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Jeremiah 51 Notes
In this chapter the destruction of Babylon is described.
vs. 1-5 – The destruction of Babylon is compared to a harvest and the threshing of grain. Babylon is like the chaff that is blown away and forgotten.
vs. 6-8 – Men are warned to flee from the coming judgment against Babylon. There would be no helping her as it came.
vs. 9-14 – The glory of Babylon is nothing compared to the glory of God. It would be humiliated before Him.
vs. 15-19 – The false gods of Babylon are nothing (literally), especially compared to the all-powerful God. God would bless His people, Israel; the false gods could do nothing to stop the judgment against Babylon.
vs. 20-24 – Cyrus and the armies of Persia are addressed here. They will destroy Babylon.
vs. 25-32 – The combined armies of the nations under Cyrus will swiftly defeat and conquer Babylon.
vs. 33-35 – As in the opening verses, the destruction of Babylon is again compared to a harvest. They would reap what they had sowed.
vs. 36-40 – Compare this section to Daniel 5. The inhabitants of Babylon were partying as their city fell. They were too caught up in their revels to notice what had happened or to stop it. Like livestock going to the slaughterhouse, they had no idea what was coming.
vs. 41-48 – The judgment of Babylon is compared to a flood like the oceans. It sweeps through the land and destroys everything in its path. All would see the humiliation of the once proud Babylon and her false gods.
vs. 49-56 – Babylon would reap what it had sowed. They had killed and plundered Judah, so they would be killed and plundered in turn.
vs. 57-58 – Again we see this description fulfilled in Daniel 5 in Belshazzar’s feast. The fabled walls of Babylon could not stop the Persians. The city would fall and never return to its greatness.
vs. 59-64 – In 593 B.C., Jeremiah sends a copy of these prophecies concerning the fall of Babylon with Seraiah (“soldier of the Lord”). Seraiah was part of an envoy seeking to make peace with Babylon. When this failed, he was to announce the contents of the book and then sink it with a stone in the Euphrates River. This was a sign of the judgment to come.
Jeremiah 52 Notes
In this chapter is an historical appendix covering events that fulfilled Jeremiah’s prophecies. This largely is based on II Kings Chapters 24 and 25 with a few alterations and new information added.
vs. 1-3 – Parallels to II Kings 24:17-20, II Chronicles 36:10-16, and Jeremiah 37:1-2. The year is 597 B.C. as Zedekiah becomes the final king over Judah.
vs. 4-5 – Parallels to II Kings 25:1-2 and Jeremiah 39:1. The year is 588 B.C. and Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylonian army begins the final siege of Jerusalem.
vs. 6-7 – Parallels to II Kings 25:3-4, Jeremiah 38:28 and 39:4. The year is 586 B.C., and Jerusalem falls as its food stores run out.
vs. 8-11 – Parallels to II Kings 25:5-7 and Jeremiah 39:5-7. The fate of Zedekiah is recorded. He attempted to escape but was captured. His sons were killed in front of him before his eyes were put out.
vs. 12-14 – Parallels to II Kings 25:8-10, II Chronicles 36:19, and Jeremiah 39:8. The systematic destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by the Babylonians.
vs. 15-16 – Parallels to II Kings 25:11-12, II Chronicles 36:20-21, and Jeremiah 39:9-10. More people are carried away captive to Babylon, leaving only a few poor to keep the land.
vs. 17-23 – Parallels to II Kings 25:13-17, II Chronicles 36:18. The record of the treasures from the Temple that were taken as spoils to Babylon. It is interesting that no mention is made of the Ark of the Covenant.
vs. 24 – Parallels to II Kings 25:18. Priests are taken captive to Babylon.
vs. 25-27 – Parallels to II Kings 25:19-21. Officers from the royal court of Judah are captured and executed.
vs. 28 – Parallels to II Chronicles 36:6-7. This is the second deportation of Jewish captives to Babylon. The year is 598 B.C. and 3,023 are taken.
vs. 29 – The year is 587 B.C. as the siege of Jerusalem was still going. 832 Jewish captives are sent to Babylon.
vs. 30 – The year is 582 B.C., and 745 more captives are sent to Babylon.
vs. 31-34 – Parallels to II Kings 25:27-30. The year is 561 B.C. Jehoiachin is released from prison and brought into the royal court of Babylon.
Closing Thoughts
The grandeur of Babylon has entranced men for centuries. The most famous victim of its spell was Alexander the Great. The allure of its wealth and prestige is intoxicating to human pride. Like all sin, it numbs the senses and blinds us to the high cost of our transgressions before God. Without the light of God’s Word to guide us, we would be like the proverbial sheep going to slaughter with no idea of the judgment awaiting us. We believers have the task to awaking those around us out of their stupor to flee from the wrath that awaits those do not know Christ.
Hymn for Today
Our hymn today is “Awake, My Tongue” by John Needham, a Baptist minister in Bristol, England. It was first published in 1768. It is a song of praise for God and His great wisdom, which Jeremiah 51:15 shows to be displayed in the Creation of this world.
Awake, my tongue, thy tribute bring
To Him who gave thee power to sing;
Praise Him who is all praise above,
The source of wisdom and of love.
How vast His knowledge, how profound!
A deep where all our thoughts are drowned;
The stars He numbers, and their names
He gives to all those heavenly flames.
Through each bright world above, behold
Ten thousand thousand charms unfold;
Earth, air, and mighty seas combine
To speak His wisdom all divine.
But in redemption, O what grace!
Its wonders, O what thought can trace!
Here, wisdom shines forever bright;
Praise Him, my soul, with sweet delight.