Chapter Fifty

1–16. A prophecy concerning Babylon.

Jer 50:1-46. Babylon and its gods shall fall (1–8), and Israel and Judah shall receive freedom at that time (4–5). These are the two main thoughts of the prophecy of chapters L and LI. Developing them, the prophet says that previously the chosen nation suffered much from enemies because of their apostasy from Jehovah, but now they shall depart from Chaldea, which in turn shall be subjected to final desolation for the rejoicing which it displayed while destroying the Judean state. Israel shall settle again upon its land and shall dwell, cleansed from sins, in communion with Jehovah, while Babylon is threatened with terrible invasion by hostile forces, and the sword shall destroy all the Chaldeans (6–46).

Jeremiah 50:1. The word which the Lord spoke concerning Babylon and concerning the land of the Chaldeans through Jeremiah the prophet: “Through Jeremiah the prophet.” This heading is explained by the fact that this prophecy was not spoken personally by Jeremiah, but was sent to Babylon through Seraiah (Jer 51:59).

Jeremiah 50:2. Proclaim and declare among the nations, and raise a standard, proclaim and do not conceal, say: “Babylon is taken, Bel is put to shame, Merodach is shattered, its idols are put to shame, its images are shattered. A standard is a signal for announcing important news. “Bel” is the highest god of the Babylonians (see Isa 46:1). “Merodach” — from the Assyrian Marduk — is the same as Bel.

Jeremiah 50:3. For a nation comes up from the north against it, which shall make its land a desolation, and no one shall dwell in it, neither man nor beast, all shall move away and depart. “From the north... a nation” — see also Jer 51:27.

Jeremiah 50:4. In those days and in that time, says the Lord, the sons of Israel shall come, they and the sons of Judah together, going and weeping, and they shall seek the Lord their God. See Jer 3:18. Tears testify of the true repentance of Israel.

Jeremiah 50:6. My people were like lost sheep; their shepherds led them astray, scattered them on the mountains; they wandered from mountain to hill, they forgot their resting place. See Jer 10:21, 23 and following. The mountains on which the Hebrews lost their way, like sheep, are foreign great kingdoms, from which the Hebrews sought help.

Jeremiah 50:7. All who found them devoured them, and their oppressors said: “We are not guilty, because they sinned before the Lord, the dwelling place of righteousness and before the Lord, the hope of their fathers. See Jer 2:3. The foreign nations took advantage of the fact that the Hebrews forgot their God and thereby remained without protection. “The dwelling place of righteousness” in Jer 31:23 is called Jerusalem, but here it is the Lord Himself, called thus as the true Refuge where the chosen people could find safety for themselves. Jehovah is also called the “hope of their fathers” — see Jer 14:8.

Jeremiah 50:8. Flee from the midst of Babylon, and depart from the land of the Chaldeans, and be like male goats at the head of the flock of sheep. The captive Judeans must first leave Babylon, like male goats go before the flock, and then others shall follow (v. 16).

Jeremiah 50:9. For behold, I shall raise up and bring against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the land of the north, and they shall arrange themselves against it, and it shall be taken; their arrows are like those of a skilled warrior, they do not return in vain. The arrows of the enemies are compared to good warriors who do not return backward without accomplishing the task for which they were sent (“like a skilled warrior” — more accurately: like a skilled warrior).

Jeremiah 50:12. Your mother shall be in great shame, she who bore you shall blush; behold the fate of those nations — a desert, a dry land and a steppe. “Your mother” — your country, Chaldea.

Jeremiah 50:15. Raise a shout against it from all sides; it has surrendered; its fortifications have fallen, its walls are demolished, for this is the vengeance of the Lord; take vengeance on it; as it has done, so do to it. “It has surrendered” — as a sign of surrender. Perhaps they formerly held some sign of capitulation in their hand.

Jeremiah 50:16. Cut off from Babylon both sower and reaper during harvest time; from fear of the destroying sword let each one return to his people, and each one flee to his own land. Within the walls of Babylon there were fertile fields. Concerning the foreigners living in Babylon see Isa 13:14.

Jeremiah 50:21. Go against it, against the land of transgression, and punish its inhabitants; destroy and exterminate all that is behind them, says the Lord, and do everything that I have commanded you. An address to the conqueror who is to take Babylon. “Transgression” — from the Hebrew Meratajim meaning double transgression, placed here in the Hebrew dual number which reinforces the thought, see Judg 15:16; Ps 67:18. “Punish its inhabitants” — more precisely from the Hebrew: “and upon the inhabitants (of the land) of punishment” (pekod). Thus Chaldea is called as the special enemy of Jehovah and as having deserved this opposition, punishment from God. “All that is behind them,” — more precisely: “their last remnant.”

Jeremiah 50:25. The Lord has opened His storehouse and has brought forth the vessels of His wrath, for the Lord God of hosts has work to do in the land of the Chaldeans. “The vessels of His wrath” — His weapons, see Isa 13:5.

Jeremiah 50:27. Kill all her bulls, let them go down to slaughter; woe to them! for their day has come, the time of their visitation. Bulls are the strong, young Chaldeans, see Jer 48:15.

Jeremiah 50:28. The voice of those fleeing and escaping from the land of Babylon is heard, to declare on Zion the vengeance of the Lord our God, the vengeance for His temple. That the temple of Jerusalem would be destroyed by the Chaldeans was already long known to Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 50:31. Behold, I am against you, O pride, says the Lord God of hosts; for your day has come, the time of your visitation. “Pride” — a new name for Babylon.

Jeremiah 50:36. The sword upon the conjurers, and they shall become fools; the sword upon his warriors, and they shall be dismayed; Conjurers are the false prophets of Babylon, astrologers (see Isa 44:25). “They shall become fools,” that is, they shall prove to be fools who understood nothing.

Jeremiah 50:38. A drought upon her waters, and they shall dry up; for it is a land of idols, and they glory in their terrible things. “They glory” — better: they boast of their idols (gods). This is the reason for God’s wrath.

Jeremiah 50:39. And the wild beasts of the desert with the jackals shall dwell there, and the ostriches shall inhabit it; and it shall not be inhabited forever, nor shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation. See Isa 13:20-22 and Isa 34:14.

Jeremiah 50:41. Behold, a people comes from the north, and a great nation, and many kings shall rise from the ends of the earth; Jeremiah 50:42. They hold the bow and the spear; they are cruel and show no mercy; their voice roars like the sea; they ride upon horses, arranged like one man, to fight against you, O daughter of Babylon. Jeremiah 50:43. The king of Babylon heard the report of them, and his hands became weak; anguish seized him, pangs like a woman in labor. See Jer 6:22-24.

Jeremiah 50:44. Behold, He shall come up like a lion from the thicket of the Jordan to the strong dwelling; but I shall make them hasten away from it, and whoever is chosen I shall appoint over it. For who is like Me? And who will summon Me to account? And what shepherd can stand before Me? Jeremiah 50:45. Therefore hear the determination of the Lord, which He has made concerning Babylon, and His purposes, which He purposes concerning the land of the Chaldeans: truly, the least of the flock shall drag them away; truly, He shall make their dwelling desolate with them. Jeremiah 50:46. At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth shall tremble, and the cry shall be heard among the nations. With some changes here are repeated Jer 49:19-21.