Jeremiah 51:30-44

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

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 51:35

The violence done to me, and to my flesh, be upon Babylon ,.... That is, let the injuries done to Zion and her children, be avenged on Babylon; the hurt done to their persons and families, and the spoiling of their goods, and destruction of their cities, houses, and substance: shall the inhabitant of Zion say ; by way of imprecation: and my blood upon the inhabitants of Chaldea, shall Jerusalem say ; let the guilt of it be charged upon them, and punishment for it be inflicted on... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 51:36

Therefore thus saith the Lord ,.... In answer to the prayers of the inhabitants of Zion and Jerusalem, imprecating divine vengeance on Babylon: behold, I will plead thy cause, and take vengeance for thee ; not by words only, but by deeds, inflicting punishment on their enemies: and I will dry up her sea ; the confluence of waters about Babylon; the river Euphrates, the channel of which was drained by Cyrus, by which means he took the city; and this may figuratively design the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 51:37

And Babylon shall become heaps ,.... The houses should be demolished, and the stones lie in heaps one upon another, and become mere rubbish: a dwelling place for dragons ; and other wild and savage creatures. Dragons, as Aelianus F1 De Animal. l. 6. c. 63. observes, love to live in desert places, and such now Babylon is; it lies in ruins; and even its palace is so full of scorpions and serpents, as Benjamin of Tudela F2 Itinerarium, p. 76. says it was in his time, that men... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 51:38

They shall roar together like lions ,.... Some understand this of the Medes and Persians, and the shouts they made at the attacking and taking of Babylon; but this does not so well agree with that, which seems to have been done in a secret and silent manner; rather according to the context the Chaldeans are meant, who are represented as roaring, not through fear of the enemy, and distress by him; for such a roaring would not be fitly compared to the roaring of a lion; but either this is... read more

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

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

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

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

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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 51:35

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 51:36

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 51:37

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 51:38

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