The Book of Jeremiah
Chapters 49 to 52
A Biblical Commentary Courtesy of Brit-Am
The Book of Jeremiah
Chapters 49 to 52
A Biblical Commentary Courtesy of
Brit-Am
Jeremiah 49
Jeremiah is talking on two planes:
On one level he is describing events about to take place in his own day and on
another level he is hinting at events that will take place in the Latter Days,
i.e. probably in our own time or shortly after it.
[Jeremiah 49:1] CONCERNING THE AMMONITES, THUS SAITH THE LORD; HATH
ISRAEL NO SONS? HATH HE NO HEIR? WHY THEN DOTH THEIR KING INHERIT GAD, AND HIS
PEOPLE DWELL IN HIS CITIES?
[Jeremiah 49:2] THEREFORE, BEHOLD, THE DAYS COME, SAITH THE LORD, THAT I WILL
CAUSE AN ALARM OF WAR TO BE HEARD IN RABBAH OF THE AMMONITES; AND IT SHALL BE A
DESOLATE HEAP, AND HER DAUGHTERS SHALL BE BURNED WITH FIRE: THEN SHALL ISRAEL BE
HEIR UNTO THEM THAT WERE HIS HEIRS, SAITH THE LORD.
Ammon was the neighbor of Moab and related to her. It also
has a similar history in so far as it assisted the Assyrians but later resisted
Babylon and was subsequently destroyed and in the latter days will return.
[Jeremiah 49:3] HOWL, O HESHBON, FOR AI IS SPOILED: CRY, YE DAUGHTERS OF RABBAH,
GIRD YOU WITH SACKCLOTH; LAMENT, AND RUN TO AND FRO BY THE HEDGES; FOR THEIR
KING SHALL GO INTO CAPTIVITY, AND HIS PRIESTS AND HIS PRINCES
TOGETHER.
[Jeremiah 49:4] WHEREFORE GLORIEST THOU IN THE VALLEYS, THY FLOWING VALLEY, O
BACKSLIDING DAUGHTER? THAT TRUSTED IN HER TREASURES, SAYING, WHO SHALL COME UNTO
ME?
[Jeremiah 49:5] BEHOLD, I WILL BRING A FEAR UPON THEE, SAITH THE LORD GOD OF
HOSTS, FROM ALL THOSE THAT BE ABOUT THEE; AND YE SHALL BE DRIVEN OUT EVERY MAN
RIGHT FORTH; AND NONE SHALL GATHER UP HIM THAT WANDERETH.
[Jeremiah 49:6] AND AFTERWARD I WILL BRING AGAIN THE CAPTIVITY OF THE CHILDREN
OF AMMON, SAITH THE LORD.
[Jeremiah 49:7] CONCERNING EDOM, THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS; IS WISDOM NO MORE
IN TEMAN? IS COUNSEL PERISHED FROM THE PRUDENT? IS THEIR WISDOM
VANISHED"
In "Ephraim" we said:
<<Teman was one of the sons of Esau (Edom) and Obadiah exclaims,
"AND THY, MIGHTY MEN O TEMAN SHALL BE DISMAYED"
(Obadiah 1;9).
The Temenu (from Teman) were to become an important element in
Europe as we explained in our book "Ephraim".
There were apparently two gods called "Woden" or Odin. One was the Scandinavian
and Anglo-Saxon one and the other was the later more Germanic one. The two
beings seem to represent different entities, for instance the Scandinavian one
viewed the "giants" as his arch-enemies whereas the Germanic one represents the
"giants". Alternately they may be different aspects of the same being.
The ancient native Germans called their god "Koz" and assimilated
him to the originally Scandinavian and Anglo Saxon Woden. Josephus (Antiquities
xv.7,9) asserts and archaeological inscriptions confirm that the national god of
the small state of Edom to the south and east of Judah was called "Kiazo" or "Koz"
(or Cas) also rendered as "Qa-us". A king of Edom in the 600s BCE was named "Kosgaber"
i.e. "he-man" of Kos. This name is derived from a Middle Eastern form of Esau
since the initial "ayin" transliterated as "E" (in Esau) can be pronounced with
a hard sound. Esau (under the name of "Koz") was therefore the supreme god of
many in Germany.>>
I would now revise the above findings somewhat:
Woden or Odin was the name of a god worshipped by the Anglo-Saxons,
Scandinavians, and early Germans. Some forms of the name appear to have been
derived from the name Dan or were assimilated to a figure originally named Dan
and in the Caucasus Odan can also mean "The Dan". Others (such as Isaac Mosezon)
suggested that Odin is derived from the Hebrew Adon meaning "lord" just as the
name of the Scandinavian god "Balder" is a form of "baal". Odin was a name
applied to what may originally have been different "gods".
Odin is probably also another form of the name Edom. In Hebrew the two words are
similar. Edom was also known as Esau and we see above the Odin was also known as
Koz and Koz was another form for Esau.
Odin was also known in Germany as the great hunter. [This is not the one-eyed
Scandinavian and Anglo-Saxon Odin who I believe represented someone else.].
Odin in Germany was known as the great wild hunter. Esau was also known as a
hunter.
<<AND THE BOYS GREW: AND ESAU WAS A CUNNING HUNTER, A MAN OF THE FIELD; AND
JACOB WAS A PLAIN MAN, DWELLING IN TENTS>> [Genesis 25:27].
The Nazis re-instituted the worship of Woden. The German Swiss psychologist Jung
reported that in the period leading up to the rise to power of the Nazis and
associated with it many people in Germany had recurring visions of Odin.
The psychologist C. Jung was well in tune with what was happening in Germany
and Austria in the years leading up to the Nazi era. He reported:
<<It was not in Wotan's nature to linger on and show signs of old age. He simply
disappeared when the times turned against him, and remained invisible . . .
working anonymously and indirectly. Archetypes are like riverbeds which dry up
when the water deserts them, but which it can find again at any time . . . The
longer it has flowed in this channel, the more likely it is that sooner or later
the water will return to its own bed . . . The "German" god is the god of the
Germans.
Jung, C. J. Essays on Contemporary Events, 20, 22.
[Jeremiah 49:8] FLEE YE, TURN BACK, DWELL DEEP, O INHABITANTS OF DEDAN; FOR I
WILL BRING THE CALAMITY OF ESAU UPON HIM, THE TIME THAT I WILL VISIT
HIM.
[Jeremiah 49:9] IF GRAPEGATHERERS COME TO THEE, WOULD THEY NOT LEAVE SOME
GLEANING GRAPES" IF THIEVES BY NIGHT, THEY WILL DESTROY TILL THEY HAVE ENOUGH.
This is a reflection of the same prophecy about Edom given
in the Book of Obadiah. The Prophets possessed a common stock of prophecies and
sayings that they repeated when inspired but each one gave a slightly different
(sometimes all-important) twist to the common theme.
[Jeremiah 49:10] BUT I HAVE MADE ESAU BARE, I HAVE UNCOVERED HIS SECRET PLACES,
AND HE SHALL NOT BE ABLE TO HIDE HIMSELF: HIS SEED IS SPOILED, AND HIS BRETHREN,
AND HIS NEIGHBOURS, AND HE IS NOT.
[Jeremiah 49:11] LEAVE THY FATHERLESS CHILDREN, I WILL PRESERVE THEM ALIVE; AND
LET THY WIDOWS TRUST IN ME.
[Jeremiah 49:12] FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD; BEHOLD, THEY WHOSE JUDGMENT WAS NOT TO
DRINK OF THE CUP HAVE ASSUREDLY DRUNKEN; AND ART THOU HE THAT SHALL ALTOGETHER
GO UNPUNISHED" THOU SHALT NOT GO UNPUNISHED, BUT THOU SHALT SURELY DRINK OF
IT.
[Jeremiah 49:13] FOR I HAVE SWORN BY MYSELF, SAITH THE LORD, THAT BOZRAH SHALL
BECOME A DESOLATION, A REPROACH, A WASTE, AND A CURSE; AND ALL THE CITIES
THEREOF SHALL BE PERPETUAL WASTES.
[Jeremiah 49:14] I HAVE HEARD A RUMOUR FROM THE LORD, AND AN AMBASSADOR IS SENT
UNTO THE HEATHEN, SAYING, GATHER YE TOGETHER, AND COME AGAINST HER, AND RISE UP
TO THE BATTLE.
[Jeremiah 49:15] FOR, LO, I WILL MAKE THEE SMALL AMONG THE HEATHEN, AND DESPISED
AMONG MEN.
[Jeremiah 49:16] THY TERRIBLENESS HATH DECEIVED THEE, AND THE PRIDE OF THINE
HEART, O THOU THAT DWELLEST IN THE CLEFTS OF THE ROCK, THAT HOLDEST THE HEIGHT
OF THE HILL: THOUGH THOU SHOULDEST MAKE THY NEST AS HIGH AS THE EAGLE, I WILL
BRING THEE DOWN FROM THENCE, SAITH THE LORD.
[Jeremiah 49:17] ALSO EDOM SHALL BE A DESOLATION: EVERY ONE THAT GOETH BY IT
SHALL BE ASTONISHED, AND SHALL HISS AT ALL THE PLAGUES
THEREOF.
[Jeremiah 49:18] AS IN THE OVERTHROW OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH AND THE NEIGHBOUR
CITIES THEREOF, SAITH THE LORD, NO MAN SHALL ABIDE THERE, NEITHER SHALL A SON OF
MAN DWELL IN IT.
[Jeremiah 49:19] BEHOLD, HE SHALL COME UP LIKE A LION FROM THE SWELLING OF
JORDAN AGAINST THE HABITATION OF THE STRONG: BUT I WILL SUDDENLY MAKE HIM RUN
AWAY FROM HER: AND WHO IS A CHOSEN MAN, THAT I MAY APPOINT
OVER HER" FOR WHO IS LIKE ME" AND WHO WILL APPOINT ME THE TIME" AND WHO IS THAT
SHEPHERD THAT WILL STAND BEFORE ME"
[Jeremiah 49:20] THEREFORE HEAR THE COUNSEL OF THE LORD, THAT HE HATH TAKEN
AGAINST EDOM; AND HIS PURPOSES, THAT HE HATH PURPOSED AGAINST THE INHABITANTS OF
TEMAN: SURELY THE LEAST OF THE FLOCK SHALL DRAW THEM OUT:
SURELY HE SHALL MAKE THEIR HABITATIONS DESOLATE WITH THEM.
[Jeremiah 49:21] THE EARTH IS MOVED AT THE NOISE OF THEIR FALL, AT THE CRY THE
NOISE THEREOF WAS HEARD IN THE RED SEA.
[Jeremiah 49:22] BEHOLD, HE SHALL COME UP AND FLY AS THE EAGLE, AND SPREAD HIS
WINGS OVER BOZRAH: AND AT THAT DAY SHALL THE HEART OF THE MIGHTY MEN OF EDOM BE
AS THE HEART OF A WOMAN IN HER PANGS.
"HE SHALL COME UP AND FLY AS THE EAGLE": Here the eagle
represents the forces of Israel taking revenge upon Edom. The "eagle" is both a
positive and negative symbol. In some cases the eagle represents the
anti-Israelite enemy. In other cases (as in this one) the eagle represents the
Israelite forces of good. An eagle is the symbol of the USA> it is also used as
a symbol by Germany and other nations.
[Jeremiah 49:23] CONCERNING DAMASCUS. HAMATH IS CONFOUNDED, AND ARPAD: FOR THEY
HAVE HEARD EVIL TIDINGS: THEY ARE FAINTHEARTED; THERE IS SORROW ON THE SEA; IT
CANNOT BE QUIET.
[Jeremiah 49:24] DAMASCUS IS WAXED FEEBLE, AND TURNETH HERSELF TO FLEE, AND FEAR
HATH SEIZED ON HER: ANGUISH AND SORROWS HAVE TAKEN HER, AS A WOMAN IN
TRAVAIL.
[Jeremiah 49:25] HOW IS THE CITY OF PRAISE NOT LEFT, THE CITY OF MY
JOY!
[Jeremiah 49:26] THEREFORE HER YOUNG MEN SHALL FALL IN HER STREETS, AND ALL THE
MEN OF WAR SHALL BE CUT OFF IN THAT DAY, SAITH THE LORD OF
HOSTS.
[Jeremiah 49:27] AND I WILL KINDLE A FIRE IN THE WALL OF DAMASCUS, AND IT SHALL
CONSUME THE PALACES OF BENHADAD.
[Jeremiah 49:28] CONCERNING KEDAR, AND CONCERNING THE KINGDOMS OF HAZOR, WHICH
NEBUCHADREZZAR KING OF BABYLON SHALL SMITE, THUS SAITH THE LORD; ARISE YE, GO UP
TO KEDAR, AND SPOIL THE MEN OF THE
EAST.
[Jeremiah 49:29] THEIR TENTS AND THEIR FLOCKS SHALL THEY TAKE AWAY: THEY SHALL
TAKE TO THEMSELVES THEIR CURTAINS, AND ALL THEIR VESSELS, AND THEIR CAMELS; AND
THEY SHALL CRY UNTO THEM, FEAR IS ON EVERY SIDE.
[Jeremiah 49:30] FLEE, GET YOU FAR OFF, DWELL DEEP, O YE INHABITANTS OF HAZOR,
SAITH THE LORD; FOR NEBUCHADREZZAR KING OF BABYLON HATH TAKEN COUNSEL AGAINST
YOU, AND HATH CONCEIVED A PURPOSE AGAINST YOU.
[Jeremiah 49:31] ARISE, GET YOU UP UNTO THE WEALTHY NATION, THAT DWELLETH
WITHOUT CARE, SAITH THE LORD, WHICH HAVE NEITHER GATES NOR BARS, WHICH DWELL
ALONE.
[Jeremiah 49:32] AND THEIR CAMELS SHALL BE A BOOTY, AND THE MULTITUDE OF THEIR
CATTLE A SPOIL: AND I WILL SCATTER INTO ALL WINDS THEM THAT ARE IN THE UTMOST
CORNERS; AND I WILL BRING THEIR CALAMITY FROM ALL SIDES THEREOF, SAITH THE
LORD.
[Jeremiah 49:33] AND HAZOR SHALL BE A DWELLING FOR DRAGONS, AND A DESOLATION FOR
EVER: THERE SHALL NO MAN ABIDE THERE, NOR ANY SON OF MAN DWELL IN
IT.
[Jeremiah 49:34] THE WORD OF THE LORD THAT CAME TO JEREMIAH THE PROPHET AGAINST
ELAM IN THE BEGINNING OF THE REIGN OF ZEDEKIAH KING OF JUDAH,
SAYING,
[Jeremiah 49:35] THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS; BEHOLD, I WILL BREAK THE BOW OF
ELAM, THE CHIEF OF THEIR MIGHT.
[Jeremiah 49:36] AND UPON ELAM WILL I BRING THE FOUR WINDS FROM THE FOUR
QUARTERS OF HEAVEN, AND WILL SCATTER THEM TOWARD ALL THOSE WINDS; AND THERE
SHALL BE NO NATION WHITHER THE OUTCASTS OF ELAM SHALL NOT COME.
Craig White seems to believe (based on his very
interesting and informative historical researches) that the Poles and Serbs are
descended from Elam. Concerning the Serbs he may be right. In many ways the
Serbs were quite admirable and heroic. Some of the Wends of Germany were of Serb
origin.
[Jeremiah 49:37] FOR I WILL CAUSE ELAM TO BE DISMAYED BEFORE THEIR ENEMIES, AND
BEFORE THEM THAT SEEK THEIR LIFE: AND I WILL BRING EVIL UPON THEM, EVEN MY
FIERCE ANGER, SAITH THE LORD; AND I WILL SEND THE SWORD
AFTER THEM, TILL I HAVE CONSUMED THEM:
[Jeremiah 49:38] AND I WILL SET MY THRONE IN ELAM, AND WILL DESTROY FROM THENCE
THE KING AND THE PRINCES, SAITH THE LORD.
[Jeremiah 49:39] BUT IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THE LATTER DAYS, THAT I WILL BRING
AGAIN THE CAPTIVITY OF ELAM, SAITH THE
LORD.
Jeremiah 49:34-39 says that Elam will be broken and
scattered amongst all nations of the earth but later regathered. The Throne of
God will be set up in Elam (49:38).
Jeremiah 50
[Jeremiah 50:1] THE WORD THAT THE LORD SPAKE AGAINST BABYLON AND AGAINST
THE LAND OF THE CHALDEANS BY JEREMIAH THE PROPHET.
Until now Jeremiah has more or less presented a favorable
image of Babylon. Babylon was the adversary besieging Jerusalem that they should
have surrendered to. If Judah and the other nations had have just given into
Babylon then their fates would have been better.
Ultimately Babylon conquered Jerusalem, killed the sons of King Zedekiah, and
exiled nearly all the inhabitants.
Now Jeremiah is predicting the destiny of Babylon.
Jeremiah however in these prophecies is not necessarily so much referring to the
physical Babylon of his time but rather to another more distant entity.
Our last prophecy referred to the future fate of Edom and to a decree Babylon
and Edom overlapped:
<<REMEMBER, O LORD, THE CHILDREN OF EDOM IN THE DAY OF JERUSALEM; WHO SAID, RASE
IT, RASE IT, EVEN TO THE FOUNDATION THEREOF.
O DAUGHTER OF BABYLON, WHO ART TO BE DESTROYED; HAPPY SHALL HE BE, THAT
REWARDETH THEE AS THOU HAST SERVED US.
HAPPY SHALL HE BE, THAT TAKETH AND DASHETH THY LITTLE ONES AGAINST THE STONES>>
[Psalms 137:7-9].
[Jeremiah 50:2] 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.
Bel and Merodach were Babylonian
idols.
[Jeremiah 50:3] 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.
[Jeremiah 50:4] IN THOSE DAYS, 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.
Israel and Judah shall return together.
It is worth referring back to an earlier verse:
[Jeremiah 3:18] IN THOSE DAYS THE HOUSE OF JUDAH SHALL
WALK WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL, AND THEY SHALL COME TOGETHER OUT OF THE LAND OF
THE NORTH TO THE LAND THAT I HAVE GIVEN FOR AN INHERITANCE UNTO YOUR FATHERS.
The Midrash says:
"Behold thou art fair, my love, yea pleasant, also our bed
is green" (Song of Solomon 1;16).
"Israel says: Behold thou art fair, my love When you will take retribution from
the worshippers of idols. Yea pleasant when you pay the reward of those who fear
you. Also our bed": These are the "Ten Tribes." [In Hebrew bed is "eres" while
ten is "eser" and uses the same letters, and "our bed" (erseynu) sounds like
"our ten" (esereynu).] They are those who were exiled beyond the Sambation
River. The exiles of Judah and Benyamin [i.e. the present-day "Jews"] are
destined to go unto them and bring them back in order to merit with them the
Messianic Era and life in the World-To-Come. This is as it says, "In those days
the house of Judah shall go unto the house of Israel and they shall come
together out of the land of the north unto the land that I have given for an
inheritance unto your fathers" (Jeremiah 3;18).
-Yalkut Shimeoni, Song of Solomon 905.
OK. The verse should be read according to the above as:
"THE HOUSE OF JUDAH SHALL GO UNTO [rather than "WALK WITH"] THE HOUSE OF
ISRAEL". People from Judah and Benjamin (i.e. legal Jews) shall go unto the
Lost Ten Tribes who are beyond the Sambation River. In our works ("Ephraim" and
"The Tribes") we explained that the Sambation River means Israelite Exiles who
migrated to the west. The simple meaning is that Jews from Judah will go unto
the Lost Tribes to bring them back. It could be said that the Jewish members of
Brit-Am Israel is doing this to some degree.
There is an additional explanation.
Captive Jews
Since beginning this project and making contact with numerous people who are
interested in the subject and studying it we have noticed an interesting
phenomenon. Many non-Jews ("Genitles") who agree with us that the Lost Ten
Tribes are in the West and feel an inner urge to learn this message and in some
cases help spread it also believe they have Jewish origins. Sometimes this
belief of Jewish origins is based on known facts concerning one or other of
their ancestors. In other cases the feeling of Jewish origins is based on
flimsy evidence but nevertheless the feeling exists. Such feelings do not appear
from nowhere and probably derive from an inner awareness of their true ancestry.
The people in question are often those who are now helping spread knowledge and
attitudes that will lead to the Return of the Lost Ten Tribes. The role of these
people in future will increase. These "Lost Jews" are also fulfilling the
Prophecy of Jeremiah (3:18). Their forefathers went out from Judah to Lost
Israel and they are beginning to bring Israel back from the Land of the North.
We refer to these people as "Captive Jews" though "Lost Jews" may be more
appropriate. We used the term "Captive Jews" (rather than "Assimilated Jews or
something similar) since in many cases Jews in the past were forced or heavily
pressured to change their religion and cease being Jewish against their will.
Descendants of these "Lost Jews" or "Captive Jews" are often the leaders of
Brit-Am branches or strong sympathizers and supporters of Brit-Am and they are
bringing their fellow Captive Jews as well as the Lost Tribes back to their
source.
Another Midrash says:
<<By way of nature, if a person takes a bunch of reeds and tries to brake it in
two at one go, he cannot do it. If the reeds are separated one by one even a
child can break them. We thus find that Israel and Judah will not be redeemed
until they be united in one confederation, as it says,
[Jeremiah 3:18] IN THOSE DAYS THE HOUSE OF JUDAH SHALL WALK WITH THE HOUSE OF
ISRAEL, AND THEY SHALL COME TOGETHER OUT OF THE LAND OF THE NORTH TO THE LAND
THAT I HAVE GIVEN FOR AN INHERITANCE UNTO YOUR FATHERS.
When they are united they will be able to receive the presence of God almighty>>
(Tanchuma, Nizavim, 4).
Before re-uniting Israel (the Ten Tribes) and Judah will be separate bodies each
headed by a "Messiah" of their own.
In addition there are a few related sources that really refer to Isaiah 11;13
but we have just come across them and they are also relevant here. These sources
are from Midrash and are part of the Oral tradition and worth considering:
[Isaiah 11:13] THE ENVY ALSO OF EPHRAIM SHALL DEPART, AND THE ADVERSARIES OF
JUDAH SHALL BE CUT OFF: EPHRAIM SHALL NOT ENVY JUDAH, AND JUDAH SHALL NOT VEX
EPHRAIM.
<<Concerning who did Isaiah pronounce this prophecy. He was speaking only
concerning Judah and Joseph. Said Rabbi Shmuel son of Nachman in the name of
Rabbi Yonathan, when Joseph and Judah were arguing the Holy Angels said to each
other, Let us go down and see what is happening. Usually when a bull and a lion
confront each other the bull retreats before the lion. In this case a bull
(Joseph) and a lion (Judah) are arguing and there is a standoff. Jealousy will
continue to abide between these two until the Messiah comes, as it says, "THE
ENVY ALSO OF EPHRAIM SHALL DEPART, AND THE ADVERSARIES OF JUDAH SHALL BE CUT
OFF: EPHRAIM SHALL NOT ENVY JUDAH, AND JUDAH SHALL NOT VEX EPHRAIM" [Isaiah
11:13].>> (Midrash Tanchuma, VaYigash, 4).
<<In the past Jeroboam the son of Nebat who was from Ephraim hated King Rehoboam
who was from Judah. There was a controversy between them. In the future there
will be peace between these two anointed leaders. They will not be jealous of
each other. Concerning them, it says, "THE ENVY ALSO OF EPHRAIM SHALL DEPART,
AND THE ADVERSARIES OF JUDAH SHALL BE CUT OFF: EPHRAIM SHALL NOT ENVY JUDAH, AND
JUDAH SHALL NOT VEX EPHRAIM" [Isaiah 11:13].>> (Midrash Brayshit Rabati page
147).
<<Everywhere you find these two tribes (Judah and Joseph) hating each other and
antagonistic to each other, etc. May we infer from this that even the future
Anointed Captain of War (who will arise from Joseph) and the Annoited Messiah
(who will arise from Judah) will (Heaven forbid) be jealous of each other" No.
There will be no antagonism between them, as it says, "THE ENVY ALSO OF EPHRAIM
SHALL DEPART, AND THE ADVERSARIES OF JUDAH SHALL BE CUT OFF: EPHRAIM SHALL NOT
ENVY JUDAH, AND JUDAH SHALL NOT VEX EPHRAIM" [Isaiah 11:13].>> (Midrash Agadat
Brayshit 63).
[Jeremiah 50:5] THEY SHALL ASK THE WAY TO ZION WITH THEIR FACES THITHERWARD,
SAYING, COME, AND LET US JOIN OURSELVES TO THE LORD IN A PERPETUAL COVENANT THAT
SHALL NOT BE FORGOTTEN.
Zion is in Jerusalem. The Temple will be rebuilt and
instruction go forth to all the earth.
[Jeremiah 50:6] 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.
[Jeremiah 50:7] 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.
[Jeremiah 50:8] 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.
[Jeremiah 50:9] 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 ARRAY AGAINST HER; FROM THENCE SHE SHALL BE TAKEN: THEIR ARROWS SHALL BE AS
OF A MIGHTY EXPERT MAN; NONE SHALL RETURN IN VAIN.
[Jeremiah 50:10] AND CHALDEA SHALL BE A SPOIL: ALL THAT SPOIL HER SHALL BE
SATISFIED, SAITH THE LORD.
[Jeremiah 50:11] BECAUSE YE WERE GLAD, BECAUSE YE REJOICED, O YE DESTROYERS OF
MINE HERITAGE, BECAUSE YE ARE GROWN FAT AS THE HEIFER AT GRASS, AND BELLOW AS
BULLS;
[Jeremiah 50:12] 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.
[Jeremiah 50:13] 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.
[Jeremiah 50:14] PUT YOURSELVES IN ARRAY AGAINST BABYLON ROUND ABOUT: ALL YE
THAT BEND THE BOW, SHOOT AT HER, SPARE NO ARROWS: FOR SHE HATH SINNED AGAINST
THE LORD.
[Jeremiah 50:15] SHOUT AGAINST HER ROUND ABOUT: SHE HATH GIVEN HER HAND: HER
FOUNDATIONS ARE FALLEN, HER WALLS ARE THROWN DOWN: FOR IT IS THE VENGEANCE OF
THE LORD: TAKE VENGEANCE UPON HER; AS SHE HATH DONE, DO UNTO
HER.
[Jeremiah 50:16] 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.
[Jeremiah 50:17] 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.
Here "Israel" is referring to both the Ten Tribes of
Israel (whom the Assyrians exiled) and to Judah.
[Jeremiah 50:18] 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.
[Jeremiah 50:19] 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 is speaking of the End Times.
[Jeremiah 50:20] IN THOSE DAYS, 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.
Both "Israel" and "Judah" will be forgiven their
transgressions.
[Jeremiah 50:21] 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.
"MERATHAIM" an area of southern Babylon also know as
Bit-Yakin.
"PEKOD" a people attached to Babylon who dwelt east of the Euphrates on the
Persian border.
[Jeremiah 50:22] A SOUND OF BATTLE IS IN THE LAND, AND OF GREAT DESTRUCTION.
[Jeremiah 50:23] HOW IS THE HAMMER OF THE WHOLE EARTH CUT ASUNDER AND BROKEN!
HOW IS BABYLON BECOME A DESOLATION AMONG THE NATIONS!
[Jeremiah 50:24] 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.
[Jeremiah 50:25] 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.
[Jeremiah 50:26] COME AGAINST HER FROM THE UTMOST BORDER, OPEN HER STOREHOUSES:
CAST HER UP AS HEAPS, AND DESTROY HER UTTERLY: LET NOTHING OF HER BE
LEFT.
[Jeremiah 50:27] SLAY ALL HER BULLOCKS; LET THEM GO DOWN TO THE SLAUGHTER: WOE
UNTO THEM! FOR THEIR DAY IS COME, THE TIME OF THEIR
VISITATION.
[Jeremiah 50:28] 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.
God willl take vengeance against those who destroyed His
temple.
The Arab Nazis who at present are destroying parts of the Temple Mount will be
punished along with their European backers and protectors.
Europe and the Arabs together are represented by Babylon.
[Jeremiah 50:29] CALL TOGETHER THE ARCHERS AGAINST BABYLON: ALL YE THAT BEND THE
BOW, 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.
[Jeremiah 50:30] 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.
[Jeremiah 50:31] 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.
[Jeremiah 50:32] 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.
[Jeremiah 50:33] 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.
This present Prophecy reminds us of Isaiah and the other
prophets who flit around from one time period to another from verse to verse and
even within the verse. Up until now Jeremiah has kept his messages more
categorizable, either historic or futuristic.
[Jeremiah 50:34] 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.
[Jeremiah 50:35] A SWORD IS UPON THE CHALDEANS, SAITH THE LORD, AND UPON THE
INHABITANTS OF BABYLON, AND UPON HER PRINCES, AND UPON HER WISE
MEN.
[Jeremiah 50:36] A SWORD IS UPON THE LIARS; AND THEY SHALL DOTE: A SWORD IS UPON
HER MIGHTY MEN; AND THEY SHALL BE DISMAYED.
[Jeremiah 50:37] 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.
[Jeremiah 50:38] 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.
[Jeremiah 50:39] THEREFORE THE WILD BEASTS OF THE DESERT WITH THE WILD BEASTS OF
THE ISLANDS SHALL DWELL THERE, AND THE OWLS SHALL DWELL THEREIN: AND IT SHALL BE
NO MORE INHABITED FOR EVER; NEITHER SHALL IT BE DWELT IN FROM GENERATION TO
GENERATION.
[Jeremiah 50:40] 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.
[Jeremiah 50:41] 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.
[Jeremiah 50:42] THEY SHALL HOLD THE BOW AND THE LANCE: THEY ARE CRUEL, AND WILL
NOT SHEW MERCY: THEIR VOICE SHALL ROAR LIKE THE SEA, AND THEY SHALL RIDE UPON
HORSES, EVERY ONE PUT IN ARRAY, LIKE A MAN TO THE BATTLE, AGAINST THEE, O
DAUGHTER OF BABYLON.
[Jeremiah 50:43] THE KING OF BABYLON HATH HEARD THE REPORT OF THEM, AND HIS
HANDS WAXED FEEBLE: ANGUISH TOOK HOLD OF HIM, AND PANGS AS OF A WOMAN IN
TRAVAIL.
[Jeremiah 50:44] BEHOLD, HE SHALL COME UP LIKE A LION FROM THE SWELLING OF
JORDAN UNTO THE HABITATION OF THE STRONG: BUT I WILL MAKE THEM SUDDENLY RUN AWAY
FROM HER: AND WHO IS A CHOSEN MAN, THAT I MAY APPOINT OVER HER" FOR WHO IS LIKE
ME" AND WHO WILL APPOINT ME THE TIME" AND WHO IS THAT SHEPHERD THAT WILL STAND
BEFORE ME"
[Jeremiah 50:45] 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
CHALDEANS: SURELY THE LEAST OF THE FLOCK SHALL DRAW THEM OUT: SURELY HE SHALL
MAKE THEIR HABITATION DESOLATE WITH THEM.
Who do the Chaldees and Babylonians represent today"
Prophecy can be understood at several levels.
At one level present-day Iraq and the Gulf States (Kuwait, etc) occupy the
region of ancient Babylon and to some degree may be physical descendants of
Babylonians. Osama bin Laden the evil beast represents Babylon and Babylon could
be taken to include Saudi Arabia and even represent Islam in its entirety
On the other hand we have seen that Babylon and Edom tended to overlap. In
Christian sources (that may be based on Jewish ones) and also in at least one
Talmudic source Babylon was associated with Rome. Babylon could therefore
represent the powers of Catholicism or the European Union or the like.
Babylon and Edom were linked together.
There are interesting Midrashim (Rabbinical Oral traditions) on the above theme.
The expression "THE LEAST [youngest] OF THE FLOCK SHALL DRAW THEM OUT"
occurred previously where it was linked with Edom:
[Jeremiah 49:20] THEREFORE HEAR THE COUNSEL OF THE LORD, THAT HE HATH TAKEN
AGAINST EDOM; AND HIS PURPOSES, THAT HE HATH PURPOSED AGAINST THE INHABITANTS OF
TEMAN: SURELY THE LEAST OF THE FLOCK SHALL DRAW THEM OUT: SURELY HE SHALL MAKE
THEIR HABITATIONS DESOLATE WITH THEM.
On the expression "SURELY THE LEAST OF THE FLOCK SHALL DRAW THEM OUT" one
opinion says it is referring to the Persians who would conquer Babylon. The word
translated as "THE LEAST" can also mean the "youngest". Another opinion says it
refers to the distant future and "Babylon" represents the European forces of
Esau-Edom. "THE LEAST OF THE FLOCK" refers to Israelites from the Tribes of
Joseph and Benjamin, i.e. the two sons of Rachel wife of Jacob.
<<Rabbi Pinchas said in the name of Rabbi Shmuel son of Nachman, it is a
tradition that Esau will not be defeated save by the sons of Rachel, as it says
"SURELY THE LEAST OF THE FLOCK SHALL DRAW THEM OUT" [Jeremiah 50:45]. Why are
they called "THE LEAST [youngest] OF THE FLOCK"" Because they are the youngest
sons of the Tribes>> (Breishit Raba 73;5).
Historically most of Benjamin went with Judah but there was a portion that
became attached to the other Ten Tribes. These became prominent amongst the
Normans who conquered England and became the upper class. The Norman William the
Conqueror used the wolf as his symbol and a wolf was the symbol of Benjamin.
The combination of Benjamin with Joseph is indicated in Psalms:
<<GIVE EAR, O SHEPHERD OF ISRAEL, THOU THAT LEADEST JOSEPH LIKE A FLOCK; THOU
THAT DWELLEST BETWEEN THE CHERUBIMS, SHINE FORTH.
<<BEFORE EPHRAIM AND BENJAMIN AND MANASSEH STIR UP THY STRENGTH, AND COME AND
SAVE US [Psalms 80:1-2].
[Jeremiah 50:46] AT THE NOISE OF THE TAKING OF BABYLON THE EARTH IS MOVED, AND
THE CRY IS HEARD AMONG THE NATIONS.
Jeremiah 51
[Jeremiah 51:1] THUS SAITH THE LORD; BEHOLD, I WILL RAISE UP AGAINST BABYLON,
AND AGAINST THEM THAT DWELL IN THE MIDST OF THEM THAT RISE UP AGAINST ME, A
DESTROYING WIND;
Jeremiah continues with his prophecies against Babylon.
Jeremiah is flitting (after the fashion of the other Prophets) between his own
time period and the distant future. In this chapter the futuristic aspects grow
stronger.
[Jeremiah 51:2] AND WILL SEND UNTO BABYLON FANNERS, THAT SHALL FAN HER,
AND SHALL EMPTY HER LAND: FOR IN THE DAY OF TROUBLE THEY SHALL BE AGAINST HER
ROUND ABOUT.
[Jeremiah 51:3] AGAINST HIM THAT BENDETH LET THE ARCHER BEND HIS BOW, AND
AGAINST HIM THAT LIFTETH HIMSELF UP IN HIS BRIGANDINE: AND SPARE YE NOT HER
YOUNG MEN; DESTROY YE UTTERLY ALL HER HOST.
[Jeremiah 51:4] THUS THE SLAIN SHALL FALL IN THE LAND OF THE CHALDEANS, AND THEY
THAT ARE THRUST THROUGH IN HER STREETS.
[Jeremiah 51:5] FOR ISRAEL HATH NOT BEEN FORSAKEN, NOR JUDAH OF HIS GOD, OF THE
LORD OF HOSTS; THOUGH THEIR LAND WAS FILLED WITH SIN AGAINST THE HOLY ONE OF
ISRAEL.
He is speaking of Israel (the Ten Tribes) and Judah
together even though historically most of the Ten Tribes had been taken away
previously by the Assyrians and were not in the Babylonian Exile. In the Books
of Nehemiah and Ezra when it speaks about the return of the Exiles from Babylon
a census list is given. Only people from the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Levi
are mentioned. The present prophecy concerns the future and Babylon represents a
combination of other entities.
"FOR ISRAEL HATH NOT BEEN FORSAKEN" in Hebrew the word rendered here as
forsaken" can also be translated as widower, i.e. FOR ISRAEL IS NOT A WIDOWER.
The Midrash (Oral Tradition) says:
<< "FOR ISRAEL IS NOT A WIDOWER, NOR JUDAH OF HIS GOD": It says elsewhere: "HOW
DOTH THE CITY SIT SOLITARY, THAT WAS FULL OF PEOPLE HOW IS SHE BECOME AS A
WIDOW" (Lamentations 1:1). Rabbi Akiva and the other Rabbis had divided opinions
on this matter. Rabbi Akiva says it refers to Judah who was bereaved [separated
from] the Ten Tribes whereas the Rabbis said that both [Judah and the Ten
Tribes] were bereaved of Jerusalem but not from God as it says, FOR ISRAEL HATH
NOT BEEN FORSAKEN, NOR JUDAH OF HIS GOD" [Jeremiah 51:5]. >>
At all events we see here a traditional linking of the verse in
question to the Lost Ten Tribes.
[Jeremiah 51:6] FLEE OUT OF THE MIDST OF BABYLON, AND DELIVER EVERY MAN
HIS SOUL: BE NOT CUT OFF IN HER INIQUITY; FOR THIS IS THE TIME OF THE LORD'S
VENGEANCE; HE WILL RENDER UNTO HER A RECOMPENCE.
[Jeremiah 51:7] BABYLON HATH BEEN A GOLDEN CUP IN THE LORD'S HAND, THAT MADE ALL
THE EARTH DRUNKEN: THE NATIONS HAVE DRUNKEN OF HER WINE; THEREFORE THE NATIONS
ARE MAD.
[Jeremiah 51:8] BABYLON IS SUDDENLY FALLEN AND DESTROYED: HOWL FOR HER; TAKE
BALM FOR HER PAIN, IF SO BE SHE MAY BE HEALED.
[Jeremiah 51:9] WE WOULD HAVE HEALED BABYLON, BUT SHE IS NOT HEALED: FORSAKE
HER, AND LET US GO EVERY ONE INTO HIS OWN COUNTRY: FOR HER JUDGMENT REACHETH
UNTO HEAVEN, AND IS LIFTED UP EVEN TO THE SKIES.
[Jeremiah 51:10] THE LORD HATH BROUGHT FORTH OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS: COME, AND LET US
DECLARE IN ZION THE WORK OF THE LORD OUR GOD.
[Jeremiah 51:11] MAKE BRIGHT THE ARROWS; GATHER THE SHIELDS: THE LORD HATH
RAISED UP THE SPIRIT OF THE KINGS OF THE MEDES: FOR HIS DEVICE IS AGAINST
BABYLON, TO DESTROY IT; BECAUSE IT IS THE VENGEANCE OF THE
LORD, THE VENGEANCE OF HIS TEMPLE.
[Jeremiah 51:12] SET UP THE STANDARD UPON THE WALLS OF BABYLON, MAKE THE WATCH
STRONG, SET UP THE WATCHMEN, PREPARE THE AMBUSHES: FOR THE LORD HATH BOTH
DEVISED AND DONE THAT WHICH HE SPAKE AGAINST THE
INHABITANTS OF BABYLON.
[Jeremiah 51:13] O THOU THAT DWELLEST UPON MANY WATERS, ABUNDANT IN TREASURES,
THINE END IS COME, AND THE MEASURE OF THY COVETOUSNESS.
[Jeremiah 51:14] THE LORD OF HOSTS HATH SWORN BY HIMSELF, SAYING, SURELY I WILL
FILL THEE WITH MEN, AS WITH CATERPILLERS; AND THEY SHALL LIFT UP A SHOUT AGAINST
THEE.
[Jeremiah 51:15] HE HATH MADE THE EARTH BY HIS POWER, HE HATH ESTABLISHED THE
WORLD BY HIS WISDOM, AND HATH STRETCHED OUT THE HEAVEN BY HIS
UNDERSTANDING.
[Jeremiah 51:16] WHEN HE UTTERETH HIS VOICE, THERE IS A MULTITUDE OF WATERS IN
THE HEAVENS; AND HE CAUSETH THE VAPOURS TO ASCEND FROM THE ENDS OF THE EARTH: HE
MAKETH LIGHTNINGS WITH RAIN, AND BRINGETH FORTH THE WIND OUT OF HIS
TREASURES.
[Jeremiah 51:17] EVERY MAN IS BRUTISH BY HIS KNOWLEDGE; EVERY FOUNDER IS
CONFOUNDED BY THE GRAVEN IMAGE: FOR HIS MOLTEN IMAGE IS FALSEHOOD, AND THERE IS
NO BREATH IN THEM.
[Jeremiah 51:18] THEY ARE VANITY, THE WORK OF ERRORS: IN THE TIME OF THEIR
VISITATION THEY SHALL PERISH.
[Jeremiah 51:19] THE PORTION OF JACOB IS NOT LIKE THEM; FOR HE IS THE FORMER OF
ALL THINGS: AND ISRAEL IS THE ROD OF HIS INHERITANCE: THE LORD OF HOSTS IS HIS
NAME.
[Jeremiah 51:20] THOU ART MY BATTLE AXE AND WEAPONS OF WAR: FOR WITH THEE WILL I
BREAK IN PIECES THE NATIONS, AND WITH THEE WILL I DESTROY KINGDOMS;
Some said that Jeremiah is referring to the Medes as the
"battle-ax" of God but according to the simple meaning he is referring to
Israel.
Israel is the tool God uses to break and make nations. To the degree that this
prophecy was to be fulfilled before the Messianic Era then it could only have
been fulfilled by the Lost Ten Tribes. The Lost Ten Tribes of Israel could
therefore only be found amongst a people or peoples who were powerful on the
international scene, preferably the most powerful. This is another proof
confirming our Brit-Am identifications.
[Jeremiah 51:21] AND WITH THEE WILL I BREAK IN PIECES THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER;
AND WITH THEE WILL I BREAK IN PIECES THE CHARIOT AND HIS
RIDER;
[Jeremiah 51:22] WITH THEE ALSO WILL I BREAK IN PIECES MAN AND WOMAN; AND WITH
THEE WILL I BREAK IN PIECES OLD AND YOUNG; AND WITH THEE WILL I BREAK IN PIECES
THE YOUNG MAN AND THE MAID;
[Jeremiah 51:23] I WILL ALSO BREAK IN PIECES WITH THEE THE SHEPHERD AND HIS
FLOCK; AND WITH THEE WILL I BREAK IN PIECES THE HUSBANDMAN AND HIS YOKE OF OXEN;
AND WITH THEE WILL I BREAK IN PIECES CAPTAINS AND RULERS.
[Jeremiah 51:24] AND I WILL RENDER UNTO BABYLON AND TO ALL THE INHABITANTS OF
CHALDEA ALL THEIR EVIL THAT THEY HAVE DONE IN ZION IN YOUR SIGHT, SAITH THE
LORD.
[Jeremiah 51:25] BEHOLD, I AM AGAINST THEE, O DESTROYING MOUNTAIN, SAITH THE
LORD, WHICH DESTROYEST ALL THE EARTH: AND I WILL STRETCH OUT MINE HAND UPON
THEE, AND ROLL THEE DOWN FROM THE ROCKS, AND WILL MAKE THEE A BURNT
MOUNTAIN.
[Jeremiah 51:26] AND THEY SHALL NOT TAKE OF THEE A STONE FOR A CORNER, NOR A
STONE FOR FOUNDATIONS; BUT THOU SHALT BE DESOLATE FOR EVER, SAITH THE
LORD.
[Jeremiah 51:27] SET YE UP A STANDARD IN THE LAND, BLOW THE TRUMPET AMONG THE
NATIONS, PREPARE THE NATIONS AGAINST HER, CALL TOGETHER AGAINST HER THE KINGDOMS
OF ARARAT, MINNI, AND ASHCHENAZ; APPOINT A CAPTAIN AGAINST
HER; CAUSE THE HORSES TO COME UP AS THE ROUGH CATERPILLERS.
"ARARAT, MINNI, AND ASHCHENAZ": Ararat was the kingdom
commonly referred to in modern histories after its Assyrian name, "Urartu".
Minni was the Kingdom of Mannai on the southwest shores of the Caspian Sea. "ASHCHENAZ"
is often identified with the Scythians though Phrygia in Central Turkey is
another possibility. "Ashkenaz" was a son of Gomer son of Japhet (Genesis
10;3). IN Jewish tradition "Ashkenaz" was identified with Germany. Jews who came
from Germany were called "Ashkenazim" and later this name was applied to all
European Jews.
[Jeremiah 51:28] PREPARE AGAINST HER THE NATIONS WITH THE KINGS OF THE MEDES,
THE CAPTAINS THEREOF, AND ALL THE RULERS THEREOF, AND ALL THE LAND OF HIS
DOMINION.
[Jeremiah 51:29] AND THE LAND SHALL TREMBLE AND SORROW: FOR EVERY PURPOSE OF THE
LORD SHALL BE PERFORMED AGAINST BABYLON, TO MAKE THE LAND OF BABYLON A
DESOLATION WITHOUT AN INHABITANT.
[Jeremiah 51:30] THE MIGHTY MEN OF BABYLON HAVE FORBORN TO FIGHT, THEY HAVE
REMAINED IN THEIR HOLDS: THEIR MIGHT HATH FAILED; THEY BECAME AS WOMEN: THEY
HAVE BURNED HER DWELLING PLACES; HER BARS ARE
BROKEN.
[Jeremiah 51:31] ONE POST SHALL RUN TO MEET ANOTHER, AND ONE MESSENGER TO MEET
ANOTHER, TO SHEW THE KING OF BABYLON THAT HIS CITY IS TAKEN AT ONE
END,
[Jeremiah 51:32] AND THAT THE PASSAGES ARE STOPPED, AND THE REEDS THEY HAVE
BURNED WITH FIRE, AND THE MEN OF WAR ARE AFFRIGHTED.
[Jeremiah 51:33] FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS, THE GOD OF ISRAEL; THE
DAUGHTER OF BABYLON IS LIKE A THRESHINGFLOOR, IT IS TIME TO THRESH HER: YET A
LITTLE WHILE, AND THE TIME OF HER HARVEST SHALL
COME.
[Jeremiah 51:34] NEBUCHADREZZAR THE KING OF BABYLON HATH DEVOURED ME, HE HATH
CRUSHED ME, HE HATH MADE ME AN EMPTY VESSEL, HE HATH SWALLOWED ME UP LIKE A
DRAGON, HE HATH FILLED HIS BELLY WITH MY DELICATES, HE HATH CAST ME
OUT.
[Jeremiah 51:35] THE VIOLENCE DONE TO ME AND TO MY FLESH BE UPON BABYLON, SHALL
THE INHABITANT OF ZION SAY; AND MY BLOOD UPON THE INHABITANTS OF CHALDEA, SHALL
JERUSALEM SAY.
Those who destroyed the Temple and exiled Judah and all
those who persecuted Judah will be punished. Recompense will be
taken.
[Jeremiah 51:36] THEREFORE THUS SAITH THE LORD; BEHOLD, I WILL PLEAD THY CAUSE,
AND TAKE VENGEANCE FOR THEE; AND I WILL DRY UP HER SEA, AND MAKE HER SPRINGS
DRY.
[Jeremiah 51:37] AND BABYLON SHALL BECOME HEAPS, A DWELLING PLACE FOR DRAGONS,
AN ASTONISHMENT, AND AN HISSING, WITHOUT AN INHABITANT.
"DRAGONS": the word translated as dragon in Hebrew is "tanin"
more commonly taken to mean jackal.
[Jeremiah 51:38] THEY SHALL ROAR TOGETHER LIKE LIONS: THEY SHALL YELL AS LIONS'
WHELPS.
[Jeremiah 51:39] IN THEIR HEAT I WILL MAKE THEIR FEASTS, AND I WILL MAKE THEM
DRUNKEN, THAT THEY MAY REJOICE, AND SLEEP A PERPETUAL SLEEP, AND NOT WAKE, SAITH
THE LORD.
[Jeremiah 51:40] I WILL BRING THEM DOWN LIKE LAMBS TO THE SLAUGHTER, LIKE RAMS
WITH HE GOATS.
[Jeremiah 51:41] HOW IS SHESHACH TAKEN! AND HOW IS THE PRAISE OF THE WHOLE EARTH
SURPRISED! HOW IS BABYLON BECOME AN ASTONISHMENT AMONG THE NATIONS!
"SHESHACH" is another name for Babylon.
[Jeremiah 51:42] THE SEA IS COME UP UPON BABYLON: SHE IS COVERED WITH THE
MULTITUDE OF THE WAVES THEREOF.
[Jeremiah 51:43] HER CITIES ARE A DESOLATION, A DRY LAND, AND A WILDERNESS, A
LAND WHEREIN NO MAN DWELLETH, NEITHER DOTH ANY SON OF MAN PASS
THEREBY.
[Jeremiah 51:44] AND I WILL PUNISH BEL IN BABYLON, AND I WILL BRING FORTH OUT OF
HIS MOUTH THAT WHICH HE HATH SWALLOWED UP: AND THE NATIONS SHALL NOT FLOW
TOGETHER ANY MORE UNTO HIM: YEA, THE WALL OF BABYLON SHALL
FALL.
"BEL" was the god of Babylon. The name is another form of
"baal". Bel (or "Beli") was also worshipped in Celtic Britain which was known as
"The Happy Isle of Bel".
[Jeremiah 51:45] MY PEOPLE, GO YE OUT OF THE MIDST OF HER, AND DELIVER YE EVERY
MAN HIS SOUL FROM THE FIERCE ANGER OF THE LORD.
[Jeremiah 51:46] AND LEST YOUR HEART FAINT, AND YE FEAR FOR THE RUMOUR THAT
SHALL BE HEARD IN THE LAND; A RUMOUR SHALL BOTH COME ONE YEAR, AND AFTER THAT IN
ANOTHER YEAR SHALL COME A RUMOUR, AND VIOLENCE IN THE LAND, RULER AGAINST
RULER.
[Jeremiah 51:47] THEREFORE, BEHOLD, THE DAYS COME, THAT I WILL DO JUDGMENT UPON
THE GRAVEN IMAGES OF BABYLON: AND HER WHOLE LAND SHALL BE CONFOUNDED, AND ALL
HER SLAIN SHALL FALL IN THE MIDST OF
HER.
[Jeremiah 51:48] THEN THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH, AND ALL THAT IS THEREIN, SHALL
SING FOR BABYLON: FOR THE SPOILERS SHALL COME UNTO HER FROM THE NORTH, SAITH THE
LORD.
[Jeremiah 51:49] AS BABYLON HATH CAUSED THE SLAIN OF ISRAEL TO FALL, SO AT
BABYLON SHALL FALL THE SLAIN OF ALL THE EARTH.
[Jeremiah 51:50] YE THAT HAVE ESCAPED THE SWORD, GO AWAY, STAND NOT STILL:
REMEMBER THE LORD AFAR OFF, AND LET JERUSALEM COME INTO YOUR
MIND.
[Jeremiah 51:51] WE ARE CONFOUNDED, BECAUSE WE HAVE HEARD REPROACH: SHAME HATH
COVERED OUR FACES: FOR STRANGERS ARE COME INTO THE SANCTUARIES OF THE LORD'S
HOUSE.
As long as the Temple Mount is pressed down under the
heels of the pagan Moslem it is a reproach and disgrace to every person of
Israelite origin.
[Jeremiah 51:52] WHEREFORE, BEHOLD, THE DAYS COME, SAITH THE LORD, THAT I WILL
DO JUDGMENT UPON HER GRAVEN IMAGES: AND THROUGH ALL HER LAND THE WOUNDED SHALL
GROAN.
[Jeremiah 51:53] THOUGH BABYLON SHOULD MOUNT UP TO HEAVEN, AND THOUGH SHE SHOULD
FORTIFY THE HEIGHT OF HER STRENGTH, YET FROM ME SHALL SPOILERS COME UNTO HER,
SAITH THE LORD.
[Jeremiah 51:54] A SOUND OF A CRY COMETH FROM BABYLON, AND GREAT DESTRUCTION
FROM THE LAND OF THE CHALDEANS:
[Jeremiah 51:55] BECAUSE THE LORD HATH SPOILED BABYLON, AND DESTROYED OUT OF HER
THE GREAT VOICE; WHEN HER WAVES DO ROAR LIKE GREAT WATERS, A NOISE OF THEIR
VOICE IS UTTERED:
[Jeremiah 51:56] BECAUSE THE SPOILER IS COME UPON HER, EVEN UPON BABYLON, AND
HER MIGHTY MEN ARE TAKEN, EVERY ONE OF THEIR BOWS IS BROKEN: FOR THE LORD GOD OF
RECOMPENCES SHALL SURELY REQUITE.
[Jeremiah 51:57] AND I WILL MAKE DRUNK HER PRINCES, AND HER WISE MEN, HER
CAPTAINS, AND HER RULERS, AND HER MIGHTY MEN: AND THEY SHALL SLEEP A PERPETUAL
SLEEP, AND NOT WAKE, SAITH THE KING, WHOSE NAME IS THE LORD
OF HOSTS.
[Jeremiah 51:58] THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS; THE BROAD WALLS OF BABYLON SHALL
BE UTTERLY BROKEN, AND HER HIGH GATES SHALL BE BURNED WITH FIRE; AND THE PEOPLE
SHALL LABOUR IN VAIN, AND THE FOLK IN THE FIRE, AND THEY
SHALL BE WEARY.
[Jeremiah 51:59] THE WORD WHICH JEREMIAH THE PROPHET COMMANDED SERAIAH THE SON
OF NERIAH, THE SON OF MAASEIAH, WHEN HE WENT WITH ZEDEKIAH THE KING OF JUDAH
INTO BABYLON IN THE FOURTH YEAR OF HIS REIGN. AND THIS
SERAIAH WAS A QUIET PRINCE.
[Jeremiah 51:60] SO JEREMIAH WROTE IN A BOOK ALL THE EVIL THAT SHOULD COME UPON
BABYLON, EVEN ALL THESE WORDS THAT ARE WRITTEN AGAINST
BABYLON.
[Jeremiah 51:61] AND JEREMIAH SAID TO SERAIAH, WHEN THOU COMEST TO BABYLON, AND
SHALT SEE, AND SHALT READ ALL THESE WORDS;
[Jeremiah 51:62] THEN SHALT THOU SAY, O LORD, THOU HAST SPOKEN AGAINST THIS
PLACE, TO CUT IT OFF, THAT NONE SHALL REMAIN IN IT, NEITHER MAN NOR BEAST, BUT
THAT IT SHALL BE DESOLATE FOR EVER.
[Jeremiah 51:63] AND IT SHALL BE, WHEN THOU HAST MADE AN END OF READING THIS
BOOK, THAT THOU SHALT BIND A STONE TO IT, AND CAST IT INTO THE MIDST OF
EUPHRATES:
[Jeremiah 51:64] AND THOU SHALT SAY, THUS SHALL BABYLON SINK, AND SHALL NOT RISE
FROM THE EVIL THAT I WILL BRING UPON HER: AND THEY SHALL BE WEARY. THUS FAR ARE
THE WORDS OF JEREMIAH.
Jeremiah 52
[Jeremiah 52:1] ZEDEKIAH WAS ONE AND TWENTY YEARS OLD WHEN HE BEGAN TO
REIGN, AND HE REIGNED ELEVEN YEARS IN JERUSALEM. AND HIS MOTHER'S NAME WAS
HAMUTAL THE DAUGHTER OF JEREMIAH OF LIBNAH.
The Book of Jeremiah ends with a summary of the
historical events that formed as a psychological background for most of the
recorded prophecies of Jeremiah.
[Jeremiah 52:2] AND HE DID THAT WHICH WAS EVIL IN THE EYES OF THE LORD,
ACCORDING TO ALL THAT JEHOIAKIM HAD DONE.
[Jeremiah 52:3] FOR THROUGH THE ANGER OF THE LORD IT CAME TO PASS IN JERUSALEM
AND JUDAH, TILL HE HAD CAST THEM OUT FROM HIS PRESENCE, THAT ZEDEKIAH REBELLED
AGAINST THE KING OF BABYLON.
[Jeremiah 52:4] AND IT CAME TO PASS IN THE NINTH YEAR OF HIS REIGN, IN THE TENTH
MONTH, IN THE TENTH DAY OF THE MONTH, THAT NEBUCHADREZZAR KING OF BABYLON CAME,
HE AND ALL HIS ARMY, AGAINST JERUSALEM, AND PITCHED AGAINST
IT, AND BUILT FORTS AGAINST IT ROUND ABOUT.
[Jeremiah 52:5] SO THE CITY WAS BESIEGED UNTO THE ELEVENTH YEAR OF KING
ZEDEKIAH.
[Jeremiah 52:6] AND IN THE FOURTH MONTH, IN THE NINTH DAY OF THE MONTH, THE
FAMINE WAS SORE IN THE CITY, SO THAT THERE WAS NO BREAD FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE
LAND.
[Jeremiah 52:7] THEN THE CITY WAS BROKEN UP, AND ALL THE MEN OF WAR FLED, AND
WENT FORTH OUT OF THE CITY BY NIGHT BY THE WAY OF THE GATE BETWEEN THE TWO
WALLS, WHICH WAS BY THE KING'S GARDEN; (NOW THE CHALDEANS
WERE BY THE CITY ROUND ABOUT:) AND THEY WENT BY THE WAY OF THE
PLAIN.
[Jeremiah 52:8] BUT THE ARMY OF THE CHALDEANS PURSUED AFTER THE KING, AND
OVERTOOK ZEDEKIAH IN THE PLAINS OF JERICHO; AND ALL HIS ARMY WAS SCATTERED FROM
HIM.
[Jeremiah 52:9] THEN THEY TOOK THE KING, AND CARRIED HIM UP UNTO THE KING OF
BABYLON TO RIBLAH IN THE LAND OF HAMATH; WHERE HE GAVE JUDGMENT UPON
HIM.
[Jeremiah 52:10] AND THE KING OF BABYLON SLEW THE SONS OF ZEDEKIAH BEFORE HIS
EYES: HE SLEW ALSO ALL THE PRINCES OF JUDAH IN RIBLAH.
[Jeremiah 52:11] THEN HE PUT OUT THE EYES OF ZEDEKIAH; AND THE KING OF BABYLON
BOUND HIM IN CHAINS, AND CARRIED HIM TO BABYLON, AND PUT HIM IN PRISON TILL THE
DAY OF HIS DEATH.
[Jeremiah 52:12] NOW IN THE FIFTH MONTH, IN THE TENTH DAY OF THE MONTH, WHICH
WAS THE NINETEENTH YEAR OF NEBUCHADREZZAR KING OF BABYLON, CAME NEBUZARADAN,
CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD, WHICH SERVED THE KING OF BABYLON,
INTO JERUSALEM,
[Jeremiah 52:13] AND BURNED THE HOUSE OF THE LORD, AND THE KING'S HOUSE; AND ALL
THE HOUSES OF JERUSALEM, AND ALL THE HOUSES OF THE GREAT MEN, BURNED HE WITH
FIRE:
[Jeremiah 52:14] AND ALL THE ARMY OF THE CHALDEANS, THAT WERE WITH THE CAPTAIN
OF THE GUARD, BRAKE DOWN ALL THE WALLS OF JERUSALEM ROUND
ABOUT.
[Jeremiah 52:15] THEN NEBUZARADAN THE CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD CARRIED AWAY CAPTIVE
CERTAIN OF THE POOR OF THE PEOPLE, AND THE RESIDUE OF THE PEOPLE THAT REMAINED
IN THE CITY, AND THOSE THAT FELL AWAY, THAT FELL TO THE
KING OF BABYLON, AND THE REST OF THE MULTITUDE.
[Jeremiah 52:16] BUT NEBUZARADAN THE CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD LEFT CERTAIN OF THE
POOR OF THE LAND FOR VINEDRESSERS AND FOR HUSBANDMEN.
[Jeremiah 52:17] ALSO THE PILLARS OF BRASS THAT WERE IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD,
AND THE BASES, AND THE BRASEN SEA THAT WAS IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD, THE
CHALDEANS BRAKE, AND CARRIED ALL THE BRASS OF THEM TO
BABYLON.
[Jeremiah 52:18] THE CALDRONS ALSO, AND THE SHOVELS, AND THE SNUFFERS, AND THE
BOWLS, AND THE SPOONS, AND ALL THE VESSELS OF BRASS WHEREWITH THEY MINISTERED,
TOOK THEY AWAY.
[Jeremiah 52:19] AND THE BASONS, AND THE FIREPANS, AND THE BOWLS, AND THE
CALDRONS, AND THE CANDLESTICKS, AND THE SPOONS, AND THE
CUPS; THAT WHICH WAS OF GOLD IN GOLD, AND THAT WHICH WAS OF SILVER IN SILVER,
TOOK THE CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD AWAY.
[Jeremiah 52:20] THE TWO PILLARS, ONE SEA, AND TWELVE BRASEN BULLS THAT WERE
UNDER THE BASES, WHICH KING SOLOMON HAD MADE IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD: THE BRASS
OF ALL THESE VESSELS WAS WITHOUT
WEIGHT.
[Jeremiah 52:21] AND CONCERNING THE PILLARS, THE HEIGHT OF ONE PILLAR WAS
EIGHTEEN CUBITS; AND A FILLET OF TWELVE CUBITS DID COMPASS IT; AND THE THICKNESS
THEREOF WAS FOUR FINGERS: IT WAS
HOLLOW.
[Jeremiah 52:22] AND A CHAPITER OF BRASS WAS UPON IT; AND THE HEIGHT OF ONE
CHAPITER WAS FIVE CUBITS, WITH NETWORK AND POMEGRANATES UPON THE CHAPITERS
ROUND ABOUT, ALL OF BRASS. THE SECOND PILLAR ALSO AND THE
POMEGRANATES WERE LIKE UNTO THESE.
[Jeremiah 52:23] AND THERE WERE NINETY AND SIX POMEGRANATES ON A SIDE; AND ALL
THE POMEGRANATES UPON THE NETWORK WERE AN HUNDRED ROUND
ABOUT.
[Jeremiah 52:24] AND THE CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD TOOK SERAIAH THE CHIEF PRIEST, AND
ZEPHANIAH THE SECOND PRIEST, AND THE THREE KEEPERS OF THE
DOOR:
[Jeremiah 52:25] HE TOOK ALSO OUT OF THE CITY AN EUNUCH, WHICH HAD THE CHARGE OF
THE MEN OF WAR; AND SEVEN MEN OF THEM THAT WERE NEAR THE KING'S PERSON, WHICH
WERE FOUND IN THE CITY; AND THE PRINCIPAL SCRIBE OF THE HOST, WHO MUSTERED THE
PEOPLE OF THE LAND; AND THREESCORE MEN OF THE PEOPLE OF THE
LAND, THAT WERE FOUND IN THE MIDST OF THE CITY.
[Jeremiah 52:26] SO NEBUZARADAN THE CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD TOOK THEM, AND BROUGHT
THEM TO THE KING OF BABYLON TO RIBLAH.
[Jeremiah 52:27] AND THE KING OF BABYLON SMOTE THEM, AND PUT THEM TO DEATH IN
RIBLAH IN THE LAND OF HAMATH. THUS JUDAH WAS CARRIED AWAY CAPTIVE OUT OF HIS OWN
LAND.
[Jeremiah 52:28] THIS IS THE PEOPLE WHOM NEBUCHADREZZAR CARRIED AWAY CAPTIVE: IN
THE SEVENTH YEAR THREE THOUSAND JEWS AND THREE AND TWENTY:
[Jeremiah 52:29] IN THE EIGHTEENTH YEAR OF NEBUCHADREZZAR HE CARRIED AWAY
CAPTIVE FROM JERUSALEM EIGHT HUNDRED THIRTY AND TWO
PERSONS:
[Jeremiah 52:30] IN THE THREE AND TWENTIETH YEAR OF NEBUCHADREZZAR NEBUZARADAN
THE CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD CARRIED AWAY CAPTIVE OF THE JEWS SEVEN HUNDRED FORTY
AND FIVE PERSONS: ALL THE PERSONS WERE FOUR THOUSAND AND SIX
HUNDRED.
[Jeremiah 52:31] AND IT CAME TO PASS IN THE SEVEN AND THIRTIETH YEAR OF THE
CAPTIVITY OF JEHOIACHIN KING OF JUDAH, IN THE TWELFTH MONTH, IN THE FIVE AND
TWENTIETH DAY OF THE MONTH, THAT EVILMERODACH KING OF
BABYLON IN THE FIRST YEAR OF HIS REIGN LIFTED UP THE HEAD OF JEHOIACHIN KING OF
JUDAH, AND BROUGHT HIM FORTH OUT OF PRISON.
Jehoiacin had been King of Judah before Zedekiah.
Nebuchadnessar has deposed Jehoiachin and exiled him to Babylon. Now after
Jerusalem had been destroyed and Zedekiah was either dead or in prison the King
of Babylon elevated Jehoiachin in the Land of Babylon.
[Jeremiah 52:32] AND SPAKE KINDLY UNTO HIM, AND SET HIS THRONE ABOVE THE THRONE
OF THE KINGS THAT WERE WITH HIM IN BABYLON,
[Jeremiah 52:33] AND CHANGED HIS PRISON GARMENTS: AND HE DID CONTINUALLY EAT
BREAD BEFORE HIM ALL THE DAYS OF HIS LIFE.
[Jeremiah 52:34] AND FOR HIS DIET, THERE WAS A CONTINUAL DIET GIVEN HIM OF THE
KING OF BABYLON, EVERY DAY A PORTION UNTIL THE DAY OF HIS DEATH, ALL THE DAYS OF
HIS LIFE.
 Jeremiah chs. 45 to 48 |
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