John Gill Commentary Jeremiah 51:41

"How is Sheshach taken! and the praise of the whole earth seized! how is Babylon become a desolation among the nations!" — Jeremiah 51:41 (ASV)

How is Sheshach taken ! &c.] Not the city Shushan, as Sir John Marsham thinks ^F5 ; but Babylon, as is plain from a following clause; and so the Targum, "how is Babylon subdued!" Called Sheshach, by a position and commutation of letters the Jews call "athbash"; so Jarchi, Kimchi, and Abarbinel account for it.

Or else from their idol Shach, the same with Bel, which was worshipped here, and had a temple erected for it; and where an annual feast was kept in honour of it, called the Sacchean feast; and which was observing the very time the city was taken; and may be the true reason of its having this name given it now; (See Gill on Jeremiah 25:26); the taking of which was very wonderful; and therefore this question is put by way of admiration; it being so well fortified and provided to hold out a long siege.

And how is the praise of the whole earth surprised ? For it was taken by stratagem and surprise, before the king and his guards, the army, and the inhabitants of it, were aware; that city, which was matter and occasion of praise throughout the world; for the compass of it, and height and strength of its walls; the river Euphrates that ran through it, and flowed about it; the temple, palaces, and gardens in it.

How is Babylon become an astonishment among the nations ! Or, "a desolation"; and indeed its being a desolation was the reason of its being an astonishment among the nations; who were amazed to see so strong, rich, and splendid a city brought to ruin in a very short time.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F5: Canon. Chron. p. 607.