Jeremiah 51:47-53

D. Babylon's Retribution and Israel's Return Jeremiah 51:47-53

TRANSLATION

(47) Therefore, the days are coming when I will punish the images of Babylon, and all her land shall be put to shame; her slain ones shall fall in her midst. (48) Heavens, earth and all in them shall sing over Babylon, for spoilers shall come to her (oracle of the LORD). (49) As Babylon has caused the slain of Israel to fall, so at Babylon shall fall the slain of all the land. (50) O you who have escaped the sword, Go! Do not stand around! Remember from afar the LORD, and let Jerusalem come to your mind. (51) We are ashamed for we have heard reproach; shame has covered our faces for strangers have come unto the sanctuaries of the house of the LORD. (52) Therefore, behold, -days are coming (oracle of the LORD) when I will punish her graven images, and in all her land the wounded shall groan. (53) If Babylon should go up to the heavens, and if she makes her lofty fortifications inaccessible, yet from Me destroyers shall come to her (oracle of the LORD).

COMMENTS

Using a formula which he has previously used some fourteen times, Behold, the days come, Jeremiah develops anew the theme of the divine vengeance upon Babylon and the subsequent vindication of Israel. The threat against Bel in Jeremiah 51:44 is now expanded to include all the idols of Babylon (cf. also Jeremiah 50:2). Realizing that they have no higher power to whom they can turn the idolaters of Babylon are utterly confounded and ashamed. The defenders of Babylon are wounded and slain in the very midst of the city and the gods are unable to intervene on their behalf (Jeremiah 51:47). When the destroyer from the north, the Medo-Persian armies, capture Babylon the whole universe rejoices (Jeremiah 51:48). Heaven and earth rejoice because once again the Lord has demonstrated His wisdom, power and justice; once again it becomes evident that He and not Satan is the real Ruler of this universe. The sin of Babylon against Israel shall be recompensed. Just as Babylon had caused so many of Israel to fall in battle, so many from all over the land of[420] Babylonia shall be slain when Babylon fails (Jeremiah 51:49).

[420] The Hebrew word can also be translated earth. Keil thinks this verse refers to the multitudes from all over the world who might be in Babylon at the time the city falls.

The prophet next turns to those who have escaped the sword of divine vengeance against Babylon. He bids thee exiles to remember the Lord and Jerusalem and not to tarry in Babylonia (Jeremiah 51:50). But the captives are so filled with grief and remorse at what has happened to their Temple that they seem not to hear or acknowledge the joyful prophetic exhortation of Jeremiah 51:50. We are confounded, dismayed, confused because strangers have entered into the sacred sanctuaries of the Lord's house thus profaning them. The Babylonian victory over Jerusalem was regarded by the heathen as a sign of triumph for their gods. Those Israelites who tried to remain faithful to the Lord alone were subjected to constant reproach and ridicule by their neighbors (Jeremiah 51:51). But again the Lord reminds those captives of what He has previously stated in this oracle, that the days are coming when He will vindicate Himself by executing judgment on the gods of Babylon (Jeremiah 51:52). Though the city should raise up her defensive walls and towers even to the heavens, yet the city will not be able to withstand the assault of the destroyer sent against her by the Lord (Jeremiah 51:53).