Jeremiah 25

Verse 1. Babylon, when he was associated by Nabopolassar, three years before his death, A. 3397. This year Joakim was taken to be conducted to Babylon, though he was afterwards permitted to remain on very hard conditions, while the sacred vessels, Daniel, and so forth were taken away, and the 70 years of captivity commenced. They ended in the first of Cyrus, A. 3468. Usher—This chap. should be placed before the 24th and after the 26th. Calmet.—The prophets did not observe the order of time. Calmet. 21. Worthington.

Verse 3. Josias. He prophesied nineteen years under him, and three under his successors.

Verse 4. All. We know of Joel, Habacuc, Sophonias, and Holda. Calmet.

Verse 9. My servant. So this wicked king is here called; because God made him his instrument in punishing the sins of his people. Challoner. Worthington.—He thought himself more than man, but he was only the rod destined for the fire.

Verse 10. Sound, or songs of women turning the mill. Matthew 24:41. Calmet.—Lamp, or illuminations, on account of some victory, ( Bible.) or festival. Pers. verse 180. The Jews “light a lamp for the sabbaths,” (Sen. Ep. xcv.) before they commence. Bible.

Verse 11. Years. Verse 1. The neighbouring nations were also involved in this calamity, and were to be sent back by Cyrus. Calmet.—Another period of 70 years is specified, (Calmet. 29:10) during which the city and temple should remain in ruins, till the second of Hystaspes, A. 3485. Usher—This system is not without difficulties. The present prediction seems rather to refer to the desolation, (Vatab. Agg. 1:2) as appears from Zechariah 1:12 or the prophet speaks of the same event in both places, dating from the year preceding the capture of Jerusalem, ( A. 3415), till Darius gave entire liberty to the Jews, A. 3485. We differ from Usher in the years allotted to Cyrus, who began to restore the Jews. 1 Ezra 1:5. Calmet.—These 70 years are dated from the 11th of Sedecias. Worthington.

Verse 12. Punish. Literally, visit upon. Challoner.—Cyrus overturned the monarchy, and the city was ruined by degrees. Isaiah 13 and 14 and 21:1. Ezek. 1:5. Calmet.

Verse 14. Kings. They perfidiously joined the Chaldees, after making a league with Sedecias. Calmet. 27:3. This is condemned, ( Calmet.) and not precisely their submitting to Nabuchodonosor. Calmet. 28:8. Their league with Juda was indeed wrong; but the infringement of it was another crime. Septuagint is here much transposed almost to the end. See Grabe. Bible.—Jeremias had prophesied against the nations, though his words are given. Calmet. 46. and so forth

Verse 15. Fury. Chastisement. Isaiah 51:17.—All, who might be then at Jerusalem. Sanctius thinks Jeremias travelled into all these countries: most believe it was only done in vision. He might write to them. Calmet.—The cup metaphorically denotes God’s wrath. Psalms 74:9. Worthington.

Verse 18. As, and so forth He probably inserted this ( Bible.) after the event, (Vat.) or the country was much distressed even under Sedecias.

Verse 19. Pharao, who was defeated (Ezekiel 30:25) coming to assist Juda, (Calmet. 37) and again plundered after the taking of Tyre. Ezekiel 29:18.

Verse 20. In. Hebrew “the mixed multitude,” (Exodus 12:38. Calmet.) or “Arabs.” Grot.—Ausitis, near Palmyra. Job 1:1.—Azorus, taken by the Egyptians, and afterwards by the Chaldees. Calmet. 47:2.

Verse 21. Ammon. The details are given in Calmet. 48 and 49. Ezekiel 25 to 34. Abdias and Sophonias.

Verse 22. Kings. Ithobaal (Jos. Ant. x. 11.) had many governors under him. Nabuchodonosor besieged Tyre for 13 years. Ezekiel 26. and so forth—Sea, or Gibraltar. See Jos. sup. verse 22. Bible.—He had navies on the Mediterranean. Ezekiel 30:9.

Verse 23. Buz. Scenite Arabs, who cut off the hair of the eyebrows. Calmet. 9:26. These Saracens left the hair below the ears long, as the Polonians and Hungarians do. Worthington.

Verse 25–26. Zambri, sprung from Cethura, and dwelling in Arabia, ( Calmet.) or Persia, (Saint Jerome) where Pliny (vi. 28.) places the Zamarenians.—Elam. Persians, ( Bible.) by the sword of Alexander, (Saint Jerome) or Cyrus subdued those who were subject to the Medes, and united the two nations.—North. Armenia, and so forth subdued by Cyrus and by Alexander.—Brother. When Cyrus stood up for the Persians. All shall drink, as at a feast, ( Calmet.) of this bitter wine.—Face, and forming the empire of Babylon. Bible.—Sesac. That is Babel, or Babylon; which after bringing all these people under her yoke, should quickly fall and be destroyed herself. Challoner.—The Chaldees are not expressed, to avoid their resentment. The sh in sheshac, is at the same distance from the end as b in Babel is from the beginning of the alphabet. See Saint Jerome Bible. 2 Timothy 4:17.—Yet they are not elsewhere spared. Calmet. 49. and so forth Sesac was probably the idol, “anais or the moon.” Calmet.—The Sacean feasts were very dissolute, like the saturnalia at Rome. Dio. Chrys. iv. Strabo xi. Calmet.—Cyrus took Babylon after he had conquered the rest of Asia, and then seizing Nabonides at Borsippe, which was sacred to Anais, “the moon,” ( Calmet.) or Diana, (Strabo xv.) suffered him to die in peace. Berosus in Jos. c. Ap. 1.—Thus fell the king of Sesac, an idol worshipped both at Borsippe and at Babylon.

Verse 25–26. Zambri, sprung from Cethura, and dwelling in Arabia, ( Calmet.) or Persia, (Saint Jerome) where Pliny (vi. 28.) places the Zamarenians.—Elam. Persians, ( Bible.) by the sword of Alexander, (Saint Jerome) or Cyrus subdued those who were subject to the Medes, and united the two nations.—North. Armenia, and so forth subdued by Cyrus and by Alexander.—Brother. When Cyrus stood up for the Persians. All shall drink, as at a feast, ( Calmet.) of this bitter wine.—Face, and forming the empire of Babylon. Bible.—Sesac. That is Babel, or Babylon; which after bringing all these people under her yoke, should quickly fall and be destroyed herself. Challoner.—The Chaldees are not expressed, to avoid their resentment. The sh in sheshac, is at the same distance from the end as b in Babel is from the beginning of the alphabet. See Saint Jerome Bible. 2 Timothy 4:17.—Yet they are not elsewhere spared. Calmet. 49. and so forth Sesac was probably the idol, “anais or the moon.” Calmet.—The Sacean feasts were very dissolute, like the saturnalia at Rome. Dio. Chrys. iv. Strabo xi. Calmet.—Cyrus took Babylon after he had conquered the rest of Asia, and then seizing Nabonides at Borsippe, which was sacred to Anais, “the moon,” ( Calmet.) or Diana, (Strabo xv.) suffered him to die in peace. Berosus in Jos. c. Ap. 1.—Thus fell the king of Sesac, an idol worshipped both at Borsippe and at Babylon.

Verse 29. City. Jerusalem first fell a prey.

Verse 30. Beauty. The temple, which was like the palace ( Calmet.) of the great king. Bible.—Grapes. Great feasting was then customary. The soldiers rushing to battle, “answer” the Lord. Septuagint Calmet.—People encouraged one another by songs under the labour of the vine-press, as those in distress must do. Worthington.

Verse 31. Flesh. He will justify his conduct, particularly at the last day.

Verse 32. To nation. Jerusalem, Tyre, Syria, desert Arabia, Ammon, Idumea, and Egypt, shall fall one after another. Thus Cyrus will attack the Medes, Asia, and Babylon.

Verse 34. Leaders. Septuagint “rams.” He addresses the princes.—Vessels. Septuagint “chosen rams,” fattened for slaughter.

Verse 37. Silent. The places where you fed your flocks so delightfully, are laid waste.

Verse 38. The dove. This is commonly understood of Nabuchodonosor, whose military standard, they say, was a dove. But the Hebrew word Jonah, which is here rendered a dove, may also signify a waster or oppressor, which name better agrees to that unmerciful prince; or by comparison, as a dove’s flight is the swiftest, so would their destruction come upon them. Challoner.—Septuagint “waste or impassible before the great sword. Calmet. 4:7. Bible.—While God, like a lion, protected his people, none durst invade them. Menochius.—What is said respecting the Babylonian standards is very dubious, (Grot. Calmet.) as the same expression is applied to the Persians, (Calmet. 50:16. Menochius.) though it may there also be understood of the Chaldees. Bible.—God is like a dove, yet terrible. Worthington.