Jeremiah reproves the Jews in Egypt for continuing in idolatry after the exemplary judgments inflicted by God on their nation for that sin, 1-14; and, upon their refusing to reform, denounces destruction to them, and to that kingdom wherein they sought protection, 15–30.

OL cir. LII. 2.

Servii Tullii,

R. Roman, cir. annum 8.

THE word that came to Jere- other gods, whom they knew not,
miah concerning all the Jews neither they, ye, nor your fa-
which dwell in the land of Egypt,

с

which dwell at a Migdol, and at Tahpanhes, and at Noph, and in the country of Pathros, saying,

2 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Ye have seen all the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, and upon all the cities of Judah; and, behold, this day they are da desolation, and no man dwelleth therein,

3 Because of their wickedness. which they have committed to provoke me to anger, in that they went to burn incense, and to serve

B Exod. xiv. 2; chap. xlvi. 14. Chap. xliii. 7.-
Chap. ix. 11; xxxiv. 22.—e Chap. xix. 4.

13.

thers.

A. M. cir. 3433.
Ol. cir. LII. 2.

B. C. cir. 571.

Servii Tullii,

R. Roman, cir. annum 8.

4 Howbeit I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying, O, do not this abominable thing that I hate.

5 But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear to turn from their wickedness, to burn no incense unto other gods.

6 Wherefore my fury and mine anger was poured forth, and was kindled in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; and they are wasted and desolate, as at this day. Isa. xix. Deut. xiii. 6; xxxii. 17.- 2 Chron.. xxxvi. 15; chap. vii. 25; xxv. 4; xxvi. 5; xxix. 19.- Chap. xlii. 18.

NOTES ON CHAP. XLIV. Verse 1. The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews] Dahler supposes this discourse to have been delivered in the seventeenth or eighteenth year after the taking of Jerusalem.

great when this, in almost any sense, could be spoken of it.

Verse 4. O, do not this abominable thing] A strong specimen of affectionate entreaty. One of the finest figures of poetry, when judiciously managed, the

Which dwell at Migdol] A city of Lower Egypt, anthropopathia, the ascribing human passions to God, not far from Pelusium..

is often used by this prophet: so God is said to grieve,

Tahpanhes] Daphne Pelusiaca, the place to which to mourn, to have his bowels moved with compassion, the emigrant Jews first went,

Noph] Maphes, Targum. Memphis, a celebrated city of Middle Egypt, and the capital of its district.

The country of Pathros] A district of Upper Egypt, known by the name of the Thebais. See Bochart, Lib. Phaleg, lib. iv., c. 22. Thus we find that the Jews were scattered over the principal parts of Egypt.

Verse 2. No man dwelleth therein] The desolation of the land of Judea must have been exceedingly

to repent, to be angry, &c. Here he is represented as tenderly expostulating: O, do not; or, I entreat you, do not that abominable thing which I hate. 1. Do it not your God commands. 2. O, do it not: your Father entreats. 3. It is an abominable thing, and should not be done, 4. I hate it, and on that account ye should abstain from it.

Verse 5. But they hearkened not] 1. They disregarded the authority of their God, 2. They were not moved by the entreaties of their most affectionate Father. 3. In abominations they delighted. And, 4.

God will exercise long-suffering

4. M. cir. 3433. Ol. cir. L.II. 2.

B. C. cir. 571.

Servii Tullii, R. Roman., cir. annum. 8.

CHAP. XLIV.

towards the people no more.

her, and pour out drink-offer- | offerings unto her: ye will surely ings unto her, without our men? accomplish your vows, and surely 20 Then Jeremiah said unto perform your vows. all the people, to the men, and to the women, and to all the people which had given him that answer, saying,

21 The incense that ye burned in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, ye, and your fathers, your kings, and your princes, and the people of the land, did not the LORD remember them, and came it not into his mind? 22 So that the LORD could no longer bear, because of the evil of your doings and because of the abominations which ye have committed; therefore is your land a desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse, without an inhabitant, as at this day.

e

23 Because ye have burned incense, and because ye have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, nor walked in his law, nor in his statutes, nor in his testimonies; therefore this evil is happened unto you, as at this day.

24 Moreover Jeremiah said unto all the people, and to all the women, Hear the word of the LORD, all Judah that are in the land of Egypt: 25 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying; Ye and your wives have both spoken with your mouths, and fulfilled with your hand, saying, We will surely perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink

Verse 22. Therefore is your land a desolation] I grant that ye and your husbands have joined together in these abominations; and what is the consequence "The Lord could no longer bear because of your evil doings; and therefore is your land a desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse, without an inhabitant, this day."

Verse 30. Behold I will give Pharaoh-hophra] That is, Pharaoh Apries. How this and the prophecies in the preceding chapter were fulfilled, we learn from ancient historians. The sum of such information is this: the subjects of Pharaoh Apries rebelling, he sent Ama

k

A. M. cir. 3433.
Ol. cir. LII. 2.

B. C. cir. 571.

Servii Tullii,

R. Roman., cir. annum 8.

26 Therefore hear ye the word of the LORD, all Judah that dwell in the land of Egypt; Behold, I have sworn by my great name, saith the LORD, that my name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, The Lord GOD liveth.

m

27 Behold, I will watch over them for evil, and not for good; and all the men of Judah that are in the land of Egypt shall be con sumed by the sword and by the famine, until there be an end of them.

28 Yet "a small number that escape the sword shall return out of the land of Egypt into the land of Judah, and all the remnant of Judah, that are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, shall know whose words shall stand, P mine or theirs.

29 And this shall be a sign unto you, saith the LORD, that I will punish you in this place; that ye may know that my words shall a 4 surely stand against you for evil:

30 Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will give Pharaoh-hophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies, and into the hand of them that seek his life; as I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, his enemy, and that songht his life.

sis, one of his generals, to reduce them to their duty. But no sooner had Amasis begun to make his speech, than they fixed a helmet on his head, and proclaimed him king. Amasis accepted the title, and confirmed the Egyptians in their revolt; and the greater part of the nation declaring for him, Apries was obliged to retire into Upper Egypt, and the country being thus weakened by intestine war, was attacked and easily overcome by Nebuchadnezzar, who on quitting it left Amasis his viceroy. After Nebuchadnezzar's departure, Apries marched against Amasis; but, being defeated at Memphis, was taken prisoner, carried to Sais, and was strangled in his own palace, thus verifying this prophecy. See Herodotus in Euterpe.

Thus Nebuchadnezzar made an easy conquest of the land. He conquered it as easily as "a shepherd puts on his cloak: he went thence in peace," having clothed himself with its spoils; and left all quiet under a viceroy of his own choosing. The rebellion of Pha

Jeremiah assures Baruch

JEREMIAH.

of the Divine protection.

raoh's subjects was the "fire that God kindled in and "into the hand of him who sought his life,” i. e., Egypt," chap. xliii. 12. And thus was he "delivered Amasis his general. And thus the whole prophecy into the hands of his enemies," his revolted people; was literally fulfilled.

CHAPTER XLV.

This chapter is evidently connected with the subject treated of in the thirty-sixth. Baruch, who had written the prophecies of Jeremiah, and read them publicly in the temple, and afterwards to many of the princes, is in great affliction because of the awful judgments with which the land of Judah was about to be visited; and also on account of the imminent danger to which his own life was exposed, in publishing such unwelcome tidings, 1-3. To remove Baruch's fear with respect to this latter circumstance, the prophet assures him that though the total destruction of Judea was determined because of the great wickedness of the inhabitants, yet his life should be preserved amidst the general desolation, 4, 5,

A. M. cir. 3397.

Ol. XLIII. 2.

Anno

B. C. cir. 607.
OL. XLIII. 2.
Anno

B. C. cir. 607. THE word that Jeremiah the a word that Jeremiah the 4 Thus shalt thou say unto A. M. cir. 3397. prophet spake unto Baruch the him, The LORD saith thus; BeTarquinii Prisci, son of Neriah, when he had writ- hold, that which I have built Tarquinii Prisci, R. Roman., 10. ten these words in a book at the will I break down, and that R. Roman., 10. mouth of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoi- which I have planted I will pluck up, even akim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying, this whole land. 2 Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, unto thee, O Baruch,

b

5 And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the LORD: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest.

d Chap. xxv. 26.———e Chap. xxi. 9; xxxviii. 2; xxxix. 18. tional amendment, till national judgments have taker place. And as for any benefit to thyself, think it suf ficient that God has determined to preserve thy life amidst all these dangers.

Verse 1. The word that Jeremiah-spake unto Baruch] This is another instance of shameless transposition. This discourse was delivered in the fourth year of Jehoiakim, several years before Jerusalem was taken by the Chaldeans. It is a simple append-is age to chap. xxxvi., and there it should have been fore, chap. xxi. 9, xxxviii. 2, xxxix. 18; and it apinserted.

Verse 3. Thou didst say, Wo is me now!] All that were the enemies of Jeremiah became his enemies too; and he needed these promises of support.

The Lord hath added grief to my sorrow] He had mourned for the desolations that were coming on his country, and now he mourns for the dangers to which he feels his own life exposed; for we find, from chap. xxxvi. 26, that the king had given commandment to take both Baruch and Jeremiah, in order that they might be put to death at the instance of his nobles.

Verse 4. Behold, that which I have built] I most certainly will fulfil all those threatenings contained in the roll thou hast written; for I will destroy this whole land.

Verse 5. And seekest thou great things for thyself?] Nothing better can be expected of this people: thy hopes in reference to them are vain. Expect no na

But thy life will I give unto thee for a prey] This a proverbial expression. We have met with it be

pears to have this meaning. As a prey or spoil is that which is gained from a vanquished enemy, so it is preserved with pleasure as the proof and reward of a man's own valour. So Baruch's life should be doubly precious unto him, not only on account of the dangers through which God had caused him to pass safely, but also on account of those services he had been enabled to render, the consolations he had received, and the continual and very evident interposition of God in his behalf. All these would be dearer to him than the spoils of a vanquished foe to the hero who had overcome in battle.

Spoil may signify unlooked-for gain. The preservation of his life, in such circumstances, must be more than he could reasonably expect; but his life should be safe, and he should have it as a spoil, whithersoever he should go, This assurance must have quieted all his fears.

CHAPTER XLVI.

The difference between the preceding and the subsequent prophecies in point of composition is very remarkable; the last excelling much in majesty and elegance. This chapter (of which the first verse forms a general title to this and the five chapters following) contains two distinct prophecies relating to Egypt. ( 24* )

370

A prophecy of the

CHAP. XLVI.

overthrow of Egypt.

The first was delivered previous to an engagement between Pharaoh-necho, king of Egypt, and Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon; in which the Egyptians were routed in Carchemish with great slaughter, as here predicted. The prophet sees the mighty preparations; but they are all declared to be of no avail, as God had decreed their fall, 1-6. The king of Egypt, however, is represented as marching with all the confidence of victory, like a river overflowing its banks, and threatening all around with its inundation, 7, 8. But this immense armament of Pharaoh-necho, consisting of various nations, shall, by a righteous judgment of God, receive such a signal overthrow near the river Euphrates, that the political consequence of Egypt shall be thereby irretrievably ruined, and its remaining power become contemptible in the sight of the nations, 9-12. The other prophecy, beginning at the thirteenth verse, relates to the memorable overthrow of the Egyptians by Nebuchadnezzar, subsequent to his siege of Tyre, in the sixteenth year after the destruction of Jerusalem, 13–26. The promise, in the conclusion of the chapter, of preservation to the Jews, (who have for many ages continued a distinct people, when the various nations of antiquity who oppressed them, or with whom they had any intercourse, have long ago ceased to have any separate and visible existence,) has been most remarkably fulfilled; and is a very signal act of providence, and a pledge of the restoration of Israel to the Divine favour, when the time of the Gentiles shall be fulfilled, 27, 28. THE word of the LORD which and turned away back? and their

A. M. cir. 3397.
B. C. cir. 607.

Ol. XLIII. 2.
Tarquinii Prisci,
R. Ronan,
cir. annum 10.

came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Gentiles;

2 Against Egypt, against the army of Pharaoh-necho king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon smote in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah.

3 Order ye the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle.

4 Harness the horses; and get up, ye horsemen, and stand forth with your helmets; furbish the spears, and put on the brigandines. 5. Wherefore have I seen them dismayed Chap. xxv. 15, &c.- b2 Kings xxxiii. 29; 2 Chron. xxxv. 20. So chap. li. 11, 12; Nah. ii. 1; iii. 14.—d Heb. broken in pieces. NOTES ON CHAP. XLVI.

e

mighty ones are beaten down,
and are fled
apace, and look not
back: for fear was round about,
saith the LORD.

M. cir. 3397: O1. XLIII. 2. Tarquinii Prisci; R. Roman., cir. annum 10.

B. C. cir. 607.

6 Let not the swift flee away, nor the mighty man escape; they shall stumble, and fall toward the north by the river Euphrates. 7 Who is this that cometh up has a flood, whose waters are moved as the rivers? 8 Egypt riseth up like a flood, and his waters are moved like the rivers; and he saith, I will go up, and will cover the earth; I will. destroy the city and the inhabitants thereof. 9 Come up, ye horses; and rage, ye chariots; Heb. fled a flight.Chap. vi. 25; xlix. 29.- - Dan. xi. 19: See Isa. viii. 7, 8; chap. xlvii. 2; Dan. xi. 22.

Brigandines.] A coat of mail, especially that which Verse 1. The word of the Lord-against the Gen-was made scale fashion; one plate overlapping the tiles] This is a general title to the following collec-other, like the scales of fish.

tion of prophecies, written concerning different nations, Verse 5. Wherefore have I seen them dismayed] which had less or more connexion with the Jews, either What! such a numerous, formidable, and well-appointed as enemies, neighbours, or allies. army panic-struck? So that they have turned back They were not written at the same time; and though-fled apace, and looked not round; while their mighty some of them bear dates, yet it would be difficult to ones their generals and commanders, striving to rally give them any chronological arrangement. Dahler's them, are beaten down. mode of ascertaining the times of their delivery may be seen in the table in the introduction.

Verse 6. Let not the swift flee away] Even the swiftest shall not be able to escape.

Egyptian army was routed with great slaughter.

Verse 2. Pharaoh-necho] This was the person who They shall fall toward the north] By the Eudefeated the army of Josiah, in which engagement Jo-phrates, which was northward of Judea. Here the siah received a mortal wound, of which he died, greatly regretted, soon after at Megiddo. After this victory, he defeated the Babylonians, and took Carchemish; and, having fortified it, returned to his own country. Nabopolassar sent his son Nebuchadnezzar with an army against him, defeated him with immense slaughter near the river Euphrates, retook Carchemish, and subdued all the revolted provinces, according to the following prophecies.

Verse 3. Order ye the buckler] This is the call to the general armament of the people against the Chaldeans. Verse 4. Furbish the spears] Cleanse, brighten, and sharpen them; from the Franco-Gallic fourbir, to polish, brighten.

Verse 7. Who is this that cometh up as a flood The vast concourse of people is here represented as a river: for instance, the Jordan, suddenly swollen with the rains in harvest, rolling its waters along, and overflowing the whole country. A fine image to represent the incursions of vast armies carrying all before them. Such was the army of Pharaoh-necho in its march to Carchemish.

1

Verse 9. The Ethiopians] Heb. Cush, Phut, and the Ludim. This army was composed of many nations. Cush, which we translate Ethiopians, almost invariably means the Arabians; and here, those Arabs that bordered on Egypt near the Red Sea.

Phut pro