Tanak Foundations-Concepts in Jeremiah-Chapter 46

Jer 46.1-28 gives us a change in themes. It goes from prophecies about Egypt and the overthrow of Pharaoh Necho to the devastation of the land. Other prophecies about Egypt can be found in Isa 19, Isa 30-31, Ezek 29 and 32 for example. Eschatologically Egypt alludes to Europe during the Birth-pains (Tribulation) and Pharaoh is a picture of the False Messiah. The Babylonians are a picture of the oriental kings of the east who will defeat the False Messiah and he will retreat back to defend Jerusalem-Zech 12-14; Isa 19.1-25, 20.1-6, 30.1-26 with Isa 14.29-32; Ezek 29.1-6; 32.1-32.

v 1…That which came as the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the nations.

v 2…To Egypt (eschatologically Europe) concerning the army of Pharoah Necho king of Egypt (a picture of the False Messiah), which was by the Euphrates River at Charchemish which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon (a picture of the oriental kings of the east eschatologically) defeated in the fourth year of Yehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah,

v 3…”Line up the shield (magen) and buckler (a larger shield called the zinah), and draw near for the battle (Egypt went to help the Assyrians at Charchemish against the rising power of Babylon, and was expecting to win).

v 4…Harness the horses (to chariots) and mount the steeds (cavalry), and take your stand with helmets on! Polish the spears, put on the scale armor (for protection)!

v 5…Why have I seen it (the Egyptians)? They are terrified, they are turning back (when it came time to fight, they broke ranks), and their mighty men are defeated and have taken refuge in flight, without looking back (Egypt was routed by the Babylonians at Charchemish); terror is on every side (Yehovah put fear into them)!” declares the Lord.

v 6…Let not the swift man flee, nor the mighty men escape (don’t think that just because you are fast or mighty you will escape); in the north beside the river Euphrates they have stumbled and fallen.

v 7…Who is this that rises like the Nile (Egypt marching north looked like a river and expected to sweep across the earth like the Nile when it floods), like the rivers whose waters surge about (armies were likened to rivers-Isa 8.7-8; Rev 12.15

v 8…Egypt rises like the Nile (their army), even like the rivers whose waters surge about (repeated for emphasis); and he has said (Pharaoh Necho), “I will rise and cover the land; I will surely destroy the city and its inhabitants (of Charchemish).

v 9…Go up, you horses, and drive madly, your chariots, that the mighty men may march forward (to battle); Ethiopia and Put (Libya) that handle the shield (mercenaries allied with Egypt), and the Lydians (Ludim), that handle and bend the bow (but it will be to no avail).

v 10…For that day (this alludes to a future battle in the day of the Lord) belongs to the Lord of hosts (he is commander of all the armies). A day of vengeance (alludes to the birth-pains in particular) so as to avenge himself on his foes (there was much that made Egypt an adversary to God); and the sword will devour and be satiated and drink its fill of their blood; for there will be a slaughter for the Lord God of hosts (the armies), in the land of the north by the river Euphrates (this is a double reference prophecy because it will happen again in the day of the Lord; Charchemish is one of the battles in the birth-pains, others will include Megiddo, in Jordan, Gaza and lastly Jerusalem).

v 11…Go up to Gilead (a place famous for a healing balm-Jer 8.22) and obtain balm, O virgin daughter of Egypt (in the sense they had never been under a foreign yoke)! In vain have you multiplied remedies (the medicine won’t help you) there is no healing for you (they will never attain their former glory).

v 12…The nations have heard of your shame (past tense because it is a certainty) and the earth is full of your cry (of distress); for one warrior has stumbled over another, and both of them have fallen down together (notice again this is past tense, it is a sure thing).”

v 13…This is the message which the Lord spoke to Jeremiah the prophet about the coming of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to smite the land of Egypt (Yehovah warned the Judeans about this for coming to the aid of the Assyrian stronghold at Charchemish).

v 14…”Declare in Egypt and proclaim in Migdol (eastern part). Proclaim also in Memphis (or “Noph” in the south) and Tahpanhes (in the north-there will be no safe place-west is not mentioned because Babylon did not advance there. The Jews will not be safe in these other places); say, “Take your stand and get yourself ready (to Egypt and the cities and areas mentioned), for the sword (Babylon) has devoured those around you (Israel, Judah, Syria and others).’

v 15…Why have your mighty ones become prostrate (couldn’t stand up to the Babylonians)? They do not stand because the Lord has thrust them down (given them over to destruction and they couldn’t stand up against Yehovah).

v 16…They have repeatedly stumbled (in battle), indeed they have fallen one against another (Egypt and her allies fell). Then they said, ‘Get up! And let us go back to our own people and our native land (Ethiopia, Libya, Lydia, etc) away from the sound of the oppressor (Babylon).’

v 17…They cried there, ‘Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a big noise (a boaster, which is one of the characteristics of the False Messiah also); he has let the appointed time pass by (to stop Babylon)!’

v 18…”As I live,” declares the King whose name is the Lord of hosts, “Surely one shall come (Nebuchadnezzar) like Tabor among the mountains (Babylon looking down on all the lowly kingdoms) or like Carmel by the sea (standing out among the others).

v 19…Make your baggage ready for exile (with food, clothes), O daughter dwelling in Egypt (Egyptians thought they were safe). For Memphis will become a desolation; it will even be burned down and bereft of inhabitants (their fate according to the judgment of Yehovah).

v 20…Egypt is a pretty heifer (worshiped bulls and heifers) but a horsefly is coming from the north (the direction of Babylon)-it is coming!

v 21…Also her mercenaries in her midst (in Egypt) are like fattened calves (provided with everything to keep them fat and happy), for even they too have turned back and fled away together (in fear because they lost their courage); they did not stand their ground (past tense because the outcome is certain). For the day of their calamity has come upon them, the time of their punishment (when Yehovah’s wrath descends on them. This alludes to the birth-pains when Europe and the False Messiah will not stand before the kings of the east as they move into Israel to get to the False Messiah according to Yehovah’s wrath).

v 22…Its sound moves along like a serpent (hissing as it moves out of the thicket when someone approaches as it runs away); for they (Babylon) move on like an army and come to her (Egypt) as woodcutters with axes (to cut down the people).

v 23…For they (Babylon) have cut down her forest (the cities, towns, inhabitants),” declares the Lord; “Surely it will no more be found (destruction is total), even though they (Egypt and her allies) are more numerous than locusts and are without number.

v 24…The daughter of Egypt has been put to shame (brought low before all the nations), given over to the power of the people of the north (Babylon).”

v 25…The Lord of hosts (Yehovah Tzavaot), the God of Israel, says, “Behold (see and take note), I am going to punish Amon of Thebes (a sun deity), and Pharaoh, and Egypt along with her gods and her kings (governors), even Pharaoh and those who trust in him (this also alludes to the False Messiah and those who follow him).

v 26…And I shall give them over to the power of those who are seeking their lives, even into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and into the hands of his officers (who commands his army under him). Afterwards, however, it will be inhabited (again) as in the days of old (after 40 years-Ezek 29.11),” declares the Lord.

v 27…”But as for you, O Jacob my servant, do not fear, nor be dismayed, O Israel! For, see, I am going to save you from afar, and your descendants from the land of their captivity (in Babylon); and Jacob shall return and be undisturbed (by Babylon) and secure with no one making them tremble (eschatologically when Messiah comes).

v 28…O Jacob my servant, do not fear, ” declares the Lord, “for I am with you. For I shall make a full end of all the nations where I have driven you (Babylon and others), yet I shall not make a full end of you (the Jewish people remain a distinct people from all others and their captors are no more); but I shall correct you properly and by no means leave you unpunished (Yehovah will deal justly with Israel-Hos 5.15).”

Posted in All Teachings, Articles, Idioms, Phrases and Concepts, Prophecy/Eschatology, The Festivals of the Lord, The Tanak, Tying into the New Testament

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*