2. Egypt’s defeat in Egypt 46:13-24Shortly after the battle of Carchemish, Nebuchadnezzar returned to Babylon for his coronation. His father Nabopolassar had died in August of 605 B.C. Almost immediately, Nebuchadnezzar returned to Palestine with his army to subdue Canaan. From there he moved southwest against Egypt, about 568-567 B.C. read more
The enemy would advance against Egypt as relentlessly as an army of lumberjacks with axes, but Egypt would only be able to hiss like a snake at the foe. The snake was important in Egyptian religion and was a symbol of Pharaoh and the nation. read more
The innumerable enemy soldiers would cut down all the trees to use in their warfare against the Egyptians. Their coming would resemble an invasion of locusts. read more
Against Egypt1. Against the Gentiles] RV ’concerning the nations ’around.2. Carchemish] see Intro, and 2 Chronicles 35:20-24 also on Jeremiah 47:1.3-6. A lively description of the preparation and advance, followed by the defeat at Carchemish. 4. Brigandines] RV ’coats of mail.’5. Seen them dismayed] RV ’seen it? They are dismayed.’7. A flood] RV ’the Nile,’their own sacred river in its annual overflow. So in Jeremiah 46:8.9. The Ethiopians, etc.] mercenary troops forming the chief part of the... read more
Prophecies Concerning the NationsThe custom of placing in a group, as here, prophecies against heathen nations is illustrated by Isaiah (Jeremiah 13-33), Ezekiel (Jeremiah 25-32), and Amos (Jeremiah 1, 2). For the position of the prophecies at the end of the book as compared with that which they hold in the LXX, see Intro, and on Jeremiah 25:11. We may divide them thus:—(a) Jeremiah 46-49 (mostly of the fourth year of Jehoiakim). This section contains prophe-oies concerning Egypt and five other... read more
(22) The voice thereof shall go like a serpent.—Better, her voice—i.e., the voice of Egypt. In early prophecies Egypt had been compared to a “dragon” or “serpent” (Isaiah 27:1; Isaiah 51:9; Psalms 74:13). Here the serpent is represented as hissing in its rage and terror in the forest against which the enemies are advancing. The sign then gives way to the thing signified, and the latter clause of the verse brings before us the hosts of the Chaldæan allies, barbarous tribes like the Scythians,... read more
CHAPTER XVIIEGYPTJeremiah 43:8-13, Jeremiah 44:30, Jeremiah 46:1-28"I will visit Amon of No, and Pharaoh, and Egypt, with their gods and their kings: even Pharaoh and all them that trust in him." Jeremiah 46:25THE kings of Egypt with whom Jeremiah was contemporary-Psammetichus II, Pharaoh Necho, and Pharaoh Hophra-belonged to the twenty-sixth dynasty. When growing distress at home compelled Assyria to loose her hold on her distant dependencies, Egypt still retained something of her former... read more
IV. THE PROPHECIES CONCERNING THE GENTILE NATIONS CHAPTER 46 Concerning Egypt 1. Prophecy about Pharaoh-Necho (Jeremiah 46:1-12 ) 2. Nebuchadnezzar’s invasion of Egypt (Jeremiah 46:13-26 ) 3. A message of comfort (Jeremiah 46:27-28 ) Jeremiah 46:1-5 . This Pharaoh made an attempt to invade the territory of the king of Babylon, but was defeated by Nebuchadrezzar in a battle on the river Euphrates at Carchemish. This prophecy was given about eighteen years before the fall of Jerusalem.... read more
46:22 Its voice shall go like a {s} serpent; for they shall march with an army, and come against {t} her with axes, as hewers of wood.(s) They will be scarcely able to speak for fear of the Chaldeans.(t) Meaning Egypt. read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Jeremiah 46:23
23. her forest— ( :-). though it cannot be searched—They cut down her forest, dense and unsearchable (Job 5:9; Job 9:10; Job 36:26) as it may seem: referring to the thickly set cities of Egypt, which were at that time a thousand and twenty. The Hebrew particle is properly, "for," "because." because—the reason why the Chaldeans shall be able to cut down so dense a forest of cities as Egypt: they themselves are countless in numbers. grasshoppers—locusts (Judges 6:5). read more