Jeremiah 51:2

2 And I shall send into Babylon winnowers, and they shall winnow it, and shall destroy the land of it; for they came on it on each side, in the day of the torment thereof (for they shall come against it on all sides, on the day of its torment).

Jeremiah 51:2 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 51:2

And I will send unto Babylon farmers, that shall fan her, and
shall empty her land
Or, "strangers that shall fan her" ^F3; meaning the Medes and Persians, who should be like a strong wind upon the mountains, where corn, having been threshed, was fanned, and the chaff carried away by the wind; and such would the Chaldeans be in the hand of the Persians, scattered and dispersed among the nations as chaff with the wind, and their cities be emptied of inhabitants, and of their wealth and riches. The Targum is,

``I will send against Babylon spoilers, that shall spoil and exhaust the land:''

for in the day of trouble they shall be against her round about;
in the time of the siege they shall surround her on all sides, so that none might escape; as Babylon had been a fanner of the Lord's people, now she should be fanned herself, and stripped of all she had; see ( Jeremiah 15:7 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F3 (Myrz) "alienos", Cocceius; some in Vatablus; so Kimchi, Ben Melech, Abendana.

Jeremiah 51:2 In-Context

1 The Lord saith these things, Lo! I shall raise on Babylon, and on the dwellers thereof, that raised their heart against me, as a wind of pestilence. (The Lord saith these things, Lo! I shall raise up a wind of pestilence against Babylon, and against its inhabitants, who raised up their hearts against me.)

2 And I shall send into Babylon winnowers, and they shall winnow it, and shall destroy the land of it; for they came on it on each side, in the day of the torment thereof (for they shall come against it on all sides, on the day of its torment).

3 He that bendeth his bow, bend not, and a man clothed in habergeon, ascend not; do not ye spare the young men thereof, slay ye all the chivalry thereof. (He who bendeth his bow, bend not, and a man clothed in a breastplate, do not go up; do not ye spare its young men, kill ye all its army.)

4 And slain men shall fall in the land of Chaldees, and wounded men in the countries thereof. (And the slain shall fall in the land of the Chaldeans, and the wounded in its streets.)

5 For why Israel and Judah was not made widow(ed) from their God, the Lord of hosts; but the land of them was filled with trespass of the Holy of Israel. (For neither Israel nor Judah were left widowed by their God, the Lord of hosts; though their land was filled with trespass against the Holy One of Israel.)