John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 46:17

"They cried there, Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a noise; he hath let the appointed time pass by." — Jeremiah 46:17 (ASV)

This verse should be joined with the preceding one, for he refers to the cries of the soldiers who had been deceived by their own hopes: they finally cried, Pharaoh is to us a king of confusion. The Prophet predicts what was to happen, but he speaks, as was customary, in the past tense, for the Prophets announce unknown things as if they were before their eyes, in order to lend credibility to their prophecies.

He then says that there would be a cry among the soldiers: Pharaoh the king of Egypt is a king of confusion; for the word שאון (shaun), is to be read in the genitive case, as though the Prophet had said that the soldiers would indeed find that Pharaoh would not live up to his boasting.

The name of Egypt first filled him and the whole nation with arrogance; furthermore, it was dreaded by the neighboring nations. Therefore, when they came to Pharaoh, they thought that they were coming to some kind of god. The Prophet derided that foolish and unreasonable confidence, saying, "They will cry there, O Pharaoh, magnificent king, you are now a king of tumult," or confusion.

What follows is not well explained by interpreters, in my opinion, for they all unanimously think that Pharaoh is derided because he delayed, after having previously said that he would go against Nebuchadnezzar; as earthly kings, when they consider themselves sufficiently prepared, do not wait until the enemy is near or finds them at home, but go out to meet him at a distance.

Others think that the time for war had been proclaimed, as it was formerly customary for both sides to announce a specific day on which they were to come to a conflict.

But from the last verse, we may gather that the Prophet meant something else. He then derides, if I am not mistaken, Pharaoh's folly for another reason: namely, because he thought that those threats, which had been spread by the Jews, were vain and empty.

For the Egyptians were not ignorant of what had been predicted by the Prophets. Isaiah had cried out against the Jews long before, because they made treaties with the Egyptians and fled there for aid.

There is no doubt that the courtiers, in order to gain favor, said to them, "Behold, our Prophets hinder us as much as they can, and we must take care that they do not turn the people aside. Therefore, while there is time, let us make the treaty, which will be useful to you as well as to us."

Therefore, since the destruction of Egypt had been predicted many years before, and since the Egyptians remained safe after Judea was overthrown and laid waste, it is probable that they became more hardened, thinking that the time had passed. And this view, as I have said, is confirmed by the context, for it follows—