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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 51:1-58

The particulars of this copious prophecy are dispersed and interwoven, and the same things left and returned to so often that it could not well be divided into parts, but we must endeavor to collect them under their proper heads. Let us then observe here, I. An acknowledgment of the great pomp and power that Babylon had been in and the use that God in his providence had made of it (Jer. 51:7): Babylon hath been a golden cup, a rich and glorious empire, a golden city (Isa. 14:4), a head of gold... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 51:59-64

We have been long attending the judgment of Babylon in this and the foregoing chapter; now here we have the conclusion of that whole matter. 1. A copy is taken of this prophecy, it should seem by Jeremiah himself, for Baruch his scribe is not mentioned here (Jer. 51:60): Jeremiah wrote in a book all these words that are here written against Babylon. He received this notice that he might give it to all whom it might concern. It is of great advantage both to the propagating and to the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 51:27

Set ye up a standard in the land ,.... Not in Chaldea, but rather in any land; or in all the countries which belonged to Media and Persia; where Cyrus's standard is ordered to be set up, to gather soldiers together, and enlist in his service, in order to go with him in his expedition against Babylon: blow the trumpet among the nations ; for the same purpose, to call them to arms, to join the forces of Cyrus, and go with him into the land of Chaldea: prepare the nations against her :... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 51:28

Prepare against her the nations, with the kings of the Medes ,.... At the head of them, Darius and Cyrus. The Syriac version has it in the singular number, the king of the Modes: the captains thereof, and all the rulers thereof, and all the land of his dominions ; that is, the inhabitants of it, the common people, with their princes, nobles, governors, as captains of them, under Cyrus, their generalissimo. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 51:29

And the land shall tremble and sorrow ,.... The land of Chaldea, the inhabitants of it, should tremble, when they heard of this powerful army invading their land, and besieging their metropolis; and should sorrow, and be in pain as a woman in travail, as the word F6 ותחל "et parturiet", Schmidt. So Ben Melech. signifies: for every purpose of the Lord shall be performed against Babylon ; or, "shall stand" F7 קמה "stabit, vel stant", Schmidt. ; be certainly fulfilled; for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 51:30

The mighty men of Babylon have forborne to fight ,.... Or, "ceased from fighting" F8 חדלו להלחם "cessaverunt a praelio", V. L. "desinent pugnare", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "cessarunt pugnare", Schmidt. So Pagninus, Montanus. for it seems, upon Cyrus's first coming, the king of Babylon and his army gave him battle; but being overthrown, they retired to the city F9 Xenophon, Cyropaedia, l. 5. c. 19. Herodot. l. 1. sive Clio. c. 190. , and dared never fight more: ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 51:31

One post shall run to meet another, and one messenger to meet another ,.... That is, one post should be after another, and one messenger after another, post upon post, and messenger upon messenger, as fast as they could run; when one had been with his message, and delivered it, and returned, he meets another; or they met one another, coming from different places: to show the king of Babylon his city is taken at one end ; or, "at the end" F12 מקצה "a fine", Montanus; "ab... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 51:32

And that the passages are stopped ,.... Or "taken", or "seized" F15 נתפשו "praeoccupata", V. L. "comprehensa", Montanus; "occupati", Tigurine version, Schmidt. ; where Cyrus placed soldiers to keep them; these were the passages leading from the river Euphrates to the city, the keys of it; the little gates, that Herodotus F16 L. 1. sive Clio, c. 191. speaks of, leading to the river, which were left open that night. Kimchi thinks the towers built by the river side, to keep the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 51:33

For thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel ,.... "The Lord of hosts", the Lord God omnipotent, and can do all things; "the God of Israel", and therefore will plead their cause, and take vengeance on Babylon: the daughter of Babylon is like a threshing floor ; on which the nations of the earth had been threshed, or punished and destroyed; and now she was like a threshing floor, unto which should be gathered, and on which should be laid, her king, princes, and the people of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 51:34

Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon hath devoured me ,.... Or "us" F23 The "Cetib", or textual reading, is "us"; but the "Keri", or marginal reading, is "me", which our version follows, and so the same in the four following words, in the text. ; everyone of us: these are the words of Zion and Jerusalem, as appears from Jeremiah 51:35 ; complaining of the injuries done them by the king of Babylon, who had eaten them up; spoiled their substance, as the Targum; took their cities,... read more

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