Jeremiah 50:44

44 Behold, [the enemy] shall come up like a lion from the pride of the Jordan against the strong habitation: for I will suddenly make them run away from it; and whoso is chosen, him will I appoint over it: for who is like me? and who will appoint me a time? and who is the shepherd that can stand before me?

Jeremiah 50:44 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 50:44

Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of
Jordan
What is said of Nebuchadnezzar coming up against Edom is here said of Cyrus coming up against Babylon; for of a king it is to be understood; as the Targum,

``behold, a king with his army shall come up against them, as a lion from the height of Jordan;''
see ( Jeremiah 49:19 ) ; unto the habitation of the strong;
to Babylon; where dwelt the king, his nobles, and his mighty men: but I will make them suddenly run away from her;
as they did from her king Belshazzar, when Gobrias and Gadates entered the royal palace, and seized upon him F1; and who [is] a chosen [man, that] I may appoint over her?
or, "a young man" F2? such an one Cyrus was, who, by divine appointment, became master and governor of Babylon: and who will appoint me the time?
to enter the lists with me, and litigate the point with me in a court of judicature, or contend with me in battle: and who [is] that shepherd that will stand before me?
or king? not Belshazzar, he could not stand before the Lord: so the Targum,
``there is no king that hath strength before me;''
that is, to withstand him, or hinder what he has appointed and ordered to be done; (See Gill on Jeremiah 49:19).
FOOTNOTES:

F1 lbid.
F2 (rwxb ym) "quis juvenis?" Cocceius, Schmidt.

Jeremiah 50:44 In-Context

42 They lay hold on bow and spear; they are cruel, and have no mercy; their voice roareth like the sea; and they ride upon horses, every one set in array, as a man to the battle, against thee, O daughter of Babylon.
43 The king of Babylon hath heard the tidings of them, and his hands wax feeble: anguish hath taken hold of him, [and] pangs as of a woman in travail.
44 Behold, [the enemy] shall come up like a lion from the pride of the Jordan against the strong habitation: for I will suddenly make them run away from it; and whoso is chosen, him will I appoint over it: for who is like me? and who will appoint me a time? and who is the shepherd that can stand before me?
45 Therefore hear ye the counsel of Jehovah, that he hath taken against Babylon; and his purposes, that he hath purposed against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely they shall drag them away, [even] the little ones of the flock; surely he shall make their habitation desolate over them.
46 At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth trembleth, and the cry is heard among the nations.
The American Standard Version is in the public domain.