will give you some intimation of the time: in the first "year" there shall "come a rumour" that Cyrus is preparing for war against Babylon. "After that in another year shall come a rumour" - namely, that Cyrus is approaching, and has already entered Assyria. Then is your time to "go out" (Jeremiah 51:45). Babylon was taken the following, or third year of Belshazzar's reign (Grotius).
Violence in the land - of Babylon (Psalms 7:16).
Ruler against ruler - or, 'ruler upon ruler;' a continual change of rulers in a short space. Belshazzar and Nabonnidus, supplanted by Darius or Cyaxares, who is succeeded by Cyrus.