1-46 The judgment of Babylon and the redemption of Israel
A.M. 3409 B.C. 595
against Babylon Ps 137:8,9 Isa 13:1-3 14:4 21:1-10 47:1-9 Re 18:1-24

the land Ge 11:31 Job 1:17 Isa 23:13 Ac 7:4

Jeremiah [heb] the hand of jeremiah 2Sa 23:2 2Pe 1:21

2 Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and conceal not: say, Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, Merodach is broken in pieces; her idols are confounded, her images are broken in pieces.

Declare Eze 31:10 46:14 Ps 64:9 96:3 Isa 12:4 48:6 66:18,19 Re 14:6-8

set up [heb] lift up Isa 13:2

Babylon Jer 51:8 Isa 21:9 Re 14:8 18:2

Bel Jer 51:44 Isa 46:1

Merodach Jer 52:31 Isa 39:1

her idols Jer 51:47 43:12,13 Isa 37:19 Zep 2:11

Xerxes, after his return from his unsuccessful expedition into
Greece, partly out of religious zeal, being a professed enemy to
to image worship, and partly to reimburse himself after his
immense expenses, seized the sacred treasures, and plundered or destroyed the temples and idols of Babylon, thereby accomplishing the prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah Isa 21:9 46:1 Jer 50:2 51:44,47,52

What God declares, `I will punish Bel in babylon, and I will bring forth that which he has swallowed,' was also literally fulfilled, when the vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought from Jerusalem and placed in the temple of Bel Da 1:2

were restored by order of Cyrus Ezr 1:7

and again carried to Jerusalem Bp Newton, Dis. X

3 For out of the north there cometh up a nation against her, which shall make her land desolate, and none shall dwell therein: they shall remove, they shall depart, both man and beast.

out of the
The Medes who formed the greatest part of the army of Cyrus

Media lay N.E. of Babylon Jer 50:9,41 51:11,27,48 Isa 13:5,17,18,20

which Jer 50:12,13,35-40 51:8,9,25,26,37-44,62 Isa 13:6-10,19-22 14:22-24 Re 18:21-23

both Jer 7:20 21:6 Ge 6:7 Ex 12:12 Zep 1:3

4 In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek the LORD their God.

those Jer 50:20 3:16-18 33:15 51:47,48 Isa 63:4

the children of Israel Jer 50:19,20,33,34 3:18 33:6-8 30:10,11 31:6,7,31 33:7 Isa 11:12,13 14:1 Eze 37:16-22 39:25 Ho 1:11

going Jer 31:9,10 Ezr 3:12,13 Ps 126:4-6 Joe 2:12 Zec 12:10 Jas 4:9

seek the Jer 29:12-14 Ps 105:4 Isa 45:19 55:6 Ho 3:5 Zec 8:21-23

5 They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the LORD in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten.

ask Jer 6:16 Ps 25:8,9 84:7 Isa 35:8 Joh 7:17

Come Jer 31:31-36 Isa 2:3-5 Mic 4:1,2 Ac 11:23 2Co 8:5

in a Jer 32:40 Ge 17:7 2Sa 23:5 Isa 55:3 56:6,7

that shall Jer 32:40 1Ki 19:10,14 Heb 8:6-10

6 My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace.

people Jer 50:17 Ps 119:176 Isa 53:6 Mt 9:36 10:6 15:24 18:11-13 Lu 15:4-7 1Pe 2:25

their shepherds Jer 10:21 23:11-15 Isa 56:10-12 Eze 34:4-12 Zec 11:4-9

on the Jer 2:20 3:6,23 Eze 34:6

have forgotten Jer 2:32 Ps 32:7 90:1 91:1 116:7 Isa 30:15 32:2

resting place [heb] place to lie down in Ps 23:2 So 1:7,8 Eze 34:14,25-28

7 All that found them have devoured them: and their adversaries said, We offend not, because they have sinned against the LORD, the habitation of justice, even the LORD, the hope of their fathers.

have devoured Jer 50:17,33 12:7-11 Ps 79:7 Isa 9:12 56:9

We offend Jer 2:3 40:2,3 Isa 47:6 Da 9:6,16 Zec 1:15 11:5

the habitation Jer 31:23 Ps 90:1 91:1

the hope Jer 14:8 Ps 22:4,5 1Ti 1:1

8 Remove out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the he goats before the flocks.

out of the midst Jer 51:6,45 Nu 16:26 Isa 48:20 52:1 Zec 2:6,7 2Co 6:17 Re 18:4

he goats Pr 30:31

9 For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country: and they shall set themselves in array against her; from thence she shall be taken: their arrows shall be as of a mighty expert man; none shall return in vain.

I will raise Jer 50:3,21,26,41,42 15:14 51:1-4,11,27,28 Ezr 1:1,2 Isa 13:2-5,17 21:2 41:25 45:1-4

an assembly The army of Cyrus was composed of Medes, Persians, Armenians, Caducians, Sacae, etc. all of which, arranged under the Medes, came from the north.

they shall Jer 50:14,29

expert man. or, destroyer
none 2Sa 1:22 Isa 13:18

10 And Chaldea shall be a spoil: all that spoil her shall be satisfied, saith the LORD.

Chaldea Jer 25:12 27:7

all that Isa 33:4,23 45:3 Re 17:16

11 Because ye were glad, because ye rejoiced, O ye destroyers of mine heritage, because ye are grown fat as the heifer at grass, and bellow as bulls;

ye were Pr 17:5 La 1:21 2:15,16 4:21,22 Eze 25:3-8,15-17 26:2,3 Ob 1:12

ye destroyers Jer 50:17 51:34,35 Ps 74:2-8 79:1-4 83:1-5 Isa 10:6,7 47:6 Zec 2:8,9 14:1-3,12

ye are Jer 50:27 46:21 De 32:15 Ps 22:12 Ho 10:11 Am 4:1

fat [heb] big. or, corpulent Jer 5:28

bellow as bulls. or, neigh as steeds Jer 5:8

12 Your mother shall be sore confounded; she that bare you shall be ashamed: behold, the hindermost of the nations shall be a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert.

mother Jer 49:2 Ga 4:26 Re 17:5

the hindermost Jer 25:26 Isa 23:13

a wilderness Jer 50:35-40 25:12 51:25,26,43,62-64 Isa 13:20-22 14:22 Re 18:21-23

13 Because of the wrath of the LORD it shall not be inhabited, but it shall be wholly desolate: every one that goeth by Babylon shall be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues.

Because Zec 1:15

every Jer 18:16 19:8 25:12 49:17 51:37 Job 27:23 Isa 14:4-17 La 2:15,16 Hab 2:6 Zep 2:15

14 Put yourselves in array against Babylon round about: all ye that bend the bow, shoot at her, spare no arrows: for she hath sinned against the LORD.

in array Jer 50:9 51:2,11,12,27 1Sa 17:20 2Sa 10:9 Isa 13:4,17,18

bend Jer 50:29,42 46:9 49:35 Isa 5:28

for she Jer 50:7,11,29 Ps 51:4 Hab 2:8,17 Re 17:5

15 Shout against her round about: she hath given her hand: her foundations are fallen, her walls are thrown down: for it is the vengeance of the LORD: take vengeance upon her; as she hath done, do unto her.

Shout Jer 51:14 Jos 6:5,20 Eze 21:22

she hath 1Ch 29:24 2Ch 30:8 La 5:6 Eze 17:18

her foundations Jer 51:25,44,58,64

for it Jer 50:14,28 46:10 51:6,11,36 De 32:35,41,43 Ps 94:1 149:7 Isa 59:17 61:2 63:4 Na 1:2 Lu 21:22 Ro 3:5 12:19 2Th 1:8

as she Jer 50:29 Jud 1:6,7 1Sa 15:33 Ps 137:8,9 Mt 7:2 Jas 2:13 Re 16:6 18:6 19:2

16 Cut off the sower from Babylon, and him that handleth the sickle in the time of harvest: for fear of the oppressing sword they shall turn every one to his people, and they shall flee every one to his own land.

the sower Jer 51:23 Joe 1:11 Am 5:16

sickle. or, scythe
they shall turn every one Jer 46:16 51:9 Isa 13:14

17 Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones.

a scattered Jer 50:6 23:1,2 Eze 34:5,6,12 Joe 3:2 Mt 9:36-38 Lu 15:4-6 Joh 10:10-12 1Pe 2:25

the lions Jer 2:15 5:6 49:19 51:38

first 2Ki 15:29 17:6 18:9-13 2Ch 28:20 32:1 33:11 Isa 7:17-20 8:7,8 10:5-7 36:1-37:38

this Jer 39:1-18 51:34,35 52:1 2Ki 24:1-20 25:1-30 2Ch 36:1-23 Isa 47:6 Da 6:24

18 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, as I have punished the king of Assyria.

as I Isa 37:36-38 Eze 31:3-17 Na 1:1-3:19 Zep 2:13-15

19 And I will bring Israel again to his habitation, and he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan, and his soul shall be satisfied upon mount Ephraim and Gilead.

bring Jer 50:4,5 3:18 23:3 24:6,7 30:10,18 31:8-10 32:37 33:7-12 Isa 65:9 65:10 Eze 11:17 34:13,14 36:24,33 37:21,22 38:8 39:25-29 Am 9:14,15 Ob 1:17-21

he shall Isa 33:9 35:2 Mic 7:14,18

his soul Jer 31:14,25

mount Jer 31:6 Jos 17:15

Gilead Nu 32:1 So 6:5 Ob 1:19

20 In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve.

In those Jer 50:4 33:15

the iniquity Jer 31:34 Nu 23:21 Isa 11:1,2 43:25 44:22 Mic 7:19 Ac 3:19,26 Ro 8:33,34 Heb 8:10-12 10:17,18

and there Ps 103:12 Ro 5:16 2Pe 3:15

I will pardon Jer 44:14 Isa 1:9 Mic 7:19 Ro 6:13 11:6,26,27

21 Go up against the land of Merathaim, even against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod: waste and utterly destroy after them, saith the LORD, and do according to all that I have commanded thee.

up Jer 50:3,9,15

Merathaim. or, the rebels.
Pekod. or, visitation Eze 23:23

and do Jer 34:22 48:10 Nu 31:14-18 1Sa 15:3,11-24 2Sa 16:11 2Ki 18:25 2Ch 36:23 Isa 10:6 44:28 48:14

22 A sound of battle is in the land, and of great destruction.

Jer 4:19-21 51:54-56 Isa 21:2-4

23 How is the hammer of the whole earth cut asunder and broken! how is Babylon become a desolation among the nations!

Jer 51:20-24 Isa 14:4-6,12-17 Re 18:16

24 I have laid a snare for thee, and thou art also taken, O Babylon, and thou wast not aware: thou art found, and also caught, because thou hast striven against the LORD.

snare Ec 9:12

and thou wast Jer 51:8,31-39,57 Isa 21:3-5 Da 5:30,31 Re 18:7,8

because Ex 10:3 Job 9:4 40:2,9 Isa 13:11 45:9 2Th 2:4

25 The LORD hath opened his armoury, and hath brought forth the weapons of his indignation: for this is the work of the Lord GOD of hosts in the land of the Chaldeans.

opened Jer 50:35-38 51:11,20 Ps 45:3,5 Isa 13:2-5,17,18 21:7,9

this Jer 50:15 51:12,25,55 Isa 14:22-24 46:10,11 48:14,15 Am 3:6 Re 18:8

26 Come against her from the utmost border, open her storehouses: cast her up as heaps, and destroy her utterly: let nothing of her be left.

against Jer 50:41 51:27,28 Isa 5:26

the utmost [heb] the end
open Jer 50:10 51:44 Isa 45:3

cast her up. or, tread her Isa 10:6 25:10 63:3,4 Mic 7:10 Re 14:19 19:15

destroy Jer 50:13,15,23 51:25,26,64 Isa 14:23 Re 18:21-24

27 Slay all her bullocks; let them go down to the slaughter: woe unto them! for their day is come, the time of their visitation.

bullocks Jer 50:11 46:21 Ps 22:12 Isa 34:7 Eze 39:17-20

their day Jer 50:31 27:7 48:44 Ps 37:13 La 1:21 Eze 7:5-7 Re 16:17-19 18:10

28 The voice of them that flee and escape out of the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God, the vengeance of his temple.

voice Jer 51:50,51 Isa 48:20

to declare Jer 50:15 51:10,11 Ps 149:6-9 Da 5:3-5,23 Zec 12:2,3

vengeance of his La 1:10 2:6,7

29 Call together the archers against Babylon: all ye that bend the bow, camp against it round about; let none thereof escape: recompense her according to her work; according to all that she hath done, do unto her: for she hath been proud against the LORD, against the Holy One of Israel.

the archers Jer 50:9,14,26

recompense Jer 50:15 51:56 Ps 137:8,9 Re 16:6 18:6

for she hath Jer 50:24,32 Ex 10:3 Isa 14:13,14 37:23 47:10 Da 4:37 5:23 11:36 2Th 2:4 Re 13:5,6

30 Therefore shall her young men fall in the streets, and all her men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the LORD.

Therefore Gorbias and Gadates, when they entered Babylon, marched directly to the palace, killing all they met.

her young Jer 9:21 18:21 48:15 49:26 51:3,4 Isa 13:15-18

all her Jer 50:36 51:56,57 Re 6:15 19:18

31 Behold, I am against thee, O thou most proud, saith the Lord GOD of hosts: for thy day is come, the time that I will visit thee.

I am Jer 21:13 51:25 Eze 5:8 29:3,9,10 38:3 39:1 Na 2:13 3:5

O thou Jer 50:29,32 48:29 49:16 Job 40:11,12 Da 4:30,31 Hab 2:4,5 Jas 4:6 1Pe 5:5

most proud [heb] proud
for Jer 50:27

32 And the most proud shall stumble and fall, and none shall raise him up: and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it shall devour all round about him.

the most proud [heb] pride Pr 16:18 18:12 Isa 10:12-15 14:13-15 Eze 28:2-9 Da 5:20,23-30

none Jer 51:26,64 Re 18:8

kindle Jer 21:14 49:27 De 32:22 Am 1:4,7,10,12,14 2:2,5

33 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The children of Israel and the children of Judah were oppressed together: and all that took them captives held them fast; they refused to let them go.

and all Jer 50:7,17,18 51:34-36 Isa 14:17 47:6 49:24-26 51:23 52:4-6 Zec 1:15,16

they refused Jer 34:15-18 Ex 5:2 8:2 9:2,3,17,18 Isa 14:17 58:6

34 Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name: he shall throughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.

Redeemer Ex 6:6 Pr 23:11 Isa 41:14 43:14 44:6,23,24 47:4 54:5 Mic 4:10 Re 18:8

plead Jer 51:36 Ps 35:1 43:1 Pr 22:23 Isa 51:22 Mic 7:9

that he Isa 14:3-7 2Th 1:6,7 Re 19:1-3

35 A sword is upon the Chaldeans, saith the LORD, and upon the inhabitants of Babylon, and upon her princes, and upon her wise men.

sword Jer 47:6 Le 26:25 Isa 66:16 Eze 14:2 Ho 11:6 Zec 11:17

upon her princes Jer 50:27,30 51:39,57 Isa 41:25 Da 5:1,2,30

her wise men Jer 8:9 10:7 Isa 19:11-13 29:14 44:25 47:13,14 Da 4:7,8

36 A sword is upon the liars; and they shall dote: a sword is upon her mighty men; and they shall be dismayed.

upon the liars. or, upon the chief stays [heb] bars Jer 48:30 Isa 43:14 44:25 2Th 2:9-11 1Ti 4:2 Re 19:20 21:8 22:15

dote 2Sa 15:31 17:14 2Ch 25:16 Isa 47:10-15 1Ti 6:4 Jer 50:30 49:22 51:23,30,22 Na 2:8 3:7,13,17,18

37 A sword is upon their horses, and upon their chariots, and upon all the mingled people that are in the midst of her; and they shall become as women: a sword is upon her treasures; and they shall be robbed.

their horses Jer 51:21 Ps 20:7,8 46:9 76:6 Eze 39:20 Na 2:2-4,13 Hag 2:22

all the Jer 25:20,24 Eze 30:5

as women Jer 48:41 51:30 Isa 19:16 Na 3:13

her treasures Jer 50:26 Isa 45:3

38 A drought is upon her waters; and they shall be dried up: for it is the land of graven images, and they are mad upon their idols.

A drought Jer 50:12 51:32-36 Isa 44:27 Re 16:12 17:15,16

the land Jer 50:2 51:44,47,52 Isa 46:1-7 Da 3:1-30 5:4 Hab 2:18,19 Re 17:5

mad Jer 51:7 Isa 44:25 Ac 17:16

39 Therefore the wild beasts of the desert with the wild beasts of the islands shall dwell there, and the owls shall dwell therein: and it shall be no more inhabited for ever; neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation.

Jer 50:12,13 25:12 51:26,37,38,43,62-64 Isa 13:20-22 14:23 34:11-17 Re 18:2,21-24

40 As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the LORD; so shall no man abide there, neither shall any son of man dwell therein.

Jer 49:18 51:26 Ge 19:24,25 De 29:23 Isa 1:9 13:19,20 Ho 11:8,9 Am 4:11 Zep 2:9 Lu 17:28-30 2Pe 2:6 Jude 1:7 Re 11:8 18:8,9

41 Behold, a people shall come from the north, and a great nation, and many kings shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth.

Jer 50:2,3,9 6:22,23 25:14 51:1,2,11,27,28 Isa 13:2-5,17,18 Re 17:16

42 They shall hold the bow and the lance: they are cruel, and will not shew mercy: their voice shall roar like the sea, and they shall ride upon horses, every one put in array, like a man to the battle, against thee, O daughter of Babylon.

hold Jer 6:22,23

they are cruel Ps 74:20 137:8,9 Isa 13:17,18 14:6 47:6 Hab 1:6-8 Jas 2:13 Re 16:6

their voice Ps 46:2,3,6 Isa 5:30

shall ride Jer 8:16 47:3 Isa 5:28 Hab 1:8 Re 19:14-18

43 The king of Babylon hath heard the report of them, and his hands waxed feeble: anguish took hold of him, and pangs as of a woman in travail.

king Jer 51:31 Isa 13:6-8 21:3,4 Da 5:5,6

pangs Jer 49:22,24

44 Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan unto the habitation of the strong: but I will make them suddenly run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before me?

like a lion Jer 25:38 49:19-21

who is a Job 41:10,11 Isa 41:25 46:11

for who Ex 15:11 Ps 89:6,8 Isa 40:18,25 43:10

appoint me the time. or, convent me to plead
who is that Jer 49:19 Job 41:10

45 Therefore hear ye the counsel of the LORD, that he hath taken against Babylon; and his purposes, that he hath purposed against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out: surely he shall make their habitation desolate with them.

hear Jer 51:10,11 Ps 33:10,11 Isa 14:24 46:10,11 Ac 4:28 Eph 1:11 Re 17:16,17

the least Jer 37:10 49:20

surely he We have already adverted to the completion of the prophecies respecting the final destruction of Babylon, Isa 13:18

and shall only add a few more observations, in order to shew more clearly the full accomplishment of some of these predictions. Strabo says that in his time (about the Christian era) a great part of it was a desert. Jerome says that in his time (A.D. 340) it was quite in ruins, the walls merely serving for an inclosure for wild beasts, for the hunting of the kings of Parthia: and modern travellers universally concur in describing it in a state of utter desolation, and the habitation of wild beasts and noxious reptiles.

46 At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth is moved, and the cry is heard among the nations.

Jer 49:21 Isa 14:9,10 Eze 26:18 31:16 32:10 Re 18:9-19