Jeremiah 46 Study Notes

46:1-51:64 Even though the Greek Septuagint version of the OT (third century BC) placed these prophecies against the nations after 25:13, there is no reason to doubt that they came from Jeremiah the prophet. It was not unusual for prophets to include a word from God for the foreign nations. Isaiah (Is 13-21), Ezekiel (Ezk 25-32), and Amos (Am 1:3-2:3) all did it. Often these messages were sent to foreign capitals by ambassadors living in Jerusalem. Rarely were they delivered personally by the prophet. The prophecies focus on ten nations—Egypt, Philistia, Moab, Ammon, Edom, Syria (Damascus), Kedar, Hazor, Elam, and Babylon. Possibly the messages were given at various times during Jeremiah’s ministry, then collected under the common theme of judgment for failure to live up to God’s standards. The Lord threatened these nations even though they were not part of the covenant because he is God of all nations. As such, he has the right to expect a standard of holiness and righteousness that accords with his nature, especially since all people are made in his image. So God will judge the foreign nations’ sins, just as he will judge the sins of Israel and Judah.

46:1 This verse with its introduction serves as a superscription for the entire collection in chaps. 46 through 51. The same formula appears at 14:1; 47:1; and 49:34. For Isaiah’s earlier oracle against Egypt, see Is 19:1-20:6. For Ezekiel’s contemporaneous oracle against Egypt, see Ezk 29:1-32:32.

46:2 The phrase the army of Pharaoh Neco, Egypt’s king, which was defeated at Carchemish refers to the Pharaoh who killed King Josiah at Megiddo in 609 BC. Neco placed Jehoahaz on the throne for three months and then removed him, imprisoned him at Riblah, and installed Jehoiakim in his place. In Jehoiakim’s fourth year, Neco II went to aid the Assyrians against the rising Babylonian menace, but was defeated at the battle of Carchemish in 605 BC.

46:3-12 These verses contain one of the most vivid poems in the OT. It was written either just before or just after the Babylonians thrashed Egypt. The poem describes the Egyptian army preparing for its confrontation with Nebuchadnezzar. It bristles with sarcasm. We can almost hear Egyptian officers barking out commands, preparing their troops for the conflict.

46:3 The Egyptians used small shields (small round bucklers used by lightly armed soldiers) and large shields (for protecting the whole body of the heavily armed soldier) in this battle.

46:4 The words horses and steeds show the charioteers were readied at the same time as the infantry. Chariot divisions were an important part of Egyptian warfare. John Bright (Jeremiah, p. 301) renders the sharp staccato of these lines so we can hear the commands being barked out: “Harness—horses! Riders—mount! Fall in—with helmets! Whet—lances! On—full armor!”

46:5 Why have I seen this? (lit “Why or what do I see?”) indicates that no sooner had the battle begun than the Egyptians broke ranks and fled for their lives. Terror is on every side! shows that panic was widespread. This expression is a favorite of Jeremiah. He used it of the “foe from the north” (see 6:25), and for his detractor (20:3). It was also used as a taunt against Jeremiah himself (20:10).

46:7-8 Egypt’s resurgence under Pharaoh Neco II is compared to the annual flood of the Nile River. Egypt fancied itself as one who will cover the earth, presumably like the Nile River. The same metaphor is used of Assyria (Is 8:7-8).

46:9 Apparently mercenary troops accompanied the Egyptian army from Cush, or Ethiopia, to the south of Egypt. Put may be the Punt of Egyptian literature. It bordered the east African coast. Lud is variously understood as Lydia in Asia Minor (cp. the Ludites of Ezk 30:5) or the land in North Africa (Gn 10:13).

46:10 A theological interpretation of Egypt’s defeat is given here. Some associate the vengeance with God’s judgment of Egypt for killing King Josiah of Judah at Megiddo in 609 BC. But the day of vengeance mentioned here is broader than this single event (Is 61:2). Egypt’s defeat is viewed as a sacrifice to the Lord (cp. Is 34:5-7; Ezk 39:17-20; Zph 1:7).

46:11 Gilead’s plant that produced healing medicine cannot be identified with certainty, but the association of this healing balm with Gilead is strong (8:22; 51:8; Gn 37:25). However, no remedy or healing salve could heal Egypt. Virgin Daughter Egypt is an unusual title for that nation, since it brings to mind “Virgin Israel” (18:13; 31:4,21).

46:13 With the defeat of the Egyptian force at Carchemish, Nebuchadnezzar advanced toward Egypt. In August of 605 BC Nabopolassar, the father of Nebuchadnezzar, died. His son rushed back to Babylon to secure his throne. But the advance on Egypt soon resumed. By the end of 604 BC the Babylonian army had captured and sacked Ashkelon (47:2-9). Then it pressed on toward Egypt.

46:14 Migdol was on the northeastern border of Egypt. Noph or Memphis was the ancient capital of Lower Egypt, situated twenty-five to thirty miles south of Cairo. Its kings were the pyramid builders. Tahpanhes or Daphne was a fortress southwest of the Pelusium near the northwest border of Egypt (see note at 2:16). Egypt was to take positions and prepare themselves. The battle with Babylon was about to begin.

46:15 The phrase why have your strong ones been swept away shows that the gods of Egypt could not stand in this hour of crisis.

46:16 They say introduces two sentences spoken by the foreign mercenaries supporting Egypt. They decided to get up and return home.

46:17 Pharaoh Hophra of Egypt had boasted of what he would do, but he was all noise. He let the opportune moment pass. This Pharaoh had promised to come to the aid of King Zedekiah during the final siege of Jerusalem (37:5-6), but it was only talk.

46:18 The title “King” is applied to the Lord. His sovereign declaration is that Nebuchadnezzar will come to Egypt. The Babylonian king will come like Tabor among the mountains and like Carmel by the sea. Tabor rises 1,800 feet in the Plain of Esdraelon while Carmel by the Mediterranean Sea rises 1,700 feet on its western face. Neither peak is especially tall, but because of their isolated positions and their steep slopes, they stand out against their surroundings. So victorious Babylon would tower over Egypt like these mountain peaks.

46:19 Inhabitant of Daughter Egypt is reminiscent of phrases applied to Judah’s citizens: “my daughter, my people” (4:11; 6:26; 8:11,19,21; 14:17). Jeremiah advised the Egyptians to pack their bags for exile, just as his people had packed their bags in Judah to avoid exile forced by the same enemy. Memphis, capital of Lower Egypt, would become uninhabited ruins.

46:20 Egypt is pictured as a “beautiful heifer,” but King Nebuchadnezzar is depicted as a horsefly from the north that would sting this young cow.

46:21 Egypt’s mercenaries or hired soldiers were provided for, but they would turn and run in the day of their calamity.

46:22-24 The snake figure for Egypt was appropriate. It was their insignia of royalty. Despite the snake’s hiding in the forest, the woodcutters will chop down the forest. Egypt will be handed over to the Babylonians.

46:25-26 The God of Israel will punish Amon, god of Thebes. Amon was the chief god of the city of Thebes, the capital of Upper Egypt. Later the god Amon was merged with Re to become Amon-Re, the sun god and the god of the rulers of Egypt. However, after Thebes is punished, there is a promise of restoration, which is repeated for other nations as well (48:47; 49:6,39).

46:27-28 These verses are virtually the same as 30:10-11. If Egypt had the prospect of restoration, this was even truer for Israel and Judah. The phrase my servant Jacob is reminiscent of texts in Is 41:8-14 and 43:1-5, where Israel is also called the servant of the Lord. God would bring destruction on all the nations where he had banished them, but he would not bring destruction on Judah. Discipline will fall on Judah, but he will not totally destroy his people.