The Strand Study Bible

JEREMIAH 51:1

JEREMIAH 51:20

1226

11 Make bright the arrows; gather the shields: 1 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 7 vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance of his temple. P 12 1 Set up the standard upon the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set up the watchmen, prepare the ambushes: for theLORDhathbothdevisedanddone that which he spake against the inhabitants of Babylon. P 13 O thou that dwellest upon many 12 waters, 13 abundant in treasures, 1 thine end is come, and the measure of thy covetousness. P 14 The LORDOF HOSTS hath sworn by himself, saying, 1 Surely I will fill thee with men, as with caterpillers; and they shall lift up a shout against thee. P 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. 16 When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens; and he causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth: he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures. 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. 18 They are vanity, the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish. 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. The promise of Babylon’s fall to Cyrus (Fulfilled - Dan 5:30,31 -539 BC) 20 14 Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: 1 for with thee will I break in

1. Fulfilled -

Jeremiah 51 The promise of Babylon’s fall to Medo-Persia (Fulfilled - Dan 5:30,31 -539 BC) Date Written - 593 BC/AM 3407

Dan 5:30-31 (Fall of Babylon) 2. or, “Medo-Persia” - vs 11 3. or, “coat of armor” 4. Isa 47:4 & Hos 11:9 & Jn 17:11 Isa 49:7 & Psa 16:10 & Acts 2:27 & 13:35 & Mk 1:24 Isa 63:10-11 & Psa 51:11 & Eph 1:13 8. Rev 18:6 9. Rev 18:3 10. Rev 14:8 & 18:2 11. Rev 18:9-19 12. that is, “the Euphrates River and its branching canals” 13. Rev 18:7,9 14. or, “Cyrus (King of Medo-Persia)” 5. Rev 18:4 6. Rev 18:5 7. Rev 18:20

1 Thus saith the LORD ; Behold, I will 1 raise up against Babylon, and against them that dwell in the midst of them that rise up against me, 2 a destroying wind; P 2 1 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. P 3 1 Against himthat bendeth let the archer bend his bow, and against him that lifteth himself up in his 3 brigandine: and spare ye not her young men; destroy ye utterly all her host. P 4 1 Thus the slain shall fall in the land of the Chaldeans, and they that are thrust through in her streets. P 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 4 O N E of Israel. 6 5 Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her 6 iniquity; 1 for this is the time of the LORD’S 7 vengeance; he will render unto her a 8 recompence. P 7 Babylon hath been a golden cup in the LORD’S hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have 9 drunken of her wine; 1 therefore the nations are mad. P 8 1 Babylon is suddenly 10 fallen and destroyed: 11 howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so she may be healed. P 9 We would have healed Babylon, 1 but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country: for her 6 judgment reacheth unto heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies. P 10 The LORD hath brought forth our righteousness: come, and let us 7 declare in Zion the work of the LORD our God.

51:1 There are some who doubt that Jeremiah could have written chapters 50 and 51 (chapters that speak out against Babylon ), seeing he promoted Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, as God’s servant. However, in doing so they presuppose two falsehoods: 1. That every servant God uses actually knows Him ( Isa 44:28 - 45:4 ) 2. That God cannot destroy his servant (I Ki 13:1-26) The fact that any group or person is used by God to fulfill His purposes cannot excuse their sins (Jere 51:35,49). 51:11 The Medes (through Nebuchadnezzar’s marriage to Amytitis, granddaughter of Cyaxeres, king of the Medes) had joined the Babylonians in 614 BC in order to defeat the Assyrian Empire in 612 BC. Fifty-four years later in 539 BC the Medes would join the Persians in order to destroy the Babylonians (the Chaldeans – Dan 5:30-31). Even in secular history there are lessons to be learned. The lesson learned here: Learn to make friends with God, not people ( II Sam 16 :20- 23 ). NOTE – According to the Book of Revelation, Babylon is symbolic of sinful humanity (Rev 18:1-2) and their finite accomplishments (Rev 18:3). Like the proud city of old, man’s pride will be brought low and his sinful accomplishments turned to rubble (Rev 18:4-24).