Jeremiah 51:44

44 And I have seen after Bel in Babylon, And I have brought forth that which he swallowed -- from his mouth, And flow no more unto him do nations, Also the wall of Babylon hath 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.

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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 Come up against Babylon hath the sea, With a multitude of its billows it hath been covered.

43 Its cities have been for a desolation, A dry land, and a wilderness, A land -- none doth dwell in them, Nor pass over into them doth a son of man.

44 And I have seen after Bel in Babylon, And I have brought forth that which he swallowed -- from his mouth, And flow no more unto him do nations, Also the wall of Babylon hath fallen.

45 Go forth from its midst, O My people, And deliver ye, each his soul, Because of the fierceness of the anger of Jehovah,

46 And lest your heart be tender, And ye be afraid of the report that is heard in the land, And come in a year hath the report, And after it in a year the report, And violence [is] in the land, ruler against ruler;