Charles Ellicott Commentary Jeremiah 51:8

"Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: wail for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed." — Jeremiah 51:8 (ASV)

Babylon is suddenly fallen ... —The form of announcement seems taken in part from Isaiah 21:9.

Take balm for her pain ... —The words are significant. The captive people are not invited simply to raise a shout of triumph at the fall of their oppressor: they are to take balm (compare the use of the same image in Jeremiah 8:22; Jeremiah 46:11), and try to heal her. They are still to seek the peace of the city (Jeremiah 29:7), to render kindly service, to pour balm into the bleeding wounds.