A sound of a cry cometh from Babylon ,.... Of the inhabitants of it upon its being taken; which is said to denote the certainty of it, which was as sure as if the cry of the distressed was then heard: and great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans ; that is, the report of a great destruction there, was, or would be, carried from thence, and spread all over the world. read more
Verse 54 Jeremiah in a manner exults over Babylon, in order that the faithful, having had all obstacles removed or surmounted, might feel assured that what the Prophet had predicted of the fall of Babylon would be confirmed, he then brings them to the very scene itself, when he says, that there would be the voice of a cry from Babylon, and that there would be great breaking or distress from the land of the Chaldeams We, at the same time, may render שבר, shober, here “crashing,” so that it may... read more
Conclusion of the prophecy. read more
The book cast into the river. I. MEN DO NOT SUFFER FOR THEIR SINS WITHOUT WARNING FROM GOD . Seraiah was to go to Babylon and see that he read there the words of the prophecy concerning the city. God has warned us of the doom of sin, and he has sent the warning to us. We have not to search for it. It sounds in our ears. It is written large in the Bible. It is repeated in the lessons of providence. II. IF A DIVINE WARNING IS DISREGARDED IT IS USELESS... read more
A cry - i. e., the war-cry. read more
Response to Babylon’s overthrow (51:34-58)Jeremiah recalls the desperate prayers of the people of Judah who often complained to God about Babylon’s unrestrained greed and cruelty. They cried to God that he would hold Babylon responsible for the violence they suffered, and now God is about to answer their prayers (34-35).God will defend the cause of his people and punish Babylon by destroying it. The nation will be conquered and the city will be left a heap of ruins (36-37). The Babylonians, who... read more
"The sound of a cry from Babylon, and of great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans! For Jehovah layeth Babylon waste, and destroyeth out of her the great voice; and their waves roar like many waters; the noise of their voice is uttered: for the destroyer is come upon her, even upon Babylon, and her mighty men are taken, their bows are broken in pieces; for Jehovah is a God of recompenses, he will surely requite. And I will make drunk her princes and her wise men, her governors and her... read more
When the Lord destroys the land of the Chaldeans, there will be loud cries of anguish that will replace the loud noise of her hustle and bustle. These cries would resemble the sound of the waves of the sea. read more
15. The justice of Babylon’s judgment 51:54-58It was righteous and just for Yahweh to judge Babylon. The repetition of terms from Jeremiah 50:2-3; Jeremiah 50:46 forms an inclusio (bookends) that frames the entire oracle against Babylon. [Note: Smothers, p. 372.] 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