Jeremiah 50

1 verbum quod locutus est Dominus de Babylone et de terra Chaldeorum in manu Hieremiae prophetae

2 adnuntiate in gentibus et auditum facite levate signum praedicate et nolite celare dicite capta est Babylon confusus est Bel victus est Marodach confusa sunt sculptilia eius superata sunt idola eorum

3 quoniam ascendit contra eam gens ab aquilone quae ponet terram eius in solitudinem et non erit qui habitet in ea ab homine usque ad pecus et moti sunt et abierunt

4 in diebus illis et in tempore illo ait Dominus venient filii Israhel ipsi et filii Iuda simul ambulantes et flentes properabunt et Dominum Deum suum quaerent

5 in Sion interrogabunt viam huc facies eorum venient et adponentur ad Dominum foedere sempiterno quod nulla oblivione delebitur

6 grex perditus factus est populus meus pastores eorum seduxerunt eos feceruntque vagari in montibus de monte in collem transierunt obliti sunt cubilis sui

7 omnes qui invenerunt comederunt eos et hostes eorum dixerunt non peccavimus pro eo quod peccaverunt Domino decori iustitiae et expectationi patrum eorum Domino

8 recedite de medio Babylonis et de terra Chaldeorum egredimini et estote quasi hedi ante greges

9 quoniam ecce ego suscito et adducam in Babylonem congregationem gentium magnarum de terra aquilonis et praeparabuntur adversum eam et inde capietur sagitta eius quasi viri fortis interfectoris non revertetur vacua

10 et erit Chaldea in praedam omnes vastantes eam replebuntur ait Dominus

11 quoniam exultatis et magna loquimini diripientes hereditatem meam quoniam effusi estis sicut vitulus super herbam et mugistis ut tauri

12 confusa est mater vestra nimis et adaequata pulveri quae genuit vos ecce novissima erit in gentibus deserta invia et arens

13 ab ira Domini non habitabitur sed redigetur tota in solitudinem omnis qui transit per Babylonem stupebit et sibilabit super universis plagis eius

14 praeparamini contra Babylonem per circuitum omnes qui intenditis arcum debellate eam non parcatis iaculis quia Domino peccavit

15 clamate adversus eam ubique dedit manum ceciderunt fundamenta eius destructi sunt muri eius quoniam ultio Domini est ultionem accipite de ea sicut fecit facite ei

16 disperdite satorem de Babylone et tenentem falcem in tempore messis a facie gladii columbae unusquisque ad populum suum convertetur et singuli ad terram suam fugient

17 grex dispersus Israhel leones eiecerunt eum primus comedit eum rex Assur iste novissimus exossavit eum Nabuchodonosor rex Babylonis

18 propterea haec dicit Dominus exercituum Deus Israhel ecce ego visitabo regem Babylonis et terram eius sicut visitavi regem Assur

19 et reducam Israhel ad habitaculum suum et pascetur Carmelum et Basan et in monte Ephraim et Galaad saturabitur anima eius

20 in diebus illis et in tempore illo ait Dominus quaeretur iniquitas Israhel et non erit et peccatum Iuda et non invenietur quoniam propitius ero eis quos reliquero

21 super terram dominantium ascende et super habitatores eius visita dissipa et interfice quae post eos sunt ait Dominus et fac iuxta omnia quae praecepi tibi

22 vox belli in terra et contritio magna

23 quomodo confractus est et contritus est malleus universae terrae quomodo versa est in desertum Babylon in gentibus

24 inlaqueavi te et capta es Babylon et nesciebas inventa es et adprehensa quoniam Dominum provocasti

25 aperuit Dominus thesaurum suum et protulit vasa irae suae quoniam opus est Domino Deo exercituum in terra Chaldeorum

26 venite ad eam ab extremis finibus aperite ut exeant qui conculcent eam tollite de via lapides et redigite in acervos et interficite eam nec sit quicquam reliquum

27 dissipate universos fortes eius descendant in occisionem vae eis quia venit dies eorum tempus visitationis eorum

28 vox fugientium et eorum qui evaserunt de terra Babylonis ut adnuntient in Sion ultionem Domini Dei nostri ultionem templi eius

29 adnuntiate in Babylonem plurimis omnibus qui tendunt arcum consistite adversum eam per gyrum et nullus evadat reddite ei secundum opus suum iuxta omnia quae fecit facite illi quia contra Dominum erecta est adversum Sanctum Israhel

30 idcirco cadent iuvenes eius in plateis eius et omnes viri bellatores eius conticescent in die illa ait Dominus

31 ecce ego ad te superbe dicit Dominus Deus exercituum quia venit dies tuus tempus visitationis tuae

32 et cadet superbus et corruet et non erit qui suscitet eum et succendam ignem in urbibus eius et devorabit omnia in circuitu eius

33 haec dicit Dominus exercituum calumniam sustinent filii Israhel et filii Iuda simul omnes qui ceperunt eos tenent nolunt dimittere eos

34 redemptor eorum Fortis Dominus exercituum nomen eius iudicio defendet causam eorum ut exterreat terram et commoveat habitatores Babylonis

35 gladius ad Chaldeos ait Dominus et ad habitatores Babylonis et ad principes et ad sapientes eius

36 gladius ad divinos eius qui stulti erunt gladius ad fortes illius qui timebunt

37 gladius ad equos eius et ad currus eius et ad omne vulgus quod est in medio eius et erunt quasi mulieres gladius ad thesauros eius qui diripientur

38 siccitas super aquas eius erit et arescent quia terra sculptilium est et in portentis gloriantur

39 propterea habitabunt dracones cum fatuis ficariis et habitabunt in ea strutiones et non habitabitur ultra usque ad sempiternum nec extruetur usque ad generationem et generationem

40 sicut subvertit Deus Sodomam et Gomorram et vicinas eius ait Dominus non habitabit ibi vir nec incolet eam filius hominis

41 ecce populus venit ab aquilone et gens magna et reges multi consurgent a finibus terrae

42 arcum et scutum adprehendent crudeles sunt et inmisericordes vox eorum quasi mare sonabit et super equos ascendent sicut vir paratus ad proelium contra te filia Babylon

43 audivit rex Babylonis famam eorum et dissolutae sunt manus eius angustia adprehendit eum dolor quasi parturientem

44 ecce quasi leo ascendet de superbia Iordanis ad pulchritudinem robustam quia subito currere eum faciam ad illam et quis erit electus quem praeponam ei quis enim similis mei et quis sustinebit me et quis est iste pastor qui resistat vultui meo

45 propterea audite consilium Domini quod mente concepit adversum Babylonem et cogitationes eius quas cogitavit super terram Chaldeorum nisi detraxerint eos parvuli gregum nisi dissipatum fuerit cum ipsis habitaculum eorum

46 a voce captivitatis Babylonis commota est terra et clamor inter gentes auditus est

Jeremiah 50 Commentary

Chapter 50

The ruin of Babylon. (1-3,8-16,21-32,35-46;) The redemption of God's people. (4-7,17-20,33,34)

Verses 1-7 The king of Babylon was kind to Jeremiah, yet the prophet must foretell the ruin of that kingdom. If our friends are God's enemies, we dare not speak peace to them. The destruction of Babylon is spoken of as done thoroughly. Here is a word for the comfort of the Jews. They shall return to their God first, then to their own land; the promise of their conversion and reformation makes way for the other promises. Their tears flow not from the sorrow of the world, as when they went into captivity, but from godly sorrow. They shall seek after the Lord as their God, and have no more to do with idols. They shall think of returning to their own country. This represents the return of poor souls to God. In true converts there are sincere desires to attain the end, and constant cares to keep in the way. Their present case is lamented as very sad. The sins of professing Christians never will excuse those who rejoice in destroying them.

Verses 8-20 The desolation that shall be brought upon Babylon is set forth in a variety of expressions. The cause of this destruction is the wrath of the Lord. Babylon shall be wholly desolated; for she hath sinned against the Lord. Sin makes men a mark for the arrows of God's judgments. The mercy promised to the Israel of God, shall not only accompany, but arise from the destruction of Babylon. These sheep shall be gathered from the deserts, and put again into good pasture. All who return to God and their duty, shall find satisfaction of soul in so doing. Deliverances out of trouble are comforts indeed, when fruits of the forgiveness of sin.

Verses 21-32 The forces are mustered and empowered to destroy Babylon. Let them do what God demands, and they shall bring to pass what he threatens. The pride of men's hearts sets God against them, and ripens them apace for ruin. Babylon's pride must be her ruin; she has been proud against the Holy One of Israel; who can keep those up whom God will throw down?

Verses 33-46 It is Israel's comfort in distress, that, though they are weak, their Redeemer is strong. This may be applied to believers, who complain of the dominion of sin and corruption, and of their own weakness and manifold infirmities. Their Redeemer is able to keep what they commit to him; and sin shall not have dominion over them. He will give them that rest which remains for the people of God. Also here is Babylon's sin, and their punishment. The sins are, idolatry and persecution. He that will not save his people in their sins, never will countenance the wickedness of his open enemies. The judgments of God for these sins will lay them waste. In the judgments denounced against prosperous Babylon, and the mercies promised to afflicted Israel, we learn to choose to suffer affliction with the people of God, rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 50

This and the following chapter contain a long prophecy concerning the destruction of Babylon; and which is expressed in such language, that it may be, and is to be, accommodated to the destruction of mystical Babylon; and several passages in the book of the Revelation are borrowed from hence; and it is intermixed with promises and prophecies of the deliverance of God's people from thence, and of the conversion of the Jews, and the restoration of them to their own which will be at that time; see Jer 50:4,5,8,19,20,33,34. The destruction of Babylon in general is proclaimed and declared, and the manner and cause of it, Jer 50:1-13; then the enemies of Babylon are stirred up and animated to proceed against her, and execute the judgments of God upon her, Jer 50:14-30. Next follows the Lord's controversy with her, because of her pride and oppression of his people; and threatens her with the sword, drought, and utter destruction, Jer 50:31-40; and then a description is given of her enemies, that should be the instruments of her destruction, Jer 50:41-44; and the chapter is closed with observing, that this is all according to the counsel and purpose of God, Jer 50:45,46.