Jer 46:26-27 | KingComments | STEP | The LORD presents Egypt as “a pretty heifer” ( ). This is a name of derision. Egypt worships the cow as an idol. One of their gods is called Apis and is depicted as a bull. That idol will not be able to save them. Just as a cow is plagued and driven mad by horseflies, the LORD will send Nebuchadnezzar upon them like a horsefly. He is coming! Pharaoh’s army also has mercenaries ( ). They are well paid and have feasted on themselves so that they look like fattened calves. Whether Egypt is a pretty heifer or fattened calf, it is ready for slaughter. The fattened calves flee. They too do not hold up. They see that the day of their doom has come upon them and that they will receive their deserved reward. In yet another picture, Jeremiah shows the retreat of the armies of Egypt ( ). He now compares Egypt to a serpent shuffling back into the forest. It will be in vain, for the enemies come after it with axes. Then the soldiers also turn out to be lumberjacks. They cut down the forest in which it has withdrawn, even though it is so impenetrable ( ). There are so many of them that it is cut down in no time. When all the protection is cut away, the daughter of Egypt stands there embarrassed ( ). Her resistance has ended. She can no longer hide and is given into the hand of the Babylonians. Among the many gods, the Egyptians also have a god Amon, the god of the city of Thebes ( ). The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, the one, true God, will punish that god and all the gods, including Pharaoh who allows himself to be worshiped as a god and all the high-ranking people who allow themselves to be served as gods. He will deliver them all to Nebuchadnezzar ( ). Then they will know how worthless those gods are to protect them. Yet this will not be the final end of Egypt. The LORD promises that in the future Egypt will be inhabited as before ( ; ). This will happen in the realm of peace when the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, will reign. Then Egypt will also be restored, which is directly related to the restoration of Israel under the Messiah in the following verses. We will see that such restoration also applies to Moab, Ammon and Elam.

‏ Jeremiah 46:26-27

The Fall of Egypt

The LORD presents Egypt as “a pretty heifer” (Jer 46:20). This is a name of derision. Egypt worships the cow as an idol. One of their gods is called Apis and is depicted as a bull. That idol will not be able to save them. Just as a cow is plagued and driven mad by horseflies, the LORD will send Nebuchadnezzar upon them like a horsefly. He is coming!

Pharaoh’s army also has mercenaries (Jer 46:21). They are well paid and have feasted on themselves so that they look like fattened calves. Whether Egypt is a pretty heifer or fattened calf, it is ready for slaughter. The fattened calves flee. They too do not hold up. They see that the day of their doom has come upon them and that they will receive their deserved reward.

In yet another picture, Jeremiah shows the retreat of the armies of Egypt (Jer 46:22). He now compares Egypt to a serpent shuffling back into the forest. It will be in vain, for the enemies come after it with axes. Then the soldiers also turn out to be lumberjacks. They cut down the forest in which it has withdrawn, even though it is so impenetrable (Jer 46:23). There are so many of them that it is cut down in no time. When all the protection is cut away, the daughter of Egypt stands there embarrassed (Jer 46:24). Her resistance has ended. She can no longer hide and is given into the hand of the Babylonians.

Among the many gods, the Egyptians also have a god Amon, the god of the city of Thebes (Jer 46:25). The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, the one, true God, will punish that god and all the gods, including Pharaoh who allows himself to be worshiped as a god and all the high-ranking people who allow themselves to be served as gods. He will deliver them all to Nebuchadnezzar (Jer 46:26). Then they will know how worthless those gods are to protect them.

Yet this will not be the final end of Egypt. The LORD promises that in the future Egypt will be inhabited as before (Isa 19:23-25; Eze 29:9-14). This will happen in the realm of peace when the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, will reign. Then Egypt will also be restored, which is directly related to the restoration of Israel under the Messiah in the following verses. We will see that such restoration also applies to Moab, Ammon and Elam.

Blessing on Jacob

After this judgment on Egypt and the promise of restoration comes another word for God’s people (Jer 46:27). They need not fear that there will be restoration for Egypt, but not for them. The LORD addresses them encouragingly as “Jacob My servant” and “Israel”. He has a relationship with them and He has given them His promises.

He promises them that He will “save” them “from afar” – which refers to the ten tribes realm He will deliver from the scattering – and “from the land of their captivity” – which refers to the two tribes realm He will deliver from Babylon. He will then bring them to safety. In the future, this will find its full fulfillment when all twelve tribes will dwell in the land under the blessed rule of the Messiah.

He repeats that they need not fear, for He is with them (Jer 46:28). To all nations He will bring a destructive end, but not to them. Certainly, He will have to punish them, for they have deserved punishment. However, He will do so in moderation and not in a way that they will be utterly destroyed like the nations.