Jeremiah 46:20-28

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 46:12-28

In these verses we have, I. Confusion and terror spoken to Egypt. The accomplishment of the prediction in the former part of the chapter disabled the Egyptians from making any attempts upon other nations; for what could they do when their army was routed? But still they remained strong at home, and none of their neighbours durst make any attempts upon them. Though the kings of Egypt came no more out of their land (2 Kgs. 24:7), yet they kept safe and easy in their land; and what would they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 46:20

Egypt is like a very fair heifer ,.... Like a heifer that has never been under a yoke, it having never been conquered, and brought under the power of another; and like a beautiful, fat, and well fed one, abounding in wealth and riches, in pleasures and delights, in wantonness and luxury, and fit for slaughter, and ready for it. The Targum is, "Egypt was a beautiful kingdom.' Some think there is an illusion to the gods of Egypt, Apis and Mnevis, which were heifers or oxen, very... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 46:21

All her hired men are in the midst of her like fatted bullocks ,.... Or, "bullocks of the stall" F11 כעגלי מרבק "velut vituli saginae", Montanus, Cocceius, ; soldiers of other countries, that were hired into the service of Egypt, and lived so deliciously there, that they were unfit for war, and were like fatted beasts prepared for the slaughter. The Targum and Jarchi interpret it, her princes F12 So R. Sol. Urbin. Ohel Moed, fol. 50. 2. ; who had the care of this heifer,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 46:22

The voice thereof shall go like a serpent ,.... That is, the voice of Egypt, before compared to a heifer, when in its glory; but now it shall not bellow like a heifer in fat pasture, bat hiss like a serpent, when drove out of its hole, and pursued; signifying, that their voice should be low and submissive, and should not speak one big or murmuring word to their conquerors. The voice of the serpent is, by Aristotle F13 Hist. Animal. l. 4. c. 9. said to be small and weak; so Aelianus ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 46:23

They shall cut down her forest, saith the Lord ,.... The land of Egypt, compared to a forest, for the multitude of its cities and towns, and the inhabitants of them; which should be destroyed by the Chaldeans, as a forest is cut down by hewers of wood; the metaphor is here continued. The Targum interprets this of the princes of Egypt, and the destruction of them; though it cannot be searched ; either the forest of Egypt, which was so thick of trees; that is, the land was so full of towns... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 46:24

The daughter of Egypt shall be confounded ,.... Brought to shame before all the nations of the earth, being conquered by the Chaldeans; that is, the kingdom of Egypt, as the Targum; or the inhabitants of it, being subdued and carried captive: she shall be delivered into the hand of the people of the north ; the Chaldeans, who dwelt northward of Egypt, as is manifest from what follows. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 46:25

The Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saith ,.... These titles are often given to the Lord, and set before prophecies that come from him; and, according to Kimchi, the reason why he is here spoken of as the God of Israel was, because the vengeance threatened to the Egyptians should come upon them, as a punishment for using Israel ill; as Shishak king of Egypt, and Pharaohnecho, who slew Josiah: behold, I will punish the multitude of No ; the inhabitants of it, which were many, called... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 46:26

And I will deliver them into the hand of those that seek their lives ,.... Into the hands of the Chaldeans; that is, the king of Egypt, and all his people, and those that trusted in him: and into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of his servants ; his general officers, that commanded in his army under him. Berosus F19 Apud Joseph. Antiqu. l. 10. c. 11. sect. 1. & contra Apion, l. 1. c. 19. , the Chaldean, makes mention of Nebuchadnezzar's carrying... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 46:27

But fear thou not, O my servant Jacob; and be not dismayed, O Israel ,.... The same things are said in Jeremiah 30:10 ; See Gill on Jeremiah 30:10 ; for, behold, I will save thee from afar off, and thy seed from the land their captivity ; Grotius thinks the Jews carried into Egypt by Pharaohnecho, along with Jehoahaz, are meant; but it does not appear that any were carried captive along with him, 2 Kings 23:33 . Jarchi supposes these to be the righteous in Egypt, who were carried... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 46:28

Fear thou not, O Jacob, my servant, saith the Lord, for I am with thee ,.... Though afar off, in foreign lands, and in captivity: this exhortation is repeated, to strengthen their consolation, and them, against their fears of being cast off by the Lord: for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee ; the Babylonians and Chaldeans are no more: but I will not make a full end of thee ; the Jews to this day remain a people, and distinct from others, though... read more

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