John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 50:16

"Cut off the sower from Babylon, and him that handleth the sickle in the time of harvest: for fear of the oppressing sword they shall turn every one to his people, and they shall flee every one to his own land." — Jeremiah 50:16 (ASV)

He still addresses the Medes and the Persians, and commands them to cut off from Babylon both the sowers and the reapers; but by stating a part for the whole, he also includes all others. Farmers, in a way, preserve human life, as other arts and occupations are unable to do. If there were no sowing and reaping, everyone would inevitably perish. Therefore, when the Prophet commands them to remove those who sowed and reaped, it was as if he had said, “Strike with the sword and kill all the inhabitants, so that nothing may remain but the land reduced to solitude.” He then commands the Chaldeans to be killed, so that no farmers should remain to sow and reap.

This, indeed, was not fulfilled by Cyrus, as we have seen elsewhere. But what I then reminded you of should be kept in mind: that the Prophet extends his threats much further, for Babylon was often struck by God’s hand, and eventually wholly destroyed. The assault of Cyrus was a prelude, but other calamities followed, when it was more severely oppressed.

He adds, From the face of the oppressing or wasting sword every one shall flee to his people and to his own land. Because that country was wealthy, many foreigners had come there, and they had also gathered captives from all regions. Thus, many foreigners undoubtedly lived in Chaldea when the empire flourished.

Many farmers and artisans were there. The Chaldeans ruled, and yet many were content with modest, and even meager, means; or it is possible that the Chaldeans compelled conquered nations to do servile work in agriculture and in works of art. The Prophet now says that in the upheaval that was to occur, each one would look to his own land and flee there, as there could be no pleasure in a deserted and desolate country. Then from the face of the oppressing sword shall every one look to his own people and to his own land; and those who previously pretended to be completely devoted to the Chaldeans would abandon them in their time of need, because nothing would be better for them than to attend to their own safety.