Jeremiah 51:44

44 I will punish Bel in Babylon, and make him disgorge what he has swallowed. The nations shall no longer stream to him; the wall of Babylon has fallen.

Jeremiah 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.

Jeremiah 51:44 In-Context

42 The sea has risen over Babylon; she has been covered by its tumultuous waves.

43 Her cities have become an object of horror, a land of drought and a desert, a land in which no one lives, and through which no mortal passes.

44 I will punish Bel in Babylon, and make him disgorge what he has swallowed. The nations shall no longer stream to him; the wall of Babylon has fallen.

45 Come out of her, my people! Save your lives, each of you, from the fierce anger of the Lord!

46 Do not be fainthearted or fearful at the rumors heard in the land— one year one rumor comes, the next year another, rumors of violence in the land and of ruler against ruler.