Jeremiah 51

Jeremiah 51:1

AGainst them that dwell in the mist of them] Heb. in the heart of them. as Psalms 46:3.

that rise up against me] Chap. 50. 29.

a destroying wind] The Medes and Persians, who like a whirlwind, shall sweep away the Chaldeans; as the Chaldeans did the Jews, Chap. 4. 11, 12.

Jeremiah 51:2

fanners, that shall fanne her] As I fanned my people by her, Chap. 15. 7.

shall empty her land] As she emptied their land, vers. 34. See Chap. 48. 12.

against her round about] Chap. 46. 5. & 49. 5, 29.

Jeremiah 51:3

Against him that bendeth] Heb. treadeth. Chap. 50. 14.

let the archer bend his bow] Heb. let the treader tread his bow to bend it.

Jeremiah 51:4

the slain shall fall, &c.] Or, the wounded. Chap. 37. 10. Isaiah 13:15.

Jeremiah 51:5

Israel hath not been forsaken, nor Judah of his God, of the LORD of hosts, &c.] Or, Israel is not a widow, nor Judah severed from his God, from the Lord of hosts. Though for her sinne she was left a while, yet is she not utterly forsaken, as a widow, whose husband is deceased; or wholly cast off, as one divorced. Isaiah 50:1. & 54. 5, 6. Jeremiah 3:1. Lamentations 1:1.

though their land was filled with sinne against the holy One of Israel] Or, with desolation from the holy One of Israel. Though they have deserved to be irrecoverably destroyed for their sinnes, wherewith they defiled and filled the whole land, Chap. 16. 18. Or, though by the just judgement of God their land hath been laid wast and desolate, Chap. 4. 20, 27.

Jeremiah 51:6

Flee out of the midst of Babylon] Or, out of Babylon. as Chap. 44. 7. & 50. 37.

and deliver every man his soul] Or, himself. Matth. 16. 25, 26. Implying, that there should be no safety to any that should stay there, Isaiah 13:15. Chap. 50. 8. Vers. 45. Rev. 18 4.

be not cut off] Or, lest ye be cut off in her punishment. as Genesis 4:13. & Genesis 19:15.

the time of the LORDS vengeance] Vers. 11. Isaiah 59:17-18.

Jeremiah 51:7

Babylon hath been a golden cup in the LORDS hand] By whom he poured forth his wrath, on whom he pleased, Psalms 75:8. Revelation 17:4.

that made all the earth drunken] The wine of Gods wrath did so, poured out by her hand, Chap. 25. 15. Revelation 14:10.

the nations are mad] By reason of the affliction, that from her they have sustained, Chap. 25. 16.

Jeremiah 51:8

Babylon is suddenly fallen] Isaiah 21:9. Revelation 4:18. & Revelation 18:2.

and destroyed] Heb. broken. Chap. 50. 22.

howl for her] Revelation 18:9,—19.

take balme for her pain] Or, grief. Use all the means ye can to help her: all shall be to no purpose. Chap. 8. 22. & 46. 11.

Jeremiah 51:9

We would have healed Babylon] The speech of those that had assisted her, and served under her.

but she is not healed] Or, could not be healed. as Chap. 2. 23. and 9. 10. We have done our best; but all in vain: our onely way now is to shift for our selves, Isaiah 13:14. Chap. 46. 16.

her judgement reacheth unto heaven, &c.] Her punishment and calamitie is exceeding great, Psalms 36:5. proportionable to her sinne, Revelation 18:5. Ezra 9:6. too great to be holpen by any humane helps.

Jeremiah 51:10

The LORD hath brought forth our righteousnesse, &c.] The speech of Gods people, acknowledging Gods goodnesse in righting them against her, Psalms 37:6. Mic. 7. 9. and enciting to praise him for it, Chap. 50. 28. Revel. 15. 3, 4. and 16. 5,—7. and 19. 1, 2, 5.

Jeremiah 51:11

Make bright the arrows] Heb. make pure. Chap. 4. 11. Spoken to Babylon, in derision. So vers. 12.

gather the shields] Heb. fill them. Chap. 4. 5.

the LORD hath raised up the spirit, &c.] Ezra 1:1.

of the kings of the Medes] Vers. 28.

his device is against Babylon] Vers. 29.

the vengeance of the LORD] Vers. 6. Chap. 50. 28.

the vengeance of his temple] For the wrong done him, as in his people, so especially in his Temple, in the profaning and destroying of it. Chap. 52. 13, 17. Daniel 1:2. & Daniel 5:23.

Jeremiah 51:12

Set up the standard] Chap. 50. 2.

make the watch strong] Use all the means ye can to prevent danger; to escape destruction: but they shall not avail, Vers. 9. 11.

prepare the ambushes] Heb. liers in wait.

Jeremiah 51:13

that dwellest upon many waters] That art situate upon the great river Euphrates: (which ranne about it and through it) and rulest over many mightie people, Rev. 17. 1, 15.

the measure of thy covetousnesse] Heb. cubite. the most usuall measure among those people, Genesis 6:15. Exodus 25:10. The stint that God hath precisely limited out thereunto: and which therefore thou shalt not exceed, Genesis 15:16. Matthew 23:32. 1 Thessalonians 2:16.

Jeremiah 51:14

The LORD of hosts] Amos 6:8.

hath sworn by himself] Heb. by his soul. as vers. 6.

I will fill thee with men, as with caterpillers] Or, locusts. or, rough flies. With multitudes of thine enemies and their forces. vers. 27.

they shall lift up a shout] Heb. utter. vers. 55. a shout, Or, an alarm. Chap. 25. 30. & 48. 33.

Jeremiah 51:15

He hath made the earth, &c.] Or, Even he that made, &c. to wit, hath sworn, vers. 14. See Chap. 10. 12, &c.

Jeremiah 51:16

there is a multitude] Or, noise. Isaiah 63:15.

he causeth the vapours to ascend, &c.] Psal. 135 7.

Jeremiah 51:17

Every man is brutish by his knowledge, &c.] Or, is more brutish then to know. See Chap. 10. 14.

Jeremiah 51:18

in the time of their visitation] When God shall come to execute judgement both on them and their worshippers, Chap. 48. 7. & 49. 3. & 50. 2.

Jeremiah 51:19

The portion of Jacob, &c.] Chap. 10. 16.

is not like them] The true God, the God of Israel, is not like those idols: for he can save his, and help, when all things seeme desperate: and he is able to effect, whatsoever he saith; to do whatsoever he will have done, Psalms 115:3. & Psalms 135:6.

Jeremiah 51:20

Thou art my battel-ax] Or, hast been. Thou Babylon, hast been thus: as Chap. 50. 23. or, Thou Cyrus, with thine armies, shalt so be. So Isa. 10. 5, 15.

with thee] Or, in thee. or, by thee.

will I break] Or, have I broken.

will I destroy] Or, have I destroyed.

Jeremiah 51:21

will I break] Or, have I broken. so after here; and vers. 22. 23.

Jeremiah 51:22

old and young] 2 Chron. 36. 17.

Jeremiah 51:23

the shepherd and his flock, &c.] Men of all sorts and ranks, great and small, Chap. 50. 16.

Jeremiah 51:24

And] Or, But. as vers. 9. Isaiah 29:13.

all their evill that they have done in Zion] Chap. 50. 15. 29.

in your sight] Psalms 79:10.

Jeremiah 51:25

Behold, I am against thee] Chap. 50. 31.

O destroying] Isaiah 14:6.

mountain] Not that Babylon stood on an hill: but so tearmed for her high stately buildings, and her strong forifications: in regard whereof she seemed as impregnable, as if she had been so situate, Zechariah 4:7.

I will stretch out mine hand upon thee] Chap. 6. 12. & 15. 6.

roll thee down from the rocks] Thy strong holds and fortresses, and thy loftie towrs, that threaten heaven, Genesis 11:4. Daniel 4:11; Daniel 4:30. Vers. 53.

will make thee a burnt mountain] Or, burning mountain. Heb. mountain of burning. Deuteronomy 29:23. Alluding to those mountains of sulphurie matter, that burn continually, and with the ashes and cinders issuing from them wast and spoil all the countrey round about them: or, to the heapes of ashes and cinders, that cities so burnt and ruined leave behind them, Chap. 50. 26.

Jeremiah 51:26

they shall not take of thee a stone for a corner, nor a stone for foundations] Nothing shall be left whole in thee, whereon to raise thee up to a new estate again: thou shalt never be reedified. vers. 64.

thou shalt be desolate for ever] Heb. everlasting desolations. Chap. 25, 12. Ezekiel 35:9.

Jeremiah 51:27

Set ye up a standard] To assemble those people, that are to serve against Babylon: as Isaiah 5:26. Chap. 50. 2.

prepare the nations] Heb. sanctifie them. Isaiah 13:3. Chap. 6. 4.

the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashhenaz] Armenia, the higher, and the lower; and Scythia, or Asia the lesse, Genesis 8:4. & Genesis 10:3. for of divers nations did Cyrus his army consist.

cause the horses to come up] Or, raise, or, advance.

as the rough caterpillers] Or, lousts. or, great flies. Either for mumber or multitude, as caterpillers and locusts, vers. 14. Judges 6:5. Nahum 3:15. or, leaping and prancing, as locusts and grashoppers use to leap and skip, Joe 2:5. Nahum 2. 16.

Jeremiah 51:28

Prpare against her] Heb sanctifie. vers. 27.

the nations with the kings of the Medes, &c.] Darius and Cyrus: or, Kings for Princes, as Chap. 46. 25. & 50. 41. Vers. 11. with those sundry nations, that served under them, vers. 27.

Jeremiah 51:29

the land shall tremble and sorrow] The people of Chaldea, shall quake for fear, and be in pain as a woman in travell, Isaiah 13:8. Chap. 50. 43.

every purpose of the LORD shall be performed] Isaiah 14:27. Vers. 11.

Jeremiah 51:30

they have remained in their holds] They dare not stirre out, 1 Samuel 14:11.

they became as women] Isaiah 19:16. Nahum 3:13. Heb. shall be unto women. or, shall become women. Shall be so affected, so timerous and heartlesse as if they were turned into women, or were women indeed, and not men: the phrase is the same with that Exodus 4:3-4. So Chap. 50. 37.

they have burnt her dwelling places] Or, her dwelling places are burnt. as Chap. 49. 20.

her barres are broken] The barres of her gates, as well of her forts and palaces, as of her citie, Psalms 107:16. & Psalms 147:13. Proverbs 18:19. Isaiah 45:2.

Jeremiah 51:31

One post shall run to meet another, &c.] So spatious was the citie, and so suddenly surprised at a festivall, that the surprisall was not soon generally known; it was three dayes, say some authors, ere the report of the taking of it on the one side, came to those on the other side; some good space of time, ere to those in the midst of the citie. Herodot. lib. 1. Aristot. politic. l. 3. c. 2.

to shew the king of Babylon that his citie is taken] Chap. 50. 43.

at one end] On the one side: where Cyrus, by diverting the course of the river, had made way for surprisall of it.

Jeremiah 51:32

the passages] Judg. 12. 5.

are stopped] Or, seized. Chap. 40. 10. & 50. 46.

the reeds they have burnt with fire] Or, meers. or pools. Psalms 114:8. Isaiah 14:23. The meers, or places where the water before stood, are as drie, as if they were burnt up with fire. Chap. 50. 38.

the men of warre are affrighted] Vers. 30.

Jeremiah 51:33

The daughter of Babylon] Isaiah 47:1.

is like a threshing-floore] The citie and state of Babylon is to be thrown down, and levelled; made even and plain, vers. 15. as a thresthing-floore is against harvest time; that her Princes and people may be threshed in her, Isaiah 21:10. Joe 3:14. Chap. 50. 26.

it is time to thresh her] Or, in the time that he thresheth her. Heb. to tread: or, he treadeth her. Judges 20:43.

the time of her harvest shall come] Her sinne is come to the height, vers. 13. Genesis 15:16. she is ripe for judgement: ready to be reaped and threshed, Joe 3:13. Revelation 14:15.

Jeremiah 51:34

Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon hath devoured me, &c.] Gods people complain of Babylons crueltie towards them, Chap. 50. 17.

he hath made me an emptie vessel] Chap. 48. 12. Vers. 2.

he hath swallowed me up like a dragon] Or, whale. Isaiah 27:1. As a great whale swalloweth down the lsser fish and frie, Habakkuk 1:13-14.

he hath filled his belly with my delicates] Job 15:20; Job 15:23.

Jeremiah 51:35

The violence done to me] Heb. my violence. Genesis 16:5. So Judg. 9. 24. Joel 3. 19.

and to my flesh] Or, remainder.

shall the inhabitant of Zion say] Heb. inhabitresse. Chap. 10. 17. and 48. 19.

my blood upon the inhabitants of Chaldea] Vengeance befall her; or, is now by God mine avenger (Chap. 50. 34.) his just judgement come upon her; for the wrong and crueltie that she hath done unto me, Psal. 137. 8, 9. See the like phrase, Genesis 16:5. Matthew 27:25.

Jeremiah 51:36

I will plead thy cause] Not by words, but by deeds, Chap. 50. 34. I will right the wrongs done thee; and execute judgement upon her for thee, vers. 10. Psalms 35:1. & Psalms 43:1. Mic. 7. 9. Lamentations 3:58.

take vengeance for thee] Heb. avenge thy vengeance. that is, the violence and crueltie done unto thee, Lamentations 3:60.

I will dry up her sea] Her great stream of the river Euphrates, vers. 32. Sea for river, or lake, Matth. 4. 13, 18. & 8. 24. & 17. 24. John 21:1. as river for sea, Jonah 2:4. See Isaiah 44:27.

Jeremiah 51:37

Babylon shall become heaps, &c.] Isaiah 13:22. & Isaiah 34:13. Chap. 49 33. & 50. 39.

an astonishment] Vers. 41.

Jeremiah 51:38

They shall rore together like lions] The Babylonians at their drunken feast. Or, the enemie at the surprisall of them, vers. 14. Chap. 48. 33.

they shall yell] Or, shake. or, rouse themselves. Isaiah 33:9.

Jeremiah 51:39

In their heat I will make their feasts] Or, when they are hot, I will dispose their drinkings. When they are heated with wine, Isaiah 5:11. I will temper and tender them such a potion, as shall make them so drunk, that they shall sleep with it their last sleep. Alluding to Belshazzars banquet, at which the citie was taken, and the King with his guests slain, Dan. 5. 1, 2, 30. Isaiah 21:5. See Herodotus lib. 1. and Xenophon lib. 7.

that they may rejoyce] Or, make merry. or, reell it. Isaiah 22:2.

and sleep a perpetuall sleep] Heb. a sleep of perpetuitie. vers. 57.

Jeremiah 51:40

I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter] Chap. 50. 27. Chap. 12. 3.

with he-goats] Or, and he-goats. Psalms 68:30. Isaiah 34:7.

Jeremiah 51:41

How, &c.] Spoken by way of wonderment: as Chap. 50. 23.

is Sheshach taken] Babylon, Chap. 25. 26. so called of an idoll there worshipped: whose feast they were then celebrating, when the citie was surprised. Of this feast see Berosus in Athenaeus lib. 14. & Dion Chrysost. orat. 4.

the praise of the whole earth] The citie so famous over the whole world, Chap. 49. 25. Lamentations 2:15.

an astonishment among the nations] Vers. 37.

Jeremiah 51:42

The sea is come up upon Babylon] An answer to the former question: that it is not to be marvelled, if she be thus surprised and spoiled, when a whole sea of enemies, to wit, Cyrus his vast armie, is broken in upon her. So Isaiah 8:8. & Isaiah 59:19. Chap. 50. 44. Vers. 55. Lamentations 2:13.

Jeremiah 51:43

a drie land and a wildernesse, &c.] Chap. 2. 6. & 9. 12.

Jeremiah 51:44

I will punish] Heb. visit upon. vers. 47.

Bel in Babylon] Babylons chief idol, Isaiah 46:1. Chap. 50. 2.

I will bring forth out of his mouth that which he hath swallowed up] The spoils of the Babylonians, which they had fleeced other people of: ascribed to Bel, either because they attributed their victories and conquests to him: as Judg. 11. 24. and 16. 23. Or, because of their booties and spoils taken in warre, rich presents were usually offered unto that idoll: yea the vessels of Gods house were carried into his temple, 2 Chronicles 36:7. Daniel 1, 2. from whence afterward they were restored, Ezra 1:7. & Ezra 5:14.

the nations shall not flow together any more unto him] Chap. 31. 12. They shall not flock to Babylon, as they had wont to do, when she was in the height of her imperiall state; nor resort to Bel her idol, and his temple, as then they did.

the wall of Babylon shall fall] Vers. 58. Chap. 50. 15.

Jeremiah 51:45

My people, go ye out of the midst of her, &c.] Chap. 50. 8. Revelation 18:4.

deliver ye every man his soul] Or, himself. vers. 6.

from the fierce anger of the LORD] Chap. 4. 8.

Jeremiah 51:46

lest your heart faint] Or, see that your hearts faint not. or, let not your hearts faint as Genesis 3:22. be not faint-hearted. Heb. be soft; or, tender. Isaiah 7:4. 2 Kings 22:19. Job. 23. 16.

a rumour shall both come one yeer] Or, For (as Isaiah 53:2.) a rumour shall come one yeer. For the first yeer came tidings of Cyrus his setting forth for Babylon: but he stayed by the way, by the difficultie of passage through Assyria, in regard of great rivers. Herodot. lib. 1.

and after that in another yeer shall come a rumour, and violence in the land] The next yeer: when he pierced into Chaldea; sat down before Babylon; and took it by force.

ruler against ruler] Cyrus against Belshazzar.

Jeremiah 51:47

I will do judgement] Heb. visit. vers. 44.

all her slain shall fall in the midst of her] Or, lie in the midst of her. as 1 Samuel 31:8. Lamentations 2:21.

Jeremiah 51:48

Then the heaven and the earth, and all that is therein, shall sing, &c.] All the creatures in heaven and earth shall seem to rejoyce at the ruine of Babylon; as eased of the heavie pressures, that the whole world sustained by her oppressions: or, as applauding Gods just judgement in avenging of the wrongs done to his people by her, Psal. 96. 11,-13. and 98. 7,-9. Isaiah 44:23. & Isaiah 49:13. Chap. 40. 23. Vers. 20,-23, 25.

from the north] Chap. 50. 3.

Jeremiah 51:49

As Babylon hath caused the slain of Israel to fall: so at Babylon shall fall the slain of all the earth] Or, Both Babylon, or, Babylon also, is to fall, O yee slain of Israel, and with Babylon shall fall the slain of the countrey. Not of the citie alone, but of the whole State: as it was with Gods people, Chap. 4. 27, 29.

Jeremiah 51:50

Ye that have escaped the sword] Either of the Chaldeans, when they destroyed Jerusalem: or of the Medes and Persians, when they surprised Babylon, being there in captivitie, Chap. 44. 28. Ezekiel 6:5.

stand not still] Or, stay not. Heb. stand not. Genesis 45:1. Chap. 4. 6.

remember the LORD afarre off] In Babylon: farre off from his seat at Jerusalem, Isaiah 39:3.

let Jerusalem come into your mind] Heb. up upon your heart. Chap. 3. 16. Psal. 137. 1, 5.

Jeremiah 51:51

We are confounded, &c.] The lament of Gods people, at the very mention and remembrance of Jerusalem, and her present condition, Psal. 44. 15, 16. & 137. 1,-6.

we have heard reproch] Psal. 31. 11, 13. and 89. 50, 51. and 123. 3, 4.

shame hath covered our faces] Psalms 69:7.

strangers are come into the sanctuaries] Numbers 1:51. Lamentations 2:10.

Jeremiah 51:52

I will do judgement] Heb. visit. Vers. 44. 47.

Jeremiah 51:53

Though Babylon should mount up to heaven, &c.] Obad. 4. Though her walls were as high as heaven, Genesis 11:4. Deuteronomy 1:28. and they are reported by some to have been two hundred foot, by others, two hundred cubits high. See Herodot. lib. 1. & Plin. lib. 6. cap. 26. See also Chap. 50. 15. Vers 25. 44. 58.

Jeremiah 51:54

and great destruction] Or, and of great destruction. Heb. breach. or, breaking. Chap. 50. 22.

Jeremiah 51:55

the great voyce] Which multitudes of people had wont to make in her, Chap. 48. 45. Vers. 44.

when her waves do rore like great waters] Heb. and their waves do. or, shall rore, &c. The waves of that sea, which shall break in upon her, vers. 42. whose shout shall succeed in the stead of the fore-mentioned noise, vers. 14. Chap. 50. 42.

a noise] Or, a tumultuous noise. vers. 24.

Jeremiah 51:56

Because] Or, For. or, when.

the spoiler is come upon her] Vers. 53. Chap. 48. 8.

every one of their bows is broken] Chap. 49. 35.

the LORD God of recompenses] Vers. 6.

shall surely requite] Heb. requiting requite. Exodus 31:36.

Jeremiah 51:57

I will make drunk her princes, &c.] I will make them drunk with the cup of my wrath: Chap. 25. 26. yet withall alluding to that drunken feast, at which they were surprised and slain. vers. 39.

they shall sleep a perpetuall sleep] Heb. a sleep of perpetuitie. Chap. 48. 15. Vers. 39.

Jeremiah 51:58

The broad walls of Babylon] Or, the walls of broad Babylon. The walls are reported by some to have been fifty foot, by others, fiftie cubits thick: the citie being built square, a hundred and twenty furlongs wide. See on vers. 53.

shall be utterly broken] Or, made naked. Heb. breaking down broken down. or, stripping stript. Made bare of defendants. Or, laid levell with the ground, Chap. 50. 15. Vers. 44.

the people shall labour in vain, and the folk in the fire, and they shall be wearie] The people shall labour for vanitie (so the Hebrew) and the folk, untill they tire themselves, for the fire. as some are said to breed children for the sword, Job 27:14. and Ephraim for the murderer, Hosea 9:13. See Isaiah 66:23. Habakkuk 2:13. Thus all the pains, that people have taken, wearying and wearing out themselves about the building of Babylon, shall be in vain, and produce nothing but fewel for the fire, vers. 25.

Jeremiah 51:59

when he went with Zedekiah] Or, on the behalf of, or, from Zedekiah: as Genesis 4:1. & Genesis 44:4. & Genesis 49:25.Exodus 9:29. Being sent by him in ambassage to the King of Babylon, to treat with him about some affairs of State; some seven yeers before the generall captivitie. See Chap. 29. 3.

this Seraiah was a quiet prince] Heb. a prince of rest. One that laboured, in likelihood, to make peace and work some reconcilement between Zedekiah and Nebuchadnezzar: as 1 Chronicles 22:9. a man of rest; for one that liveth peaceably and quietly. Or, prince of Menucha. a place in Judah, 1 Chronicles 2:52. Or, chief Chamberlain. one that hath charge of the Kings rest, or chamber wherein he resteth. See Isaiah 57:2.

Jeremiah 51:60

Jeremiah wrote in a book] Heb. one book. as Exodus 16:33.

Jeremiah 51:61

When thou comest to Babylon, and shalt see, and shalt read all these words] Or, and shalt have beheld the citie, then shalt thou reade all these words. Or, thou shalt then look upon this book, or, roll; and shalt read all these words.

Jeremiah 51:62

Then shalt] Or, And shalt say.

neither man nor beast] Heb. from man to beast. Chap. 50. 3.

it shall be desolate for ever] Heb. desolations. Vers. 26. Chap. 48. 34.

Jeremiah 51:63

cast it into the midst of Euphrates] Or, into Euphrates. as vers. 6. This is alluded by the milstone said to be cast by the Angel into the sea, Revelation 18:11.

Jeremiah 51:64

and they shall be weary] Or, though they weary themselves. vers. 56. Chap. 9. 5. Although they tire themselves out never so much in contending to restore her: as Malachi 1:4.

Thus farre are the words of Jeremiah] To wit, written by the Prophet himself. So that the Chapter following seemeth after to have been added unto this book of his Prophecies, by some other holy man of God, (as the last Chapter of Deuteronomie to the writings of Moses) for the further illustration and fuller confirmation of the complement of some things therein contained.