Jer 46:9, 16 | JFB | STEP | 9. Ironical exhortation, as in . The Egyptians, owing to the heat of their climate and abstinence from animal food, were physically weak, and therefore employed mercenary soldiers. Ethiopians — Hebrew, Cush: Abyssinia and Nubia. Libyans — Phut, Mauritania, west of Egypt (compare ). shield —The Libyans borrowed from Egypt the use of the long shield extending to the feet [XENOPHON , Cyropædia, 6 and 7]. Lydians —not the Lydians west of Asia Minor ( ), but the Ludim, an African nation descended from Egypt (Mizraim) ( ). handle and bend the bow —The employment of two verbs expresses the manner of bending the bow, namely, the foot being pressed on the center, and the hands holding the ends of it.

Jeremiah 46:9

9. Ironical exhortation, as in Jer 46:3. The Egyptians, owing to the heat of their climate and abstinence from animal food, were physically weak, and therefore employed mercenary soldiers.

Ethiopians—Hebrew, Cush: Abyssinia and Nubia.

Libyans—Phut, Mauritania, west of Egypt (compare Ge 10:6).

shield—The Libyans borrowed from Egypt the use of the long shield extending to the feet [XENOPHON, Cyropædia, 6 and 7].

Lydians—not the Lydians west of Asia Minor (Ge 10:22; Eze 30:5), but the Ludim, an African nation descended from Egypt (Mizraim) (Ge 10:13; Eze 30:5; Na 3:9).

handle and bend the bow—The employment of two verbs expresses the manner of bending the bow, namely, the foot being pressed on the center, and the hands holding the ends of it.

Jeremiah 46:16

16. He—Jehovah.

made many to fall—literally, "multiplied the faller," that is, fallers.

one fell upon another— (Jer 46:6, 12): even before the enemy strikes them (Le 26:37).

let us go again to our own people—the language of the confederates and mercenaries, exhorting one another to desert the Egyptian standard, and return to their respective homes (Jer 46:9, 21).

from the oppressing sword—from the cruel sword, namely, of the Chaldeans (compare Jer 25:38).