Albert Barnes Commentary Jeremiah 51:59-64

"The word which Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah the son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, when he went with Zedekiah the king of Judah to Babylon in the fourth year of his reign. Now Seraiah was chief chamberlain. And Jeremiah wrote in a book all the evil that should come upon Babylon, even all these words that are written concerning Babylon. And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, When thou comest to Babylon, then see that thou read all these words, and say, O Jehovah, thou hast spoken concerning this place, to cut it off, that none shall dwell therein, neither man nor beast, but that it shall be desolate for ever. 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 the Euphrates: and thou shalt say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise again because of the evil that I will bring upon her; and they shall be weary. Thus far are the words of Jeremiah." — Jeremiah 51:59-64 (ASV)

This is a historical appendix. In his fourth year, Zedekiah journeyed to Babylon, either to obtain some favor from Nebuchadnezzar or because he was summoned to be present on some state occasion. Jeremiah took the opportunity to send this prophecy to the exiles in Babylon.

(Jeremiah 51:59) Seraiah was the brother of Baruch.

The phrase A quiet prince literally means "prince of the resting place," that is, a quartermaster. It was his duty to ride forward each day and select the place where the king would halt and spend the night.

(Jeremiah 51:60) The phrase In a book literally means in one book, on one scroll of parchment.

(Jeremiah 51:61) And shalt see, and shalt read: Or, then see that you read, and so on.

(Jeremiah 51:62–64) The sinking of the scroll was not for the purpose of destroying it, but was a symbolic act (compare the marginal reference). The binding of a stone to it signified the certainty of the city's hasty ruin.

(Jeremiah 51:64) Thus far...: Whoever added the section referenced as (Jeremiah 52:0) evidently felt it was their duty to point out that it was not written by Jeremiah.