John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 46:14

"Declare ye in Egypt, and publish in Migdol, and publish in Memphis and in Tahpanhes: say ye, Stand forth, and prepare thee; for the sword hath devoured round about thee." — Jeremiah 46:14 (ASV)

He continues to use the same manner of speaking that we observed yesterday, and the reason was explained: because people are very inattentive to God’s judgments, Jeremiah's message would have been ineffectual if he had spoken plainly and in an ordinary way. Therefore, it was necessary to adopt an elevated style and to speak, as he does, in a striking and forceful manner. Public speakers aim for fine speaking, but only to gain applause or to fill people with empty fear or joy. But the Prophets had another aim: to teach, exhort, reprove, and threaten in a way designed to be effective.

He says, Declare ye in Egypt, as though he were pronouncing a sentence from a tribunal, being endowed with divine authority. He then commands this message to be brought to the Egyptians. He afterwards mentions some cities: Migdol, Noph, and Tahpanhes. Some think Noph is Alexandria; but it was probably Memphis, and this seems evident from other parts of Scripture. But those who think that Migdol was the same place are mistaken, for the Prophet here refers to them as different places. We have spoken of Tahpanhes elsewhere. Now these were celebrated cities, known to the Jews, as they were not far from them.

We know that Memphis was a renowned city; but it was much more known to the Israelites because it was not far from their route out of Egypt, as we can learn from the second book of Moses and other parts of Scripture. Then we have seen that the Jews lived in Tahpanhes when they became fugitives from their own land and were received there as guests.

It is, then, as though the Prophet had said that God was now armed against the Egyptians. But since he was not a teacher set over them, he speaks of them as foreign nations: Declare, he says, in Egypt, that is, let the Egyptians know this. Say, Stand, and prepare thyself, for the sword has devoured thy borders, and everything around you.

By these words, the Prophet intimates that even if the Egyptians, being warned in due time, were to exercise vigilance, their care would still be useless, for they could not prevent God from executing what He had determined. He speaks, however, of something incredible, because the Egyptians thought themselves far from every danger. Hence, the Prophet says that however much they might prepare themselves, it would all be in vain. He then derides their security, because they thought themselves beyond the reach of danger.