John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 51:28

"Prepare against her the nations, the kings of the Medes, the governors thereof, and all the deputies thereof, and all the land of their dominion." — Jeremiah 51:28 (ASV)

He now repeats what he had said about preparing the nations; but he mentions them first generally, and then he proceeds to specify them particularly. He then commands the nations to be summoned, and then he shows who they were: namely, the kingdoms of the Medes. There was, indeed, only one kingdom, but many kings were subject to it.

Then, because of the many provinces over which satraps ruled, and also because of many tributary countries, the Prophet was not satisfied to use the singular number, but calls them by the plural term, the kingdoms of the Medes; for that monarchy had extended itself far and wide, so that many kings were subject to Darius.

And it contributed significantly to showing the certainty of this prophecy that Jeremiah declared, before Cyrus or even Darius was born, that the Medes would come.

But we have stated that, although Cyrus, being singularly active and a good warrior, carried on the war, Darius was the first in authority. Then Babylon obeyed the Medes for a time. But as Darius was now old, Cyrus succeeded him, and then the monarchy was transferred to Persia.

Laws issued from there until the time of Alexander the Great, who, together with his male favorite, burned the tower. Nor is there any doubt that many memorable records were deposited there.

But Alexander, being drunk, seized a torch and burned the tower, for he thought that the memory of the Eastern monarchy could thus be abolished.

We now therefore perceive why the Prophet expressly mentions the Medes here; and he adds, the captains and princes. He undoubtedly includes under these names all the satraps and kings. Finally, he adds, the whole land of its dominion, or jurisdiction; and by this phrase he designates the kingdoms already mentioned.