John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 50:8

"Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the he-goats before the flocks." — Jeremiah 50:8 (ASV)

This verse confirms the exposition I have given. For God does not now reprove His people, nor does He condemn their sins. On the contrary, He exhorts them to maintain good hope, even though they were overwhelmed by extreme miseries. He then pursues the same subject when He bids them to flee from Babylon and to go forth from Chaldea; for He promises deliverance to the faithful and, at the same time, reminds them of the coming ruin of the Chaldean empire, so that those who went farthest away would best ensure their own safety.

For the Prophet intimates that all found in Chaldea would be exposed to the violence of enemies; hence He bids them to flee and to go forth quickly. But as I have said before, He promises a free exit to the Jews; for He would have exhorted them in vain to depart if they had been shut up, for we know that they had been confined as if within enclosures.

If they had then been thus captives, the Prophet would have spoken in mockery by saying to them, Flee and go forth. But He shows that their captivity would not be perpetual, because God would remove all obstacles and open a way for the miserable exiles to return to their own country.

He bids them to be as he-goats before the flocks: by which He means that they were to hasten with all confidence. For the he-goats possess more boldness than sheep, and they go before the flock because no fear restrains them. So God takes away every fear of danger from the Jews when He bids them to be as he-goats before the flock; as though He had said that they were to fear no more, lest the Chaldeans should punish them for avowing their wish to return to their own country. For it was a capital offense to speak of their return as long as the Chaldeans ruled over the Jews. But God now promises a change, for He would dissipate the terror by which they had been restrained for a time.