Bible Commentaries
E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes
Jeremiah 51
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.
Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos.
Me. A Massoretic note (App-30) says that this is a cryptogram (Hebrew "Casdim"), meaning "the Chaldees". See note on Jeremiah 51:41; Jeremiah 25:26.
destroying = laying waste. Hebrew. shahath. The same word as in verses: Jeremiah 51:11, Jeremiah 51:20, Jeremiah 51:25. Not the same as in verses: Jeremiah 51:3, Jeremiah 51:8, Jeremiah 51:54, Jeremiah 3:55.
wind. Hebrew. ruach. App-9.
Against him that bendeth, &c. The Massorah (App-30), instead of cancelling the repeated word "against . . . and against" ("el), directs the substitution of "al, "not . . . and not". The verse will then read, "Let not the archer bend his bow, nor let him lift himself up in his coat of mail" (i.e. in defence of Babylon). This is so read in two early printed editions, Chaldee, Syriac, Vulgate, and Revised Version.
brigandine = coat of mail.
destroy = break down. Hebrew. haram. Same word as Jeremiah 51:54. Not the same as verses: Jeremiah 51:1, Jeremiah 51:8, Jeremiah 51:11, Jeremiah 51:20, Jeremiah 51:25, Jeremiah 51:25, Jeremiah 51:54, Jeremiah 51:55.
Israel . . . Judah. Now one People again.
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4.
the LORD of Hosts. See note on Jeremiah 6:6, and 1 Samuel 1:3.
sin. Hebrew. chata.
the Holy One of Israel. See note on Psalms 71:22.
every man. Hebrew. "ish. App-14.
soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.
iniquity. Hebrew. "avah. App-44. Put by Fig, Metonymy (of Cause), for the judgment brought down by it. Compare Revelation 18:4.
is suddenly, &c. This must refer to a future fulfilment, for the present condition came gradually, See Isaiah 21:9; Isaiah 47:9, Isaiah 47:11. Compare Revelation 14:8; Revelation 18:8, Revelation 18:10, Revelation 18:17, Revelation 18:19.
destroyed = broken down. Hebrew. shabar. Not the same as in verses: Jeremiah 51:1, Jeremiah 51:3, Jeremiah 51:11, Jeremiah 1:20, Jeremiah 1:25, Jeremiah 1:25, Jeremiah 1:55.
take balm = fetch balSamaritan Pentateuch Compare Jeremiah 8:22; Jeremiah 46:11.
spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9.
the Medes. In the person of Cyrus and others (App-57). Here the then immediate calamity is referred to.
vengeance = avengement.
upon many waters. Compare Jeremiah 51:42, and Jeremiah 50:38, also Revelation 17:1, Revelation 17:15.
covetousness = dishonest or unrighteous gain.
by Himself = by His soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia.
caterpillers = locusts. Compare Joel 2:2. Nahum 3:15.
they: i.e. the assailants.
made the earth, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Gen 1). Compare Jeremiah 10:12, &c. verses: Jeremiah 51:15-19 are repeated from Jeremiah 10:12-16.
is brutish by, &c. = is become too brutish to know.
confounded = put to shame.
breath. Hebrew. ruach. App-9.
The Portion of Jacob, &c. Note the Alternation in Jeremiah 51:19, Not such as these is Jacob's Portion: (Deuteronomy 32:9. Psalms 16:5). For [the] Former of all things is He: And the Sceptre of his (Israel"s) inheritance: The LORD of hosts is His Name (Deuteronomy 10:9).
My battle axe: or, My hammer, i.e. Cyrus. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia.
with thee will I break in pieces = with thee will I beat down. Note the Figure of speech Anaphora, by which ten successive sentences commence with these words, This is for special emphasis.
not take of thee . . . forever. This again must refer to a future fulfilment. The two destructions are intertwined. Compare Jeremiah 51:62.
for ever. See App-151.
prepare = set apart, or sanctify.
Minni. Frequently mentioned in the inscriptions, the Assyrians having been compelled to quell revolts there.
captain = muster-master or marshal, like the Assyrian dupsarru, or tablet-writer. Hebrew. tiphsar. Occurs only here and Nahum 3:17.
post = runner.
at one end. Supply the Ellipsis by the word "each", instead of "one" = "at [each] end". This will accord with the history; for Herodotus says the Babylonians retired to the city, and "remained in their holds". Cyrus, having turned the waters of the Euphrates, entered the city, by the bed of the river, at each end (see Herod 1 191). Compare Daniel 5:3, Daniel 5:4, Daniel 5:23, Daniel 5:30. The Revised Version, "on every quarter", quite misses the point. This passage, therefore, belongs to the past fulfilment; while others still await a future fulfilment.
me. Here, and in Jeremiah 51:35, the Hebrew text reads "us"; but the margin, and some codices, with two early printed editions, read "me", which is followed by the Authorized Version.
inhabitant = inhabitress.
upon. Hebrew text reads "against", but a special various reading called Sevir (App-34) has "upon", with some codices, one early printed edition, Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, which are followed by Authorized Version.
dry up. Referring to the act of Cyrus (by Gobryas). Compare Jeremiah 51:31, above.
sea = the river Euphrates. So called from its breadth.
dragons = jackals.
without an inhabitant. This carries us on to the future again. Compare 1 Peter 5:13.
the heaven . . . shall sing. Figure of speech Poeanismos and Prosopopoeia.
all that is therein. Compare Revelation 19:1-3.
destroyed = caused to perish. Hebrew. "abar. Not the same as in verses: Jeremiah 51:1, Jeremiah 51:3, Jeremiah 51:8, Jeremiah 1:11, Jeremiah 1:20, Jeremiah 1:25, Jeremiah 1:54.
walls. Some codices, with two early printed editions, Septuagint, and Vulgate, read "wall".
people = peoples.
be weary = faint.
The Fifty-First Prophecy of Jeremiah (see book comments for Jeremiah).
Seraiah. The brother of Baruch(Jeremiah 32:12. Compare Jeremiah 45:1).
when he went, &c. Probably to renew his oath of allegiance. Compare Jeremiah 27:1; Jeremiah 28:1.
quiet prince. Probably chief chamberlain. Revised Version margin, "quartermaster. "Hebrew = quiet resting-place (Isaiah 32:18). Probably his office was to prepare the night's camping place during the journey to Babylon.
desolate for ever = age-abiding desolations, show-ing that this prophecy must wait a future fulfilment.
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