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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 50:1-8

I. Here is a word spoken against Babylon by him whose works all agree with his word and none of whose words fall to the ground. The king of Babylon had been very kind of Jeremiah, and yet he must foretel the ruin of that kingdom; for God's prophets must not be governed by favour or affection. Whoever are our friends, if, notwithstanding, they are God's enemies, we dare not speak peace to them. 1. The destruction of Babylon is here spoken of as a thing done, Jer. 50:2. let it be published to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 50:1

The word that the Lord spake against Babylon ,.... Or "to", of "of Babylon" F3 אל בבל "ad Babel", Montanus; "de Babylone", V. L. "de Babel", Cocceius. ; the city of Babylon, the metropolis of the Chaldean empire; sometimes it signifies the whole country, here the city only, as appears by what follows: and against the land of the Chaldeans ; whither the Jews were carried captive, for whose comfort this prophecy is delivered out; and which had subdued other nations, and was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 50:2

Declare ye among the nations ,.... The taking of Babylon; a piece of news, in which the nations of the world had a concern, as well as the Jews, being brought under the Babylonish yoke, from which they would now be freed; and therefore such a declaration must be very acceptable and joyful to them. Some take these words to be the words of God to the prophet; others, the words of Jeremiah to the nations; the meaning is only, that such a declaration should be made, and such things done, as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 50:3

For out of the north there cometh up a nation against her ,.... The Medes and Persians, which under Cyrus were one nation; and which not only lay north of Judea, where this prophecy came, but of Babylon, against which they were to come; and might lay more north to it, before the enlargement of their dominions; and besides, Cyrus came through Assyria to Babylon, which lay north of it; see Isaiah 41:25 . Thus, as Rome Pagan was sacked and taken by the Goths and Vandals, that came out of the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 50:1

The Word that the Lord Spake Against Babylon - This is also a new head of discourse. The prophecy contained in this and the following chapter was sent to the captives in Babylon in the fourth year of the reign of Zedekiah. They are very important; they predict the total destruction of the Babylonish empire, and the return of the Jews from their captivity. These chapters were probably composed, with several additions, out of the book that was then sent by Jeremiah to the captives by the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 50:2

Declare ye among the nations - God's determination relative to this empire. Set up a standard - Show the people where they are to assemble. Say, Babylon is taken - It is a thing so firmly determined, that it is as good as already done. Bel - The tutelar deity of Babylon is confounded, because it cannot save its own city. Merodach - Another of their idols, is broken to pieces; it was not able to save itself, much less the whole empire. Her idols are confounded - It is a... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 50:3

Out of the north there cometh up a nation - The Medes, who formed the chief part of the army of Cyrus, lay to the north or north-east of Babylon. Shall make her land desolate - This war, and the consequent taking of the city, began those disasters that brought Babylon in process of time to complete desolation; so that now it is not known where it stood, the whole country being a total solitude. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 50:1

Verse 1 Our Prophet has been hitherto speaking of neighboring nations who had cruelly harassed the chosen people; and it was some consolation when the children of Abraham understood that God undertook their cause and would be the avenger of those wrongs which they had suffered. But this of itself would have been no great consolation, yea, it might have been viewed as nothing by many, while there was no hope of restoration; for it would have been but a small consolation to have others as... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 50:2

Verse 2 He predicts the ruin of Babylon, not in simple words, for nothing seemed then more unreasonable than to announce the things which God at length proved by the effect. As Babylon was then the metropolis of the East, no one could have thought that it would ever be possessed by a foreign power. No one could have thought of the Persians, for they were far off. As to the Medes, who were nearer, they were, as we know, sunk in their own luxuries, and were deemed but half men. As then there was... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 50:3

Verse 3 Let what I have before said be borne in mind, that the Prophet makes use of many words in describing the ruin of Babylon; for it was not enough to predict what was to be; but as weak minds vacillated, it was necessary to add a confirmation. After having then spoken of the power of Babylon and its idols, he now points out the way in which it was to be destroyed — a nation would come from the north, that is, with reference to Chaldea. And he means the Medes and Persians, as interpreters... read more

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