Jeremiah 46:4

4 Harness the horses! Riders, mount! [Troops,] fall in! Helmets in place! Polish the spears! Coats of mail on!

Jeremiah 46:4 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 46:4

Harness the horses
Put on their bridles and saddles and gird them: or, "bind the horses" F18; that is, to the chariots; put them to, as we commonly express it: Egypt abounded in horses, and so no doubt brought a large cavalry, and a multitude of chariots, into the field of battle: and get up, ye horsemen;
upon the horses, or into the chariots, and so be ready to receive the enemy, or to attack him: and stand forth with [your] helmets;
present themselves on horseback, or in their chariots, with their helmets on their heads, to cover them in the day of battle: furbish the spears;
that they may be sharp and piercing, and look bright and glittering, and strike terror in the enemy: [and] put on the brigandines;
coats of mail, to cover the whole body, which were made of iron, consisting of rings, as Kimchi observes.


FOOTNOTES:

F18 (Myowoh wroa) "ligate equos", Montanus, Calvin; "alligate", Schmidt.

Jeremiah 46:4 In-Context

2 Concerning Egypt, against the army of Pharaoh N'kho, king of Egypt, stationed by the Euphrates River in Kark'mish, which N'vukhadretzar king of Bavel attacked in the fourth year of Y'hoyakim son of Yoshiyahu, king of Y'hudah:
3 "Prepare breastplate and shield! Advance to battle!
4 Harness the horses! Riders, mount! [Troops,] fall in! Helmets in place! Polish the spears! Coats of mail on!
5 "Why do I see them retreating in panic, their heroes routed, fleeing headlong, not looking back, terror all around?" asks ADONAI.
6 "The swift cannot flee, nor the heroes escape. In the north, by the Euphrates River, they have stumbled and fallen."
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.