Matthew Poole and continuators on Jeremiah 50

1 THE word that the LORD spake against Babylon, and against the land of the Caldeans by Jeremiah the prophet .

The Prophet having from the 46th. chapter been denouncing the Judgments of God against the other Gentiles, the Egyptians, Moabites, Philistines, Ammonites, Edomites, Syrians, Kedarens, Hazorites, Elamites, or Persians (the most of which had been Enemies to the Jews) in these two chapters he denounceth Gods judgments against the Chaldeans and Babylonians. These were to execute Gods vengeance on all the rest, and therefore are themselves threatned in the last place to be destroyed by the Medes, the Prophesie against them, is mixed with many gracious promises to the Jews.

Marginal references: Isa. 13.1. & 21.1. & 4[illegible: 1 letter] 1.; Heb. by the hand of Ieremiah.

2 Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard, publish, and conceal not : say, Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded , Merodach, is broken in pieces, her idols are confounded, her images are broken in pieces .

The Prophet calls to men to publish it amongst other Nations, and to set up a Standard to make some signal, to gather all people together to hear what he had to say from God against Babylon, which had been an instrument of great mischief unto most people that lived about them, to whom it would therefore be glad and joyful News to hear that Babylon their common Enemy was ruined.

That by Bel and Merodach are meant two principal Idols of the Babylonians, most think; but what, is not so well agreed. Some think that Bel is Baal by contraction, but they judge most probably, who think it was the image of one Belus, who was formerly a King of Babylon, and they judge the like of M[illegible: 1 letter]rodach, we find in Scripture that Merodach was some of their Kings Names, Isa. 39.1. chap. 52.31. those who desire to be further satisfied about these Idols may read the English Annotations upon Isa. 46.1. and our Annotations upon that verse. It was an ordinary practice amongst the Heathens when they had any Princes died, that had been famous in their Government, to pay a Divine homage to their images and Statues. These Idols are said to be confounded,

Either because they should not be able at this pinch to help their suppliants, or because they should be destroyed together with the silly people that adored them.

Marginal references: Heb. lift up.; chap. [illegible: 1 span].

3 For out of the north there cometh up a nation against her , which shall make her land desolate, and none shall dwell therein: they shall remove, they shall depart both man and beast .

From Media which lay Northward to Babylon and Assyria through which Cyrus his way to Babylon lay.

This Prophesie seemeth not to relate only to Cyrus his first taking of Babylon, who dealt very gently with it, but to a second taking of it by Darius the King of the Medes, who upon their defection from the Persian Monarchy, came and made an horrible devastation amongst them, hanging up (as some tell us) four thousand of their Nobles, and slaying multitudes of the common People, or of the mischief did them afterward by Seleucus Nicanor, who is said to have built a City which he called Seleucia, within fourscore, and ten miles of Babylon, by which means he brought Babylon to an utter desolation.

4 ¶ In those dayes, and in that time, saith the LORD, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping : they shall go and seek the LORD their God .

In the dayes wherein God shall begin to execute judgment upon Babylon, which was in the time of Cyrus Emperor of the Medes the children of Iudah shall come out of Captivity and some of the Children of Israel (viz. those of the ten Tribes) hearing that their brethren were gone out of the Captivity of Babylon went also from the several places into which they were disposed by the Assyrians: weeping either for sorrow in the sense of their sins which had brought the miseries of Captivity upon them, or for joy that God ever should shew them such a mercy as to bring them home again into their own Country.

And those that feared God, whether of the Ten Tribes, or of the Kingdom of Iudah, worshipped God at Ierusalem, after their old accustomed manner.

5 They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying , Come and let us joyn our selves to the LORD in a perpetual covenant, that shall never be forgotten .

That is, those of Iudah and Israel that fear the Lord shall seriously and steadily seek the true God, and the true way of his Worship.

And being sensible that they had broken the Covenant which their Fathers had formerly made with God, with a desire to renew their Covenant, and that not for a time, but for ever. See chap. 31.31. The onely question is whether this promise be yet accomplished or no, or when it was, or shall be fulfilled? Answ. It was without doubt in a great measure fulfilled upon the Iewes coming out of the Captivity of Babylon, when those of the Kingdome of Iudah returned to Ierusalem, and were very zealous for restoring the true worship of God, and renewed their Covenant with God, (as we read in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah) but Mr. Calvin thinks it was more eminently fulfilled under the Kingdom of the Messiah, when though many believed not, yet many others did believe, and were added to the Church and whether a further fulfilling of it be not yet to come, time must shew.

6 My people hath been lost sheep , their shepherds have caused them to go astray , they have turned them away on the mountains : they have gone from mountain to hill , they have forgotten their resting place .

All men are compared to sheep that go astray, Isa. 53.6. here it is applied to the Iews who are called the Lords people by reason of the ancient Covenant God made with their Fathers they are said to be lost either with respect to their Captivity being cast out of the Land which God gave them for Pastures, or in respect of their Idolatry.

Their Civil and Ecclesiastical Governours have been a cause of it. The former by their wicked commands forcing them to Idolatry and Superstition, or at least by their wicked Example setting them an Example, and by their ill government conniving at them in their Idolatrous practices for which they are gone into Captivity. Their Priests, and Ecclesiastical Governours, teaching them such practices and incouraging them by their own examples, and promising them impunity, and security in them.

Either they have bin a cause of their offering Sacrifices to idols upon the Mountains, or of their being carried into Captivity over the Mountains.

Either wandring up and down in a strange land, or in their way thither, or running from one species of Idolatry to another.

They have forgotten the land of Canaan which I gave them for a resting place after their toilsome travail in the Wilderness, or (as some would have it) they have forgotten we who am their rest.

Marginal references: Heb. place to lye down in.

7 All that found them have devoured them , and their adversaries said, We offend not, because they have sinned against the LORD , the habitation of justice , even the LORD, the hope of their fathers .

As they be in the condition of lost sheep, so they have been under the fate of lost sheep, which every Dog, Fox▪ Wolf devours.

And those that are their Enemies have pretended that in destroying them they have done no ill because they had sinned, so as the sins of the Iews did both expose them to the Wrath of God, and also emboldned their Enemies, and encouraged them to think that they did God Service in destroying them.

The habitation of Iustice. Some think this is a name here given to God, who indeed is the habitation of Justice, but whether the Chaldeans would call him so may be a question. Others therefore think the preposition in is understood, making this the aggravation of the Iews sins, that they were committed in a land which ought to have been an habitation of Justice, as Isa. 26.10. it is said that the wicked man in a land of uprightness will deal unjustly. Mr. Calvin hath another notion, viz. That the Prophet here incourageth himself against what the Adversaries had promised themselves because the people had offended God: viz. that notwithstanding this, God was a righteous God, in whom Justice dwelt, and who would be faithful to his Promises.

And he was their hope, and had been he in whom their Fathers before them had hoped, and that not in vain.

8 Remove out of the midst of Babylon , and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the he-goats before the flocks.

These words immediately following the other, confirm Mr. Calvins notion. God by his Prophet commanding his people to remove out of Babylon, and to go forth chearfully and skipping like the He-goats of the Flock leading the way, and setting an Example unto others. We find much such a call, Isa. 48.20. chap. 51.6. which is applied to Spiritual Babylon, Rev. 18.4. where the coming out is to be understood of a separation from them as to any religious communion, which also was their Duty as to old Babylon but that is not the coming out here spoken of.

9 ¶ For lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon, an assembly of great nations from the north-country, and they shall set themselves in aray against her , from thence she shall be taken: their arrows shall be as of a mighty expert man: none shall return in vain .

He means the Medes and Persian (as it is expounded afterward)

I will so direct their arrows, that every arrow they shoot shall pierce one or another. Or, (as some rather chuse to interpret it) no Soldier of that assembly of great Nations, that shall come up against Babylon shall return without some Booty or other. The reason of the different reading noted in the Margent, is the difference of a point in the Heb. which if set on the right side of the letter, the word signifieth a destroyer: if on the left side, an expert man as we translate it.

Marginal references: Or, destr[illegible: 3 letters].

10 And Chaldea shall be a spoil: all that spoil her shall be satisfied, saith the LORD .

Satisfied with spoil and plunder, for Babylon and Chaldea was at that time one of the richest places in those parts of the world. She was abundant in treasure, chap. 51.13.

11 Because ye were glad, because ye rejoyced , O ye destroyers of mine heritage , because ye are grown fat, as the heifer at grass, and bellow as bulls .

They rejoyced at the ruine of the Iews, the same thing is laid to the charge of the Edomites, Obadiah 12. The Chaldeans were Gods Rod to scourge the Iewes, but when men are made use of by God, as his Rod and scourge, they ought not to put off Humanity, but to behave themselves decently, and as persons that are sensible of the miseries which their brethren suffer.

God calls them his heritage, because they formerly were a people whom he owned above all other people.

Marginal references: Heb. big▪ [illegible: 1 word] corpulent.; Or, Neigh as [illegible: 2 letters]eeds.; There is some difference amongst critical interpreters, whether the heifer here mentioned be to be understood of a heifer at grass (as we translate it) or an heifer used to tread out the Corn, or whether it be to be understood of a horse-neighing, (as the words may be interpreted) or an heifer. But these are things of very small moment. The cause for which Baby[illegible: 1 letter]on is threatned, was doubtless their luxury of all sorts commonly attending great wealth and prosperity meeting with hearts unsanctified.

12 Your mother shall be sore confounded, she that bare you shall be ashamed : behold, the hindermost of the nations shall be a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert.

Your chief City Babylon, or your Country, which is the common Mother of all the Chaldeans shall be destroyed, or shall be ashamed of you, who are not able to defend her.

The sense here seems a little difficult, because it appears no such strange thing that the hindermost of the Nations should be a Wilderness. It is therefore probable that the words shall be, are to be understood before the hindermost of the Nations, our Translation supplieth them after, so the reading will be it shall be the hindermost of the nations, a wilderness, &c. That is, Babylon, that hath been so famous, and accounted the head of the Nations, shall become the meanest of all Nations, a meer Wilderness, and a dry land, and a Desert.

13 Because of the wrath of the LORD, it shall not be inhabited, but it shall be wholly desolate : every one that goeth by Babylon, shall be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues .

The same thing was threatned against Babylon, Isa. 13.20. It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation.

It seemeth to be a proverbial speech made use of to express the miserable state of a place; we had it before, chap. 49.17. applyed to Edom. It is according to the threatning, Deut. 28.37. See chap. 25.9, 11. and 29.18. and 42.18. Ezek. 5.15.

14 Put your selves in aray against Babylon round about : all ye that bend the bowe, shoot at her, spare no arrows : for she hath sinned against the LORD .

The Prophet calls to the Medes and Persians with those who should come with them to their assistance to put themselves in Mi[illegible: 1 letter]litary order ready to come up against Babylon.

The Persians (as was noted before) were very famous for the Bow, therefore he speaketh unto them as an Army of Archers, to shoot at the Babylonians, and to spare no arrows.

Because Babylon had sinned against the Lord exceedingly, as Gen. 13.13. By their Idolatry, Luxury, and cruel usage of the Iews, &c.

15 Shout against her round about : she hath given her hand : her foundations are faln, her walls are thrown down : for it is the vengeance of the LORD : take vengeance upon her; as she hath done, do unto her .

Either as Souldiers use to shout when they fall upon their Enemy, or as they use to shout and Triumph when they are entred a City, or when their Enemies fly.

Either acknowledging themselves overcome, and yielding themselves to the power of their Enemies, or as some think confederating with the Lydians, but the former is more probable.

That is, she is wholly subdued and conquered, as if her Walls were thrown down, for literally her Walls were not beaten down by Cyrus, for he took the City by surprize.

God is he who brings this Vengeance upon Babylon, though it be by your hands.

It is very observable, that there is hardly any sins which the Lord so ordinarily punisheth in the like kind, as those which are offences against the Lawes of Iustice and Charity. The common fate of cruel and uncharitable men, is to meet with others to do to them, as they have done to others, unmerciful men find no mercy. See Psal. 137.8, 9. Iudg. 1.6, 7. Adoni-Bezek acknowledged Gods Justice in it.

Marginal references: chap. 51.6, 11. Rev. 18.6.

16 Cut off the sower from Babylon, and him that handleth the sickle in the time of harvest : for fear of the oppressing sword, they shall turn every one to his people, and they shall flee every one to his own land .

We are told that Babylon was so large a City that within the Walls of it there was much plowed ground: or else the threatning imports that God would deal more severely with Babylon than Conquerors use to do with places which they Conquer, who use to spare and leave behind them. Plow-men, and such as use to Till the ground, but in the destruction of Babylon, it should not be so.

He speaks either of such strangers as for commerce had their abodes in Babylon, or such Assistants as the Babylonians had gotten against their Enemies, who upon the coming in of the Enemies should make as much haste home as they could.

Marginal references: Or, Sithe.

17 ¶ Israel is a scattered sheep , the lions have driven him away , first the king of Assyria hath devoured him , and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones.

By Israel is here meant the whole 12 Tribes (though sometimes it signifieth the ten Tribes in opposition to Iudah) they were all wandering sheep, they became penally scattered sheep.

Enemies as fierce and cruel as lions, had seized them, and carried them into Captivity.

First the King of Assyria devoured the Ten Tribes which were strictly call'd, Israel, 2 Kin. 17.6. Then Nebuchadnezzar the King of Babylon took Ierusalem as we heard chap. 39. and carried away the People, and burnt the Temple, which the Prophet here calls a breaking of his bones.

18 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon, and his land , as I have punished the king of Assyria .

God may justly punish those who do the things which he hath commanded them to do, if they do it not in that manner which he directeth, or, if what they do, be not done in obedience to his command, but in satisfaction to their own lusts, which was the case of the Assyrians, Isa. 10.7.

Some refer this to the punishment of the Assyrians in the destruction of Senacherib and his Army in the time of Hezekiah, but the Prophet seemeth here to speak of a destruction of Assyria, which followed after his devouring of the Ten Tribes, from whence we may conclude, that Assyria was destroyed before the time of this Revelation.

19 And I will bring Israel again to his habitation , and he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan, and his soul shall be satisfied upon mount Ephraim and Gilead .

This must be understood of Iudah, which was part of that people who were called Israel, for to this day we have neither read nor heard of the ten Tribes being brought back again to their habitation.

The onely difficulty is how it is said that the Iews upon their return should feed upon Carmel and Ba[illegible: 1 letter]han, and mount Ephraim and Gilead, which were places that belong'd not to the Tribes of Iudah and Benjamin: to which it is answered, that these places were granted to the Iews by Demetrius the Father and the Son, as we are told by Iosephus, l. 13. c. 5.8. These places were rich Grounds for feeding Cattel, therefore it is said they shall feed on Carmel and Bashan, &c.

20 In those dayes, and in that time, saith the LORD, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none: and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found , for I will pardon them whom I reserve .

Some here restrain the term iniquity to the idolatry of the Iews, which indeed was their great sin, which God did more especially punish them for, and after the Captivity of Babylon, we do not read of their offending in that kind, which was according to the Prophesie of Isaiah, Isa. 27.9. that when God should make the stones of the Altar as Chalk-stones that are beaten asunder, the Groves and the Images should not stand up.

But the last words seem to guide us to a larger sense of the term iniquity, and to point us to another sense of the whole former phrase, viz. That God would no longer punish the sins of the Iews they should be sought for as to punishment, and not found. And those words and none must be understood as if none, they shall be punished no more than if they had none.

For as to those whom I save from the Captivity of Babylon, I will pardon them, not that they were all excused from the obligation their sins laid them under as to Eternal death, but that their Temporal punishment was remitted to the whole Body of the Iews: and those that were truly penitent also, should be discharged from their obligation to Eternal death. The obligation that sin layeth the sinner under to Eternal death may be remitted, and yet the temporal punishment due to them may remain, 2 Sam. 12.13, 14, &c. And on the other side the punishment in this life, may be suspended or remitted, and the obligation, sin layeth the sinner under to Eternal death, may remain.

21 ¶ Go up against the land of Merathaim , even against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod , waste and utterly destroy after them, saith the LORD, and do according to all that I have commanded thee .

There is some disputes amongst interpreters whether the words here Merathaim and Pekod be to be taken as common nouns, the one signifying Rebels or Rulers, the other Visitation, because the Chaldeans were Rebels against the Lord, and were great Rulers over all the contiguous Nations. Or whether they be proper Names of some Places which Cyrus passed by, or it may be took in, and conquered in his way to Babylon.

There is some disputes amongst interpreters whether the words here Merathaim and Pekod be to be taken as common nouns, the one signifying Rebels or Rulers, the other Visitation, because the Chaldeans were Rebels against the Lord, and were great Rulers over all the contiguous Nations. Or whether they be proper Names of some Places which Cyrus passed by, or it may be took in, and conquered in his way to Babylon.

The latter are Gods words by his Prophet, like the former commanding him with his Armies to go up, and destroy them flying away, or them that should succeed after them, their whole posterity; intimating Gods design utterly to destroy them which destruction was gently begun by Cyrus, and perfected by Darius.

Marginal references: Or, of the Rulers, or Rebels.; Or, Visitation.

22 A sound of battel is in the land, and of great destruction .

That is in the land of Caldea.

23 How is the hammer of the whole earth cut asunder and broken? how is Babylon become a desolation among the nations ?

The latter part of the verse expounds the former, God had made the Babylonians his Hammer, to break other Nations in pieces, now it was it self broken, the particle how? may be understood either as expressing triumph and rejoycing, or admiration, or as inquiring how such a thing could be in the last sense, the next verse is an answer to this.

Marginal references: chap. 51.20.

24 I have laid a snare for thee, and thou art also taken, O Babylon, and thou wast not aware, thou art found, and also caught , because thou hast striven against the LORD .

We are told that Cyrus with his great Army diverted the River E[illegible: 1 letter]phrates so as his Army passed over and so surprized the City so suddenly that those in the midst of it, did not know it when part of the City was already taken. God directed Cyrus to this Stratagem for the taking of the City, which the Prophet calls a snar[illegible: 1 letter], wherein the Babylonians were taken when

the reason of this unexpected ruine to this great people was their sinning against the Lord ver. 14. which is here call'd a striving against him, as indeed all sin is.

25 The LORD hath opened his armoury, and hath brought forth the weapons of his indignation: for this is the work of the LORD God of hosts, in the land of the Chaldeans .

Babylon was so rich, and potent a Nation, and had been so great a conquerour that people looking onely with the eye of sense, and judging according to probabilities in the eyes of men, might well ask how these things could possibly be? to which the Prophet here answereth. That the hand of God was to be eyed in the case, this was the Lords work upon the Chaldeans; God had opened his Armoury, and the Medes were to make use of the weapons of his indignation. He who threatned this destruction was able to carry it through, and it was no great matter what weapons either the Babylonians had to defend themselves, or the Medes to offend them, it was Gods power and strength was onely to be regarded.

26 Come against her from the utmost border , open her store-houses : cast her up as heaps , and destroy her utterly: let nothing of her be left.

The Prophet in the name of God calleth to the Enemies of Babylon, the Medes, to come up, from the furthest parts of their dominions, or from all parts, to fight against Babylon.

To open the Granaries, or Storehouses or Treasuries of the Babylonians.

And to cast up the Cities as heaps of Rubbish, and utterly to destroy the City with such a total destruction that nothing of it should be left.

Marginal references: Heb. from the end.; Or, tread her.

27 Slay all her bullocks: let them go down to the slaughter : wo unto them, for their day is come, the time of their visitation.

By Bullocks in this place Interpreters generally understand the great and rich men of Babylon.

28 The voice of them that flee and escape out of the land of Babylon to declare in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God, the vengeance of his temple .

The Prophet here, brings in the poor Iews that had been Captives in Babylon going back upon Cyrus his Proclamation of Liberty, towards Zion there joyfully to declare the Revenge which their God had taken for them, and for his Holy Temple, which the Chaldeans had burnt and destroyed.

Marginal references: chap. 51.10, 11.

29 Call together the archers against Babylon : all ye that bend the bowe, camp against it round about; let none thereof escape, recompense her according to her work; according to all that she hath done, do unto her: for she hath been proud against the LORD, against the holy One of Israel .

The word translated Archers signifieth also many, and is by divers so translated, but the following words more justifie our translation.

The cause of Gods calling for Babylons Enemies against her, is assigned to be her Pride against the Lord.

30 Therefore shall her young men fall in the streets, and all her men of war shall be cut off in that day , saith the LORD.

See Chapter 49.26. where we met with the same words.

31 Behold, I am against thee, O thou most proud, saith the LORD God of hosts, for thy day is come, the time that I will visit thee .

Babylon is particularly branded for Pride, which is the swelling of a mans heart in a self opinion, caused from some thing wherein he excelleth, or thinks that he excelleth another. We have a large account of the Pride of Babylon, Isa. 14.12, 13, 14. and particularly of one of their Kings, Dan. 5.20, 21. The sinner exalteth himself against God, and either judgeth himself wiser, or more mighty than he.

Marginal references: Heb. Pride.

32 And the most proud shall stumble and fall, and none shall raise him up: and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it shall devour all round about him .

Babylon before called the most Proud, here Pride in the abstract (which speaketh this people excessively faulty in this thing) shall fall, and so fall, as never more to be recovered and raised up.

Marginal references: Heb. Pride.

¶ 33 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, The children of Israel and the children of Judah were oppressed together , and all that took them captives held them fast, they refused to let them go .

Not together in respect of times, for there was 150 years difference betwixt the time of Israels and Iudahs captivity, nor by the same Enemy Israel was carried away Captive by the Assyrians, Iudah, by the Caldeans. Together in this place signifies no more than that they were both oppressed, or alike oppressed.

And some may think that my Prophesies are but Flatteries, and vain words, for those who have them in their hands are able to keep them, and will not be willing to let them go.

34 Their redeemer is strong, the LORD of hosts is his name , he shall throughly plead their cause , that he may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon .

The Lord whose name is the Lord of Hosts, is he that is their Avenger: (for so the word signifies, and he is as strong as any of those that hold them fast, and will not let them go.

He will plead their cause, not like a Lawyer, but actually, and really effect it, as pleading is often taken, as chap. 25.31. Ezek. 17.20. Ioel 3.2.

These are the two ends which God aimeth at, to give his people rest, and to punish Babylon.

35 ¶ A sword is upon the Chaldeans, saith the LORD, and upon the inhabitants of Babylon, and upon her princes, and upon her wise men.

That is, there shall come a sword, the sword of the Medes, upon Babylon, and all the Land of the Chaldeans, and all orders of Persons in it.

36 A sword is upon the liars, and they shall dote : a sword is upon her mighty men, and they shall be dismayed .

The word here translated Liars, is by some translated barrs, by some liars; and in the Hebrew it hath both significations; which makes some think it is to be understood of the chief men who are the Props, Stays and Bars of a place whose Wisdom God threatens should fail them, so as they should dote, and shew themselves Fools. Others Translating it liars as we do, understand it of their Soothsayers and Wizzards whom he calls liars, because they divined false, and saith they should dote, not foreseeing what should be.

And though they were full of valiant mighty men, yet, their hearts should fail them when this day came, and all be destroyed amongst the rest.

Marginal references: Or, chief [illegible: 1 word]; Heb. [illegible: 1 word]

37 A sword is upon their horses, and upon their chariots , and upon all the mingled people that are in the midst of her , and they shall become as women , a sword is upon her treasures, and they shall be robbed .

Though they be full of Chariots and Horses, the Enemy shall destroy them.

By the mingled people some understand those whom the Babylonians had hired to their Assistance from other Nations, others, such strangers as lived amongst them; others a people under the power of the Chaldeans, made up of People of several Countries. See chap. 25.20, 24. Ezek. 30.5. they seem to signifie a people that were not Native Caldeans but under their dominion.

That is, faint-hearted.

And though Babylon hath great Treasures, yet those shall not secure her, she shall be robbed of them.

Marginal references: Nah. 3.13. Isa. 13.15. chap. 46.[illegible: 2 letters].

38 A drought is upon her waters, and they shall be dried up , for it is the land of graven images, and they are mad upon their idols .

Some think that this phrase hath a special reference to Cyrus his Stratagem used in the surprize of Babylon, one part of it was fortified by the great River Euphrates, running on one side, which Cyrus diverted by cutting several Channels, till he had drained it so low, that it became passable for his Army to go over: Others think that a want of Rain is here threatned.

God gives the reason of this Judgment which was their Idolatry, and exceeding zeal for it.

Marginal references: chap. 51.3[illegible: 1 letter] ▪ 36.

40 As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the LORD: so shall no man abide there , neither shall any son of man dwell therein.

The substance of both these verses is, that Babylon should be totally ruined, as Sodom and Gomorrah so as there should be no Habitations for men, but wild beasts onely of all sorts should inhabit and lodge in it. The fulfilling of this we have not in holy Writ, only the beginning of its accomplishment, it being taken by Cyrus who only made them Tributaries, and took away their Government. But they rebelling against the Emperour of the Medes, Dari[illegible: 1 letter]s Hystaspis a succeeding Emperour pulled down their walls. And about 250 years after Seleucus Nicanor a Grecian Prince the Medes being before conquered by Alexander the Great, utterly destroyed Babylon, so as in the time of Hadrian the Roman Emperour, there was nothing left standing of that great City but some pieces of walls.

Marginal references: Gen▪ 19.2[illegible: 1 letter]. Isa. 13.19. chap. 49.18.

41 Behold, a people shall come from the north, and a great nation, and many kings shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth .

The Medes and Persians with their Armies, who shall also have many other Kings, who from the several parts of the earth shall join with him and help him.

Marginal references: chap. 6.22.

42 They shall hold the bow and the lance : they are cruel and will not shew mercy : their voice shall roar like the seas, and they shall ride upon horses, every one put in array like a man to the battel, against thee, O daughter of Babylon .

These were the two usual weapons of Souldiers in those Countries, chap. 6.23.

The Persians were a cruel bloody people.

These phrases signifie no more, then that the Enemies should come upon Babylon in a terrible manner, and prepared to destroy them.

Marginal references: Isa. 5.30.

43 The king of Babylon hath heard the report of them, and his hands waxed feeble: anguish took hold on him, and pangs as of a woman in travail .

The Medes shall not be more prepared to destroy the Babylonians, then they shall be unprepared to make any resistance, as God will animate their Enemies, so he will dispirit them, so as they shall faint upon the report of their coming, and be like a woman upon whom strong pangs of travail are.

Marginal references: chap. 49.24.

45 Therefore hear ye the counsel of the LORD, that he hath taken against Babylon, and his purposes that he hath purposed against the land of the Caldeans: surely the least of the flock shall draw them out: surely he shall make their habitation desolate with them .

See the notes on chap. 49.19. where we have applied unto Edom all that is here spoken against Babylon.

46 At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth is moved, and the cry is heard among the nations .

We have much the same spoken with reference to Edom, 49.20. The words are only expressive of the greatness of the destruction of Babylon, which should be such as should make all that part of the World shake, and the noise of it would ring throughout all the Nations in that part of the Earth.