CHAPTER LI _Sequel of the prophecies of Jeremiah against Babylon. The_ _dreadful, sudden, and final ruin that shall fall upon the_ _Chaldeans, who have compelled the nations to receive their_ _idolatrous rites, (see an instance in the_ third _chapter of_ _Daniel,) set forth by a variety of beau... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 51:2. _AND WILL SEND - FANNERS_] When the corn is trodden out with the feet of cattle, or crushed out with a heavy wheel armed with iron, with a shovel they throw it up against the wind, that the chaff and broken straw may be separated from it. This is the image used by the prophet; t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 51:5. _FOR ISRAEL_ HATH _NOT_ BEEN _FORSAKEN_] God still continued his prophets among them; he had never cast them wholly off. Even in the midst of _wrath _- highly deserved and inflicted _punishment_, he has remembered _mercy_; and is now about to crown what he has done by restoring... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 51:7. _MADE ALL THE EARTH DRUNKEN_] The cup of God's wrath is the _plenitude of punishment_, that he inflicts on transgressors. It is represented as _intoxicating_ and making them _mad_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 51:8. _BABYLON IS SUDDENLY FALLEN AND DESTROYED_] These appear to be the words of some of the spectators of Babylon's misery.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 51:9. _WE WOULD HAVE HEALED BABYLON_] Had it been in our power, we would have saved her; but we could not turn away the judgment of God.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 51:10. _THE LORD HATH BROUGHT FORTH OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS._] This is the answer of the Jews. God has vindicated our cause.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 51:11. _MAKE BRIGHT THE ARROWS_] This is the prophet's address to Babylon. _THE LORD HATH RAISED UP THE SPIRIT OF THE KINGS OF THE MEDES_] Of Cyaxares king of Media, called _Darius the Mede_ in Scripture; and of Cyrus king of Persia, presumptive heir of the throne of Cyaxares, his un... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 51:12. _SET UP THE STANDARD_] A call to the enemies of Babylon to invest the city and press the siege.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 51:13. _O THOU THAT DWELLEST UPON MANY WATERS_] Thou who hast an abundant supply of waters. It was built on the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates; the latter running through the city. But the _many waters_ may mean the many nations which belonged to the Babylonish empire; nations... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 51:14. _I WILL FILL THEE WITH MEN_] By means of these very waters through the channel of thy boasted river, thou shalt be filled with men, suddenly appearing as an army of _locusts_; and, without being expected, shall lift up a terrific cry, as soon as they have risen from the channel... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 51:15. _HE HATH MADE THE EARTH BY HIS POWER_] The _omnipotence_ of God is particularly manifested in the works of _creation_. _HE HATH ESTABLISHED THE WORLD BY HIS WISDOM_] The _omniscience_ of God is particularly seen in the _government_ of תבל _tebel_, the inhabited surface of the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 51:16. _WHEN HE UTTERETH_ his _voice_] Sends _thunder_. THERE IS _A MULTITUDE OF WATERS_] For the _electric spark_, by decomposing atmospheric air, converts the _hydrogen_ and _oxygen_ gases, of which it is composed, into _water_; which falls down in the form of _rain_. _CAUSETH THE... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 51:17. _EVERY MAN IS BRUTISH BY_ HIS _KNOWLEDGE_] He is brutish for want of real knowledge; and he is brutish when he acknowledges that an idol is any thing in the world. These verses, from _fifteen_ to _nineteen_, are transcribed from Jeremiah 10:12.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 51:20. _THOU_ ART _MY BATTLE AXE_] I believe _Nebuchadnezzar_ is meant, who is called, Jeremiah 50:23, the _hammer_ of the whole earth. Others think the words are spoken of _Cyrus_. All the verbs are in the past tense: "With thee have I broken in pieces," c., c.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 51:24. _AND I WILL RENDER_] The ו _vau_ should be translated _but_, of which it has here the full power: "_But_ I will render unto Babylon.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 51:25. _O DESTROYING MOUNTAIN_] An epithet which he applies to the Babylonish government; it is like a _burning_ mountain, which, by vomiting continual streams of _burning lava_, inundates and destroys all towns, villages fields, c., in its vicinity. _AND ROLL THEE DOWN FROM THE ROC... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 51:27. _SET YE UP A STANDARD_] Another summons to the _Medes_ and _Persians_ to attack Babylon. _ARARAT, MINNI_] The Greater and Lesser Armenia. _AND ASHCHENAZ_] A part of Phrygia, near the Hellespont. So _Bochart_, Phaleg, lib. i. c. 3, lib. iii. c. 9. Concerning _Ashchenaz Homer_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 51:29. _AND THE LAND SHALL TREMBLE_] It is represented here as trembling under the numerous armies that are passing over it, and the prancing of their horses.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 51:30. _THE MIGHTY MEN - HAVE FORBORNE TO FIGHT_] They were panic-struck when they found the Medes and Persians within their walls, and at once saw that resistance was useless.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 51:31. _ONE POST SHALL RUN TO MEET ANOTHER_] As the city was taken by _surprise_, in the manner already related, so now messengers, one after another, were despatched to give the king information of what was done; viz., that the city was taken at _one_ _end_. _Herodotus_ tells us that... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 51:32. _THAT THE PASSAGES ARE STOPPED_] Either the _bridges_ or _slips_ for boats, by which the inhabitants passed from one side to the other, and may mean the principal gates or passes in the city, which the victorious army would immediately seize, that they might prevent all communi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 51:33. _THE DAUGHTER OF BABYLON_ IS _LIKE A THRESHING FLOOR_] The threshing wheel is gone over her; she is trodden under foot.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 51:34. _NEBUCHADREZZAR - HATH DEVOURED ME_] These are the words of Judea; he has taken away all my riches. _HE HATH CAST ME OUT._] He shall vomit all up; i.e., they shall be regained.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 51:35. _THE VIOLENCE DONE TO ME_ - BE _UPON BABYLON, - AND MY BLOOD_ _UPON THE INHABITANTS OF CHALDEA_] Zion begins to speak, Jeremiah 51:34, and ends with this verse. The answer of Jehovah begins with the next verse. Though the Chaldeans have been the instrument of God to punish the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 51:36. _I WILL DRY UP HER SEA_] Exhaust all her treasures.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 51:37. _WITHOUT AN INHABITANT._] See Jeremiah 50:39.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 51:39. _IN THEIR HEAT I WILL MAKE THEIR FEASTS_] It was on the night of a feast day, while their hearts were _heated_ with wine and revelry, that Babylon was taken; see Daniel 5:1. This feast was held in honour of the goddess _Sheshach_, (or perhaps of _Bel_,) who is mentioned, Jeremi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 51:41. _HOW IS SHESHACH TAKEN!_] Perhaps the city is here called by the name of its idol. _THE PRAISE OF THE WHOLE EARTH_] One of the _seven wonders_ of the world; superexcellent for the height, breadth, and compass of its _walls_, its _hanging gardens_, the _temple of Belus_, c., c.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 51:42. _THE SEA IS COME UP_] A multitude of foes have inundated the city.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 51:44. _I WILL PUNISH BEL IN BABYLON_] Bel or Belus was their supreme deity. _THAT WHICH HE HATH SWALLOWED UP_] The sacred vessels of the temple of Jerusalem, which were taken thence by Nebuchadnezzar, and dedicated to him in his temple at Babylon. _THE WALL OF BABYLON SHALL FALL._]... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 51:45. _MY PEOPLE, GO YE OUT_] A warning to all the Jews in Babylon to leave the city, and escape for their lives.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 51:46. _A RUMOUR SHALL - COME_ ONE _YEAR_] A year before the capture of the city there shall be a rumour of war, - and in that year Belshazzar was defeated by Cyrus. In the _following year_ the city was taken.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 51:48. _THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH - SHALL SING FOR BABYLON_] Its fall shall be a subject of universal rejoicing.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 51:50. _YE THAT HAVE ESCAPED THE SWORD_] The Jews. _LET JERUSALEM COME INTO YOUR MIND._] Pray for its restoration; and embrace the first opportunity offered of returning thither.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 51:51. _STRANGERS ARE COME INTO THE SANCTUARIES_] The lamentation of the pious Jews for the profanation of the temple by the Chaldeans.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 53. _THOUGH BABYLON SHOULD MOUNT UP TO HEAVEN_] Though it were fortified even to the skies, it shall fall by the enemies that I will send against it.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 55. _THE GREAT VOICE_] Its _pride_ and insufferable boasting.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 56. _THE LORD GOD OF RECOMPENSES_] The fall of Babylon is an act of Divine justice; whatever it suffers, it is in consequence of its crimes.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 57. _I WILL MAKE DRUNK HER PRINCES_] Jeremiah 51:39.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 58. _THE BROAD WALLS OF BABYLON_] Herodotus, who saw these walls, says, "The city was a regular square, each side of which was _one hundred and twenty_ stadia, the circumference _four hundred_ _and eighty_ stadia. It was surrounded by a wall _fifty_ cubits broad, and _two hundred_ cubits high;... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 59. _THE WORD WHICH JEREMIAH_] On account of the message sent by Jeremiah to the Jewish captives in Babylon.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 51:60. _WROTE IN A BOOK_] Whether this book contained any more than is recorded in this place we do not know; probably it contained no more than what is found in Jeremiah 51:62-24. A _book_, ספר sepher, signifies, in Hebrew, any writing, _great_ or _small_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 51:64. _THUS SHALL BABYLON SINK, C._] This is the emblem of its overthrow and irretrievable ruin. See Revelation 18:21, where we find that this is an emblem of the total ruin of _mystical Babylon_. _Herodotus_ relates a similar action of the _Phocoeans_, who, having resolved to leav... [ Continue Reading ]