John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 50:26

"Come against her from the utmost border; open her store-houses; cast her up as heaps, and destroy her utterly; let nothing of her be left." — Jeremiah 50:26 (ASV)

The Prophet again addresses the Persians and the Medes, and encourages them to come against Babylon. We stated yesterday that the prophets are accustomed to speak with authority, because they spoke as God's representatives; and we mentioned how necessary this manner of speaking was, because the world does not acknowledge that God speaks effectively.

Then he says first, Come ye against her; and then, Open her storehouses. The word מאבס, meabes, means a grain-house or a repository of any kind; therefore, some translate it as “granaries.” However, it seems to me that the word is too restricted in this interpretation, as the Prophet undoubtedly speaks of the treasures of Babylon.

Now, regarding storehouses—which the Greeks call (apothecas,)—these are repositories that contain all sorts of things: not only wine and oil, but also merchants' goods and money. We call them in French Arrieres-boutiques, or magasins. This word, therefore, must be understood to extend to wine, every kind of fruit, then to treasures, and also to arms, for these were repositories of arms and weapons of every kind. It is as if Jeremiah had said that nothing among the Chaldeans would be so hidden that the Medes and Persians would not find it.

He then adds, Tread her as heaps. The word ערמים, oremim, means not heaps of stones, but on the contrary, heaps of sheaves. Then he implies that the Persians and the Medes would act cruelly, treading them as grain is threshed on the floor. Lastly, he says, Destroy her utterly, that there may be no remnant to her. He seems indirectly to contrast this with what God always promised His people: that there would be some remnant. He then says that nothing would remain when God had executed His vengeance on the Chaldeans.

In summary, the punishment of which the Prophet speaks would be such that it would obliterate the very name of the Babylonian monarchy. This, as we said yesterday and also previously, was not completed in one day. But when the Prophets speak of God’s judgments, they do not consider only the preludes, but their words extend to the final judgment that awaits all the reprobate.