Jeremiah 50:1--51:64
Babylon <0894> [A.M. 3409. B.C. 595. against Babylon.]
land <0776> [the land.]
Jeremiah <03414> [Jeremiah. Heb. the hand of Jeremiah]
Announce <05046> [Declare.]
it <05375> [set up. Heb. lift up.]
Babylon <0894> [Babylon.]
Bel <01078> [Bel.]
Marduk <04781> [Merodach.]
idols <06091> [her idols.]
Xerxes, after his return from his unsuccessful expedition into Greece, partly out of religious zeal, being a professed enemy to image worship, and partly to reimburse himself after his immense expenses, seized the sacred treasures, and plundered or destroyed the temples and idols of Babylon, thereby accomplishing the prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah. (Isa 21:9; 46:1. Jer 50:2; 51:44, 47, 52.) What God declares, "I will punish Bel in Babylon, and I will bring forth that which he has swallowed," was also literally fulfilled, when the vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought from Jerusalem and placed in the temple of Bel, Da 1:2, were restored by order of Cyrus, Ezr 1:7, and again carried to Jerusalem. Bp. Newton, Dis. X.
north <06828> [out of the.]
The Medes, who formed the greatest part of the army of Cyrus. Media lay N.E. of Babylon.
lay <07896> [which.]
People <0120> [both.]
When <03117> [those.]
people of Israel <01121 03478> [the children of Israel.]
come back ..... repentance <01980> [going.]
seek <01245 03068> [seek the.]
ask <07592> [ask.]
come <0935> [Come.]
lasting <05769> [in a.]
forgotten <07911> [that shall.]
people <05971> [people.]
shepherds <07462> [their shepherds.]
mountains ....... mountain <02022> [on the.]
forgotten <07911> [have forgotten.]
resting place <07258> [resting place. Heb. place to lie down in.]
devoured <0398> [have devoured.]
liable <0816> [We offend.]
pasture <05116> [the habitation.]
trusted <04723> [the hope.]
of <08432> [out of the midst.]
male goats <06260> [he goats.]
rouse <05782> [I will raise.]
host <06951> [an assembly.]
The army of Cyrus was composed of Medes, Persians, Armenians, Caducians, Sac‘, etc.; all of which, arranged under the Medes, came from the north.
lines <06186> [they shall.]
who <07919> [expert man. or, destroyer. none.]
Babylonia <03778> [Chaldea.]
plundered <07997> [all that.]
happy <08055> [ye were.]
plundered <08154> [ye destroyers.]
frolic <06335> [ye are.]
frolic <06335> [fat. Heb. big. or, corpulent.]
neighs .... stallion <047 06670> [bellow as bulls. or, neigh as steeds.]
Babylonia <0517> [mother.]
<0319> [the hindermost.]
barren <04057> [a wilderness.]
vent my wrath <07110> [Because.]
pass by <05674> [every.]
positions <06186> [in array.]
soldiers <01869> [bend.]
sinned <02398> [for she.]
Shout <07321> [Shout.]
will ............................... Do ....... done <05414 06213> [she hath.]
towers <0803> [her foundations.]
revenge <05360> [for it.]
Do ....... done <06213> [as she.]
sow <02232> [the sower.]
sickle <04038> [sickle. or, scythe. they shall turn every one.]
scattered <06340> [a scattered.]
lions <0738> [the lions.]
First <07223> [first.]
Nebuchadnezzar <05019> [this.]
punish ............ punished <06485> [as I.]
But .... restore <07725> [bring.]
graze <07462> [he shall.]
<05315> [his soul.]
hills <02022> [mount.]
Gilead <01568> [Gilead.]
When <03117> [In those.]
guilt <05771> [the iniquity.]
sin <02403> [and there.]
forgive <05545> [I will pardon.]
<05927> [up.]
Merathaim <04850> [Merathaim. or, the rebels. Pekod. or, visitation.]
Do <06213> [and do.]
set a trap <03369> [snare.]
knew <03045> [and thou wast.]
fought <01624> [because.]
opened <06605> [opened.]
work <04399> [this.]
far away <07093> [against.]
far away <07093> [the utmost. Heb. the end. open.]
Pile ... up <05549> [cast her up. or, tread her.]
Destroy <02763> [destroy.]
soldiers <06499> [bullocks.]
day <03117> [their day.]
Listen <06963> [voice.]
declare <05046> [to declare.]
revenge ... revenge ......... temple <05360 01964> [vengeance of his.]
archers <07228> [the archers.]
Pay <07999> [recompense.]
proudly <02102> [for she hath.]
young men <0970> [Therefore.]
Gobrias and Gadates, when they entered Babylon, marched directly to the palace, killing all they met.
young men <0970> [her young.]
<0582> [all her.]
proud <02087> [I am.]
proud <02087> [O thou.]
proud <02087> [most proud. Heb. pride. for.]
proud <02087> [the most proud. Heb. pride.]
get up <06965> [none.]
set <03341> [kindle.]
captive <07617> [and all.]
refuse <03985> [they refused.]
one who will rescue <01350> [Redeemer.]
strongly champion <07378> [plead.]
rest <07280> [that he.]
Destructive <02719> [sword.]
leaders <08269> [upon her princes.]
wisdom <02450> [her wise men.]
false prophets <0907> [upon the liars. or, upon the chief stays. Heb. bars.]
fools <02973> [dote.]
soldiers <01368> [her mighty.]
horses <05483> [their horses.]
<06153> [all the.]
women <0802> [as women.]
treasures <0214> [her treasures.]
drought <02721> [A drought.]
land <0776> [the land.]
<01984> [mad.]
armed with <02388> [hold.]
cruel <0394> [they are cruel.]
sound <06963> [their voice.]
ride forth <07392> [shall ride.]
king <04428> [king.]
agony <02427> [pangs.]
lion <0738> [like a lion.]
<0977> [who is a.]
call ... to account <03259> [for who.]
call ... to account <03259> [appoint me the time. or, convent me to plead. who is that.]
listen <08085> [hear.]
little ones <06810> [the least.]
land <05116> [surely he.]
We have already adverted to the completion of the prophecies respecting the final destruction of Babylon, (on Isa 13:18,) and shall only add a few more observations, in order to shew more clearly the full accomplishment of some of these predictions. Strabo says that in his time (about the Christian era) a great part of it was a desert. Jerome says that in his time (cir. A.D. 340) it was quite in ruins, the walls merely serving for an inclosure for wild beasts, for the hunting of the kings of Parthia: and modern travellers universally concur in describing it in a state of utter desolation, and the habitation of wild beasts and noxious reptiles.
blow <05782> [I will.]
<03820> [midst. Heb. heart. rise.]
destructive wind <07307 07843> [a destroying wind.]
people <02114> [fanners.]
time <03117> [in the day.]
string <01869> [let the.]
coats of armor <05630> [brigandine.]
spare <02550> [spare.]
destroy <02763> [destroy.]
wounded <01856> [thrust.]
Israel ............................... Israel <03478> [Israel.]
Judah <03063> [nor.]
land <0776> [though.]
Get out <05127> [Flee.]
killed <01826> [be not.]
time <06256> [for this.]
pay ... back <07999> [he will render.]
gold <02091> [a golden.]
nations ........... they <01471> [the nations.]
gone mad <01984> [are mad.]
suddenly <06597> [suddenly.]
Cry out in mourning <03213> [howl.]
Get medicine <06875 03947> [take balm.]
but ........ leave <05800> [forsake.]
judgment .................... stacked <04941> [her judgment.]
exiles from <03318> [brought.]
proclaim <05608> [let us.]
Sharpen <01305> [Make.]
Sharpen <01305> [bright. Heb. pure. the Lord hath.]
spirit <07307> [the spirit.]
Of Cyaxares king of Media, called "Darius the Mede" in scripture; and of Cyrus his nephew, king of persia, presumptive heir of the throne of his uncle.
intends <04209> [his device.]
revenge ....... revenge <05360> [the vengeance.]
signal ... attack <05251> [the standard.]
ambush <0693> [ambushes. Heb. liers in wait.]
Lord ....... planned <03068 02161> [the Lord hath both.]
live <07931> [dwellest.]
Babylon <07227> [abundant.]
end <07093> [thine.]
<0520> [and the.]
sworn <07650> [sworn.]
sworn <05315> [himself. Heb. his soul. as with.]
swarm <06030> [lift up. Heb. utter.]
He ......... made <06213> [hath made.]
wisdom <02451> [by his wisdom.]
spread <05186> [and hath.]
thunders <05414> [he uttereth.]
roar <01995> [there is.]
roar <01995> [multitude. or, noise. and he causeth.]
unleashes <03318> [bringeth.]
idolaters .......... goldsmith <0120 06884> [Every.]
stupid and ignorant <01847 01197> [brutish by his knowledge. or, more brutish than to know. for his.]
worthless <01892> [vanity.]
time <06256> [in the.]
portion <02506> [portion.]
created <03335> [the former.]
people <07626> [the rod.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
war club <04661> [art.]
smash ....... destroy <05310 07843> [with thee. or, in thee, or, by thee. break.]
destructive <04889> [I am.]
destructive <04889> [O destroying.]
destroys <07843> [which destroyest.]
make <05414> [and will.]
use <03947> [shall not.]
desolate forever <05769 08077> [desolate for ever. Heb. everlasting desolations.]
Raise up <05375> [ye up.]
Prepare <06942> [prepare.]
Ararat <0780> [Ararat.]
Bochart reasonably concludes Ararat and Minni to be the greater and lesser Armenia; and Ashchenaz he thinks formed part of Phrygia near the Hellespont, part of that country being called Ascania by Homer. Cyrus had conquered Armenia, defeated Croesus king of Lydia, (B.C. 548,) and subdued several nations from the Egean sea to the Euphrates, before he marched against Babylon; and Xenophon also informs us that there were not only Armenians, but both Phrygians and Cappadocians in the army of Cyrus.
Ashkenaz <0813> [Ashchenaz.]
[Ashkenaz.]
horses <05483> [cause.]
After Cyrus had been the instrument in the hands of God of taking Babylon, he marched against Tomyris, queen of the Massaget‘, a Scythian nation, and was totally defeated, (B.C. 530.) The victorious queen, who had lost her son in a previous battle, was so incensed against Cyrus, that she cut off his head, and threw it into a vessel filled with human blood, exclaiming, "Sattia te sanguine, quem sitisti."
kings <04428> [the kings.]
[Madia.]
earth ..................... land <0776> [the land.]
plans <04284> [every.]
soldiers <01368> [The mighty.]
Accordingly, the Babylonians, after the loss of a battle or two, never recovered their courage to the face the enemy in the field, they retired within their walls; and the first time that Cyrus came with his army before the place he could not provoke them to venture forth, though he challenged the king to fight a duel with him; and the last time he came he consulted with his officers respecting the best mode of carrying on the siege "since," said he, "they do not come out to fight."
gates <01280> [her bars.]
runner ... another .......... messenger <07323> [post.]
bringing news .... bring news <05046> [to shew.]
fords <04569> [the passages.]
<0582> [the men.]
threshing floor <01637> [is like.]
time ......... harvested <06256 01869> [it is time to thresh her. or, in the time that he thresheth her. the time.]
King <04428> [the king.]
drove .... out <03322> [he hath made.]
swallowed <01104> [swallowed.]
violence <02555> [The violence. Heb. My violence.]
relatives <07607> [flesh. or, remainder. inhabitant. Heb. inhabitress.]
stand up <07378> [I will plead. See on ch.]
pay .... back <05358> [take.]
dry up <02717> [and I will.]
heap <01530> [become.]
hissing <08322> [an hissing.]
roaring <07580> [roar.]
growling <05286> [yell. or, shake themselves.]
appetites <02527> [their heat.]
<03462> [and sleep.]
Babylon <08347> [Sheshach.]
Sheshach was probably an idol worshipped at Babylon, from which the city derived this name; and the festival which was held when the city was taken, when they were heated with wine, was perhaps observed in honour of it.
pride <08416> [the praise.]
object of horror <08047> [an astonishment.]
towns <05892> [cities.]
<0776> [a land.]
punish <06485> [I will punish.]
spit out <03318> [I will bring.]
nations <01471> [the nations.]
walls <02346> [the wall.]
out <03318> [go.]
save <04422> [deliver.]
courage <03824> [lest. or, let not.]
reports .......... report ... come ...... report <08052 0935> [a rumour shall.]
ruler .... ruler <04910> [ruler against.]
punish <06485> [I will.]
punish ... idols <06485 06456> [do judgment upon. Heb. visit upon.]
land <0776> [her whole.]
heaven <08064> [the heaven.]
destroyers <07703> [the spoilers.]
Babylon ........... just as ......... Babylon <01571 0894> [As Babylon, etc. or, Both Babylon is to fall, O ye slain of]
Israel and with Babylon shall fall the slain of all the country. hath.
<06405> [escaped.]
Remember <02142> [remember.]
Jerusalem <03389> [Jerusalem.]
ashamed <0954> [are confounded.]
disgrace <03639> [shame.]
foreigners <02114> [for strangers.]
punish <06485> [that I.]
idols <06456> [her graven images.]
This was verified when Xerxes destroyed all the temples of Babylon, B.C. 479.
mortally wounded <02491> [the wounded.]
climbs <05927> [mount.]
destroyers <07703> [from.]
put an end <06> [destroyed.]
waves <01530> [her waves.]
destroyer <07703> [the spoiler.]
warriors <01368> [her mighty.]
bows <07198> [every.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
drunk <07937> [I will.]
asleep forever <08142 03462 05769> [sleep a.]
King <04428> [the king.]
Babylon's thick wall <07342 02346 0894> [The broad walls of Babylon. or, The walls of broad Babylon.]
According to the testimony of Herodotus, the circumference of the walls of Babylon was 480 stadia, or 60 miles, their breadth 50 cubits, and their height 200 cubits; but when Darius became master of the place, B.C. 516, he took away all their 100 gates of brass, and beat down their walls to 50 cubits; and now not a vestige of these immense fortifications remains, to mark the site of this once mighty city!
completely demolished <06209> [broken. or, made naked. high gates.]
peoples <05971> [the people.]
Neriah <05374> [Neriah.]
Zedekiah <06667> [with. or, on the behalf of. quiet prince. or, prince of]
Menucha, or chief chamberlain.
make sure <07200> [and shalt see.]
read <07121> [read.]
destroy <03772> [to cut.]
[desolation. Heb. desolations.]
tie <07194> [thou shalt bind.]
This was the emblem of its overthrow and irretrievable ruin; and the same emblem is employed in Re 18:21, to denote the utter ruin of mystical Babylon.
Babylon <0894> [Thus shall.]
prophecies <03286> [they shall.]
<01697> [Thus far.]
