1 The word of the LORD which came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Gentiles;
2 Against Egypt, against the army of Pharaohnecho 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.
3 Order ye the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle.
4 Harness the horses; and get up, ye horsemen, and stand forth with your helmets; furbish the spears, and put on the brigandines.
5 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.
6 Let not the swift flee away, nor the mighty man escape; they shall stumble, and fall toward the north by the river Euphrates.
7 Who is this that cometh up as a flood, whose waters are moved as the rivers?
8 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.
9 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.
10 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.
11 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.
12 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.
13 The word that the LORD spake to Jeremiah the prophet, how Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon should come and smite the land of Egypt.
14 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.
15 Why are thy valiant men swept away? they stood not, because the LORD did drive them.
16 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.
17 They did cry there, Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a noise; he hath passed the time appointed.
18 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.
19 O thou daughter dwelling in Egypt, furnish thyself to go into captivity: for Noph shall be waste and desolate without an inhabitant.
20 Egypt is like a very fair heifer, but destruction cometh; it cometh out of the north.
21 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.
22 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.
23 They shall cut down her forest, saith the LORD, though it cannot be searched; because they are more than the grasshoppers, and are innumerable.
24 The daughter of Egypt shall be confounded; she shall be delivered into the hand of the people of the north.
25 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:
26 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.
27 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.
28 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.
The Book of Jeremiah, named after its author, the prophet Jeremiah, is one of the major books in the Old Testament of the Bible. The prophet Jeremiah, often referred to as the "weeping prophet" due to his personal sorrows and the tragic messages he delivered, was called by God to deliver prophecies during a period of great upheaval in the nation of Judah. Jeremiah 46, the chapter under scrutiny, focuses on God's judgment against Egypt and its Pharaoh. This chapter is the first of a series of prophecies against foreign nations also known as the 'Oracles Against the Nations' in the book of Jeremiah.
Chapter 46 begins with the mention of Egypt, the nation that had been a place of refuge for the people of Israel during times of famine, and also a place of oppression when the Israelites were enslaved. The chapter opens with a reference to a battle that took place by the river Euphrates at Carchemish. This historical event sets the stage for the prophecies that follow. The defeat of Egypt by Babylon's King Nebuchadnezzar at Carchemish is seen as a divine act, a manifestation of God's judgment.
The chapter gives a vivid depiction of the Egyptian army preparing for the battle, with their horses and chariots, their shields, and their highly skilled soldiers. However, despite their might and preparation, the prophecy states that they would be defeated. The descriptions of the battle are graphic, underscoring the terror and chaos of war. The Egyptian army, once considered invincible, is described as being in utter panic and confusion. This defeat is presented not merely as a military failure but as a divine judgment. Egypt's defeat underscores the theme of God's sovereignty over the nations.
The prophecy then shifts focus to Pharaoh Neco, the ruler of Egypt. He is depicted as a boastful king who is likened to the Nile river in his presumed power and grandeur. However, the prophecy states that God would confront and defeat him, just like the river Nile can be controlled and made to dry up. This prophecy against Pharaoh Neco further reinforces the theme of God's judgment and His supremacy over earthly rulers.
In the midst of these prophecies against Egypt, God offers words of comfort and assurance to His people, Israel. Despite their disobedience and subsequent judgment, God promises to save and restore them. This promise of restoration provides a contrast to the judgment pronounced against Egypt. It underscores the theme of God's faithfulness to His covenant people and His promise to restore them.
Jeremiah 46, like the rest of the book, articulates the theme of divine judgment and restoration. It serves as a warning against pride and self-reliance, as exemplified by Egypt and its Pharaoh. The chapter highlights the futility of relying on human strength and wisdom, and the consequences of defying God's will. The defeat of Egypt, a superpower of the ancient world, serves as a stark reminder that God is sovereign over all nations, and that He alone determines the rise and fall of kingdoms.
On the other hand, the chapter also provides a message of hope and restoration. Despite Israel's disobedience and the resultant judgment, God promises to restore them. This assurance serves as a testament to God's unfailing love and faithfulness. It assures believers that despite their failures and shortcomings, God's love and mercy remain steadfast. He disciplines those He loves but also promises restoration and healing.
In a broader biblical context, the prophecies in Jeremiah 46 point to the ultimate judgment and restoration that God will bring about in the end times. The defeat of Egypt can be seen as a foreshadowing of the final defeat of all God's enemies, and the promise of restoration to Israel can be seen as a foreshadowing of the ultimate restoration that God will bring about through Jesus Christ.
In conclusion, Jeremiah 46 is a chapter that underscores the themes of divine judgment and restoration. It serves as a sobering reminder of God's sovereignty and justice, and also as a comforting assurance of His love and faithfulness. It is a chapter that challenges believers to examine their own lives, to surrender their self-reliance and pride, and to place their trust in God's sovereign will and unfailing love.
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