Thus the slain shall fall in the land of the Chaldeans ,.... By the sword, or by the arrows and darts of the Medes and Persians: and they that are thrust through in her streets ; either by the one or by the other, especially the latter, since they only are mentioned; See Gill on Jeremiah 50:30 . read more
Verse 4 HE proceeds with what we began yesterday to explain, — that the time was nigh when God would take vengeance on the Babylonians. As, then, this could not be without great destruction in a city so very populous, and as it could not be overthrown except calamity extended itself through the whole country, hence, he says, that though Babylon should prepare great and powerful armies, it would yet be in vain, because they shall fall, he says, wounded everywhere in the land; and then he adds,... read more
In her streets; i.e. in the streets of Babylon. read more
Translate it: “And they,” i. e., the young men who form her host Jeremiah 51:3, “shall fall slain in the land of the Chaldaeans, and pierced through in her streets,” i. e., the streets of Babylon. read more
Jeremiah 51:3-5. Against him that bendeth let the archer bend See Jeremiah 50:14; and against him, that lifteth up himself in his brigandine Or, coat of mail: suffer not them who are skilful in using the bow, or armed in coats of mail, to avail themselves any thing of their skill or their armour, but oppose them with superior skill and force. Thus the slain shall fall in the land of the Chaldeans There seems to be a transposition of words in this sentence, the sense certainly being, ... read more
The overthrow of Babylon (51:1-33)When a farmer, after reaping his harvest, winnows the wheat, he throws it into the air so that as the wind blows away the chaff, he can gather the grain for himself. Similarly, when God ‘winnows’ Babylon he will make a separation between the Babylonians and his own people. He will ‘blow away’ the former in judgment, but will preserve the latter for himself (51:1-5).God had used Babylon to punish other nations, but now Babylon itself will suffer God’s wrath. It... read more
Jeremiah 51:4. Thus the slain shall fall— Let the wounded fall in the land of the Chaldeans. Houbigant. Dr. Kennicott would render it, Thus the soldiers shall fall; which seems to agree well with the 13th verse of the preceding chapter. read more
4. (See on :-; Jeremiah 51:5; Jeremiah 51:5- :). read more
8. The certainty of Babylon’s judgment 51:1-14The next prophecies assure the judgment of Babylon. read more
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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