The loss at Carchemish, to start.
1. Introduction to the prophecy (verses 1-2).
Jeremiah the prophet received the word of the LORD against the nations. versus Egypt. In the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, destroyed the army of Pharaoh Necho, king of Egypt, which was by the River Euphrates in Carchemish:
a. Jeremiah begins a segment that will last through Jeremiah 51 in which he pronounces judgment on the countries that surround Judah. This is the word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the nations.
● i. These chapters are found in the LXX after the title in Jeremiah 25:13a and end with Jeremiah 25:15–38 (which is equivalent to LXX chapter 32). This shows that the block of oracles was once a standalone entity that was later connected in various ways to the entirety of the book
b. It is crucial to remember that although while the book of Jeremiah focuses primarily on the wrath that God would deliver against Judah, the Gentile countries were not forgotten or disregarded by God. He would likewise justly condemn them.
● i. God is aware of who he is. He is not an area manager. He is not an ancestral god. He is the universal God. His sovereignty is not confined to a particular people or country.
c. Specifically at the battle of Carchemish, where the Babylonians beat the Egyptians, Jeremiah 46 describes the punishment that would befall Egypt. The conflict was still in the future when Jeremiah made this prophecy.
● i. “Jeremiah begins with Egypt because Egypt had long exerted political influence over Palestine”
● ii. “Jeremiah begins appropriately with the Egyptians, who in addition to their long-standing animosity had recently assassinated good King Josiah, who was responsible for the decline of all Jewish prosperity
● iii. “Carchemish is located higher up the Euphrates, not where the rivers Chebar and Euphrates converge. The sole significant city in the area, it controlled the Euphrates’ passage and served as a link to Syria to the east
● iv. Pharaoh kept his army at Carchemish for four years, ruling the region and awaiting the inevitable conflict with ascendant Babylon. In 609, King Josiah of Judah attempted to stop Pharaoh Neco, but Neco killed him instead. The Egyptians were destroyed when it arrived.
d. In the fourth year of Jehoiakim: This was 605 BC, when the Egyptians were routed at Carchemish in modern-day Turkey, close to the Syrian border (Jeremiah 46:2ff). The fleeing Egyptians were pursued by the Babylonian troops, who eventually arrived in Jerusalem.
2. (3-5) Soldiers dispatched to the fray were swiftly defeated.
a. Draw near to the battle: Jeremiah places the hearer and reader directly in the middle of the conflict in his prophecy. The mounted men are ready, and the armor is ready (order the buckler and shield) (harness the horses).
● i. According to Thompson, Jeremiah 46:3–12 contains some of the most vivid poetry in the entire Old Testament and is unmatched elsewhere ii. The little shield (magen) was often circular in shape, and the great shield (sinad), which was intended to protect the entire body, was either oval or rectangular
● iii. “Naturally, a force as well-equipped as the one detailed here would prevail. But then something unexpected happens
b. The reason I observed them horrified and turning away is because I had the impression that the war had already been won. Their powerful ones are brought low, and as soon as horses, shields, and spears are prepared, they have hastily fled.
● i. “What! Such a large, powerful, and well-equipped army in disarray? Because of this, they quickly turned around and fled, while their powerful generals and commanders, who were trying to rally them, were defeated
● ii. Ironically, Jeremiah contrasts Egypt’s highly experienced and well-equipped warriors with the results of an overwhelming defeat and a humiliating escape
c. Jeremiah spoke about the Egyptian army making a complete retreat before the Babylonians, saying that they did not look back since terror was pervasive.
3. (6–8) The triumphant Babylonian army’s voice.
a. In his prophetic vision, Jeremiah saw the captains of the Babylonian army shouting orders, ordering all of their warriors to pursue and completely destroy the fleeing Egyptians.
b. Euphrates River: The Battle of Carchemish took place along the Euphrates River, on the present-day border between Syria and Turkey.
c. When a large river like the Euphrates floods, it causes immense havoc, and Egypt comes up like a flood. Egypt arrived at the battle like a crushing army, declaring, “I will demolish the city and its residents.”
● i. Its waters flow like the rivers, rising like a flood, and the plural form of the word “rivers” alludes to the Nile and its irrigation canals. The advancing Egyptians resemble the Nile when it floods the nearby area.
4. (9-10) Proud Egypt destroyed.
a. God summoned the haughty Egyptian army to this fight in order to judge them. Come up, O horses, and wrath, O chariots.
b. The Ethiopians and Libyans who hold the shield: The ancient Egyptian army that invaded Carchemish had numerous foreign warriors, both slaves and mercenaries, like many other armies.
c. God summoned the haughty Egyptian army to Carchemish so He could demonstrate that He was the God of hosts and that it was His day of retribution. This is the day of the Lord GOD of hosts, a day of vengeance.
● i. The phrase “the day of the LORD” is used in Jeremiah 46:10 as an excellent illustration of the idea that it does not necessarily refer to a specific day but rather to any time or season when God’s power is displayed, particularly in judgment against His haughty opposition, a day when He may exact revenge on His enemies.
● ii. “Naturally, a force as well-equipped as the one detailed here would prevail. But then something unexpected happens
d. Because the defeated Egyptian army would please God as a sacrifice pleasing to Him, carrying the judgment of sin, in the north land near the River Euphrates. ● i. This is portrayed by the prophet as a great sacrifice, where several victims were killed.
5. (11-12) Egypt not to be cured from their affliction.
a. After the Egyptian army’s crushing loss at Carchemish, they fled south toward Egypt, passing through the Promised Land, including Gilead. Go up to Gilead and get some balm. They couldn’t be restored to health there, and despite taking numerous medications in vain, you won’t get better.
● i. “The allusion to numerous medications is a mocking reflection on Egypt’s inability to cure the wounds of loss, her ultimate humiliation being that others have now received this news,” the author writes
● ii. “The connection between balm and Gilead may be explained by the fact that balm-carrying caravans from the east travelled through Gilead.”
b. The defeat of Egypt at Carchemish was well-known because it signaled the rise of Babylon as a true superpower in the area and the demise of Egypt. The countries have heard of your humiliation.
B. The Egyptian invasion.
1. Egypt was defenseless in the face of Babylon’s army (13–17).
a. How the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar would attack Egypt: Many years after his triumph at Carchemish, Nebuchadnezzar once more dispatched his army, this time all the way to Egypt.
● i. The border towns in the path of a north-east invading force are identified by their place names in Jeremiah 46:14.
b. The Egyptian people may have done their best to prepare for the impending Babylonian invasion, but it would have been useless. Hold on and get ready because the sword is devouring all around you. They would still lose their brave warriors.
c. Because the LORD drove them out, it wasn’t just the Babylonian army’s might that did the driving. God also intended to expel Egypt’s defenders in order to punish arrogant Egypt severely.
d. Egypt’s king, Pharaoh, is just a noise: After the Babylonians invaded Egypt, everyone could see that Pharaoh was no longer a powerful leader.
● i. “The soldiers’ conversation is overheard in Jeremiah 46:16 when the mercenary troops resolve to return to their respective countries. They refer to Pharaoh as “a noise” (a braggart) and accuse him of sabotaging his chances of winning
● ii. Egypt’s pharaoh, monarch, is merely a sound: “The NEB has King Bombast, whereas the RSV has Noisy one. Although “Loudmouth” portrays the pharaoh as a braggart who squandered his chance, it seems to better capture the disdain of MT
● iii. The devastating summary of Pharaoh in Jeremiah 46:17 as the “Noisy one who lets the hour go by” is the most important thing
2. The certainty of this ruling against Egypt (18–26).
a. As I live,” the King declares, “God foretold this in the most emphatic terms.” It was so assured that the Egyptian populace could be warned to get ready to be taken captive.
● i. “When compared to the surrounding countryside, Tabor and Carmel stood out. Similar to earlier kings, Nebuchadnezzar towers over them; even the pharaoh is subject to his might and majesty
● ii. Both, in Jeremiah’s opinion, represented Nebuchadnezzar, who towered over Egypt in all his power like high mountains do over a plain.
b. Egypt is a very attractive heifer. Egypt was proud of her strength, greatness, and beauty. God stated they were young-cow attractive and powerful, but they were really just ready for sacrifice. They’d be felled, just like a forest.
● i. Jeremiah may have had another agricultural image in mind, that of calves fattened for killing. The mercenaries (lit. “hired ones”) in her midst were plainly well cared for (fatted calves) yet useless at the hour of danger
● ii. Her noise will be like a serpent, according to the proverb, which makes fun of Egypt’s lowering of one of its most revered gods, who was prominently featured on the royal emblem. ”
c. Since there are so many of them, Egypt would be humiliated and fall into the hands of the northerners (the Babylonians). God would punish the Egyptian cities and kings when this vast army came against them.
● i. It will then be populated as it was in the past: According to the text, Yahweh was punishing Egypt rather than destroying it so that she could carry on in the future just as she had in the past. For other nations, this promise of restoration is reiterated (Jeremiah 48:47; 49:6, 39).
3. Comfort for God’s people (verses 27–28).
a. Do not be afraid, O My servant Jacob: When the Babylonians seized Jerusalem and Judah, the tiny number of people who were still in the area were terrified of their ongoing presence and thought it would be safer for them to flee to Egypt (Jeremiah 42-43). God wished for them to put their faith in Him rather than in human fear or dread.
● i. God shows kindness even in the midst of his fury. Even though Judah will be devastated, Jerusalem will be captured, the temple will be destroyed, and the people
will be taken into captivity, the country will survive. A seed will be saved, from which the country will recover.
b. God also vowed to put an end to His people’s captivity in Babylon and allow them to return to their homeland. He said, “I will save you from afar, and your offspring from the land of captivity.” Jacob would return and get some relaxation if it were to come true.
c. God drove His people into exile as retribution for their significant offense against Him. I am with you because I will completely put a stop to all the nations to which I have driven you. He would also remember His just judgment of the neighboring countries.
● i. If Egypt’s problems were only short-term, Israel’s would be considerably more severe.
d. However, I won’t put a stop to you completely since God’s judgment on the nations will differ from the correction of His people. In contrast to pagan kings and empires, God would never completely eradicate Israel, His covenant people.
● i. If He has accepted us and is giving us his best, then even when we experience chastisement, it won’t overwhelm us; when we are corrected, diminished, and brought low, God won’t completely destroy us; when we are pruned, we won’t be reduced to nothing. We can even observe the unrecoverable tragedies that befall the ungodly while keeping a calm mind.
e. I’ll correct you as it is right: Even God’s wrath on His people showed how much He cared and loved them. He would correct them and not let them off completely, like a good father.