Jeremiah 46:3

3 Prepare you the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle.

Jeremiah 46:3 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 46:3

Order ye the buckler and shield
Both signify one and the same sort of armour, only of a different form, the one being lesser and lighter than the other. Jarchi makes the difference to be, that the former was made of skin, the latter of wood; they were both used to defend the body in war. To order them is not only to prepare them, and get them ready; but to fit them to the body, and to put them on, that they might be in a readiness to engage in battle. The exhortation is made either to the Chaldean army, to prepare to fight against the Egyptians; or to the army of Pharaohnecho, to defend themselves against the king of Babylon, who was coming against them, as Kimchi and Abarbinel, who seem to be in doubt which it should be; but the latter is most probable: and it is either a direction of Pharaoh to his army, to be in readiness; or rather of God, speaking ironically to them, suggesting, that let them do what they would, and make ever such preparations for battle, all would come to nothing, victory would be on the other side; and draw near to battle;
engage the enemy briskly, and with the greatest courage, and use all your military skill; and, when ye have done, it will all be in vain.

Jeremiah 46:3 In-Context

1 The word of the LORD which came to Yirmeyahu the prophet concerning the nations.
2 Of Mitzrayim: concerning the army of Par`oh-Nekho king of Mitzrayim, which was by the river Perat in Karkemish, which Nevukhadretztzar king of Bavel struck in the fourth year of Yehoiakim the son of Yoshiyahu, king of Yehudah.
3 Prepare you the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle.
4 Harness the horses, and get up, you horsemen, and stand forth with your helmets; furbish the spears, put on the coats of mail.
5 Why have I seen it? they are dismayed and are turned backward; and their mighty ones are beaten down, and have fled apace, and don't look back: terror is on every side, says the LORD.
The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.