Jeremiah 46:15

15 "Why will your bull-god Apis run off? Because God will drive him off.

Jeremiah 46:15 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 46:15

Why are thy valiant [men] swept away?
&c.] As with a mighty torrent, or a sweeping rain; so the word is used in ( Proverbs 28:3 ) ; to which the Chaldean army may be compared; which came with such irresistible force as to drive the Egyptians from their posts, so that they could not stand their ground. The Septuagint renders it,

``why does Apis flee from thee? thy choice ox does not continue.''
Which was the god of the Egyptians, they worshipped in the form of an ox; this could not protect them, though thought by them to be very mighty and powerful; so Aelianus F9 says Apis with the Egyptians is believed to be a most powerful deity; yet could not save them; but the word signifies their nobles, their mighty men of war, their generals and officers, at least their valiant soldiers; who yet were not able to stand the tide of power that came against them. The reason was, because the Lord did drive them;
by means of the Chaldeans; he dispirited them; he put them into a panic, and they fled from their posts; there is no standing against the Lord.
FOOTNOTES:

F9 De Animal. l. 11. c. 10.

Jeremiah 46:15 In-Context

13 The Message that God gave to the prophet Jeremiah when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon was on his way to attack Egypt:
14 "Tell Egypt, alert Migdol, post warnings in Noph and Tahpanhes: 'Wake up! Be prepared! War's coming!'
15 "Why will your bull-god Apis run off? Because God will drive him off.
16 Your ragtag army will fall to pieces. The word is passing through the ranks, 'Let's get out of here while we still can. Let's head for home and save our skins.'
17 When they get home they'll nickname Pharaoh 'Big-Talk-Bad-Luck.'
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.