1 The word of the Lord which came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Gentiles;

2 Against Egypt, against the army of Pharaohnecho 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 and turned away back? and their mighty ones are beaten down, and are fled apace, and look not back: for fear was round about, saith the Lord.

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 as 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; and let the mighty men come forth; the Ethiopians and the Libyans, that handle the shield; and the Lydians, that handle and bend the bow.

10 For this is the day of the Lord God of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries: and the sword shall devour, and it shall be satiate and made drunk with their blood: for the Lord God of hosts hath a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates.

11 Go up into Gilead, and take balm, O virgin, the daughter of Egypt: in vain shalt thou use many medicines; for thou shalt not be cured.

12 The nations have heard of thy shame, and thy cry hath filled the land: for the mighty man hath stumbled against the mighty, and they are fallen both together.

13 The word that the Lord spake to Jeremiah the prophet, how Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon should come and smite the land of Egypt.

14 Declare ye in Egypt, and publish in Migdol, and publish in Noph and in Tahpanhes: say ye, Stand fast, and prepare thee; for the sword shall devour round about thee.

15 Why are thy valiant men swept away? they stood not, because the Lord did drive them.

16 He made many to fall, yea, one fell upon another: and they said, Arise, and let us go again to our own people, and to the land of our nativity, from the oppressing sword.

17 They did cry there, Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a noise; he hath passed the time appointed.

18 As I live, saith the King, whose name is the Lord of hosts, Surely as Tabor is among the mountains, and as Carmel by the sea, so shall he come.

19 O thou daughter dwelling in Egypt, furnish thyself to go into captivity: for Noph shall be waste and desolate without an inhabitant.

20 Egypt is like a very fair heifer, but destruction cometh; it cometh out of the north.

21 Also her hired men are in the midst of her like fatted bullocks; for they also are turned back, and are fled away together: they did not stand, because the day of their calamity was come upon them, and the time of their visitation.

22 The voice thereof shall go like a serpent; for they shall march with an army, and come against her with axes, as hewers of wood.

23 They shall cut down her forest, saith the Lord, though it cannot be searched; because they are more than the grasshoppers, and are innumerable.

24 The daughter of Egypt shall be confounded; she shall be delivered into the hand of the people of the north.

25 The Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saith; Behold, I will punish the multitude of No, and Pharaoh, and Egypt, with their gods, and their kings; even Pharaoh, and all them that trust in him:

26 And I will deliver them into the hand of those that seek their lives, and into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of his servants: and afterward it shall be inhabited, as in the days of old, saith the Lord.

27 But fear not thou, O my servant Jacob, and be not dismayed, O Israel: for, behold, I will save thee from afar off, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and be in rest and at ease, and none shall make him afraid.

28 Fear thou not, O Jacob my servant, saith the Lord: for I am with thee; for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee: but I will not make a full end of thee, but correct thee in measure; yet will I not leave thee wholly unpunished.

Commentary

Verse 1

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
The defeat of the Egyptians.
The whole word of God is against those who obey not the gospel of Christ; but it is for those, even of the Gentiles, who turn to Him. The prophecy begins with Egypt. Let them strengthen themselves with all the art and interest they have, yet it shall be all in vain. The wounds God inflicts on his enemies, cannot be healed by medicines. Power and prosperity soon pass from one to another in this changing world.
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
The word - This verse contains the title of all the ensuing discourses; for, tho' there be some verses in these chapters that relate to the Jews, yet they are all concerning their restoration. The prophecies of judgments from the beginning of this chapter to the fifty - second, are all against foreign nations, which are called Gentiles.
John Calvin Bible Commentary
Jeremiah begins here to prophesy against foreign nations, and continues to do so to the last chapter but one, not that he then for the first time began to announce these oracles, but as I have already said, a volume was at length formed, including his prophecies, the order of time being not everywhere observed; for we see in the 25th chapter that he threatened heathen nations with the punishments they had deserved before Jehoiakim was made king. But as I have said, the prophecies respecting heathen nations have been separated, though as to time Jeremiah had predicted what afterwards happened.
McArther Bible Commentary
against the nations. Jeremiah had already proclaimed that all the nations at some time are to "drink the cup" of God's wrath (Jer 25:15-26). In chapters 46-51, God selected certain nations and forecast their doom. Likely given to Jeremiah at different times, the prophecies were collected according to the nations, not the chronology.
Bible Cross References
Jeremiah 1:10 Jeremiah 25:15 Jeremiah 43:11

Verse 2

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
The defeat of the Egyptians.
The whole word of God is against those who obey not the gospel of Christ; but it is for those, even of the Gentiles, who turn to Him. The prophecy begins with Egypt. Let them strengthen themselves with all the art and interest they have, yet it shall be all in vain. The wounds God inflicts on his enemies, cannot be healed by medicines. Power and prosperity soon pass from one to another in this changing world.
McArther Bible Commentary
Against Egypt. Cf. Isaiah 19; 20; Ezekiel 29-32. Verses Jer 46:2-12 depict Pharaoh Necho's overthrow by the Babylonians at Carchemish by the Euphrates River in 605 B.C., in which Egypt lost all its territory west of the river.
Bible Cross References
2 Kings 18:21 2 Kings 23:29 2 Kings 23:33 2 Kings 24:7 2 Chronicles 35:20 Isaiah 10:9 Jeremiah 25:1 Jeremiah 25:19 Jeremiah 36:1 Jeremiah 43:11 Jeremiah 45:1 Jeremiah 46:14 Ezekiel 29:1 Ezekiel 29:2

Verse 3

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
The defeat of the Egyptians.
The whole word of God is against those who obey not the gospel of Christ; but it is for those, even of the Gentiles, who turn to Him. The prophecy begins with Egypt. Let them strengthen themselves with all the art and interest they have, yet it shall be all in vain. The wounds God inflicts on his enemies, cannot be healed by medicines. Power and prosperity soon pass from one to another in this changing world.
John Calvin Bible Commentary
Jeremiah uses now a form of speaking very common in the Prophets though remote from common use. For the Prophets, when they denounce God’s judgments and punishments on the ungodly, do not speak in a simple language, as though they were giving a narrative, but they employed figurative expressions, as though they wished to introduce men into the very scene itself. And that their doctrine might more effectually penetrate into the hearts of men, they bring forward various persons; they at one time introduce God as speaking, and at another they pronounce this or that according to the sentiments of others; and again, they declare the commands of God. Jeremiah begins here by summoning the Egyptians, as though he were the herald of Pharaoh, and thus borrows the name of another person. He says, PrepareThe verbערך, orec, properly means to set in order, but here it signifies to prepare;Prepare, then,the buckler and the shieldThe wordצנה,tsane, was a shield of a larger form, andמגן,megen, seems to have been a buckler carried by horsemen of light armor.And come near to battle: He then adds,Bindor hethe horsesThe manner of fighting is not the same now as it was formerly; they fought in chariots, as heathen authors abundantly shew. He therefore says, he the horses, that is, join them together that they may draw the chariots.Go up, ye horsemen, stand in your helmets, clean your lances, and put on your coats of mail.The meaning is, that Egyptians would come well prepared with all kinds of arms that they might be formidable to their enemies. And hence the vengeance appeared more clearly, because they had been well furnished, so that they might seem to have gained the victory before they engaged with their enemies. This is the reason why the Prophet enumerates their complete armor, having omitted no material part; he mentionsthe lances, the helmets, the coats of mail, the chariots, the horses, andthe shield, so that victory, according to the judgment of men, was already theirs. This is the first thing.But we must observe the design of the Holy Spirit; it was his purpose to remove the veil from the eyes of the faithful, which for the most part prevents us to see as clearly as we ought the power of God; for when we fix our attention on warlike preparations, we do not think that anything is left for God to do; for they who are well prepared seem to be beyond the hazard of losing the day. That the Jews then might know that it would be nothing for God to punish the Egyptians, he records this preparation. And there is a kind of concession when he says, They shall indeed be furnished with a helmet, a coat of mail, a shield, a sword, and a lance; but all this would avail nothing as to the issue. Then from this prophetic word let us learn, that God makes no account of all those things which men prepare when they wish to effect anything. For smoke is everything that dazzles our eyes; so forces and arms have no importance before God; for by a single blast he can dissipate all such clouds. And this truth is very useful; for we look on external things, and when anything specious presents itself to us, we are immediately taken up with it, and rob God of all power; for we transfer his glory to these masks which appear before us. We now then understand why the Prophet speaks here of bucklers, and shields, and lances, and chariots, and helmets, and coats of mail.
McArther Bible Commentary
Here was a derisive call to Egypt to ready itself for defeat.
Bible Cross References
Isaiah 21:5 Jeremiah 51:11 Joel 3:9 Nahum 2:1 Nahum 3:14

Verse 4

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
The defeat of the Egyptians.
The whole word of God is against those who obey not the gospel of Christ; but it is for those, even of the Gentiles, who turn to Him. The prophecy begins with Egypt. Let them strengthen themselves with all the art and interest they have, yet it shall be all in vain. The wounds God inflicts on his enemies, cannot be healed by medicines. Power and prosperity soon pass from one to another in this changing world.
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Brigandines - Coats of mail.
Bible Cross References
1 Samuel 17:5 1 Samuel 17:38 2 Chronicles 26:14 Nehemiah 4:16 Jeremiah 51:3 Jeremiah 51:11 Ezekiel 21:9 Joel 3:9

Verse 5

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
The defeat of the Egyptians.
The whole word of God is against those who obey not the gospel of Christ; but it is for those, even of the Gentiles, who turn to Him. The prophecy begins with Egypt. Let them strengthen themselves with all the art and interest they have, yet it shall be all in vain. The wounds God inflicts on his enemies, cannot be healed by medicines. Power and prosperity soon pass from one to another in this changing world.
Bible Cross References
Isaiah 5:25 Isaiah 13:8 Isaiah 42:17 Jeremiah 6:25 Jeremiah 20:3 Jeremiah 20:4 Jeremiah 46:15 Jeremiah 46:21 Jeremiah 49:5 Jeremiah 49:29 Ezekiel 39:18 Nahum 2:8

Verse 6

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
The defeat of the Egyptians.
The whole word of God is against those who obey not the gospel of Christ; but it is for those, even of the Gentiles, who turn to Him. The prophecy begins with Egypt. Let them strengthen themselves with all the art and interest they have, yet it shall be all in vain. The wounds God inflicts on his enemies, cannot be healed by medicines. Power and prosperity soon pass from one to another in this changing world.
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Let not the swift - It is in vain for the swift to flee away, the mighty men shall not escape, but they shall stumble and fall at Carchemish, which was near the river Euphrates, and northward from Egypt.
John Calvin Bible Commentary
He then says first that they would gain power, but he speaks presently of their fall, unless it be thought that the same thing is repeated: and the beginning of the verse may be read affirmatively, “The swift shall not flee,” etc. But as the particle אל,al, is often used in a prohibitory sense, the verse may be evidently explained as spoken by God, and thus it may be read in connection with the previous verse,Let not the swift flee, nor the brave escapeFor God here declares authoritatively, that celerity and courage would be of no avail to the Egyptians, because the swiftest would be taken by their enemies, and the bravest would fall.He says, In the land of the north, on the bank ofthe riverWe know that Babylon and Assyria and Chaldea and those countries, were northward with respect to Judea. Whenever then the Prophets speak of the Babylonians, they call them Northlanders; but Egypt was to the south, as it is clear from many parts of Scripture. But as the Prophet here speaks of the Egyptians, he rightly makes Chaldea to be northward. Then he says,On the bank of the river Euphrates they shall stumble, or fall. The meaning is, that the event of war is in the power of God, so that he would tear in pieces and lay prostrate or scatter the Egyptians, however well equipped they might be, and trust in their own strength.We must also observe, that whatever subsidies men pro-cum for themselves in order to protect their safety, they are nothing when God is opposed to them. The Prophet indeed mentions only two things; but he means that though men may excel in many things and possess many endowments, they must yet perish, when that is God’s will: flight cannot save the swift, nor strength the valiant. It follows —
Bible Cross References
Isaiah 30:16 Jeremiah 46:12 Jeremiah 46:16 Daniel 11:19

Verse 7

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
The defeat of the Egyptians.
The whole word of God is against those who obey not the gospel of Christ; but it is for those, even of the Gentiles, who turn to Him. The prophecy begins with Egypt. Let them strengthen themselves with all the art and interest they have, yet it shall be all in vain. The wounds God inflicts on his enemies, cannot be healed by medicines. Power and prosperity soon pass from one to another in this changing world.
John Calvin Bible Commentary
The Prophet again meets those doubts which might have possessed the minds of the godly, so as to prevent them to receive this prophecy in faith and with due reverence: for we have said, that when our thoughts are occupied with external things, the power of God is disregarded. When, therefore, we speak of some impregnable kingdom, it does not come into our minds, that all strongholds are of no account with God. It was therefore necessary highly to extol the power of God, when the Prophets spoke of his judgments: otherwise the flesh, as we have stated, would have said, “They who are well fortified must be free from evils, and as it were beyond the reach of weapons, and hence there is nothing for them to fear.” And it is with this false imagination that the proud deceive themselves, for they set up their forces, their auxiliaries, and all the things which they deem, according to the judgment of the flesh, as sufficient to protect their safety. Titus it happens, that they heedlessly disregard all threatenings, even because they think that the subsidies which they have are so many fortresses against all attacks. It is for this purpose that the Prophet now says, Who is this that as a lake rises, orswells,as rivers are moved, or,whose waters are agitated? But he speaks according to the common judgment of men, for the very sight could not but fill men with fear; and so the Jews could never have thought that possible which the Prophet here asserts. He then, as it were, introduces them all as anxiously inquiring according to their own judgment,Who is this? as though Pharaoh was not a mortal, but something above human. For the drift of the question is this, that Pharaoh was as it were exempted from the common condition of men, because his power increased like a river rising or swelling; andits waters, he says,make a noise
Bible Cross References
Jeremiah 47:2 Ezekiel 32:2 Daniel 11:10 Amos 8:8

Verse 8

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
The defeat of the Egyptians.
The whole word of God is against those who obey not the gospel of Christ; but it is for those, even of the Gentiles, who turn to Him. The prophecy begins with Egypt. Let them strengthen themselves with all the art and interest they have, yet it shall be all in vain. The wounds God inflicts on his enemies, cannot be healed by medicines. Power and prosperity soon pass from one to another in this changing world.
John Calvin Bible Commentary
Then he adds, Egypt is likerivers and like alake: it made a noise with its forces, as though a river were rolling along its waters. But all this would be nothing, as he afterwards tells us he adds, hehath said, I will ascend, I will cover the land, I will destroy the city, etc. He puts city in the singular instead of the plural number;Iwill destroy cities, he says,and all who dwell in them. He in short sets forth Pharaoh here as one who triumphed before he fought, because he could cover the land with the multitude of his footmen and horsemen. It now follows, —
Bible Cross References
Isaiah 10:13 Isaiah 37:24 Ezekiel 32:2 Daniel 11:10 Amos 8:8

Verse 9

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
The defeat of the Egyptians.
The whole word of God is against those who obey not the gospel of Christ; but it is for those, even of the Gentiles, who turn to Him. The prophecy begins with Egypt. Let them strengthen themselves with all the art and interest they have, yet it shall be all in vain. The wounds God inflicts on his enemies, cannot be healed by medicines. Power and prosperity soon pass from one to another in this changing world.
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
And the Lydians - They were all auxiliaries to the Egyptians in this expedition.
Bible Cross References
Genesis 10:13 Isaiah 66:19 Jeremiah 47:3 Jeremiah 51:11 Nahum 2:4 Nahum 3:9

Verse 10

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
The defeat of the Egyptians.
The whole word of God is against those who obey not the gospel of Christ; but it is for those, even of the Gentiles, who turn to Him. The prophecy begins with Egypt. Let them strengthen themselves with all the art and interest they have, yet it shall be all in vain. The wounds God inflicts on his enemies, cannot be healed by medicines. Power and prosperity soon pass from one to another in this changing world.
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Made drunk - These phrases only metaphorically signify, the great slaughter God would make that day amongst the Egyptians.
McArther Bible Commentary
the day of the Lord. While this phrase often refers to an eschatological judgment on earth (such as in Zep 1:7; Mal 4:5; 1Th 5:2; 2Pe 3:10), it also may refer to a historical day. In this case, it refers to the Egyptian defeat (cf. Lam 2:22). See notes on Isa 2:12; 1Th 5:2.
Bible Cross References
Deuteronomy 32:42 Job 24:1 Isaiah 31:8 Isaiah 34:5 Isaiah 34:6 Jeremiah 12:12 Jeremiah 46:14 Jeremiah 50:15 Jeremiah 50:18 Ezekiel 21:28 Ezekiel 39:17 Joel 1:15 Zephaniah 1:7 Zechariah 6:6

Verse 11

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
The defeat of the Egyptians.
The whole word of God is against those who obey not the gospel of Christ; but it is for those, even of the Gentiles, who turn to Him. The prophecy begins with Egypt. Let them strengthen themselves with all the art and interest they have, yet it shall be all in vain. The wounds God inflicts on his enemies, cannot be healed by medicines. Power and prosperity soon pass from one to another in this changing world.
McArther Bible Commentary
Gilead. See note on Jer 8:20-22.
Bible Cross References
Genesis 37:25 Isaiah 47:1 Jeremiah 8:22 Jeremiah 30:13 Jeremiah 31:4 Jeremiah 31:21 Jeremiah 51:8 Ezekiel 30:21 Micah 1:9 Nahum 3:19

Verse 12

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
The defeat of the Egyptians.
The whole word of God is against those who obey not the gospel of Christ; but it is for those, even of the Gentiles, who turn to Him. The prophecy begins with Egypt. Let them strengthen themselves with all the art and interest they have, yet it shall be all in vain. The wounds God inflicts on his enemies, cannot be healed by medicines. Power and prosperity soon pass from one to another in this changing world.
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Stumbled - Stumbling one upon another, so that both those that went before, and those who followed after, should fall together.
Bible Cross References
Isaiah 19:2 Isaiah 24:11 Jeremiah 2:36 Jeremiah 14:2 Jeremiah 46:6 Jeremiah 47:2 Jeremiah 50:46 Nahum 2:5 Nahum 3:8

Verse 13

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
Their overthrow after the siege of Tyre.
Those who encroached on others, shall now be themselves encroached on. Egypt is now like a very fair heifer, not accustomed to the yoke of subjection; but destruction comes out of the north: the Chaldeans shall come. Comfort and peace are spoken to the Israel of God, designed to encourage them when the judgments of God were abroad among the nations. He will be with them, and only correct them in measure; and will not punish them with everlasting destruction from his presence.
McArther Bible Commentary
Babylon's invasion of Egypt, fifteen or sixteen years before the destruction of Jerusalem is detailed here (601 B.C.; cf. Jer 46:13). Having spent thirteen years in a siege of Tyre, Nebuchadnezzar was promised Egypt as a reward for humbling Tyre (cf. Eze 29:17-20).
Bible Cross References
Isaiah 19:1 Jeremiah 27:7 Jeremiah 43:10 Ezekiel 29:8

Verse 14

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
Their overthrow after the siege of Tyre.
Those who encroached on others, shall now be themselves encroached on. Egypt is now like a very fair heifer, not accustomed to the yoke of subjection; but destruction comes out of the north: the Chaldeans shall come. Comfort and peace are spoken to the Israel of God, designed to encourage them when the judgments of God were abroad among the nations. He will be with them, and only correct them in measure; and will not punish them with everlasting destruction from his presence.
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Declare - Publish this over all the land of Egypt.
Bible Cross References
Deuteronomy 32:42 Isaiah 1:20 Isaiah 19:13 Jeremiah 2:30 Jeremiah 43:8 Jeremiah 44:1 Jeremiah 46:2 Jeremiah 46:10 Jeremiah 46:19 Ezekiel 21:28 Ezekiel 30:13 Hosea 9:6 Nahum 2:13

Verse 15

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
Their overthrow after the siege of Tyre.
Those who encroached on others, shall now be themselves encroached on. Egypt is now like a very fair heifer, not accustomed to the yoke of subjection; but destruction comes out of the north: the Chaldeans shall come. Comfort and peace are spoken to the Israel of God, designed to encourage them when the judgments of God were abroad among the nations. He will be with them, and only correct them in measure; and will not punish them with everlasting destruction from his presence.
Bible Cross References
Psalm 18:14 Psalm 18:39 Psalm 68:1 Psalm 68:2 Isaiah 66:15 Isaiah 66:16 Jeremiah 46:5

Verse 16

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
Their overthrow after the siege of Tyre.
Those who encroached on others, shall now be themselves encroached on. Egypt is now like a very fair heifer, not accustomed to the yoke of subjection; but destruction comes out of the north: the Chaldeans shall come. Comfort and peace are spoken to the Israel of God, designed to encourage them when the judgments of God were abroad among the nations. He will be with them, and only correct them in measure; and will not punish them with everlasting destruction from his presence.
Bible Cross References
Leviticus 26:36 Leviticus 26:37 Jeremiah 46:6 Jeremiah 50:16 Jeremiah 51:9

Verse 17

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
Their overthrow after the siege of Tyre.
Those who encroached on others, shall now be themselves encroached on. Egypt is now like a very fair heifer, not accustomed to the yoke of subjection; but destruction comes out of the north: the Chaldeans shall come. Comfort and peace are spoken to the Israel of God, designed to encourage them when the judgments of God were abroad among the nations. He will be with them, and only correct them in measure; and will not punish them with everlasting destruction from his presence.
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Pharaoh - Hath made a great noise, but it cometh to nothing. Passed - That is, he hath passed the time himself fixed when he would cone, and fight the Chaldeans.
Bible Cross References
Exodus 15:9 Exodus 15:10 1 Kings 20:10 1 Kings 20:11 Isaiah 19:11

Verse 18

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
Their overthrow after the siege of Tyre.
Those who encroached on others, shall now be themselves encroached on. Egypt is now like a very fair heifer, not accustomed to the yoke of subjection; but destruction comes out of the north: the Chaldeans shall come. Comfort and peace are spoken to the Israel of God, designed to encourage them when the judgments of God were abroad among the nations. He will be with them, and only correct them in measure; and will not punish them with everlasting destruction from his presence.
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Surely - He shall as certainly come and encompass you with his armies, as Tabor is encompassed with mountains, and as Carmel is by the sea.
McArther Bible Commentary
Tabor … Carmel. As those two mountains rise above the hills of Palestine, so Nebuchadnezzar will be superior.
Bible Cross References
Joshua 12:22 Joshua 19:22 Judges 4:6 1 Kings 18:42 Psalm 89:12 Jeremiah 48:15 Jeremiah 51:57 Malachi 1:14

Verse 19

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
Their overthrow after the siege of Tyre.
Those who encroached on others, shall now be themselves encroached on. Egypt is now like a very fair heifer, not accustomed to the yoke of subjection; but destruction comes out of the north: the Chaldeans shall come. Comfort and peace are spoken to the Israel of God, designed to encourage them when the judgments of God were abroad among the nations. He will be with them, and only correct them in measure; and will not punish them with everlasting destruction from his presence.
Bible Cross References
Isaiah 19:13 Isaiah 20:4 Jeremiah 46:14 Jeremiah 48:18 Ezekiel 29:11 Ezekiel 29:12 Ezekiel 30:13 Hosea 9:6

Verse 20

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
Their overthrow after the siege of Tyre.
Those who encroached on others, shall now be themselves encroached on. Egypt is now like a very fair heifer, not accustomed to the yoke of subjection; but destruction comes out of the north: the Chaldeans shall come. Comfort and peace are spoken to the Israel of God, designed to encourage them when the judgments of God were abroad among the nations. He will be with them, and only correct them in measure; and will not punish them with everlasting destruction from his presence.
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
A serpent - Egypt is now like an heifer that makes a great bellowing, but the time shall come when she shall make a lesser noise like the hissing of a serpent. With axes - For the Chaldeans shall come with an army, armed with battle - axes, as if they came to fell wood in a forest.
McArther Bible Commentary
a very pretty heifer … fat bulls. Fat and untamed, ready to kill.
Bible Cross References
Jeremiah 1:14 Jeremiah 47:2 Jeremiah 50:11 Hosea 10:11

Verse 21

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
Their overthrow after the siege of Tyre.
Those who encroached on others, shall now be themselves encroached on. Egypt is now like a very fair heifer, not accustomed to the yoke of subjection; but destruction comes out of the north: the Chaldeans shall come. Comfort and peace are spoken to the Israel of God, designed to encourage them when the judgments of God were abroad among the nations. He will be with them, and only correct them in measure; and will not punish them with everlasting destruction from his presence.
Bible Cross References
Matthew 22:4 2 Samuel 10:6 2 Kings 7:6 Isaiah 34:7 Jeremiah 18:17 Jeremiah 46:5 Jeremiah 46:22 Jeremiah 48:44 Jeremiah 49:8 Jeremiah 50:27 Ezekiel 30:22 Hosea 9:7 Obadiah 1:13 Micah 7:4

Verse 22

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
Their overthrow after the siege of Tyre.
Those who encroached on others, shall now be themselves encroached on. Egypt is now like a very fair heifer, not accustomed to the yoke of subjection; but destruction comes out of the north: the Chaldeans shall come. Comfort and peace are spoken to the Israel of God, designed to encourage them when the judgments of God were abroad among the nations. He will be with them, and only correct them in measure; and will not punish them with everlasting destruction from his presence.
Bible Cross References
Joshua 9:21 Psalm 74:5 Jeremiah 46:21 Jeremiah 46:23

Verse 23

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
Their overthrow after the siege of Tyre.
Those who encroached on others, shall now be themselves encroached on. Egypt is now like a very fair heifer, not accustomed to the yoke of subjection; but destruction comes out of the north: the Chaldeans shall come. Comfort and peace are spoken to the Israel of God, designed to encourage them when the judgments of God were abroad among the nations. He will be with them, and only correct them in measure; and will not punish them with everlasting destruction from his presence.
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Tho' - Tho' it seem impenetrable.
Bible Cross References
Judges 6:5 Judges 7:12 Jeremiah 21:14 Jeremiah 46:22 Joel 2:25

Verse 24

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
Their overthrow after the siege of Tyre.
Those who encroached on others, shall now be themselves encroached on. Egypt is now like a very fair heifer, not accustomed to the yoke of subjection; but destruction comes out of the north: the Chaldeans shall come. Comfort and peace are spoken to the Israel of God, designed to encourage them when the judgments of God were abroad among the nations. He will be with them, and only correct them in measure; and will not punish them with everlasting destruction from his presence.
Bible Cross References
Jeremiah 1:15 Jeremiah 47:2

Verse 25

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
Their overthrow after the siege of Tyre.
Those who encroached on others, shall now be themselves encroached on. Egypt is now like a very fair heifer, not accustomed to the yoke of subjection; but destruction comes out of the north: the Chaldeans shall come. Comfort and peace are spoken to the Israel of God, designed to encourage them when the judgments of God were abroad among the nations. He will be with them, and only correct them in measure; and will not punish them with everlasting destruction from his presence.
Bible Cross References
Exodus 12:12 Isaiah 20:5 Jeremiah 43:12 Jeremiah 43:13 Jeremiah 44:30 Jeremiah 49:3 Ezekiel 30:13 Ezekiel 30:14 Ezekiel 30:22 Nahum 3:8 Zephaniah 2:11

Verse 26

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
Their overthrow after the siege of Tyre.
Those who encroached on others, shall now be themselves encroached on. Egypt is now like a very fair heifer, not accustomed to the yoke of subjection; but destruction comes out of the north: the Chaldeans shall come. Comfort and peace are spoken to the Israel of God, designed to encourage them when the judgments of God were abroad among the nations. He will be with them, and only correct them in measure; and will not punish them with everlasting destruction from his presence.
McArther Bible Commentary
Afterward. Forty years after Nebuchadnezzar's conquest of Egypt, it threw off the Babylonian yoke, but never regained its former glory (Eze 29:11-15).
Bible Cross References
Isaiah 19:4 Jeremiah 44:30 Ezekiel 29:8 Ezekiel 29:13 Ezekiel 32:11 Amos 9:11

Verse 27

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
Their overthrow after the siege of Tyre.
Those who encroached on others, shall now be themselves encroached on. Egypt is now like a very fair heifer, not accustomed to the yoke of subjection; but destruction comes out of the north: the Chaldeans shall come. Comfort and peace are spoken to the Israel of God, designed to encourage them when the judgments of God were abroad among the nations. He will be with them, and only correct them in measure; and will not punish them with everlasting destruction from his presence.
McArther Bible Commentary
do not fear … Jacob. Though Israel has been scattered to the nations, the nations will still receive their judgments; and the Lord will restore Israel (repeated from Jer 30:10-11) from global dispersion to her own land (as in Jer 23:5-8; Jer 46:30-33). No matter what judgments fall on Israel, the people will not be destroyed, as Paul reiterates in Rom 11:1-2, Rom 11:15, Rom 11:25-27.
Bible Cross References
Isaiah 11:11 Isaiah 14:3 Isaiah 41:13 Isaiah 41:14 Isaiah 44:1 Jeremiah 23:3 Jeremiah 23:4 Jeremiah 23:6 Jeremiah 29:14 Jeremiah 30:10 Jeremiah 30:11 Jeremiah 50:19 Jeremiah 51:46 Micah 7:12

Verse 28

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
Their overthrow after the siege of Tyre.
Those who encroached on others, shall now be themselves encroached on. Egypt is now like a very fair heifer, not accustomed to the yoke of subjection; but destruction comes out of the north: the Chaldeans shall come. Comfort and peace are spoken to the Israel of God, designed to encourage them when the judgments of God were abroad among the nations. He will be with them, and only correct them in measure; and will not punish them with everlasting destruction from his presence.
Bible Cross References
Psalm 46:7 Psalm 46:11 Isaiah 8:10 Isaiah 43:2 Isaiah 44:1 Jeremiah 1:19 Jeremiah 4:27 Jeremiah 10:24 Jeremiah 23:4 Jeremiah 30:10 Jeremiah 30:11 Jeremiah 51:46 Amos 9:8 Amos 9:9 Habakkuk 3:2