Jeremiah 46:15

15 Why are your mighty ones face down? They do not stand^[a] because the LORD thrust them down.

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.

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FOOTNOTES:

F9 De Animal. l. 11. c. 10.

Jeremiah 46:15 In-Context

13 The word that the LORD spoke to Jeremiah the prophet about the coming of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to strike the land of Egypt:

14 "Declare in Egypt, and proclaim in Migdol; proclaim in Memphis and Tahpanhes; say, 'Stand ready and be prepared, for the sword shall devour around you.'

15 Why are your mighty ones face down? They do not stand because the LORD thrust them down.

16 He made many stumble, and they fell, and they said one to another, 'Arise, and let us go back to our own people and to the land of our birth, because of the sword of the oppressor.'

17 Call the name of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, 'Noisy one who lets the hour go by.'

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew He does not stand