Jeremiah 50:17-20

Those Who Misuse God's People Will Be Punished Accordingly Whilst The Restoration Of His People Is Sure (Jeremiah 50:17).

Babylon's great crime lay in what it had done to God's people. Like Assyria before it, its armies had descended on hapless Israel/Judah like a pack of lions separating off one of the sheep from the flock and hunting it down to its death. The king of Assyria had done it first, devouring the sheep so that northern Israel ceased to be. Now Nebuchadrezzar had done the same, breaking what was left of its bones by destroying Jerusalem and annexing Judah.

But the king of Assyria had been punished and his empire had collapsed. Now in the same way the king of Babylon and his land will be punished. He will die and the land will become barren and fruitless. This was because, in spite of being YHWH's chosen instruments of chastening, in both cases they had exceeded YHWH's purpose for them (Jeremiah 50:11; Isaiah 10:5), and now they would suffer the consequences. In contrast the remnant of God's people will be restored to fruitfulness and will once again enjoy fruitful fields and vineyards. The ‘dead sheep' will live and pasture on Carmel (a fruitful area west of Jordan) and Bashan (a fruitful area east of Jordan), and on the hills of Ephraim (central Israel west of Jordan) and in Gilead (the land east of Jordan).

Jeremiah 50:17

“Israel is a hunted sheep,

The lions have driven him away,

First, the king of Assyria devoured him,

And now at last Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon has broken his bones.

Therefore thus says YHWH of hosts,

The God of Israel,

Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land,

As I have punished the king of Assyria,

And I will bring Israel again to his pasture,

And he will feed on Carmel and Bashan,

And his soul will be satisfied,

On the hills of Ephraim and in Gilead.”

Lions would warily approach a flock, guarded by its shepherds, with the aim of separating off one of the sheep and then hunting it down and devouring it, afterwards picking its bones. In the same way had hapless Israel been treated, first by the king of Assyria who had devoured the northern kingdom (2 Kings 15:29; 2 Kings 17:1), and then by Nebuchadrezzar who had done the same with Israel/Judah. It is interesting that the lion was a symbol that both nations applied to themselves. The sculptured winged lion is a prominent feature of both empires. But both had overlooked the fact that YHWH, Who is the Lord of all hosts both in Heaven and on earth, was also especially the God of Israel. Thus they had dishonoured Him by their behaviour. In consequence YHWH will exact retribution on Babylon as He had on Assyria. Nineveh was destroyed in 612 BC at the hands of the Babylonians and their allies. But instead of recognising that this was the fate of all such empires Babylon had pursued similar tactics and would now itself suffer similar consequences.

And what is more YHWH will restore the remnant of Israel to its own land, where they will feed on Carmel, the fruitful upland on the west coast, and Bashan, the fruitful land in Transjordan, famous for its trees. And also on the hills of Ephraim, the central highlands, and in Gilead to the east of Jordan. The fulfilment of this took place in the inter-testamental period so that by the time of Jesus Israel was restored to its own land and was prospering.

Jeremiah 50:20

“In those days, and in that time,

The word of YHWH,

The iniquity of Israel will be sought for,

And there will be none,

And the sins of Judah,

And they will not be found,

For I will pardon them,

Whom I leave as a remnant.”

But the promise included more. Israel would be restored to purity of heart. Its iniquity would be removed, and its sins found no more. For the pardon of YHWH would reach out to the remnant of Israel. This found its glorious fulfilment in the coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ, Who called out a remnant of Israel to be purified and cleansed through His cross and resurrection, and became the foundation of the new restored Israel, ‘the congregation' (church), the true Vine (Matthew 16:18; John 15:1).

‘In those days and at that time.' Compare Jeremiah 50:4. The reference is to the future days (future to Jeremiah) when God will commence His work of restoration. It is not time specific. It found its fulfilment in the coming of Jesus Christ and His ministry.