Jeremiah 46:8-18

8 Egypt rises like the Nile, Even like the rivers whose waters surge about; And He has said, "I will 1rise and cover that land; I will surely 2destroy the city and its inhabitants."
9 Go up, you horses, and 3drive madly, you chariots, That the mighty men may march forward: Ethiopia and 4Put, that handle the shield, And the 5Lydians, that handle and bend the bow.
10 For 6that day belongs to the Lord GOD of hosts, A day of 7vengeance, so as to avenge Himself on His foes; And the 8sword will devour and be satiated And drink its fill of their blood; For there will be a 9slaughter for the Lord GOD of hosts, In the land of the north by the river Euphrates.
11 Go 10up to Gilead and obtain balm, 11O virgin daughter of Egypt! In vain have you multiplied remedies; There is 12no healing for you.
12 The nations have heard of your 13shame, And the earth is full of your 14cry of distress; For one 15warrior has stumbled over another, And both of them have fallen down together.
13 This is the message which the LORD spoke to Jeremiah the prophet about the 16coming of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to 17smite the land of Egypt:
14 "Declare in Egypt and proclaim in 18Migdol, Proclaim also in Memphis and 19Tahpanhes; Say, 'Take your stand and get yourself ready, For the 20sword has devoured those around you.'
15 "Why have your 21mighty ones become prostrate? They do not stand because the LORD has 22thrust them down.
16 "They have repeatedly 23stumbled; Indeed, they have fallen one against another. Then they said, 'Get up! And 24let us go back To our own people and our native land Away from the 25sword of the oppressor.'
17 "They cried there, 'Pharaoh king of Egypt is but 26a big noise; He has let the appointed time pass by!'
18 "As I live," declares the 27King Whose name is the LORD of hosts, "Surely one shall come who looms up like 28Tabor among the mountains, Or like 29Carmel by the sea.

Jeremiah 46:8-18 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 46

This chapter contains two prophecies relating to Egypt; one concerning the overthrow of Pharaohnecho, king of it, which was quickly accomplished; and the other concerning the destruction of the land, fulfilled many years after, and both by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and the chapter is concluded with a word of comfort to the people of Israel. It begins with a general title to prophecies in this and the five following chapters, Jer 46:1; then follows a particular prophecy of the route of Pharaoh's army; of the place where, and time when, Jer 46:2; the preparations of the Egyptians for the battle, with a variety of warlike instruments, Jer 46:3,4; the consternation, flight, and destruction of them, Jer 46:5,6; notwithstanding their confidence of getting the victory, Jer 46:7-9; the reason of it, because it was the day of the Lord's vengeance on them, and therefore their ruin was inevitable, Jer 46:10,11; the consequence of which was shame and confusion, Jer 46:12; next follows another prophecy of the destruction of the land itself by Nebuchadnezzar, Jer 46:13; the places that should be destroyed, Jer 46:14,19,25; the multitude that should be slain, Jer 46:15-17; a description of the calamity; the instrument, manner, and consequence of it, Jer 46:20-24; the certainty of it, Jer 46:18,25,26; and the whole is closed with a promise of the return of the Jews, and of their salvation; though they should not be without divine corrections, Jer 46:27,28.

Cross References 29

  • 1. Isaiah 37:24
  • 2. Isaiah 10:13
  • 3. Jeremiah 47:3; Nahum 2:4
  • 4. Nahum 3:9
  • 5. Isaiah 66:19
  • 6. Joel 1:15
  • 7. Jeremiah 50:15, 18
  • 8. Deuteronomy 32:42; Isaiah 31:8; Jeremiah 12:12
  • 9. Isaiah 34:6; Zephaniah 1:7
  • 10. Jeremiah 8:22
  • 11. Isaiah 47:1; Jeremiah 31:4, 21
  • 12. Jeremiah 30:13; Micah 1:9; Nahum 3:19
  • 13. Jeremiah 2:36; Nahum 3:8-10
  • 14. Jeremiah 14:2
  • 15. Isaiah 19:2
  • 16. Jeremiah 43:10-13
  • 17. Isaiah 19:1
  • 18. Jeremiah 44:1
  • 19. Jeremiah 43:8
  • 20. Isaiah 1:20; Jeremiah 2:30; Jeremiah 46:10; Nahum 2:13
  • 21. Isaiah 66:15, 16; Jeremiah 46:5
  • 22. Psalms 18:14, 39; Psalms 68:1, 2
  • 23. Leviticus 26:36, 37; Jeremiah 46:6
  • 24. Jeremiah 51:9
  • 25. Jeremiah 50:16
  • 26. Exodus 15:9, 10; 1 Kings 20:10, 11; Isaiah 19:11-16
  • 27. Jeremiah 48:15; Malachi 1:14
  • 28. Joshua 19:22; Judges 4:6; Psalms 89:12
  • 29. Joshua 12:22; 1 Kings 18:42

Footnotes 12

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