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Commentary on Jeremiah 46 verses 13–28
In these verses we have,
I. Confusion and terror spoken to Egypt. The accomplishment of the prediction in the former part of the chapter disabled the Egyptians from making any attempts upon other nations; for what could they do when their army was routed? But still they remained strong at home, and none of their neighbours durst make any attempts upon them. Though the kings of Egypt came no more out of their land (Kg2 24:7), yet they kept safe and easy in their land; and what would they desire more than peaceably to enjoy their own? One would think all men should be content to do this, and not covet to invade their neighbours. But the measure of Egypt's iniquity is full, and now they shall not long enjoy their own; those that encroached on others shall not be themselves encroached on. The scope of the prophecy here is to show how the king of Babylon should shortly come and smite the land of Egypt, and bring the war into their own bosoms which they had formerly carried into his borders, Jer 46:13. This was fulfilled by the same hand with the former, even Nebuchadnezzar's, but many years after, twenty at least, and probably the prediction of it was long after the former prediction, and perhaps much about the same time with that other prediction of the same event which we had Jer 43:10.
1.Here is the alarm of war sounded in Egypt, to their great amazement (Jer 46:14), notice given to the country that the enemy is approaching, the sword is devouring round about in the neighbouring countries, and therefore it is time for the Egyptians to put themselves in a posture of defence, to prepare for war, that they may give the enemy a warm reception. This must be proclaimed in all parts of Egypt, particularly in Migdol, Noph, and Tahpanhes, because in these places especially the Jewish refugees, or fugitives rather, had planted themselves, in contempt of God's command (Jer 44:1), and let them hear what a sorry shelter Egypt is likely to be to them.
2.The retreat hereupon of the forces of other nations which the Egyptians had in their pay is here foretold. Some considerable number of those troops, it is probable, were posted upon the frontiers to guard them, where they were beaten off by the invaders and put to flights. Then were the valiant men swept away (Jer 46:15) as with a sweeping rain (it is the word that is used Pro 28:3); they can none of them stand their ground, because the Lord drives them from their respective posts; he drives them by his terrors; he drives them by enabling the Chaldeans to drive them. It is not possible that those should fix whom the wrath of God chases. He it was (Jer 46:16) that made many to fall, yea, when their day shall come to fall, the enemy needs not throw them down, they shall fall one upon another, every man shall be a stumbling-block to his fellow, to his follower; nay, if God please, they shall be made to fall upon one another, they shall be made to fall upon one another, every man's sword shall be against his fellow. Her hired men, the troops Egypt has in he service, are indeed in the midst of her like fatted bullocks, lusty men, able bodied and high spirited, who were likely for action and promised to make their part good against the enemy; but they are turned back; their hearts failed them, and, instead of fighting, they have fled away together. How could they withstand their fate when the day of their calamity had come, the day in which God will visit them in wrath? Some think they are compared to fatted bullocks for their luxury; they had wantoned in pleasures, so that they were very unfit for hardships, and therefore turned back and could not stand. In this consternation, (1.) They all made homeward towards their own country (Jer 46:16): They said, "Arise, and let us go again to our own people, where we may be safe from the oppressing sword of the Chaldeans, that bears down all before it." In times of exigence little confidence is to be put in mercenary troops, that fight purely for pay, and have no interest in theirs whom they fight for. (2.) They exclaimed vehemently against Pharaoh, to whose cowardice or bad management, it is probably, their defeat was owing. When he posted them there upon the borders of his country it is probably that he told them he would within such a time come himself with a gallant army of his own subjects to support them; but he failed them, and, when the enemy advanced, they found they had none to back them, so that they were perfectly abandoned to the fury of the invaders. No marvel then that they quitted their post and deserted the service, crying out, Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a noise (Jer 46:17); he can hector, and talk big of the mighty things he would do, but that is all; he brings nothing to pass. All his promises to those in alliance with him, or that are employed for him, vanish into smoke. He brings not the succours he engaged to bring, or not till it is too late: He has passed the time appointed; he did not keep his word, nor keep his day, and therefore they bid him farewell, they will never serve under him any more. Note, Those that make most noise in any business are frequently but a noise. Great talkers are little doers.
3.The formidable power of the Chaldean army is here described as bearing down all before it. The King of kings, whose name is the Lord of hosts, and before whom the mightiest kings on earth, though gods to us, are but as grasshoppers, he hath said it, he hath sworn it, As I live, saith this king, as Tabor overtops the mountains and Carmel overlooks the sea, so shall the king of Babylon overpower all the force of Egypt, such a command shall he have, such a sway shall he bear, Jer 46:18. He and his army shall come against Egypt with axes, as hewers of wood (Jer 46:22), and the Egyptians shall be no more able to resist them than the tree is to resist the man that comes with an axe to cut it down; so that Egypt shall be felled as a forest is by the hewers of wood, which (if there by many of them, and those well provided with instruments for the purpose) will be done in a little time. Egypt is very populous, full of towns and cities, like a forest, the trees of which cannot be searched or numbered, and very rich, full of hidden treasures, many of which will escape the searching eye of the Chaldean soldiers; but they shall make a great spoil in the country, for they are more than the locusts, that come in vast swarms and overrun a country, devouring every green thing (Joe 1:6, Joe 1:7), so shall the Chaldeans do, for they are innumerable. Note, The Lord of hosts hath numberless hosts at his command.
4.The desolation of Egypt hereby is foretold, and the waste that should be made of that rich country. Egypt is now like a very fair heifer, or calf (Jer 46:20), fat and shining, and not accustomed to the yoke of subjection, wanton as a heifer that is well fed, and very sportful. Some think here is an allusion to Apis, the bull or calf which the Egyptians worshipped, from whom the children of Israel learned to worship the golden calf. Egypt is as fair as a goddess, and adores herself, but destruction comes; cutting up comes (so some read it); it comes out of the north; thence the Chaldean soldiers shall come, as so many butchers or sacrificers, to kill and cut up this fair heifer. (1.) The Egyptians shall be brought down, shall be tamed, and their tune changed: The daughters of Egypt shall be confounded (Jer 46:24), shall be filled with astonishment. Their voice shall go like a serpent, that is, it shall be very low and submissive; they shall not low like a fair heifer, that makes a great noise, but hiss out of their holes like serpents. They shall not dare to make loud complaints of the cruelty of the conquerors, but vent their griefs in silent murmurs. They shall not now, as they used to do, answer roughly, but, with the poor, use entreaties and beg for their lives. (2.) They shall be carried away prisoners into their enemy's land (Jer 46:19): "O thou daughter! dwelling securely and delicately in Egypt, that fruitful pleasant country, do not think this will last always, but furnish thyself to go into captivity; instead of rich clothes, which will but tempt the enemy to strip thee, get plain and warm clothes; instead of fine shoes, provide strong ones; and inure thyself to hardship, that thou mayest bear it the better." Note, It concerns us, among all our preparations, to prepare for trouble. We provide for the entertainment of our friends, let us not neglect to provide for the entertainment of our enemies, nor among all our furniture omit furniture for captivity. The Egyptians must prepare to flee; for their cities shall be evacuated. Noph particularly shall be desolate, without an inhabitant, so general shall the slaughter and the captivity be. There are some penalties which, we say, the king and the multitude are exempted from, but here even these are obnoxious: The multitude of No shall be punished: it is called populous No, Nah 3:8. Though hand join in hand, yet they shall not escape; nor can any think to go off in the crowd. Be they ever so many, they shall find God will be too many for them. Their kings and all their petty princes shall fall; and their gods too (Jer 43:12, Jer 43:13), their idols and their great men. Those which they call their tutelar deities shall be no protection to them. Pharaoh shall be brought down, and all those that trust in him (Jer 46:25), particularly the Jews that came to sojourn in his country, trusting in him rather than in God. All these shall be delivered into the hands of the northern nations (Jer 46:24), into the hand not only of Nebuchadnezzar that mighty potentate, but into the hands of his servants, according to the curse on Ham's posterity, of which the Egyptians were, that they should be the servants of servants. These seek their lives, and into their hands they shall be delivered.
5.An intimation is given that in process of time Egypt shall recover itself again (Jer 46:26): Afterwards it shall be inhabited, shall be peopled again, whereas by this destruction it was almost dispeopled. Ezekiel foretels that this should be at the end of forty years, Eze 29:13. See what changes the nations of the earth are subject to, how they are emptied and increased again; and let not nations that prosper be secure, nor those that for the present are in thraldom despair.
II. Comfort and peace are here spoken to the Israel of God, Jer 46:27, Jer 46:28. Some understand it of those whom the king of Egypt had carried into captivity with Jehoahaz, but we read not of any that were carried away captives with him; it may therefore rather refer to the captives in Babylon, whom God had mercy in store for, or, more generally, to all the people of God, designed for their encouragement in the most difficult times, when the judgments of God are abroad among the nations. We had these words of comfort before, Jer 30:10, Jer 30:11. 1. Let the wicked of the earth tremble, they have cause for it; but fear not thou, O my servant Jacob! and be not dismayed, O Israel! and again, Fear thou not, O Jacob! God would not have his people to be a timorous people. 2. The wicked of the earth shall be put away like dross, not be looked after any more; but God's people, in order to their being saved, shall be found out and gathered though they be far off, shall be redeemed though they be held fast in captivity, and shall return. 3. The wicked is like the troubled sea when it cannot rest; they flee when none pursues. But Jacob, being at home in God, shall be at rest and at ease, and none shall make him afraid; for what time he is afraid he has a God to trust to. 4. The wicked God beholds afar off; but, wherever thou art, O Jacob! I am with thee, a very present help. 5. A full end shall be made of the nations that oppressed God's Israel, as Egypt and Babylon; but mercy shall be kept in store for the Israel of God: they shall be corrected, but not cast off; the correction shall be in measure, in respect of degree and continuance. Nations have their periods; the Jewish nation itself has come to an end as a nation; but the gospel church, God's spiritual Israel, still continues, and will to the end of time; in that this promise is to have its full accomplishment, that, though God correct it, he will never make a full end of it.
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SUMMARY
Jeremiah 46:23 delivers a stark prophetic declaration from the LORD, foretelling the overwhelming and inescapable judgment awaiting Egypt. It paints a vivid picture of an immense, seemingly countless invading army, likened to a devastating swarm of locusts, poised to utterly dismantle Egypt's formidable defenses and abundant resources. This verse powerfully underscores God's absolute sovereignty over all nations and the certain, unstoppable nature of His divine decrees.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: Jeremiah 46:23 is strategically positioned within the "Oracles Against the Nations" (Jeremiah 46-51), a distinct prophetic unit that shifts the focus from Judah's internal struggles and impending judgment to God's sovereign dealings with surrounding foreign powers. Specifically, Jeremiah 46 is dedicated to Egypt, detailing its significant defeat by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, at the Battle of Carchemish (circa 605 BC) and the subsequent Babylonian invasion of Egyptian territory. This particular verse, therefore, contributes to a larger prophetic narrative demonstrating God's universal authority, revealing His capacity to use one nation (Babylon) as a divinely appointed instrument of judgment against another (Egypt). It follows earlier descriptions of Egypt's formidable military might and its inherent pride, setting the stage for its dramatic and inevitable downfall.
Historical & Cultural Context: During the period of Jeremiah's ministry, Egypt stood as a dominant regional power, frequently engaging in geopolitical rivalries with the rising Babylonian Empire. Judah, often caught between these colossal powers, frequently sought military alliances with Egypt against encroaching threats, a reliance that Jeremiah consistently and vehemently warned against (e.g., Jeremiah 37:7). The "forest" in this verse is not to be interpreted literally, as Egypt was not characterized by vast forests. Instead, it functions as a potent metaphor, representing Egypt's dense military formations, its seemingly inexhaustible resources, its large population, or its formidable fortified cities and strongholds, all of which were perceived as impenetrable. The comparison to "grasshoppers" (locusts) would have resonated deeply and terrifyingly with an ancient Near Eastern audience, who intimately understood the catastrophic destructive power of locust swarms that could strip entire landscapes bare, leaving utter desolation in their wake. This vivid imagery conveys not only the overwhelming numerical superiority of the invading force but also its relentless, all-consuming, and utterly devastating nature.
Key Themes: This verse powerfully articulates several core theological and narrative themes prevalent throughout the book of Jeremiah and broader prophetic literature. Firstly, it emphatically highlights Divine Judgment, emphasizing that Egypt's impending downfall is not merely a geopolitical or military outcome but a direct, sovereign act of the LORD. The repeated phrase "saith the LORD" underscores God's active involvement, ultimate authority, and the certainty of His decree. Secondly, it showcases the Overwhelming Power of God's Instruments, using vivid and terrifying imagery to describe the sheer, unstoppable multitude of the Babylonian army. This force, though human, is depicted as an irresistible flood or swarm, demonstrating that no nation, however mighty, can withstand God's decreed judgment. Thirdly, it speaks profoundly to the Futility of Human Strength and Pride when set against the divine will. Egypt, once a formidable symbol of power and security, is shown to be utterly vulnerable and destined for destruction, serving as a stark warning against placing trust in earthly might or human alliances over the LORD. This theme is powerfully echoed in passages like Isaiah 31:1, which warns against reliance on Egypt's chariots and horsemen.
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Jeremiah 46:23 is rich with literary devices that powerfully amplify its prophetic message and convey the certainty and severity of God's judgment. The most prominent is Metaphor, where Egypt's strength, resources, and defenses are likened to a "forest" that will be "cut down." This evokes a vivid image of systematic and complete destruction, where something seemingly robust, expansive, and deeply rooted is methodically dismantled and brought to ruin. Closely related is the potent Simile comparing the invading army to "grasshoppers," which, in the ancient Near East, specifically referred to devastating swarms of locusts. This simile is incredibly effective, conveying not just the sheer Hyperbole of the army's "innumerable" numbers, but also their destructive, all-consuming, and unstoppable nature, leaving nothing in their wake. The phrase "though it cannot be searched" also employs Hyperbole, emphasizing the immense scale and perceived impregnability of Egypt's defenses, only to dramatically highlight that even such vastness is utterly no match for God's decreed judgment. Finally, the repeated declaration "saith the LORD" functions as a Divine Oracle Formula, lending absolute authority, certainty, and divine origin to the prophecy, affirming that this is not a human prediction but a direct, infallible word from God Himself.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 46:23 profoundly illustrates God's absolute sovereignty over all nations and His righteous judgment against human pride, self-reliance, and idolatry. It reveals that no earthly power, however mighty, vast, or seemingly impenetrable, stands outside the purview of the Almighty. Egypt, a symbol of formidable strength and a frequent, though ultimately deceptive, refuge for Judah, is shown to be utterly vulnerable and subject to God's divine purposes. This passage serves as a stark reminder that God sovereignly uses nations, even pagan ones like Babylon, as instruments to execute His will and to bring about His justice, often against those who have opposed His people or boasted excessively in their own strength. It underscores the profound biblical truth that true security, lasting peace, and ultimate victory lie not in military might, abundant resources, or human alliances, but in humble submission to and unwavering dependence upon the LORD alone.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 46:23 offers profound and enduring truths that resonate deeply with believers across all generations. It calls us to recognize God's unwavering and comprehensive sovereignty over all of history, the rise and fall of nations, and the intricate details of individual lives. In a world often characterized by political upheaval, economic instability, and the shifting landscape of global powers, this verse serves as a powerful anchor, reminding us that God remains firmly on His throne, orchestrating all events according to His perfect and divine plan. It challenges us to critically examine where we place our ultimate trust and security: Is it in human institutions, financial stability, military might, or the latest technological advancements, or is it in the unfailing power, wisdom, and faithfulness of the LORD? The dramatic judgment against Egypt, a nation supremely confident in its own strength, serves as a timeless warning against the perils of pride and self-reliance, urging us instead towards humility and absolute dependence on God alone. Furthermore, it encourages us to find profound comfort in the certainty of God's word; just as His prophecies of judgment came to pass with absolute precision, so too will His glorious promises of salvation, restoration, and ultimate triumph be fulfilled.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What is the "forest" mentioned in Jeremiah 46:23?
Answer: The "forest" in Jeremiah 46:23 is a powerful and evocative metaphor for Egypt's perceived strength, its vast resources, its dense population, or its formidable military defenses and fortified cities. It does not refer to a literal forest, as ancient Egypt was not known for extensive forested regions. Instead, it symbolizes something seemingly impenetrable, abundant, and deeply rooted that would nevertheless be completely cut down or destroyed by the invading Babylonian army, signifying the utter dismantling of Egypt's national power, security, and prosperity.
Who are "they" who shall cut down the forest and are "more than the grasshoppers"?
Answer: "They" refers to the invading army that God would supernaturally empower and use to bring His righteous judgment upon Egypt. Historically, this army is unequivocally identified as the formidable Babylonian forces led by King Nebuchadnezzar. The prophet Jeremiah consistently warned Judah and the surrounding nations about the rising power of Babylon and its divinely appointed role as God's instrument of judgment against various nations, including Egypt, as explicitly stated in passages like Jeremiah 46:13. The vivid imagery of being "more than the grasshoppers" (locusts) emphasizes their overwhelming numbers, their relentless advance, and their utterly destructive capacity, ensuring nothing would be left untouched.
Why was Egypt being judged by God?
Answer: Egypt was being judged by God for a confluence of reasons, primarily its pervasive pride, its widespread idolatry, and its consistent opposition to God's divine purposes for His covenant people, Israel. Egypt frequently served as a deceptive and unreliable ally to Judah, leading God's people to trust in human military strength and political alliances rather than in the Lord Himself (e.g., Isaiah 30:1-3). Furthermore, Egypt's own hubris and self-sufficiency, exemplified by its Pharaoh's boastful pronouncements (e.g., Ezekiel 29:3), drew God's righteous wrath. God's judgment on Egypt, as on other nations, powerfully demonstrated His universal sovereignty over all earthly kingdoms and His unwavering commitment to justice and righteousness in the world.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 46:23, while a specific prophecy of judgment against ancient Egypt, ultimately points to the comprehensive and absolute sovereignty of God, a sovereignty fully embodied, perfectly exercised, and ultimately manifested in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "innumerable" invading army, depicted as an unstoppable instrument of divine judgment, foreshadows the ultimate and irresistible triumph of God's eternal kingdom, established and brought to fruition by Christ. No earthly "forest" of human power, national pride, or spiritual rebellion can ultimately withstand the righteous judgment of God, which finds its ultimate expression, resolution, and redemptive purpose in the work of Christ. Jesus, the true King of kings and Lord of lords, possesses all authority in heaven and on earth (as declared in Matthew 28:18). He is the one who will ultimately "cut down" every opposing force, not merely foreign nations, but the spiritual strongholds of sin, death, and the powers of darkness (as seen in Colossians 2:15). The final, decisive victory over all enemies, vividly described in passages like Revelation 19:11-16, demonstrates that just as God used an overwhelming, innumerable force to execute judgment on Egypt, He will ultimately bring all things under the dominion of His Son, establishing a kingdom that is truly "innumerable" in its redeemed subjects and eternal in its duration, a kingdom that cannot be searched out, overthrown, or overcome by any earthly power or spiritual adversary.