Jeremías 51:44

44 Y visitaré al mismo Bel en Babilonia, y sacaré de su boca lo que ha tragado; y no vendrán más a él gentiles; y el muro de Babilonia caerá

Jeremías 51:44 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 51:44

And I will punish Bel in Babylon
The idol of the Babylonians, who had a temple in Babylon, where he was worshipped: the same is called Belus by Aelianus ^F7, Curtius ^F8, and Pausanias ^F9; perhaps the same Herodian ^F11 calls Belis, and says some take him to be Apollo; for more of him, (See Gill on Isaiah 46:1); and (See Gill on Jeremiah 50:2); who was punished when his temple was demolished, and plundered of its wealth; this golden image of Belus was broke to pieces, and the gold of it carried away. The Targum is,

``I will visit or punish them that worship Bel in Babylon:''

and I will bring forth out of his mouth that which he hath swallowed
up;
the rich offerings made to him when victories were obtained; all success being ascribed to him; and the spoils of conquered enemies, which were brought and laid up in his temple, particularly the vessels of the sanctuary at Jerusalem, which were deposited there; see ( 2 Chronicles 36:7 2 Chronicles 36:18 ) ( Daniel 1:2 ) ; and which were restored by Cyrus, ( Ezra 1:7 Ezra 1:8 ) ; which restoration of them greatly fulfilled this prophecy; and was a refunding of what was lodged with him, or a vomiting what he had swallowed up; compare with this the story of "Bel and the dragon": and the nations shall not flow together any more unto him;
either to worship him, or bring their presents to him, to ingratiate themselves with the king of Babylon: yea, the wall of Babylon shall fall;
which Bel was not able to defend; and therefore should be deserted by his worshippers. The Targum renders it in the plural, the walls of Babylon; of which, (See Gill on Jeremiah 51:58). Some think that not the wall of the city is here meant: but the temple of Bel, which was as a wall or fortress to the city; but now should fall, and be so no more; since it is not easy to give a reason why mention here should be made of the fall of the walls of the city; and seeing express mention is made of this afterwards.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F7 Var. Hist. l. 13. c. 3.
F8 Hist. l. 5. c. 1.
F9 L. 1. sive Attica, p. 29.
F11 Hist. l. 8. c. 7.

Jeremías 51:44 In-Context

42 Subió el mar sobre Babilonia; de la multitud de sus ondas fue cubierta

43 Sus ciudades fueron asoladas, la tierra seca y desierta, tierra que no morará en ella nadie, ni pasará por ella hijo de hombre

44 Y visitaré al mismo Bel en Babilonia, y sacaré de su boca lo que ha tragado; y no vendrán más a él gentiles; y el muro de Babilonia caerá

45 Salid de en medio de ella, pueblo mío, y salvad cada uno su vida de la ira del furor del SEÑOR

46 Y para que no desmaye vuestro corazón, y temáis a causa de la noticia que se oirá por la tierra, en un año vendrá la noticia, y después en otro año el rumor, y luego vendrá la violencia en la tierra, y el enseñoreador sobre el que enseñorea