Jeremiah 51:1-27

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 51:1

Thus saith the Lord, behold, I will raise up against Babylon ,.... This is not a new prophecy, but a continuation of the former, and an enlargement of it. The Babylonians being the last and most notorious enemies of the Jews, their destruction is the longer dwelt upon; and as they were against the Lord's people the Lord was against them, and threatens to raise up instruments of his vengeance against them: and against them that dwell in the midst of them that rise up against me ; that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 51:2

And I will send unto Babylon farmers, that shall fan her, and shall empty her land ,.... Or, "strangers that shall fan her" F3 זרים "alienos", Cocceius; some in Vatablus; so Kimchi, Ben Melech, Abendana. ; meaning the Medes and Persians, who should be like a strong wind upon the mountains, where corn, having been threshed, was fanned, and the chaff carried away by the wind; and such would the Chaldeans be in the hand of the Persians, scattered and dispersed among the nations as chaff... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 51:3

Against him that bendeth let the archer bend his bow ,.... These are either the words of the Lord to the Medes and Persians, to the archers among them, to bend their bows and level their arrows against the Chaldeans, who had bent their bows and shot their arrows against others; or of the Medes and Persians stirring up one another to draw their bows, and fight manfully against the enemy: and against him that lifteth up himself in his brigandine ; or coat of mail; that swaggers about... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 51:4

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 51:5

For Israel hath not been forsaken, nor Judah of his God , of the Lord of hosts ,.... That is, not totally and finally; for though they might seem to be forsaken, when carried captive by their enemies, yet they were not in such sense as a woman is deprived of her husband when dead, and she is become a widow, as the word F4 אלמן "viduus, sive viduatus", Vatablus, Calvin, Montanus; "ut vidua", Pagninus; "orbus", Schmidt. used may signify; or when divorced from him; or as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 51:6

Flee out of the midst of Babylon ,.... This is said either to such as were there of other nations upon trade and business, as Kimchi, to get out of it as fast as they could, that they might not be consumed; or to the Israelites, as Jarchi, the Jews that were captives there. This is applied to the people of God in mystical Babylon, Revelation 18:4 ; and deliver every man his soul ; or "life"; from the destruction coming on the city, and the inhabitants of it; be not cut off in her... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 51:7

Babylon hath been a golden cup in the hand of the Lord ,.... Either so called from the liquor in it, being of a yellow colour, or pure as gold, as the Jewish commentators generally; or from the matter of it, being made of gold, denoting the grandeur, splendour, and riches of the Babylonian empire; which, for the same reason, is called the head of gold, Daniel 2:38 ; this was in the hand of the Lord, under his direction, and at his dispose; an instrument he make use of to dispense the cup... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 51:8

Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed ,.... Or "broken" F7 תשבר "confracta est", Schmidt; "fracta est", Cocceius; "contrita est", Piscator. ; even into shivers, as a cup is; for when it had been used to answer the purposes designed by the Lord, he let it fall cut of his hands at once, and it was broken; or rather he dashed it in pieces, as a potter's vessel. The destruction of Babylon was brought about in a very short time, considering the strength of it; and was unexpected by the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 51:9

We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed ,.... These are either the words of the friends of Babylon of her auxiliaries and allies, who did all they could to defend her against the Persians, but to no purpose; it was not in their power to help her; the time of her destruction was come, and there was no avoiding it; or of the prophets and good people of the Jews that were in Babylon, that took pains to convince, the inhabitants of Babylon of their idolatries and other sins, and... read more

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