Westminster Annotations, Jeremiah · Chapter 50
CHAP. L.
Vers. 1. AGainst] Or, concerning. as Chap. 49. 34.
Babylon] Isa. 13. & 14. & 21. & 46. & 47.
against] Or, concerning. as before.
by Jeremiah] Heb. by the hand of Jeremiah. Chap. 37. 2. Mal. 1. 1.
V. 2. set up] Heb. lift up.
a standard] As the manner is; either to gather companies together; or to give notice of some weighty occurrent, Chap. 4. 6, 21. & 51. 12, 27.
Bel is confounded, Merodach is broken in pieces] Bel and Merodach, two of their chiefe idols. Of Bel, see Isa. 46. 1. From Merodach had some of their Kings their names, Isa. 39. 1.
her idols are confounded] Isa. 21. 9. & 46. 1.
V. 3. out of the north] From Media, lying north of Chaldea, from whence Cyrus set forth; and from Assyria, through which he marched to Babylon, vers. 9. 21, 41.
cometh up a nation] Or, cometh (as Exod▪ 16 13.) a nation. The Medes and Persians; being as one nation, because belonging to one crown. See Isa. 13. 17.
both man and beast] Heb. from man to beast. as Chap. 9. 10. Isa. 10. 18. See Chap. 33. 10, 12. & 51. 62.
V. 4. in that time] When Cyrus shall have taken Babylon.
going and weeping] Or, weeping as they go. Chap. 41. 6. See Chap. 31. 9. Ezr. 3. 12, 13.
they shall go, and seek the LORD] Or, go to seek the Lord. as Josh. 24. 9. See Isa. 55. 6. Zeph. 2. 3.
V. 5. They shall ask the way to Zion] To Jerusalem. Ezr. 8. 21, 23, 31. Chap. 31. 21.
in a perpetuall covenant] Heb. a covenant of perpetuitie. Ezek. 39. 29.
that shall not be forgotten] That we will never again start from, Psal. 80. 18. Chap. 32. 40.
V. 6. My people hath been lost sheep] Straying from God, Isa. 53. 6. 1 Pet. 2. 25. and chased into forain parts, Psal. 119. 176. Vers. 17. Ezek. 34. 6. Heb. perishing▪ or, perished. readie to perish. Psal. 119. 176. Isa. 27. 13.
their shepherds] Pastors and Princes; Ministers and Magistrates, Isa. 3. 12. & 9. 16. Chap. 23. 1. & 25. 34. Nahum 3. 18.
caused them to go astray] They have caused them to runne from idol to idol; relinquishing their true rest, Chap. 2. 31, - 33. Or, caused them to be chased from place to place; by leading them away from God, Lam. 2. 14. See Ezek. 34. 3, 4. Matth. 18. 12.
they have forgotten their resting-place] Heb. place to lie down in. Pro. 24. 15.
V. 7. We offend not, because they have sinned] We deal but justly with them; as for their sinnes they have deserved, Chap. 40. 5. Zech. 11. 2. and are therefore faultlesse. But see the contrary, Chap. 2▪ 3.
the habitation of justice] Or, in the habitation (as Job 1. 13.) of just ones. Chap. 31. 23. In the land of Judah and Jerusalem; where righteousnesse should have dwelt, Isa. 1. 21. Or, against the Lord, their securitie and safegard, Psal. 90. 1. & 91. 1.
the hope of their fathers] Chap. 17. 13.
V. 8. Remove out of the midst of Babylon] Or, out of her. as Isa. 5. 8. & 7. 22. See Isa. 48. 20. Chap. 51. 6. Rev. 18. 4.
as the he-goats before the flocks] Strive to out-go one another. See Isa. 14. 9.
V. 9. from the north] Vers. 3.
their arrows shall be as of a mightie exp…rt man] Or, destroyer. Hos. 9. 14.
none shall return in vain] But shall hit and speed, 2 Sam. 1. 12. shall effect, what it was shot and sent for, Isa. 55. 11.
V. 10. all that spoil her shall be satisfied] They shall find wealth enough in her to satisfie them.
V. 11. O ye destroyers of mine heritage] My people: Chap. 12. 7,—9. and my land, Chap. 2. 7. & 16. 18. as dear to me, as any mans inheritance is to him, 1 King. 21. 3.
ye are grown fat] Heb. big. or, corpulent. Mal. 4. 2. Ye are grown lascivious, and outragious, Chap. 5. 8. Hos. 10. 11.
as the heifer at grasse] Or, fed with tender grasse. Deut. 32. 2. 1 Sam. 23. 4. Job 6. 5. Psal. 23. 2.
bellow as bulls] Or, neigh, as strong horses. Chap. 8. 16. and 47. 3.
V. 12. Your mother shall be sore confounded, &c.] Your mothercitie, Babylon: or, your countrey, Chaldea: as Chap.▪ 15. 8, 9. shall be ashamed of you, that could no better defend her.
the hindermost of the nations shall be a wildernesse] Or, she is, or shall, become the hindermost of the nations, a wildernesse, &c. She that was sometime the formost of the nations, is now the hindermost: She that formerly was rich and stately, is now become a wild wast, Lam. 1. 1. See Isa. 13. 20. Jer. 17. 6.
V. 13. and hisse at all her plagues] In disdain and contempt of her, Chap. 4…▪ 17.
V. 14. Put your selves in aray] Ye Medes and Persians, with your assistants, vers. 29. Chap. 51. 11.
all ye that bend the bow] Heb. tread it. vers. 29.
for she hath sinned against the LORD] Though they were used as instruments by God for the chastising of his people; yet did they for sinister ends all that they did, and their hearts were lift up against God himself also, Isa. 10. 7. 12, 13. Dan. 1. 2. and 5. 20, 23.
V. 15. she hath given her hand] Yeelded her self, as utterly vanquished, and not able longer to hold out, 1 Chron. 29. 24. 2 Chron. 30. 8.
her walls are thrown down] Chap. 51. 58.
as she hath done, do unto her] Vers. 29. Psal. 137. 8. Rev. 18. 6.
V. 16. Cut off the sower from Babylon, &c.] Destroy her so, that none be left, to till the ground, or to take the crop of it: 2 King. 25. 12. her own people being destroyed; and her forain aids all dispersed, Chap. 51. 9.
that handleth the sickle] Or, s…the.
for fear of the oppressing sword, &c.] Chap. 46. 16.
V. 17. Israel is a scattered sheep] Vers. 6.
the king of Assyria] Tiglath-Pileser; and Shalman-asser; who who carried away the ten tribes, 2 King. 15. 19, 20, 29. & 16. 7. and 17. 3, 4, &c.
hath broken his bones] Heb. boned him. (as necked, Isa. 66. 3.) Utterly ruined him; carrying away Judah and Benjamin, 2 King. 24. 14,—16. and 25. 7, 11, 19, 20▪
V. 18. I will punish] Heb. visit upon.
I have punished] Heb. visited upon. Isa. 10. 12.
V. 19. he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan] Which were of the richest and fertilest parts of that countrey, Isa. 30. 2. Psal. 18. 12. Num. 32. 4.
his soul shall be satisfied] Or, he shall. as Isa. 58. 10.
V. 20. there shall be none] Or, it shall not be. Psal. 39. 13. It shall no more be, then as if it had never been, Psal. 7. 9. & 10. 15. & 37. 36. God forgiving and forgetting it, Jer. 31. 34.
I will pardon them whom I reserve] Chap. 31. 34.
V. 21. Go up against the land of Merathaim, even against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod] Or, Go (as 1 King. 22. 6.) against the land of rebels, even against it; and against the inhabitants of visitation: that is, against the rebellious people of Chaldea, and against the inhabitants of Babylon, which is now to be visited, vers. 18. 24. 27. 31. Or, Go against this land (to wit, of Chaldea) by, or, from Merathaim, even against it; and by (as Gen. 49. 29. Job 29. 19.) the inhabitants of Pekod. Which are supposed to have been two cities of Chaldea; or, as some, of Assyria: the latter whereof is mentioned, Ezek. 23. 23. that Cyrus took in his way, before he came to sit down against Babylon. But howsoever, the words intimate a commission and charge given from God for Cyrus and his companies to go against Chaldea, Isa. 45. 3, 4.
utterly destroy after them] After thou hast destroyed these cities or countreys, set upon Chaldea, march on to Babylon. Or, destroy utterly the posteritie, or, race, of them. Dan. 11. 4.
and doe according to all that I have commanded thee] By a secret instinct, 2 Sam. 16. 12. 2 King. 18. 25. 2 Chron. 36. 23. Isa. 44. 8. & 48 14. Chap. 34. 22.
V. 22. of great destruction] Heb. breaking. Chap. 4. 6, 20. and 51. 54.
V. 23. the hamm…r of the whole earth] Babylon, that had beaten down all the Princes and people of the world, Chap. 23. 29. and 51. 20.
V. 24. I have laid a snare for thee] I have caused thee to be taken unawares, as a fowl in a snare, Isa. 47. 11. Chap. 51. 39. Eccl. 9. 12. Luk. 21. 35.
V. 25. The LORD hath opened his armorie] Contrary to the opening of his treasurie; though the word the same of either, Deut. 28. 12.
the work of the LORD] Chap. 48. 10.
V. 26. Come against her from the utmost border] Heb. from the end. vers. 41. From a farre countrey: as Matth. 12. 42. See, Isa. 13. 5 & 41. 5, 9. No remotenesse of place shal hinder their accesse, to doe Gods work; Isa. 7. 18.
cast her up] Heb. tread her. Chap. 51. 33.
as heaps] Or, sheaves.
V. 27. Slay all her bullocks] Her Princes and might… men, Isa. 34. 7. Vers. 11.
let them go down to the slaughter] Chap. 48. 15.
their day is come] Vers. 31. Chap. 27. 7. & 46. 21.
V. 28. to declare in Zion the vengeance of the LORD] Chap. 51. 10.
V. 29. Call together the archers] Vers. 14.
that bend the bow] Heb. tread. Chap. 46. 9. & 51. 3.
recompense her according to her work] Vers. 15. Chap. 51. 24. Lam. 3. 64.
she hath been proud against the LORD] The main cause of Babylons fall; their pride and insolencie against God; vers. 31. Dan. 5. 20, 23. Chap. 51. 1. Isa. 14. 13, 14. as of Ashurs, Isa. 10▪ 11,—15. & 37. 23, 29. and of Moabs, Chap. 48. 26, 29, 42.
V. 30. shall her young men fall in the streets] Chap. 49. 26.
V. 31. Behold, I am against thee] Chap. 51. 25.
O thou most proud] Heb. pride. as Psal. 36. 11.
thy day is come] Vers. 27.
the time that I will visit thee] Or, punish. vers. 18.
V. 32. the most proud] Heb. pride. vers. 31.
stumble and fall] Psal. 27. 3. & 107. 12. Chap. 46. 6.
none shall raise him up] Eccles. 4. 10.
I will kindle a fire in his cities] Chap. 21. 14.
V. 33. The children of Israel and the children of Judah were oppressed together] Or, alike. as Deut. 12. 22. though at severall times, and by severall adversaries, 2 King. 17. 6. & 24. 2, 12.
they refused to let them go] Isa. 14. 17.
V. 34 Their redeemer is strong, the LORD of hosts is his name] Or, Their strong redeemer, (Or, avenger. Num. 35. 19, 27. Pro. 23. 11. See Chap. 51. 35.) whose name is, &c. Chap. 32. 18. and 48. 15.
he shall throughly plead their cause] Heb. pleading plead. Isa. 51. 22. See Psal. 35. 1. Pro. 22. 23.
that he may give rest to the land, &c.] Rest to his people, that had been disquieted; Isa. 14. 3. and vexation to them, by whom they had been disquieted, 2 Thes. 1. 6, 7.
V. 36. A sword is upon the liers] Soothsayers and wisards. Isa. 47. 12, 13. Or, chief stayes. Heb. barres. Isa. 44. 25. Chap. 48. 30.
they shall be dismayed] Or, broken in pieces. Chap. 1. 17.
V. 37. upon all the mingled people] Chap. 25. 24.
that are in the midst of her] Or, in her. as Chap. 46. 21. and 51. 6.
they shall become as women] Isa. 19. 16. Chap. 51. 30.
V. 38. A drought is upon her waters, and they shall be dried up] For Cyrus cut out the stream of the river Euphrates into many chanels, and so made it passable for his people: by means whereof he more suddenly surprised the citie, Chap. 51. 32, 36.
it is the land of graven images] Isa. 2. 8.
they are mad upon their idols] Heb. terrours. Job 20. 25. Idols are here so tearmed, because they are so to their followers and worshippers; as scar-crows are to birds and beasts, though being things contemptible and unable to do ought, Chap. 10. 5. Baruch 6. 70. Or, giants. Deut. 2. 10. In allusion to whom some suppose their idols here so stiled, from the vast bulk and giant-like bignesse of some of them. Dan. 3. 1.
V. 39. the wild beasts of the desert, with the wild beasts of the islands shall dwell there] Isa. 13. 21. 22. and 34. 14. Chap. 51. 37. Rev. 18. 2.
the owls shall dwell therein] Heb. owls daughters. Job 30. 29.
it shall be no more inhabited for ever: neither shall it be dwelt in] Heb. inhabite. and, dwell. Chap. 46. 26. Vers. 13.
V. 40. As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, &c.] Gen. 19. 25. Isa 13. 19. Chap. 49. 18.
V. 41. a people shall come from the north] Chap. 6. 22. Vers. 3. 9.
many kings] Princes and Potentates, associates and assistants to Cyrus; or subjects and serving under him, Chap. 25. 14. and 51. 27, 28.
from the coasts of the earth] Or, utmost coasts. vers. 26. Heb sides. Chap. 25. 32. & 31. 8.
V. 42. They shall hold the bow and the lance] Chap. 6. 23.
they are cruel and will not shew mercy] They shall be to the Babylonians, as the Babylonians were to the Jews, Isa. 13. 17, 18. Chap. 6. 23.
their voyce shall rore like the sea] Chap. 51. 55.
V. 43. hath heard the report of them] Of the surprisall of his citie by night, Chap. 51. 31.
his hands waxed feeble] Isa. 13. 7. Chap. 6. 24.
anguish took hold of him, and pangs as of a woman in travail] Chap. 49. 24.
V. 44. he shall come up like a lion] Cyrus, with his forces. vers. 21. Chap. 51. 11. See the like of Nebuchadnezzar, Chap. 49. 19.
from the swelling of Jordan] Or, more violently then the swelling of Jordan. More like the breaking in of the main sea, then the surrounding of any river, Chap. 51. 42.
unto the habitation of the strong] Or, strong habitation. A periphrasis of Babylon.
but] Or, for. as Psal. 108. 12.
I will make them suddenly runne away] Or, I will make them suddenly to over-runne her. I will make those that be in Babylon, to flie hastily out of her. Or, the enemie and his forces suddenly to assault and surprise her, Chap. 51. 8.
and who is a chosen man that I may appoint over her] Or, one that is a choice man will I appoint against her. Cyrus against Babylon, as Nebuchadnezzar against Edom, Chap. 51. 11. See Chap. 49. 19.
who will appoint me the time] Job 41. 10. Or, convent me to plead. or, challenge me.
V. 45. heare ye the counsel of the LORD, &c.] Isa. 14. 24, 26.
the least of the flock shall draw them out] Chap. 49. 20.
V. 46. At the noise of the taking of Babylon, &c.] Chap. 49. 21.