Albert Barnes Commentary Jeremiah 51
Albert Barnes Commentary
Jeremiah 51
Albert Barnes Commentary
Jeremiah 51
"Thus saith Jehovah: Behold, I will raise up against Babylon, and against them that dwell in Leb-kamai, a destroying wind." — Jeremiah 51:1 (ASV)
In the midst of them that rise up against me - Or, in Leb-kamai, the cipher for Kasdim, i.e., Chaldaea.
This cipher was not necessarily invented by Jeremiah, or used for concealment. It was probably first devised either for political purposes or for trade, and was in time largely employed in the correspondence between the exiles at Babylon and their friends at home.
Thus, words in common use like Sheshach (Jeremiah 25:26) and Leb-kamai, would be known to everybody.
"And I will send unto Babylon strangers, that shall winnow her; and they shall empty her land: for in the day of trouble they shall be against her round about." — Jeremiah 51:2 (ASV)
Fanners - Or, winnowers.
"Against [him that] bendeth let the archer bend his bow, and against [him that] lifteth himself up in his coat of mail: and spare ye not her young men; destroy ye utterly all her host." — Jeremiah 51:3 (ASV)
The man who bends the bow, and the heavy-armed soldier who vaunts himself in his coat of mail (Jeremiah 46:4, note), represent the Babylonians who defend the city.
"And they shall fall down slain in the land of the Chaldeans, and thrust through in her streets." — Jeremiah 51:4 (ASV)
Translate it: And they, that is, the young men who form her host (Jeremiah 51:3), shall fall slain in the land of the Chaldaeans, and pierced through in her streets, that is, the streets of Babylon.
"Babylon hath been a golden cup in Jehovah`s hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunk of her wine; therefore the nations are mad." — Jeremiah 51:7 (ASV)
Literally, “A golden cup is Babel in the hand of Yahweh, intoxicating the whole earth.” Jeremiah beholds her in her splendor, but the wine with which she makes the nations drink is the wrath of God. As God’s hammer (Jeremiah 50:23), Babylon was strong: as His cup of gold, she was rich and beautiful, but neither saves her from ruin.
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