1 אֲשֶׁרH834 הָיָהH1961 דְבַרH1697 יְהוָהH3068 אֶלH413 יִרְמְיָהוּH3414 הַנָּבִיאH5030 עַלH5921 הַגּוֹיִֽםH1471
2 לְמִצְרַיִםH4714 עַלH5921 חֵילH2428 פַּרְעֹהH0 נְכוֹH6549 מֶלֶךְH4428 מִצְרַיִםH4714 אֲשֶׁרH834 הָיָהH1961 עַלH5921 נְהַרH5104 פְּרָתH6578 בְּכַרְכְּמִשׁH3751 אֲשֶׁרH834 הִכָּהH5221 נְבֽוּכַדְרֶאצַּרH5019 מֶלֶךְH4428 בָּבֶלH894 בִּשְׁנַתH8141 הָֽרְבִיעִיתH7243 לִיהוֹיָקִיםH3079 בֶּןH1121 יֹאשִׁיָּהוּH2977 מֶלֶךְH4428 יְהוּדָֽהH3063
3 עִרְכוּH6186 מָגֵןH4043 וְצִנָּהH6793 וּגְשׁוּH5066 לַמִּלְחָמָֽהH4421
4 אִסְרוּH631 הַסּוּסִיםH5483 וַֽעֲלוּH5927 הַפָּרָשִׁיםH6571 וְהִֽתְיַצְּבוּH3320 בְּכוֹבָעִיםH3553 מִרְקוּH4838 הָֽרְמָחִיםH7420 לִבְשׁוּH3847 הַסִּרְיֹנֹֽתH5630
5 מַדּוּעַH4069 רָאִיתִיH7200 הֵמָּהH1992 חַתִּיםH2844 נְסֹגִיםH5472 אָחוֹרH268 וְגִבּוֹרֵיהֶםH1368 יֻכַּתּוּH3807 וּמָנוֹסH4498 נָסוּH5127 וְלֹאH3808 הִפְנוּH6437 מָגוֹרH4032 מִסָּבִיבH5439 נְאֻםH5002 יְהוָֽהH3068
6 אַלH408 יָנוּסH5127 הַקַּלH7031 וְאַלH408 יִמָּלֵטH4422 הַגִּבּוֹרH1368 צָפוֹנָהH6828 עַלH5921 יַדH3027 נְהַרH5104 פְּרָתH6578 כָּשְׁלוּH3782 וְנָפָֽלוּH5307
7 מִיH4310 זֶהH2088 כַּיְאֹרH2975 יַֽעֲלֶהH5927 כַּנְּהָרוֹתH5104 יִֽתְגָּעֲשׁוּH1607 מֵימָֽיוH4325
8 מִצְרַיִםH4714 כַּיְאֹרH2975 יַֽעֲלֶהH5927 וְכַנְּהָרוֹתH5104 יִתְגֹּעֲשׁוּH1607 מָיִםH4325 וַיֹּאמֶרH559 אַֽעֲלֶהH5927 אֲכַסֶּהH3680 אֶרֶץH776 אֹבִידָהH6 עִירH5892 וְיֹשְׁבֵיH3427 בָֽהּH0
9 עֲלוּH5927 הַסּוּסִיםH5483 וְהִתְהֹלְלוּH1984 הָרֶכֶבH7393 וְיֵצְאוּH3318 הַגִּבּוֹרִיםH1368 כּוּשׁH3568 וּפוּטH6316 תֹּפְשֵׂיH8610 מָגֵןH4043 וְלוּדִיםH3866 תֹּפְשֵׂיH8610 דֹּרְכֵיH1869 קָֽשֶׁתH7198
10 וְֽהַיּוֹםH3117 הַהוּאH1931 לַאדֹנָיH136 יְהוִהH3069 צְבָאוֹתH6635 יוֹםH3117 נְקָמָהH5360 לְהִנָּקֵםH5358 מִצָּרָיוH6862 וְאָכְלָהH398 חֶרֶבH2719 וְשָׂבְעָהH7646 וְרָוְתָהH7301 מִדָּמָםH1818 כִּיH3588 זֶבַחH2077 לַאדֹנָיH136 יְהוִהH3069 צְבָאוֹתH6635 בְּאֶרֶץH776 צָפוֹןH6828 אֶלH413 נְהַרH5104 פְּרָֽתH6578
11 עֲלִיH5927 גִלְעָדH1568 וּקְחִיH3947 צֳרִיH6875 בְּתוּלַתH1330 בַּתH1323 מִצְרָיִםH4714 לַשָּׁוְאH7723 הרביתיH7235 הִרְבֵּיתH7235 רְפֻאוֹתH7499 תְּעָלָהH8585 אֵיןH369 לָֽךְH0
12 שָׁמְעוּH8085 גוֹיִםH1471 קְלוֹנֵךְH7036 וְצִוְחָתֵךְH6682 מָלְאָהH4390 הָאָרֶץH776 כִּֽיH3588 גִבּוֹרH1368 בְּגִבּוֹרH1368 כָּשָׁלוּH3782 יַחְדָּיוH3162 נָפְלוּH5307 שְׁנֵיהֶֽםH8147
13 הַדָּבָרH1697 אֲשֶׁרH834 דִּבֶּרH1696 יְהוָהH3068 אֶֽלH413 יִרְמְיָהוּH3414 הַנָּבִיאH5030 לָבוֹאH935 נְבֽוּכַדְרֶאצַּרH5019 מֶלֶךְH4428 בָּבֶלH894 לְהַכּוֹתH5221 אֶתH853 אֶרֶץH776 מִצְרָֽיִםH4714
14 הַגִּידוּH5046 בְמִצְרַיִםH4714 וְהַשְׁמִיעוּH8085 בְמִגְדּוֹלH4024 וְהַשְׁמִיעוּH8085 בְנֹףH5297 וּבְתַחְפַּנְחֵסH8471 אִמְרוּH559 הִתְיַצֵּבH3320 וְהָכֵןH3559 לָךְH0 כִּֽיH3588 אָכְלָהH398 חֶרֶבH2719 סְבִיבֶֽיךָH5439
15 מַדּוּעַH4069 נִסְחַףH5502 אַבִּירֶיךָH47 לֹאH3808 עָמַדH5975 כִּיH3588 יְהוָהH3068 הֲדָפֽוֹH1920
16 הִרְבָּהH7235 כּוֹשֵׁלH3782 גַּםH1571 נָפַלH5307 אִישׁH376 אֶלH413 רֵעֵהוּH7453 וַיֹּֽאמְרוּH559 קוּמָהH6965 וְנָשֻׁבָהH7725 אֶלH413 עַמֵּנוּH5971 וְאֶלH413 אֶרֶץH776 מֽוֹלַדְתֵּנוּH4138 מִפְּנֵיH6440 חֶרֶבH2719 הַיּוֹנָֽהH3238
17 קָרְאוּH7121 שָׁםH8033 פַּרְעֹהH6547 מֶֽלֶךְH4428 מִצְרַיִםH4714 שָׁאוֹןH7588 הֶעֱבִירH5674 הַמּוֹעֵֽדH4150
18 חַיH2416 אָנִיH589 נְאֻםH5002 הַמֶּלֶךְH4428 יְהוָהH3068 צְבָאוֹתH6635 שְׁמוֹH8034 כִּיH3588 כְּתָבוֹרH8396 בֶּֽהָרִיםH2022 וּכְכַרְמֶלH3760 בַּיָּםH3220 יָבֽוֹאH935
19 כְּלֵיH3627 גוֹלָהH1473 עֲשִׂיH6213 לָךְH0 יוֹשֶׁבֶתH3427 בַּתH1323 מִצְרָיִםH4714 כִּֽיH3588 נֹףH5297 לְשַׁמָּהH8047 תִֽהְיֶהH1961 וְנִצְּתָהH3341 מֵאֵיןH369 יוֹשֵֽׁבH3427
20 עֶגְלָהH5697 יְפֵֽהH0 פִיָּהH3304 מִצְרָיִםH4714 קֶרֶץH7171 מִצָּפוֹןH6828 בָּאH935 בָֽאH935
21 גַּםH1571 שְׂכִרֶיהָH7916 בְקִרְבָּהּH7130 כְּעֶגְלֵיH5695 מַרְבֵּקH4770 כִּֽיH3588 גַםH1571 הֵמָּהH1992 הִפְנוּH6437 נָסוּH5127 יַחְדָּיוH3162 לֹאH3808 עָמָדוּH5975 כִּיH3588 יוֹםH3117 אֵידָםH343 בָּאH935 עֲלֵיהֶםH5921 עֵתH6256 פְּקֻדָּתָֽםH6486
22 קוֹלָהּH6963 כַּנָּחָשׁH5175 יֵלֵךְH1980 כִּֽיH3588 בְחַיִלH2428 יֵלֵכוּH1980 וּבְקַרְדֻּמּוֹתH7134 בָּאוּH935 לָהּH0 כְּחֹטְבֵיH2404 עֵצִֽיםH6086
23 כָּרְתוּH3772 יַעְרָהּH3293 נְאֻםH5002 יְהוָהH3068 כִּיH3588 לֹאH3808 יֵֽחָקֵרH2713 כִּיH3588 רַבּוּH7231 מֵֽאַרְבֶּהH697 וְאֵיןH369 לָהֶםH1992 מִסְפָּֽרH4557
24 הֹבִישָׁהH3001 בַּתH1323 מִצְרָיִםH4714 נִתְּנָהH5414 בְּיַדH3027 עַםH5971 צָפֽוֹןH6828
25 אָמַרH559 יְהוָהH3068 צְבָאוֹתH6635 אֱלֹהֵיH430 יִשְׂרָאֵלH3478 הִנְנִיH2005 פוֹקֵדH6485 אֶלH413 אָמוֹןH527 מִנֹּאH4996 וְעַלH5921 פַּרְעֹהH6547 וְעַלH5921 מִצְרַיִםH4714 וְעַלH5921 אֱלֹהֶיהָH430 וְעַלH5921 מְלָכֶיהָH4428 וְעַלH5921 פַּרְעֹהH6547 וְעַלH5921 הַבֹּטְחִיםH982 בּֽוֹH0
26 וּנְתַתִּיםH5414 בְּיַדH3027 מְבַקְשֵׁיH1245 נַפְשָׁםH5315 וּבְיַדH3027 נְבֽוּכַדְרֶאצַּרH5019 מֶֽלֶךְH4428 בָּבֶלH894 וּבְיַדH3027 עֲבָדָיוH5650 וְאַחֲרֵיH310 כֵןH3651 תִּשְׁכֹּןH7931 כִּֽימֵיH3117 קֶדֶםH6924 נְאֻםH5002 יְהוָֽהH3068
27 וְאַתָּהH859 אַלH408 תִּירָאH3372 עַבְדִּיH5650 יַֽעֲקֹבH3290 וְאַלH408 תֵּחַתH2865 יִשְׂרָאֵלH3478 כִּיH3588 הִנְנִיH2005 מוֹשִֽׁעֲךָH3467 מֵֽרָחוֹקH7350 וְאֶֽתH853 זַרְעֲךָH2233 מֵאֶרֶץH776 שִׁבְיָםH7628 וְשָׁבH7725 יַעֲקוֹבH3290 וְשָׁקַטH8252 וְשַׁאֲנַןH7599 וְאֵיןH369 מַחֲרִֽידH2729
28 אַתָּהH859 אַלH408 תִּירָאH3372 עַבְדִּיH5650 יַֽעֲקֹבH3290 נְאֻםH5002 יְהוָהH3068 כִּיH3588 אִתְּךָH854 אָנִיH589 כִּיH3588 אֶעֱשֶׂהH6213 כָלָהH3617 בְּכָֽלH3605 הַגּוֹיִםH1471 אֲשֶׁרH834 הִדַּחְתִּיךָH5080 שָׁמָּהH8033 וְאֹֽתְךָH853 לֹאH3808 אֶעֱשֶׂהH6213 כָלָהH3617 וְיִסַּרְתִּיךָH3256 לַמִּשְׁפָּטH4941 וְנַקֵּהH5352 לֹאH3808 אֲנַקֶּֽךָּH5352
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 THE PROPHECIES, FORTY-SIXTH THROUGH FIFTY-SECOND CHAPTERS, REFER TO FOREIGN PEOPLES. (Jer. 46:1-28)
General heading of the next six chapters of prophecies concerning the Gentiles; the prophecies are arranged according to nations, not by the dates.
2 Inscription of the first prophecy.
Pharaoh-necho--He, when going against Carchemish (Cercusium, near the Euphrates), encountered Josiah, king of Judah (the ally of Assyria), at Megiddo, and slew him there (
2Kgs 23:29;
2Chr 35:20-24); but he was four years subsequently overcome at Carchemish, by Nebuchadnezzar, as is foretold here; and lost all the territory which had been subject to the Pharaohs west of the Euphrates, and between it and the Nile. The prediction would mitigate the Jews' grief for Josiah, and show his death was not to be unavenged (
2Kgs 24:7). He is famed as having fitted out a fleet of discovery from the Red Sea, which doubled the Cape of Good Hope and returned to Egypt by the Mediterranean.
3 Derisive summons to battle. With all your mighty preparation for the invasion of Nebuchadnezzar, when ye come to the encounter, ye shall be "dismayed" (
Jer 46:5). Your mighty threats shall end in nothing.
buckler--smaller, and carried by the light-armed cavalry.
shield--of larger size, and carried by the heavily armed infantry.
4 Harness the horses--namely, to the war chariots, for which Egypt was famed (
Exod 14:7;
Exod 15:4).
get up, ye horsemen--get up into the chariots. MAURER, because of the parallel "horses," translates, "Mount the steeds." But it is rather describing the successive steps in equipping the war chariots; first harness the horses to them, then let the horsemen mount them.
brigandines--cuirasses, or coats of mail.
5 (See on
Jer 46:3). The language of astonishment, that an army so well equipped should be driven back in "dismay." The prophet sees this in prophetic vision.
fled apace--literally, "fled a flight," that is, flee precipitately.
look not back--They do not even dare to look back at their pursuers.
6 Let not--equivalent to the strongest negation. Let not any of the Egyptian warriors think to escape by swiftness or by might.
toward the north--that is, in respect to Egypt or Judea. In the northward region, by the Euphrates (see
Jer 46:2).
7 as a flood-- (
Jer 47:2;
Isa 8:7-
Isa 8:8;
Dan 11:22). The figure is appropriate in addressing Egyptians, as the Nile, their great river, yearly overspreads their lands with a turbid, muddy flood. So their army, swelling with arrogance, shall overspread the region south of Euphrates; but it, like the Nile, shall retreat as fast as it advanced.
8 Answer to the question in
Jer 46:7.
waters . . . moved like the rivers--The rise of the Nile is gentle; but at the mouth it, unlike most rivers, is much agitated, owing to the sandbanks impeding its course, and so it rushes into the sea like a cataract.
9 Ironical exhortation, as in
Jer 46:3. The Egyptians, owing to the heat of their climate and abstinence from animal food, were physically weak, and therefore employed mercenary soldiers.
Ethiopians--Hebrew, Cush: Abyssinia and Nubia.
Libyans--Phut, Mauritania, west of Egypt (compare
Gen 10:6).
shield--The Libyans borrowed from Egypt the use of the long shield extending to the feet [XENOPHON, Cyropćdia, 6 and 7].
Lydians--not the Lydians west of Asia Minor (
Gen 10:22;
Ezek 30:5), but the Ludim, an African nation descended from Egypt (Mizraim) (
Gen 10:13;
Ezek 30:5;
Nah 3:9).
handle and bend the bow--The employment of two verbs expresses the manner of bending the bow, namely, the foot being pressed on the center, and the hands holding the ends of it.
10 vengeance--for the slaughter of Josiah (
2Kgs 23:29).
sword shall devour . . . be . . . drunk--poetical personification (
Deut 32:42).
a sacrifice-- (
Isa 34:6;
Ezek 39:17). The slaughter of the Egyptians is represented as a sacrifice to satiate His righteous vengeance.
11 Gilead . . . balm--(See on
Jer 8:22); namely, for curing the wounds; but no medicine will avail, so desperate shall be the slaughter.
virgin--Egypt is so called on account of her effeminate luxury, and as having never yet been brought under foreign yoke.
thou shalt not be cured--literally, "there shall be no cure for thee" (
Jer 30:13;
Ezek 30:21). Not that the kingdom of Egypt should cease to exist, but it should not recover its former strength; the blow should be irretrievable.
12 mighty . . . stumbled against . . . mighty . . . fallen both together--Their very multitude shall prove an impediment in their confused flight, one treading on the other.
13 Prophecy of the invasion of Egypt by Nebuchadnezzar, which took place sixteen years after the taking of Jerusalem. Having spent thirteen years in the siege of Tyre, and having obtained nothing for his pains, he is promised by God Egypt for his reward in humbling Tyre (
Ezek 29:17-
Ezek 29:20; Eze. 30:1-31:18). The intestine commotions between Amasis and Pharaoh-hophra prepared his way (compare Note, see on
Isa 19:1, &c.).
14 Declare . . . publish--as if giving sentence from a tribunal.
Migdol . . . Noph . . . Tahpanhes--east, south, and north. He mentions the three other quarters, but omits the west, because the Chaldeans did not advance thither. These cities, too, were the best known to the Jews, as being in their direction.
sword shall devour round about thee--namely, the Syrians, Jews, Moabites, and Ammonites (see on
Jer 48:1). The exhortation is ironical, as in
Jer 46:4,
Jer 46:10,
Jer 46:15.
15 thy valiant men--manuscripts, the Septuagint, and Vulgate read, "thy valiant one," Apis, the bull-shaped Egyptian idol worshipped at Noph or Memphis. The contrast thus is between the palpable impotence of the idol and the might attributed to it by the worshippers. The Hebrew term, "strong," or "valiant," is applied to bulls (
Ps 22:12). Cambyses in his invasion of Egypt destroyed the sacred bull.
drive them--(Compare
Jer 46:5). The Hebrew word is used of a sweeping rain (
Pro 28:3).
16 He--Jehovah.
made many to fall--literally, "multiplied the faller," that is, fallers.
one fell upon another-- (
Jer 46:6,
Jer 46:12): even before the enemy strikes them (
Lev 26:37).
let us go again to our own people--the language of the confederates and mercenaries, exhorting one another to desert the Egyptian standard, and return to their respective homes (
Jer 46:9,
Jer 46:21).
from the oppressing sword--from the cruel sword, namely, of the Chaldeans (compare
Jer 25:38).
17 there--in their own country severally, the foreign soldiers (
Jer 46:16) cry, "Pharaoh is," &c.
but a noise--He threatens great things, but when the need arises, he does nothing. His threats are mere "noise" (compare
1Cor 13:1). MAURER translates, "is ruined," literally (in appropriate abruptness of language), "Pharaoh, king . . . ruin." The context favors English Version. His vauntings of what he would do when the time of battle should come have proved to be empty sounds; he hath passed the time appointed (namely, for battle with the Chaldeans).
18 As the mountains Tabor and Carmel tower high above the other hills of Palestine, so Nebuchadnezzar (
Jer 46:26) when he comes shall prove himself superior to all his foes. Carmel forms a bold promontory jutting out into the Mediterranean. Tabor is the higher of the two; therefore it is said to be "among the mountains"; and Carmel "by the sea."
the King . . . Lord of hosts-- (
Jer 48:15); in contrast to "Pharaoh king of Egypt . . . but a noise" (
Jer 46:17). God the true "King . . . the Lord of hosts," shall cause Nebuchadnezzar to come. Whereas Pharaoh shall not come to battle at the time appointed, notwithstanding his boasts, Nebuchadnezzar shall come according to the prediction of the King, who has all hosts in His power, however ye Egyptians may despise the prediction.
19 furnish thyself--literally, "make for thyself vessels" (namely, to contain food and other necessaries for the journey) for captivity.
daughter--so in
Jer 46:11.
dwelling in Egypt--that is, the inhabitants of Egypt, the Egyptians, represented as the daughter of Egypt (
Jer 48:18;
2Kgs 19:21). "Dwelling" implies that they thought themselves to be securely fixed in their habitations beyond the reach of invasion.
20 heifer--wanton, like a fat, untamed heifer (
Hos 10:11). Appropriate to Egypt, where Apis was worshipped under the form of a fair bull marked with spots.
destruction--that is, a destroyer: Nebuchadnezzar. Vulgate translates, "a goader," answering to the metaphor, "one who will goad the heifer" and tame her. The Arabic idiom favors this [ROSENMULLER].
cometh . . . cometh--The repetition implies, it cometh surely and quickly (
Ps 96:13).
out of the north--(See on
Jer 1:14;
Jer 47:2).
21 Translate, "Also her hired men (mercenary soldiers,
Jer 46:9,
Jer 46:16), who are in the midst of her like fatted bullocks, even they also are turned back," that is, shall turn their backs to flee. The same image, "heifer . . . bullocks" (
Jer 46:20-
Jer 46:21), is applied to Egypt's foreign mercenaries, as to herself. Pampered with the luxuries of Egypt, they become as enervated for battle as the natives themselves.
22 The cry of Egypt when invaded shall be like the hissing of a serpent roused by the woodcutters from its lair. No longer shall she loudly roar like a heifer, but with a low murmur of fear, as a serpent hissing.
with axes--the Scythian mode of armor. The Chaldeans shall come with such confidence as if not about to have to fight with soldiers, but merely to cut down trees offering no resistance.
23 her forest-- (
Isa 10:34).
though it cannot be searched--They cut down her forest, dense and unsearchable (
Job 5:9;
Job 9:10;
Job 36:26) as it may seem: referring to the thickly set cities of Egypt, which were at that time a thousand and twenty. The Hebrew particle is properly, "for," "because."
because--the reason why the Chaldeans shall be able to cut down so dense a forest of cities as Egypt: they themselves are countless in numbers.
grasshoppers--locusts (
Judg 6:5).
25 multitude--Hebrew, "Amon" (
Nah 3:8, Margin, "No-Ammon"), the same as Thebes or Diospolis in Upper Egypt, where Jupiter Ammon had his famous temple. In English Version, "multitude" answers to "populous No" (
Nah 3:8;
Ezek 30:15). The reference to "their gods" which follows, makes the translation more likely, "Ammon of No," that is, No and her idol Ammon; so the Chaldee Version. So called either from Ham, the son of Noah; or, the "nourisher," as the word means.
their kings--the kings of the nations in league with Egypt.
26 afterward . . . inhabited--Under Cyrus forty years after the conquest of Egypt by Nebuchadnezzar, it threw off the Babylonian yoke but has never regained its former prowess (
Jer 46:11;
Ezek 29:11-
Ezek 29:15).
27 Repeated from
Jer 30:10-
Jer 30:11. When the Church (and literal Israel) might seem utterly consumed, there still remains hidden hope, because God, as it were, raises His people from the dead (
Rom 11:15). Whereas the godless "nations" are consumed even though they survive, as are the Egyptians after their overthrow; because they are radically accursed and doomed [CALVIN].