Jeremiah 50:41–43 “Behold, a people shall come from the north, and a great nation, and many kings shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth. They shall hold the bow and the lance: they are cruel, and will not shew mercy: their voice shall roar like the sea, and they shall ride upon horses, every one put in array, like a man to the battle, against thee, O daughter of Babylon. The king of Babylon hath heard the report of them, and his hands waxed feeble: anguish took hold of him, and pangs as of a woman in travail.”
These verses are interesting in light of God’s declaration that according to how Babylon has treated His people, so will they be treated (v29 above). In chapter 6 Jeremiah was declaring the warning of the coming attack of Babylon against Judah using almost the same language.
Jeremiah 6:22–24 “Thus saith the LORD, Behold, a people cometh from the north country, and a great nation shall be raised from the sides of the earth. They shall lay hold on bow and spear; they are cruel, and have no mercy; their voice roareth like the sea; and they ride upon horses, set in array as men for war against thee, O daughter of Zion. We have heard the fame thereof: our hands wax feeble: anguish hath taken hold of us, and pain, as of a woman in travail.”
This section of verses is again confusing to me as to the application. The king and his lords were partying when Cyrus took the city. It’s hard to think that it applies to the Antichrist, although we do know that he will experience opposition according to the prophecy of Daniel.
Daniel 11:40 & 44 “And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over….But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.”
The Hebrew for the word “trouble” in the verses from Daniel above does make reference to causing fear or alarm.
Jeremiah 50:44–45 “Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan unto the habitation of the strong: but I will make them suddenly run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before me? Therefore hear ye the counsel of the LORD, that he hath taken against Babylon; and his purposes, that he hath purposed against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out: surely he shall make their habitation desolate with them.”
I think the translation from the CJB is clearer: “It will be like a lion coming up from the thickets of the Yarden against a strong settlement; in an instant I will chase him away and appoint over it whomever I choose. For who is like me? Who can call me to account? What shepherd can stand up to me?”
The primary point of these verses is that the LORD is sovereign and all powerful; He is in complete control over all that is happening. There is no being on earth that can stand against Him. His judgment has been declared against the whole land and not even the weakest among them will be spared.
Jeremiah 50:46 At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth is moved, and the cry is heard among the nations.
It’s interesting to note that the fall of Edom is said to reverberate as far as the Red Sea, while the fall of Babylon seems to reverberate through the nations, implying the known world. That correlates perfectly with the fall of Babylon declared in both Isaiah and Revelation.
Isaiah 14:9–10 “Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us?”
Revelation 18:9 “And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning….”
The prophet’s message regarding the judgment of Babylon is continued in the next chapter.
(to be continued)
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