Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 7 · Jeremiah · Chapter 46
CHAP. XLVI.
THe Prophet having briefly threatned other Nations, besides Iudea, Chap. 25. 19, 20. And now he cometh to renew the same threatnings, dwelling longer upon them, and first against Egypt, the most Idolatrous Nation of all others; and by means whereof the Jews were most animated to rebell against God, as being ready to help them. And he beginneth with the Egyptian Army that came forth in Iosiah his time against the King of Assyria; against which Iosiah rashly going was slain, 2 Chron. 35. 20. Now because that through this good successe, the Egyptians were doubtlesse much puffed up, and hoped to prevail against the Assyrian also, the Prophet is bidden to prophesie of their repression by Nebuchadnezzar, which accordingly came to passe in the fourth year of Jehojakim the King of Judah, as appeareth 2 Kings 24. 7. So that this Prophecie, Calvin.though here placed, was in the very beginning of Iehojakims reigne; because in his fourth year it was in part fulfilled, so Calvin; and if it had not been before the thing done, it were not a Prophecie, but an History. But touching the words of verse 1. Against the Gentiles; It is not agreed amongst Expositors who are meant by them, some standing for all Nations, whom the Lord would have his Prophet speak against, after that he had done prophesying against Judah, and some for Egypt onelyonly, and the Nations helping that King; because the Prophecies against other Nations were at other times, as against the Philistims, Chap. 47. 1. Against Moab and Ammon, 49. 34 Against Babylon, 51 59. But take the words, as a generall title to all the following Prophecies, and this Controversie is at an end. This Prophecie against the Egyptian Army is by way of derision, verse 3. Prepare the Shield and Buckler, go on to the War, &c. For Vers. 3.verse 5. He sheweth, that he foresaw their overthrow near the River Euphrates; which was the place where Pharoah Necho was fighting against Carkemish, Vers. 5. 6. Herod. lib. 2.2 Chron. 35. 20. And Herodotus saith, that here Pharoah Necho was overcome by Nebuchadnezzar, and made to retire into his Countrey, many of the Egyptians being slain. Therefore verse 7, 8, 9. he proceedeth further Vers. 7, 8.to deride them, comparing them to a floud, against which they thought that the City Carkemish could not stand, but be soon born down: but verse 10, Vers. 10. 11.11, 12. he fore-tells, that the day wherein they should fight in this place, should be the time of Gods vengeance taking upon them, when they should get such a wound, as that all the Balm of Gilead could not heal again.
The mighty man shall stumble at the mighty, and they shall both fall together. That is, in hastning to flee away, one bearing down another, so Lyra; yet Theodores, Vers. 12. Lyra. Theodor.The valiant man of Egypt, and the valiant man of Caldea shall conflict together, and both fall, although the Caldees shall get the victory, it being a bloudy day to them also: But the first is best, for it is all against the Egyptians.
Here followeth another Prophecie against Egypt of that which was to come Vers. 13.after the destruction of Jerusalem, and the Jewes fleeing into Egypt, according to the signe given of the death of Pharoah Hophrah; of which see Chapt. 44. 30. For then Nebuchadnezzar in the five and twentieth year of his reigne, as hath been already shewed, came and subdued all Egypt, and slaying him, set up another King there, and then was a Monarch of the world. And in speaking of their destruction at that time, he saith, One fell upon another; and they said, Arise, and let us goe again to our own people; bringing those in as speaking, that came Vers. 16.from Lybia, and other places to help the Egyptians, when they saw that no more good was to be done there, Nebuchadnezzar had so wasted the Countrey. From the oppressing sword, Hebrew, foreign, Of the Dove, the King of Babylon so called, for a Dove carryed before him in his Standard, as hath been shewed before, Chap. 25. 38.
Pharoah King of Egypt, they say also, is but a noise, he hath passed the time appoynted. Vers. 17.Vulg. Call the name of the King of Egypt, Time hath brought a tumult. Hebr. They have there called Pharoah King of Egypt a noise, making the appointed time to passe away. For it is not Shem, a name; but Sham, there; and it is Karau, they called, not Kirau, call ye; therefore it is by mistaking otherwise rendred in the Vulgar Latin. The meaning is, that Pharoah shall be thus upbraided by his very Auxiliaries; we see nothing in him but an empty sound by brags and boastings, making a great shew; but the enemy coming, he durst not go out to fight with him, but let the time slip, without giving him Battell, in a most cowardly manner. Or there, that is, for his rash going out against Carkemish, provoking the Caldees against him, they shall call him a tumult; because he by this means brought trouble to his own Countrey; he passed away that appointed time so ill, being beaten in stead of overcoming. This would agree well, but that the King here spoken is not the same, but another; not Pharoah Necbo, but Pharoah Hophra; and therefore I rest in the first.
As Tabor in the Mountains, and Carmel in the Sea, he, or it shall come. That is, This word, whereby Egypt and the King thereof are threatned, shall Vers. 18.stand as sure as great and strong Mountains, that cannot be removed; thus also Calvin: Some refer it to Nebuchadnezzar, as if it were meant, that he should Calvin.be of so great eminency, that he should be for his greatnesse and power, as Mount Tabor, and Carmel, being so highly elevated by the fall of other Kings. Rabbi David, As Tabor is resorted to for hunting, and Carmel for timber to build R. David.with, which is thence transported by Sea, so shall Egypt be, they shall come and hunt there; as Hos. 5. 1. and carry them away Captive from thence by Sea afar off. Whereas Carmel is said to be in the Sea, it is to be understood, that it was onelyonly a Promontory hanging over the Sea, and therefore conspicuous afar off to those that travell by Sea.
Her voice shall goe, or, walk like a Serpent. That is, as a Serpent wounded, Vers. 22.Egypt shall cry lamentably, when the Babylonians shall come against her, as Hewers of wood to cut her down, as in the next words, and then the noise walks Theod. Raban. Lyra.thorow them; so most rightly Theodoret, Raban, Vatablus; although others, as Dyonys. Lyra, and Hugo, by her understand Babylon: The Vulgar Latin hath it, Like Brasse; but foreign, signifieth not Brasse, but a Serpent, unlesse foreign be added; and if it be rendred by Brasse, the sense will not be so good, unlesse it be taken for the lamentable sound of a Trumpet at a Funerall; for that is made of Brasse.
They shall cut down her Forrest. That is, the people of her populous Cities, dwelling so thick one by another as trees stand in a Forrest: Although they be innumerable as Grasse-hoppers. Because that an innumerable company of Caldees should come against them, to whom it should be easie, as for abundance of workmen to cut down all the trees of the greatest Wood or Forrest.
I will punish the multitude of No. Vulgar Latin and Calvin, Alexandria; Vers. 23.because the same City was afterwards re-built, and called by Alexander the Great after his own name. It was a most populous City like unto Nineveh, which made them to contemn all dangers; but now the Prophet sheweth, that one Nahum. 3.would take them to do, whom they should not be able to resist, even the Lord. And he nameth this City in speciall, because the greatest in all Egypt. The word rendred multitude, is foreign, by some taken for the proper name of the King there, which is the more probable, because he saith by and by, Pharoah, and Egypt, and all her Kings; whereby Calvin conjectureth, that Pharoah Calvin.had lately made many of his Princes Kings, for his greater magnificence; but now an end shall be put to this their worldly glory. In amplifying which punishment, the Prophet is the larger, that the Jewes dwelling in Egypt, that would not believe that so mighty a Countrey should ever be overthrown, might be the more moved, and not go on still in such a blinde confidence as they had hitherto done.
And afterwards it shall be inhabited, as in the dayes of old. Ezek. 29. 13, 14. It is likewise promised, and the time when, set, viz. after forty years; but Vers. 26.it is said, it should be a base Kingdome: For Amasis was by Nebuchadnezzar made King for Pharoah Hophrah, and he was afterward overcome by Cambyses, the son of Cyrus, and then Egypt was brought under the Persians 150 Euseb. in Chron.years, being thus made a tributary Kingdome.
Whereas Ieremiah saith, As in the dayes of old; he meaneth not, that it shall be in the same glory and greatnesse; but the tempest of war being over, which was sent for a punishment, they should quietly dwell there again, and not be like unto Judea, a desolation seventy years.
But fear not thou (O my servant Jacob.) Having spoken comfort to Egypt, it was necessary to speak the like to Israel, lest they should in their sufferings Vers. 27.be overwhelmed with despair. Wherfore although the same be often done before, he would not omit to do it again now after some comfort spoken to Egypt; because that although he were set over all nations, yet the main end of his Prophesying, was to comfort and confirm the true Israelite. Wherefore he doth not onelyonly promise the like to him, that he doth to the Egyptian, but verse 28. far greater favour, saying, I will make a full end of all Nations whither I have driven Vers. 28.thee, but I will not make a full end of thee. Wherein may seem to be a contradiction to verse 26. But they may be reconciled thus, The Nations being smitten shall never recover again, but onelyonly have some outward tollerable being in this world; but to thee I will be favourable in respect of the best things, restoring to thee the free exercise of the true Religion, and finally bestowing upon Calv.thee everlasting life: So that thy being in misery is but as a tree in Winter, seeming to be dead, but having sap in the root, their being restored but as a tree full of green leaves, and flourishing, but dying at the root; which is the comparison of Calvin: But of this see before Chap. 30. 10, 11.