--- title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible" author: "Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown" languages: [en] shelf: "Commentaries" section: 422 of 927 url: https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/422/ cite: "Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, section 422. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/422/" --- # Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible *Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown* The Victorian standard commentary, critical and practical, from Genesis to Revelation. ## 422. Jeremiah · 46 of 56 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/422/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/422/#p-N [¶0] shall know--most of them experimentally, and to their cost. [¶1] whose words ... mine, or theirs--Hebrew, "that from Me and them." Jehovah's words are His threats of destruction to the Jews; theirs, the assertion that they expected all goods from their gods ([Jr 44:17]), &c. "Mine"; by which I predict ruin to them. "Theirs"; by which they give themselves free scope in iniquity. [¶2] shall stand--([Psa 33:11]). [¶3] 29. this ... sign unto you--The calamity of Pharaoh-hophra (see on [Jr 44:30]) shall be a sign to you that as he shall fall before his enemy, so you shall subsequently fall before Nebuchadnezzar ([Mt 24:8]) [Grotius]. Calvin makes the "sign" to be simultaneous with the event signified, not antecedent to it, as in [Ex 3:12]. The Jews believed Egypt impregnable, so shut in was it by natural barriers. The Jews being "punished in this place" will be a sign that their view is false, and God's threat true. He calls it "a sign unto you," because God's prediction is equivalent to the event, so that they may even now take it as a sign. When fulfilled it would cease to be a sign to them: for they would be dead. [¶4] 30. Hophra--in Herodotus called Apries. He succeeded Psammis, the successor of Pharaoh-necho, who was beaten by Nebuchadnezzar at Carchemish, on the Euphrates. Amasis rebelled against, and overcame him, in the city Sais. [¶5] them that seek his life--Herodotus, in curious accordance with this, records that Amasis, after treating Hophra well at first, was instigated, by persons who thought they could not be safe unless he were put to death, to strangle him. "His enemies" refer to Amasis, &c.; the words are accurately chosen, so as not to refer to Nebuchadnezzar, who is not mentioned till the end of the verse, and in connection with Zedekiah ([Eze 20:3]; ). Amasis' civil war with Hophra pioneered the way for Nebuchadnezzar's invasion in the twenty-third year of his reign [Josephus, Antiquities, 10.11]. ### Chapter 45 ### Jr 45:1-5. Jeremiah Comforts Baruch [¶8] After the completion of the prophecies and histories appertaining to the Jewish people and kings, Jeremiah subjoins one referring to an individual, Baruch; even as there are subjoined to the epistles of Paul addressed to churches, epistles to individuals, some of which were prior in date to the former. Afterwards follow the prophecies referring to other nations, closing the book [Grotius]. The date of the events here told is eighteen years before the taking of the city; this chapter in point of time follows the thirty-sixth chapter. Baruch seems to have been regularly employed by Jeremiah to commit his prophecies to writing ([Jr 36:1], 4, 32). [¶9] 1. these words--his prophecies from the thirteenth year of Josiah to the fourth of Jehoiakim. [¶10] 3. Thou didst say, &c.--Jeremiah does not spare his disciple, but unveils his fault, namely, fear for his life by reason of the suspicions which he incurred in the eyes of his countrymen (compare [Jr 36:17]), as if he was in sympathy with the Chaldeans ([Jr 43:3]), and instigator of Jeremiah; also ingratitude in speaking of his "grief," &c., whereas he ought to deem himself highly blessed in being employed by God to record Jeremiah's prophecies. [¶11] added--rescued from the peril of my first writing ([Jr 36:26]). I am again involved in a similar peril. He upbraids God as dealing harshly with him. [¶12] I fainted--rather, "I am weary." [¶13] no rest--no quiet resting-place. [¶14] 4. that which I have built ... planted I will pluck up--([Is 5:5]). This whole nation (the Jews) which I founded and planted with such extraordinary care and favor, I will overthrow. [¶15] 5. seekest thou great things for thyself--Thou art over-fastidious and self-seeking. When My own peculiar people, a "whole" nation ([Jr 45:4]), and the temple, are being given to ruin, dost thou expect to be exempt from all hardship? Baruch had raised his expectations too high in this world, and this made his distresses harder to be borne. The frowns of the world would not disquiet us if we did not so eagerly covet its smiles. What folly to seek great things for ourselves here, where everything is little, and nothing certain! [¶16] all flesh--the whole Jewish nation and even foreign peoples ([Jr 25:26]). [¶17] but thy life ... for a prey--Esteem it enough at such a general crisis that thy life shall be granted thee. Be content with this boon of life which I will rescue from imminent death, even as when all things are given up to plunder, if one escape with aught, he has a something saved as his "prey" ([Jr 21:9]). It is striking how Jeremiah, who once used such complaining language himself, is enabled now to minister the counsel requisite for Baruch when falling into the same sin ([Jr 12:1-5; 15]:10-18). This is part of God's design in suffering His servants to be tempted, that their temptations may adapt them for ministering to their fellow servants when tempted. ### Chapter 46 ### Jr 46:1-28. The Prophecies, Forty-sixth through Fifty-second Chapters, Refer to Foreign Peoples [¶20] He begins with Egypt, being the country to which he had been removed. The forty-sixth chapter contains two prophecies concerning it: the discomfiture of Pharaoh-necho at Carchemish by Nebuchadnezzar, and the long subsequent conquest of Egypt by the same king; also the preservation of the Jews ([Jr 46:27], ). [¶21] 1. General heading of the next six chapters of prophecies concerning the Gentiles; the prophecies are arranged according to nations, not by the dates. [¶22] 2. Inscription of the first prophecy. [¶23] Pharaoh-necho--He, when going against Carchemish (Cercusium, near the Euphrates), encountered Josiah, king of Judah (the ally of Assyria), at Megiddo, and slew him there ([2Ki 23:29]; [2Ch 35:20-24]); but he was four years subsequently overcome at Carchemish, by Nebuchadnezzar, as is foretold here; and lost all the territory which had been subject to the Pharaohs west of the Euphrates, and between it and the Nile. The prediction would mitigate the Jews' grief for Josiah, and show his death was not to be unavenged ([2Ki 24:7]). He is famed as having fitted out a fleet of discovery from the Red Sea, which doubled the Cape of Good Hope and returned to Egypt by the Mediterranean. [¶24] 3. Derisive summons to battle. With all your mighty preparation for the invasion of Nebuchadnezzar, when ye come to the encounter, ye shall be "dismayed" ([Jr 46:5]). Your mighty threats shall end in nothing. [¶25] buckler--smaller, and carried by the light-armed cavalry. [¶26] shield--of larger size, and carried by the heavily armed infantry. [¶27] 4. Harness the horses--namely, to the war chariots, for which Egypt was famed ([Ex 14:7]; ). [¶28] get up, ye horsemen--get up into the chariots. Maurer, because of the parallel "horses," translates, "Mount the steeds." But it is rather describing the successive steps in equipping the war chariots; first harness the horses to them, then let the horsemen mount them. [¶29] brigandines--cuirasses, or coats of mail. [¶30] 5. (See on [Jr 46:3]). The language of astonishment, that an army so well equipped should be driven back in "dismay." The prophet sees this in prophetic vision. [¶31] fled apace--literally, "fled a flight," that is, flee precipitately. [¶32] look not back--They do not even dare to look back at their pursuers. [¶33] 6. Let not--equivalent to the strongest negation. Let not any of the Egyptian warriors think to escape by swiftness or by might. [¶34] toward the north--that is, in respect to Egypt or Judea. In the northward region, by the Euphrates (see [Jr 46:2]). [¶35] 7. as a flood--([Jr 47:2]; [Is 8:7], ; [Da 11:22]). The figure is appropriate in addressing Egyptians, as the Nile, their great river, yearly overspreads their lands with a turbid, muddy flood. So their army, swelling with arrogance, shall overspread the region south of Euphrates; but it, like the Nile, shall retreat as fast as it advanced. [¶36] 8. Answer to the question in [Jr 46:7]. [¶37] waters ... moved like the rivers--The rise of the Nile is gentle; but at the mouth it, unlike most rivers, is much agitated, owing to the sandbanks impeding its course, and so it rushes into the sea like a cataract. [¶38] 9. Ironical exhortation, as in [Jr 46:3]. The Egyptians, owing to the heat of their climate and abstinence from animal food, were physically weak, and therefore employed mercenary soldiers. [¶39] Ethiopians--Hebrew, Cush: Abyssinia and Nubia. [¶40] Libyans--Phut, Mauritania, west of Egypt (compare [Ge 10:6]). [¶41] shield--The Libyans borrowed from Egypt the use of the long shield extending to the feet [Xenophon, Cyropædia, 6 and 7]. [¶42] Lydians--not the Lydians west of Asia Minor ([Ge 10:22]; [Eze 30:5]), but the Ludim, an African nation descended from Egypt (Mizraim) ([Ge 10:13]; [Eze 30:5]; [Na 3:9]). [¶43] handle and bend the bow--The employment of two verbs expresses the manner of bending the bow, namely, the foot being pressed on the center, and the hands holding the ends of it. [¶44] 10. vengeance--for the slaughter of Josiah ([2Ki 23:29]).