Jeremiah 46:15

15 Why hath thy strong man waxed rotten? He stood not, for the Lord underturned him.

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 word which the Lord spake to Jeremy, the prophet, on that that Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, was to coming, and to smiting the land of Egypt. (The word which the Lord spoke to the prophet Jeremiah, when Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, was coming to strike the land of Egypt.)
14 Tell ye (out) to Egypt, and make ye heard in Migdol, and sound it in Memphis, and say ye in Tahpanhes, Stand thou, and make thee ready, for a sword shall devour those things that be by thy compass (for a sword shall devour those things that be all around thee).
15 Why hath thy strong man waxed rotten? He stood not, for the Lord underturned him.
16 He multiplied fallers, and a man fell down to his neighbour; and they shall say, Rise ye, and turn we again to our people, and to the land of our birth, from the face of (the) sword of the culver. (He multiplied the fallen, yea, a man fell upon his neighbour; and they shall say, Rise ye up, and let us return to our people, and to the land of our birth, away from the cruel sword.)
17 Call ye the name of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, The time hath brought noise. (Call ye the name of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, The man who missed his chance.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.