Jeremiah 46:3

3 Make ye ready shield and target, and go ye forth 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, that was made to Jeremy, the prophet, against heathen men; (The word of the Lord, that was made to the prophet Jeremiah, against the heathen/about the nations;)
2 to Egypt, against the host of Pharaohnecho, king of Egypt, that was beside the flood [of] Euphrates, in Carchemish, whom Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, smote, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, king of Judah. (about Egypt, concerning the army of Pharaoh Necho, the king of Egypt, who was by the Euphrates River, in Carchemish, whom Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, struck, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, the king of Judah.)
3 Make ye ready shield and target, and go ye forth to battle.
4 Join ye horses, and ascend, ye knights; stand ye in helmets, polish ye spears, clothe ye you in habergeons. (Join ye up the horses, and ye horsemen go upon them; stand ye in helmets, polish ye the spears, clothe ye yourselves with breastplates.)
5 What therefore? I saw them dreadful, either afeared, and turning the(ir) backs, the strong men of them (be) slain; and they fled swiftly, and beheld not; dread was on each side, saith the Lord. (But what did I see? I saw them fearful, or afraid, and turning their backs, for their strong men be killed; and the rest swiftly fled away, and beheld not; fear was on all sides, saith the Lord.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.