Jeremiah 50

Jeremiah 50:1

Prophet. He had spoken against them in the fourth year of Joachim, and now is more explicit in the fourth of Sedecias, (chap. li. 60.) sending his predictions to be read, and then thrown into the Euphrates. The fall of Babylon was gradual. It was in consequence of her pride and cruelty, ver. 11, 17, 23, 29., and Isaias xlvii. 6. (Calmet) — It had shewn the greatest enmity to the Jews, and was at last overthrown by the Medes and Persians. (Worthington)

Jeremiah 50:2

Declare. This is grand. Let all the captives publish these tidings. (Calmet) — Bel, &c. Bel and Merodach were worshipped for gods by the men of Babylon. (Challoner) — Merodach might be an ancient king deified. (Calmet) — These greatest of their idols could neither save the people nor themselves. (Worthington)

Jeremiah 50:3

A nation, &c., viz., the Medes, (Challoner) under Darius, (Daniel v. 31.; Theodoret; Grotius) or rather under Cyrus, who came upon Babylon from the north, after conquering Asia; though he was born to the east of that city, Isaias lxi. 2, 25. He was a Mede by his mother, and ruler of that nation. He gave liberty to the Jews, as the prophet inculcates ten times. — Desolate. Herodotus, Xenophon, &c., say not that Cyrus demolished any part of the city; but Berosus informs us that he took it without opposition, and levelled the outer walls. Hystaspes did more damage. (Herodotus iii. 150.)

Jeremiah 50:4

Weeping for joy and compunction. Israel returns, as well as Juda. (Calmet) — Thus Joseph wept when he beheld his brethren, Genesis xlii. 24. (Worthington)

Jeremiah 50:5

Covenant. They renewed the old one under Nehemias, and never publicly broke it, as they had done. Yet the covenant of Christ is more properly meant.

Jeremiah 50:6

Shepherds; kings, (Calmet) and false prophets. (Haydock)

Jeremiah 50:7

Not sinned: the Jews were such notorious offenders. But in what had they injured the Chaldeans? — Beauty. Hebrew, “dwelling or fold.”

Jeremiah 50:8

Kids; rams. This comparison was not ignoble. Go boldly out of the city, before it be besieged.

Jeremiah 50:9

Nations. Cyrus had Armenians, &c., in his army. (Calmet) — Thence, by the bed of the Euphrates, the waters of which were mostly let out into the marshes. Thus the city was taken, while the people were feasting. (Herodotus i. 191.) — Aristotle (Pol. iii. 3.) says, three days passed before all the citizens were apprised of its fate, it was so extensive: but this is incredible. If we follow the account of Berosus, Cyrus routed Nabonides, who fled to Borsippe, while he took Babylon and demolished the outer walls. (Josephus, contra Apion i.) (Calmet) — North, with respect to Babylon. (Worthington) — The Persians lay rather to the south, and to the east of Palestine, (Haydock) if our maps be accurate. (Calmet)

Jeremiah 50:11

Bulls. You have rioted in Juda, and treated my people cruelly. (Haydock) — In Hebrew four verbs have improperly i for v; but [in] chap. li. 34., v supplants i five times. (Kennicott)

Jeremiah 50:12

Dust, like a suppliant, Isaias xlvii. 1. (Calmet) — Dry. The country shall be equally unfruitful. The waters of the Euphrates being let off, gave a passage to the enemy, ver. 9. (Haydock) — Babylon soon lost its splendour. (Calmet) — Vologeses completed its ruin. (Pliny, [Natural History?] vi. 26.) — It ceased to be the metropolis or mother city. (Haydock) — The whole country was laid waste. (Worthington)

Jeremiah 50:15

Hand, to form leagues; or she faints, (Septuagint) and submits, Lamentations v. 6.

Jeremiah 50:16

Harvest. Such were usually unmolested. (Calmet) — Babylon was so large, that people sowed corn within the walls. (Curtius v.) — The environs were well cultivated. (Pliny, [Natural History?] xviii. 17.) — Dove, or the destroyer; for the Hebrew word signifies either the one or the other. (Challoner) (Chap. xxv. 38., and xlvi. 16.) — Literally, “from before the sword of the dove.” The power of Babylon is no more. (Haydock) — The king is compared to a dove, for his swiftness; or God is meek, though terrible. (Worthington) — Land. The other nations were set free as well as the Jews. (Calmet)

Jeremiah 50:17

Bones. He completely ruined the nation, which the Assyrians had left. (Haydock) — They led the ten tribes away, and the Chaldeans took the rest, 4 Kings xviii., and xxv. (Worthington)

Jeremiah 50:18

Assyria. This monarchy was subdued by Nabopolasser.

Jeremiah 50:19

Israel; the ten tribes, whose country is specified.

Jeremiah 50:20

None. Idolatry shall not be re-established.

Jeremiah 50:21

Rulers: the most potent empire of Babylon. — All. Hebrew, “anathematize them and their posterity.”

Jeremiah 50:23

Hammer. The violent injustice of the Chaldeans is thus entitled.

Jeremiah 50:24

Aware. Men seemed to rise out of the earth, ver. 9.

Jeremiah 50:25

Armoury. Fire and war are the Lord’s weapons, Job xxxviii. 22. — Work: punishment, chap. xlviii. 10.

Jeremiah 50:26

That. Hebrew, “her granaries; trample on her as on heaps of corn, destroy,” &c. He alludes to the custom of oxen trampling out the corn, chap. li. 33.

Jeremiah 50:28

Voice. I hear the captives proclaiming this at their return.

Jeremiah 50:30

Peace, in the grave; (Calmet) or shall submit quietly, 1 Machabees i. 3. (Haydock)

Jeremiah 50:31

Proud. So the Chaldeans are often styled in the Psalms. (Calmet) — The prophet addresses Nabuchodonosor, or rather Baltassar, (Menochius) under whom the city was taken, (Josephus, &c.) by Darius and Cyrus. He may be the Nabonides of Berosus, the question is so much perplexed. Yet “we are convinced that Darius reigned at Babylon before Cyrus, and took the city after the death of Baltassar.” (Calmet) — Most commentators are of a difficult opinion. (Haydock)

Jeremiah 50:33

Israel. Samaria had been destroyed forty-four years before the fourth of Joakim, from which period many of Juda had been captives seventy years, till Cyrus became their deliverer, and chastised the Chaldeans. (Calmet) — Both kingdoms had been oppressed by a strong hand, till a stronger, even God himself, delivered them. (Worthington)

Jeremiah 50:34

Name. He gives victory to Cyrus. Thus the Lord directs all for the sake of his elect, and laughs at the vain projects of men. (Calmet)

Jeremiah 50:35

Wise men. They were styled Chaldeans, and inhabited a certain part of the city, being employed in astronomical and mathematical observations. They disapproved of those who cast nativities. (Strabo xvi.)

Jeremiah 50:36

Diviners. Hebrew, “impostors.” They were nowhere more plentiful, Daniel i. 20. Fortune-tellers were consulted on every occasion. The eastern nations are still much addicted to this superstition.

Jeremiah 50:38

Drought. Cyrus almost drained the Euphrates, chap. li. 42., and Isaias xxi. — Things, fit to terrify children, Baruch vi. 14. (Calmet) — Protestants, “they are made upon their idols.” (Haydock)

Jeremiah 50:39

CHAPTER L.

Fig-fauns. Monsters of the desert, or demons in monstrous shapes; such as the ancients called fauns and satyrs: and as they imagined them to live upon wild figs, they called them fauni-ficarii, or fig-fauns. (Challoner) — Maldonat reads sicariis, “ruffians.” Sixtus V and St. Jerome, (in Isaias xiii. 21.) have fatuis, “foolish wild men.” Hebrew, “the Tsiim iwth the iim shall dwell there, and the daughters of the Yahana (Haydock; swans) shall there reside,” or " fishermen among the rushes shall dwell," &c. — Ever. Its situation is unknown. There is still a town of the same name, but not in the same place.

Jeremiah 50:42

Cruel. The Medes will not spare for money, ver. 3., and Isaias xiii. 7.

Jeremiah 50:43

King. Baltassar, (though he was succeeded by Darius) or Nabonides, ver. 31. (Calmet)

Jeremiah 50:44

And beautiful. Hebrew, “habitation.” (Haydock) — He will rush into the fold, chap. xlix. 19. (Calmet) — The king of Babylon had ruined many. Others shall destroy him, rushing on like the Jordan. (Worthington)