Analysis of Jeremiah Chapter 46
The book of Jeremiah, a deeply prophetic scripture, carries messages from God through the prophet Jeremiah. Chapter 46 specifically focuses on prophecies against Egypt. This chapter sets a historical context and provides spiritual guidance and warnings that extend beyond its immediate audience to offer significant insights for readers today. This analysis will explore the chapter in detail, delving into the historical background, the divine messages conveyed, and their larger theological implications.
Jeremiah 46:1-2 – Introduction and Context
The chapter begins with a general introduction:
“The word of the Lord which came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Gentiles; Against Egypt, against the army of Pharaoh-necho 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.” (Jeremiah 46:1-2, KJV)
This passage sets the scene for the prophecies that follow. It notes that Jeremiah received the word from the Lord, emphasizing the divine origin of the messages he would deliver. The specific mention of Egypt, particularly the army of Pharaoh Necho, at the Battle of Carchemish, places us in a historical context around 605 BC. This battle was significant as it marked a major defeat for Egypt at the hands of the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar, a turning point in regional power dynamics. Understanding this historical backdrop allows us to appreciate the foretelling nature of Jeremiah’s words and the divine providence at work.
Jeremiah 46:3-6 – The Coming Defeat
“Order ye the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle. Harness the horses; and get up, ye horsemen, and stand forth with your helmets; furbish the spears, and put on the brigandines. 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. Let not the swift flee away, nor the mighty man escape; they shall stumble, and fall toward the north by the river Euphrates.” (Jeremiah 46:3-6, KJV)
These verses depict a vivid scene of military preparation and subsequent defeat. The call to “order the buckler and shield” and harness the horses portrays a well-prepared army ready for battle, which is indicative of Egyptian military pride and readiness. However, the rhetorical question, “Wherefore have I seen them dismayed and turned away back?” introduces a sudden reversal of fortune. Despite their preparations, the Egyptians are portrayed as fleeing in dismay and fear, indicating an unexpected and comprehensive defeat.
The repeated mention of fear and the note that even the swift and mighty will not escape, but fall at the Euphrates, underscores the totality of the impending disaster. This passage serves as a powerful reminder of the futility of human strength and planning when faced against divine will. It encapsulates the biblical theme that victory and defeat ultimately lie in God’s hands.
Jeremiah 46:7-10 – The Judgment of the Lord
“Who is this that cometh up as a flood, whose waters are moved as the rivers? 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. 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. 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.” (Jeremiah 46:7-10, KJV)
Here, Egypt is likened to a flood, a powerful and overwhelming force rising up with ambition to cover the earth and destroy cities. This metaphor emphasizes Egyptian arrogance and overconfidence. However, this passage reveals that their efforts are destined for failure as it is the day of the Lord’s vengeance. The reference to Ethiopia, Libya, and Lydia reflects the allies and mercenaries Egypt might rely on, but even their combined might cannot withstand God’s decree.
Verse 10 is particularly significant as it labels the battle as “the day of the Lord God of hosts,” a day of divine vengeance. The imagery of the sword devouring and becoming drunk with blood is graphic and symbolic of the extreme judgment and totality of the coming defeat. It paints a picture of divine retribution where God, as the ultimate judge, punishes those who oppose Him. The “sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates” connects the physical location to a spiritual judgment, transforming a battlefield into an altar where God’s justice is executed.
Jeremiah 46:11-12 – The Futility of Egypt’s Remedies
“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. 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.” (Jeremiah 46:11-12, KJV)
These verses address Egypt directly, personifying the nation as a “virgin” in need of healing. The reference to Gilead and balm indicates seeking remedies for ailments, but it is foretold that such efforts will be in vain. This notion that “thou shalt not be cured” highlights the inevitability and inescapability of God’s judgment. Egypt’s downfall is not just a physical defeat but also a blow to its pride and reputation.
The cry of Egypt filling the land signifies widespread despair and calamity, heard by other nations. The shame and public nature of their downfall serve as a warning to other nations regarding the consequences of opposing God’s will. The image of the mighty stumbling and falling together reinforces the idea that no alliance, power, or status can thwart divine judgment.
Jeremiah 46:13-19 – The Second Prophecy Against Egypt
“The word that the Lord spake to Jeremiah the prophet, how Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon should come and smite the land of Egypt. 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. Why are thy valiant men swept away? they stood not, because the Lord did drive them. 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. They did cry there, Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a noise; he hath passed the time appointed. 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. O thou daughter dwelling in Egypt, furnish thyself to go into captivity: for Noph shall be waste and desolate without an inhabitant.” (Jeremiah 46:13-19, KJV)
This second prophecy expands on the earlier one, providing further details about Egypt’s fate. It is specifically about Nebuchadnezzar’s campaign against Egypt. The cities of Migdol, Noph, and Tahpanhes are called to prepare for an impending invasion, underscoring both the extensive reach of the conquest and the urgency for preparation.
The phrase, “Why are thy valiant men swept away?” points again to the inexplicability of the defeat from a worldly perspective but clarifies that it is the Lord driving them to fall. The scenario of panic and disarray among the Egyptian forces is underscored by their decision to abandon the battlefield, preferring to flee to their homelands to escape the sword. Their cry, referring to Pharaoh as “but a noise,” signifies the loss of faith in their leader, seeing him as ineffective and past his time of influence.
Verse 18 reasserts God’s sovereignty with the declaration, “As I live, saith the King, whose name is the Lord of hosts,” emphasizing the certainty of the prophecy. The comparison to Mount Tabor and Mount Carmel, well-known and prominent landmarks, signifies the surety and prominence of Nebuchadnezzar’s coming as God’s instrument of judgment.
Finally, Egypt, likened to a daughter, is warned to prepare for captivity. The desolation of Noph indicates widespread devastation and the thoroughness of the impending judgment. This section continues to underscore the themes of God’s sovereign control and the futility of resisting His will.
Jeremiah 46:20-24 – The Invading Enemy
“Egypt is like a very fair heifer, but destruction cometh; it cometh out of the north. 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. 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. They shall cut down her forest, saith the Lord, though it cannot be searched; because they are more than the grasshoppers, and are innumerable. The daughter of Egypt shall be confounded; she shall be delivered into the hand of the people of the north.” (Jeremiah 46:20-24, KJV)
Here, Egypt is depicted as a “fair heifer,” symbolizing its attractiveness, perhaps wealth and power, but also its vulnerability to an impending catastrophic judgment. The destruction from the north signifies the Babylonian invasion, a recurrent theme in Jeremiah’s prophecies.
The “hired men” or mercenaries, compared to “fatted bullocks,” underscores their readiness for battle but also their futility, as they turn and flee. Their failure to stand highlights the inescapable nature of their appointed day of calamity, preordained by the Lord. The image of their voice going “like a serpent” suggests slyness or panic, as they are overwhelmed by the invading Babylonians who come “with axes” like woodcutters, methodically destroying their forests.
The simile of the army being “more than the grasshoppers, and are innumerable” emphasizes the overwhelming and inescapable force of the invasion. The result is Egypt’s complete confounding and humiliation, culminating in their subjugation and captivity by the “people of the north,” signifying Babylon’s total dominance.
Jeremiah 46:25-26 – God’s Judgment and Promise
“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: 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.” (Jeremiah 46:25-26, KJV)
In these verses, God’s direct involvement and judgment against Egypt and its allies is pronounced. The “multitude of No” refers to Thebes, a prominent city, and the punishment extends to Pharaoh and all who trust in him. This comprehensive judgment includes the political, military, and religious spheres, targeting their gods and kings.
The assurance that Egypt will be delivered into Nebuchadnezzar’s hand reaffirms divine control over the geopolitical events. The inclusion of “afterward it shall be inhabited, as in the days of old” offers a glimpse of hope and restoration. It indicates that God’s judgment, while severe, is not without end or purpose. This cycle of judgment followed by restoration is a recurrent biblical theme, reflecting God’s justice tempered by His mercy.
Jeremiah 46:27-28 – A Message of Comfort to Israel
“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. 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.” (Jeremiah 46:27-28, KJV)
The chapter concludes with a comforting message directly addressed to Israel. Despite the surrounding judgments, God reassures His people not to fear. The promise of salvation “from afar off” speaks to God’s ability to deliver them from distant lands of captivity, emphasizing His omnipresence and omnipotence.
The assurance that Jacob (Israel) will return, rest, and be at ease provides a stark contrast to the fate of Egypt, highlighting God’s special covenant relationship with Israel. This promise of restoration and peace reassures the Israelites of God’s unending commitment to them despite their current suffering.
The repeated exhortation, “Fear thou not, O Jacob my servant,” is significant, reaffirming God’s protective presence. Although God acknowledges the need for correction, He differentiates it from the complete destruction faced by other nations. This indicates a paternal discipline aimed at refinement rather than obliteration, emphasizing God’s justice balanced with His enduring love for Israel.
Conclusion
Jeremiah Chapter 46 is a profound chapter that not only provides historical accounts of Egypt’s downfall but also conveys deeper theological truths. Through vivid imagery and prophetic words, it highlights the sovereignty of God over nations, the futility of human pride against divine will, and the balance of God’s justice with His mercy. The final message of comfort to Israel amidst these judgments underscores God’s covenant faithfulness and His overarching plan for restoration and salvation. Readers are thus reminded of the omnipotent nature of God and the inevitability of His divine plan.