Bible Commentaries
Jeremiah 46

Verse 1

The Forty-First Prophecy of Jeremiah (see book comments for Jeremiah).

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

which came. For the most part in the fourth year of Jehoiakim (see App-86 ), and may have been included in the roll of Jeremiah 36:0 . This section may be compared with Isaiah's "burdens" and "woes" (compare p. 930), and Ezekiel (Jeremiah 25:32 ), and Amos (Jeremiah 1:1 , Jeremiah 1:2 ).

against = concerning. Compare Jeremiah 49:1 .

the. Some codices, with six early printed editions (one Rabbinic), read "all the".

Gentiles = nations.

Verse 2

Egypt. Comes first because most important in connection with Judah, as well as coming second to Babylon at that time (with which it corresponds in position in the Structure above). Judah was indeed, then subject to Egypt. The policy of Judah's rulers was to lean on Egypt instead of heeding Jeremiah. These prophecies are designed to assure the nation that it could not rely on Gentile powers to thwart God's word by Jeremiah.

Carchemish. Compare 2 Chronicles 35:20-24 . The Gargamish of the Inscriptions, now known as Jerablus, or Membij, &c.

the fourth year of Jehoiakim. A critical era in the history of Egypt, Babylon, Judah, and the world. See App-86 . Four years before, Pharaoh-necho, on his way to Carchemish, had defeated and slain Josiah at Megiddo, and afterward taken his son Shallum as a vassal to Egypt, and set up Jehoiakim (2 Kings 23:29-35 ).

Verse 3

Order ye = Prepare ye, or Put in order.

Verse 4

brigandines = coats of mail.

Verse 5

beaten down = crushed.

fled apace. Figure of speech Polyptoton . Hebrew fled a flight. Well rendered "fled apace".

fear was round about. Hebrew. magor missabib = terror round about. See note on Jeremiah 6:25 .

saith, &c. See note on Jeremiah 45:5 .

Verse 6

mighty man. Hebrew. geber. App-14 .

Verse 7

as a flood = = as the river: i.e. the Nile, in flood.

Verse 8

I will go up. Egypt at this time was so strong that Jeremiah's prophecy seemed most unlikely to come to pass.

Verse 9

Come up, &c. Figure of speech Eironeia. Compare Jeremiah 46:11 .

the Ethiopians = Cush. Mercenaries, forming the chief part of the Egyptian forces.

the Libyans. Hebrew Phut. Compare Ezekiel 27:10 ; Ezekiel 30:5 ; and Acts 2:10 .

the Lydians. Not those in Western Asia (Genesis 10:22 ). All belonging to Africa.

Verse 10

the Lord GOD of hosts. Hebrew Adonai Jehovah Z baoth. App-4 . See note on Jeremiah 2:19 .

a day of vengeance. On the Egyptians.

made drunk = bathed. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 32:42 ).

hath a sacrifice. Compare Isaiah 34:6 . Ezekiel 39:17 .

Verse 11

Go up, &c. Figure of speech Eironeia , as shown by the rest of the verse.

Gilead. Compare Jeremiah 8:22 .

take = fetch.

for thou shalt not be cured = healing there is none for thee. Compare Jeremiah 8:22 ; Jeremiah 51:8 .

Verse 12

land = earth.

Verse 14

The Forty-Second Prophecy of Jeremiah (see book comments for Jeremiah).

Migdol. . . Noph . . . Tahpanhes. See note on Jeremiah 44:1 .

Verse 15

valiant men. Some codices, with two early printed editions, Septuagint, and Vulgate, read "one" (singular), perhaps referring to Apis their sacred bull.

swept away = laid prostrate (singular) Compare 1 Samuel 5:3 .

they stood not = he made no stand.

did drive them = had driven him back.

them = him.

Verse 16

fall = be stumbling.

one . . . upon another. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:37 ).

Verse 17

noise = sound.

passed = let pass over. Compare 2 Samuel 20:5 .

Verse 18

saith the King = [is] the King's oracle. Compare Jeremiah 48:15 .

the LORD of hosts. See note on Jeremiah 6:6 .

Verse 19

dwelling in = inhabitress of. Probably = the Jews, as in Ezekiel 12:2 .Ezekiel 48:18 .

furnish thyself to go into captivity = baggage for captivity prepare thee.

Verse 20

heifer. Probably an allusion to Apis , the sacred bull.

destruction = piercing. Hebrew. kerez. Occurs only here. Revised Version margin suggests gadfly. If it be so, the attack is on the heifer.

cometh. Some codices, with two early printed editions, Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "attacketh her".

the north. Though Babylon was on the east, the entry through Palestine was from the north, as Abraham entered it.

Verse 21

they did not stand = they made no stand. Some codices, with two early printed editions, Syriac, and Vulgate, read, "and they have made", &c.

Verse 23

searched = reconnoitred.

grasshoppers = locusts.

Verse 25

The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel. See note on Jeremiah 7:3 .

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos , to add to the emphasis of the Divine title employed.

multitude of No: or Amon of Thebes (an Egyptian idol).

trust = confide. Hebrew. batah. App-69 .

Verse 26

lives = souls. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

Verse 27

Jacob. Referring to the natural seed; i.e. the whole nation. See notes on Genesis 32:28 ; Genesis 43:6 ; Genesis 45:26 , Genesis 45:28 .

Verse 28

Fear thou not. Compare Jeremiah 30:10 , Jeremiah 30:11 . Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 26:24 . Compare Deuteronomy 31:8 ). App-92 .

a full end. Compare Jeremiah 10:24 ; Jeremiah 30:11 .

not leave thee wholly unpunished = not hold thee guiltless. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 20:7 ; Exodus 34:7 . Numbers 14:18 ).