Bible Commentaries
Jeremiah 51

Introduction

CHAPTER 51

:-. CONTINUATION OF THE PROPHECY AGAINST BABYLON BEGUN IN THE FIFTIETH CHAPTER.

Verse 1

1. in the midst of them that rise . . . against me—literally, "in the heart" of them. Compare Psalms 46:2, "the midst of the sea," Margin; Psalms 46:2- :, "the heart of the seas"; Margin; Psalms 46:2- :. 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, Psalms 46:2- :) 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 (Jeremiah 4:11; 2 Kings 19:7).

Verse 2

2. fanners—(See on :-). The fanners separate the wheat from the chaff; so God's judgments shall sweep away guilty Babylon as chaff ( :-).

Verse 3

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

let the archer bend—that is, the Persian archer (Jeremiah 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.

Verse 4

4. (See on :-; Jeremiah 51:5; Jeremiah 51:5- :).

Verse 5

5. forsaken—as a widow (Hebrew). Israel is not severed from her husband, Jehovah ( :-), by a perpetual divorce.

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].

Verse 6

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 (Revelation 18:4).

Verse 7

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 (Jeremiah 13:12; Jeremiah 25:15; Jeremiah 25:16). Compare as to spiritual Babylon, Revelation 14:8; Revelation 17:4. The cup is termed "golden," to express the splendor and opulence of Babylon; whence also in the image seen by Nebuchadnezzar (Revelation 17:4- :) the head representing Babylon is of gold (compare Isaiah 14:4).

Verse 8

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. (Isaiah 21:9; Revelation 14:8; Revelation 18:2; Revelation 18:9).

balm— (Jeremiah 8:22; Jeremiah 46:11).

Verse 9

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

her judgment—her crimes provoking God's "judgments" [GROTIUS].

reacheth unto heaven— (Genesis 18:21; Jonah 1:2; Revelation 18:5). Even the heathen nations perceive that her awful fall must be God's judgment for her crying sins (Psalms 9:16; Psalms 64:9).

Verse 10

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.— ( :-).

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 :-, "The Lord our righteousness" :-. Their righteousness is His righteousness.

declare in Zion— ( :-).

Verse 11

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" ( :-). GESENIUS, not so well, translates, "Fill with your bodies the shields" (compare Song of Solomon 4:4). He means to tell the Babylonians, Make what preparations you will, all will be in vain (compare Jeremiah 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— (Jeremiah 46:3-24.46.6- :).

Verse 12

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

standard—to summon the defenders together to any point threatened by the besiegers.

Verse 13

13. waters— (Jeremiah 51:32; Jeremiah 51:36; see on Jeremiah 51:36- :). The Euphrates surrounded the city and, being divided into many channels, formed islands. Compare as to spiritual Babylon "waters," that is, "many peoples," Revelation 17:1; Revelation 17:15. 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 (Isaiah 38:12).

Verse 14

14. by himself—literally, "by His soul" (2 Samuel 15:21; Hebrews 6:13).

fill . . . with caterpillars—locusts (Hebrews 6:13- :). Numerous as are the citizens of Babylon, the invaders shall be more numerous.

Verse 15

15-19. Repeated from :-; except that "Israel" is not in the Hebrew of Jeremiah 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 Jeremiah 51:19- : 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" (Jeremiah 51:19- :); but God can, by merely "uttering His voice," create "many waters" (Jeremiah 51:19- :). 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. (Jeremiah 51:15). Such an Almighty Being can be at no loss for resources to effect His purpose against Babylon.

Verse 20

20. (See on :-). "Break in pieces" refers to the "hammer" there (compare Nahum 2:1, Margin). The club also was often used by ancient warriors.

Verse 22

22. old and young— ( :-).

Verse 24

24. The detail of particulars (Jeremiah 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 (Jeremiah 50:15; Jeremiah 50:29).

in your sight—addressed to the Jews.

Verse 25

25. destroying mountain—called so, not from its position, for it lay low (Jeremiah 51:13; Genesis 11:2; Genesis 11:9), 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— (Genesis 11:9- :). 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.

Verse 26

26. corner . . . stone . . . foundations—The corner-stone was the most important one in the building, the foundation-stones came next in importance (Ephesians 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.

Verse 27

27. ( :-). As in Jeremiah 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 (Genesis 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 (Nahum 3:15).

Verse 28

28. kings of . . . Medes— ( :-). The satraps and tributary kings under Darius, or Cyaxares.

his dominion—the king of Media's dominion.

Verse 29

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 :-).

Verse 30

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.

Verse 31

31. (See on :-).

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].

Verse 32

32. passages are stopped—The guarded fords of the Euphrates are occupied by the enemy (see on :-).

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."

Verse 33

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 Joel 3:13; Revelation 14:15; Revelation 14:18).

Verse 34

34. me—Zion speaks. Her groans are what bring down retribution in kind on Babylon (Jeremiah 50:17; Psalms 102:13; Psalms 102:17; Psalms 102:20).

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].

Verse 35

35. my flesh—which Nebuchadnezzar hath "devoured" ( :-). Zion thus calls her kinsmen ( :-) 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 ( :-).

Verse 36

36. plead . . . cause— ( :-).

sea—the Euphrates (Jeremiah 51:13; Jeremiah 50:38). Compare Isaiah 19:5, "sea," that is, the Nile (Isaiah 21:1).

Verse 37

37. (Jeremiah 50:26; Jeremiah 50:39; Revelation 18:2).

Verse 38

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 :-).

Verse 39

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 (Jeremiah 25:15; Jeremiah 49:12; Isaiah 51:17; Lamentations 4:21).

rejoice, and sleep . . . perpetual, c.—that they may exult, and in the midst of their jubilant exultation sleep the sleep of death (Jeremiah 51:57 Isaiah 21:4; Isaiah 21:5).

Verse 41

41. Sheshach—Babylon (compare Note, see Jeremiah 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].

Verse 42

42. The sea—the host of Median invaders. The image (compare Jeremiah 47:2; Isaiah 8:7; Isaiah 8:8) is appropriately taken from the Euphrates, which, overflowing in spring, is like a "sea" near Babylon (Jeremiah 51:13; Jeremiah 51:32; Jeremiah 51:36).

Verse 43

43. Her cities—the cities, her dependencies. So, "Jerusalem and the cities thereof" ( :-). Or, the "cities" are the inner and outer cities, the two parts into which Babylon was divided by the Euphrates [GROTIUS].

Verse 44

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," Jeremiah 51:34; Jeremiah 50:17), which it should have to disgorge (compare Jeremiah 51:13; Jeremiah 50:37). Of these gifts were the vessels of Jehovah's temple in Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 36:7; Daniel 1:2). The restoration of these, as foretold here, is recorded in Daniel 1:2- :.

flow—as a river; fitly depicting the influx of pilgrims of all "nations" to the idol.

Verse 45

45, 46. (See on :-).

Verse 46

46. And lest—Compare, for the same ellipsis, Genesis 3:22; Exodus 13:17; Deuteronomy 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" (Deuteronomy 8:12- :). 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 Nabonidus, supplanted by Darius or Cyaxares, who is succeeded by Cyrus.

Verse 47

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" ( :-) who fell by her hand. GROTIUS translates, "her dancers," as in Judges 21:21 Judges 21:23; 1 Samuel 18:6, the same Hebrew word is translated, alluding to the dancing revelry of the festival during which Cyrus took Babylon.

Verse 48

48. heaven . . . earth . . . sing for Babylon— (Isaiah 14:7-13; Isaiah 44:23; Revelation 18:20).

Verse 49

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," Jeremiah 51:47, plainly answers to "at Babylon," Jeremiah 51:47- :, English Version.

Verse 50

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 ( :-).

Verse 51

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. (Jeremiah 51:52) [CALVIN]. I prefer taking Jeremiah 51:51 as the prayer which the Jews are directed to offer in exile (Jeremiah 51:51- :), "let Jerusalem come into your mind" (and say in prayer to God), "We are confounded." This view is confirmed by Psalms 44:15 Psalms 44:16; Psalms 79:4; Psalms 102:17-20; Isaiah 62:6; Isaiah 62:7.

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.

Verse 52

52. Wherefore—because of these sighs of the Jews directed to God ( :-).

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 ( :-): 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.

Verse 53

53. We are not to measure God's power by what seems to our perceptions natural or probable. Compare Obadiah 1:4 as to Edom (Obadiah 1:4- :).

Verse 55

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 (Jeremiah 51:38; Jeremiah 51:39; Isaiah 22:2). Or, the voice of mighty boasting [CALVIN], (compare Jeremiah 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 (Jeremiah 51:42) [GROTIUS]. Or, "when" is connected thus: "the great voice" in her, when her "waves," c. (compare Jeremiah 51:42- :). CALVIN translates, "their waves," that is, the Medes bursting on her as impetuous waves so Jeremiah 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 Jeremiah 51:42- :). 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" (Jeremiah 51:54).

Verse 56

56. taken—when they were least expecting it, and in such a way that resistance was impossible.

Verse 57

57. (Jeremiah 51:39; Daniel 5:1, &c.).

Verse 58

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 Job 3:14- :.

Verse 59

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 1 Chronicles 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 1 Chronicles 22:9- :, 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.

Verse 61

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 (Jeremiah 51:62) [CALVIN].

Verse 62

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.

Verse 63

63. bind a stone, &c.— ( :-). 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.

Verse 64

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 :- to explain and confirm what precedes [CALVIN].