Jer 46:6 | KingComments | STEP | The first message concerns Egypt ( ). Egypt has played a major role in the history of God’s people. It holds God’s people in bondage as they begin to become a people ( ). The remnant of God’s people, when they are no longer a people because of God’s judgment, seek refuge in Egypt. We have just seen this in the previous chapters in this book. Therefore, the judgment on Egypt naturally results directly from that. This chapter is about the battle of Carchemish, where Pharaoh Neco is defeated by Nebuchadnezzar. That battle changed world history. From that moment on, Babylon is the world power. Before that time, Egypt and Assyria competed for world domination with varying degrees of success. When Babylon grows in power and Egypt feels threatened by it, Egypt moves against Babylon to fight against it. Josiah therefore marches against Egypt, but is killed in the valley of Megiddo ( ). Pharaoh advances to the Euphrates, is defeated at Carchemish, and returns to Egypt. A few years later he is utterly defeated by Babylon. What follows in is a description and the result of this great battle at Carchemish. As we read this account of the battle, we see man’s hunger for power and what it brings upon him. We hardly see anything of God in the description. What we do see of it shows us that He is in control of the final direction. We see this clearly when all that is happening now has become history. Then we see God’s hand in history. In , preparations are made for battle. The foot soldiers prepare the small shield and the large shield. The call sounds to go into battle. The horsemen also prepare themselves ( ). It is vividly and – because of the short sentences – powerfully described. We see the activity. The horses are harnessed, the riders mount the horses. They have the helmets on, the sharpened spears in their hands and the armor on. A formidable army stands ready. Then suddenly we hear the voice of the LORD ( ). He Who sits in heaven laughs ( ). When the whole army of Egypt is harnessed and ready for battle, He suddenly sees them shrink back and flee in terror. And running fast they do! They don’t look back and run away as fast as they can, that afraid they are. Their flight will prove to be futile ( ). Speed and courage will be of no avail. The fast is not fast enough and the hero is not powerful enough to escape the judgment from the north. They will stumble and fall “beside the river Euphrates”, at Carchemish.

‏ Jeremiah 46:6

The Army of Egypt Defeated

The first message concerns Egypt (Jer 46:2). Egypt has played a major role in the history of God’s people. It holds God’s people in bondage as they begin to become a people (Exo 1:8-14 ; Exo 2:23). The remnant of God’s people, when they are no longer a people because of God’s judgment, seek refuge in Egypt. We have just seen this in the previous chapters in this book. Therefore, the judgment on Egypt naturally results directly from that.

This chapter is about the battle of Carchemish, where Pharaoh Neco is defeated by Nebuchadnezzar. That battle changed world history. From that moment on, Babylon is the world power. Before that time, Egypt and Assyria competed for world domination with varying degrees of success. When Babylon grows in power and Egypt feels threatened by it, Egypt moves against Babylon to fight against it. Josiah therefore marches against Egypt, but is killed in the valley of Megiddo (2Chr 35:20-24). Pharaoh advances to the Euphrates, is defeated at Carchemish, and returns to Egypt. A few years later he is utterly defeated by Babylon.

What follows in Jer 46:3-27 is a description and the result of this great battle at Carchemish. As we read this account of the battle, we see man’s hunger for power and what it brings upon him. We hardly see anything of God in the description. What we do see of it shows us that He is in control of the final direction. We see this clearly when all that is happening now has become history. Then we see God’s hand in history.

In Jer 46:3, preparations are made for battle. The foot soldiers prepare the small shield and the large shield. The call sounds to go into battle. The horsemen also prepare themselves (Jer 46:4). It is vividly and – because of the short sentences – powerfully described. We see the activity. The horses are harnessed, the riders mount the horses. They have the helmets on, the sharpened spears in their hands and the armor on. A formidable army stands ready.

Then suddenly we hear the voice of the LORD (Jer 46:5). He Who sits in heaven laughs (Psa 2:4). When the whole army of Egypt is harnessed and ready for battle, He suddenly sees them shrink back and flee in terror. And running fast they do! They don’t look back and run away as fast as they can, that afraid they are. Their flight will prove to be futile (Jer 46:6). Speed and courage will be of no avail. The fast is not fast enough and the hero is not powerful enough to escape the judgment from the north. They will stumble and fall “beside the river Euphrates”, at Carchemish.