Jeremiah 46:1-28

Against Egypt

1. Against the Gentiles] RV ’concerning the nations ’around.

2. Carchemish] see Intro, and 2 Chronicles 35:20-24 also on Jeremiah 47:1.

3-6. A lively description of the preparation and advance, followed by the defeat at Carchemish.

4. Brigandines] RV ’coats of mail.’

5. Seen them dismayed] RV ’seen it? They are dismayed.’

7. A flood] RV ’the Nile,’their own sacred river in its annual overflow. So in Jeremiah 46:8.

9. The Ethiopians, etc.] mercenary troops forming the chief part of the Egyptian armies.

10. A day of vengeance] on the Egyptians. They are to be the sacrifice, because of their treachery to Judah.

11. The medical science of Egypt was in high repute.

12. The land] RV ’the earth.’

13. The second part of the prophecy con-corning Egypt suggests by its tone a more intimate acquaintance, and is probably to be ascribed to the time of the prophet’s residence in that country.

14. See on Jeremiah 44:1 and Jeremiah 2:10.

16. They said] the mercenaries: see on Jeremiah 2:9.

17. The time appointed] the period of grace is over.

18. Omit the second is. The v. means that Nebuchadnezzar shall resemble Tabor and Carmel, standing out conspicuous as compared with neighbouring rulers.

20. Is like] RV ’is.’This probably is an allusion to the sacred bull Apis, worshipped at Memphis. Destruction] RM ’the gadfly.’ The north] i.e. Chaldea.

22. Like a serpent] rustling as it escapes through the thick underwood. Such shall be the sound of Egypt as it flees away.

23. Her forest] her beauty: cp. Jeremiah 21:14.

Grasshoppers] RV ’locusts.’

25. The multitude of No] RV ’Amon of No,’i.e. the god worshipped there. No] i.e. Thebes in Upper Egypt.