For this [is] the day of the Lord God of hosts
Or, "but this is the day" F25 notwithstanding this great apparatus for war, and those many auxiliaries the Egyptians would have, yet it would not be their day, in which they should get the better of their enemies; but the Lord's day; the day he had appointed; who is the Lord God of all armies, above and below; and who would bring his own armies together when he pleased, and give them victory: a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his enemies:
the enemies of his people, as the Targum; the Egyptians, who had been of old the implacable enemies of his people Israel; though now, contrary to his will, they too much trusted to them, and relied on them; according to Kimchi, this vengeance was taken on them for killing Josiah: and the sword shall devour, and it shall be satiate and made drunk with
their blood;
that is, the sword of the Chaldeans shall destroy the Egyptians in such vast numbers, that there shall be no more to be slain; or there shall be no desire in the enemy to slay any more; they shall be glutted with their blood. All the phrases are designed to show the carnage that should be made; the vast destruction of the people; the large numbers that should be slain: for the Lord God of hosts hath a sacrifice in the north country by the
river Euphrates;
near Carchemish, situated by the river Euphrates, which lay north of Egypt; see ( Jeremiah 46:6 ) . Here is an allusion to the sacrifices of great persons, which are many; the Lord of hosts had a sacrifice, or a great slaughter of men, his enemies; inflicted punishment on them, wherein his power, justice, and holiness, were displayed; see ( Isaiah 34:6 ) .