John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 51:32

"and the passages are seized, and the reeds they have burned with fire, and the men of war are affrighted." — Jeremiah 51:32 (ASV)

This verse most clearly proves that Jeremiah was God’s herald, and that his language was under the guidance of the celestial Spirit; for he sets forth the manner in which Babylon was taken, as though he had witnessed it with his own eyes.

He says that the fords were taken, and that the pools were burnt with fire. We do not read that Cyrus made use of fire; and some translate "pools" as "reeds," but there is no reason to compel us to translate the word this way, for the Prophet speaks metaphorically. Their object was to give a literal translation by saying that reeds were burnt.

But the Prophet shows, speaking hyperbolically, that the fords of the Euphrates were dried up, as though one burned wood by applying fire to it. This, indeed, is not suitable to water; but he, through hyperbole, expresses more fully the miracle that might have otherwise exceeded human comprehension.

He then says that the fords were dried up, and then adds that the pools were burnt. The same thing is expressed twice, but in a different way; and as I have already said, he states hyperbolically that such was the skill of Cyrus and his army that he made dry the fords and the pools, as though one collected a large heap of wood and consumed it with fire. We now perceive the Prophet's design.

He afterwards adds that the men of war were broken in pieces. For though the fords were made dry—that is, the streams which were drawn from the Euphrates—yet the guards of the city might still have kept possession of a part of it and resisted manfully, to prevent the soldiers of Cyrus from advancing further.

But the city was so craftily taken that the Babylonians were so terrified they did not dare to raise a finger, even though they might have defended a part of the city, though one part of it was taken.

Prayer:

Grant, Almighty God, that as you did formerly testify your favor towards your Church by not sparing the greatest of monarchies — O grant that we may know you today to be the same towards all your faithful people who call upon you; and as the power and cruelty of our enemies are so great, raise up your hand against them, and show that you are the perpetual defender of your Church, so that we may have reason to magnify your goodness in Christ Jesus our Lord. — Amen.