Jer 46:7 | KingComments | STEP | It is as if the LORD is saying that He will take a good look at who it is that comes up there like the Nile with great violence ( ). Oh yes, it’s Egypt coming up like the raging Nile ( ). The LORD hears how he speaks with a big mouth, saying: “I will rise.” ‘I, mighty Egypt, am so numerous that I will cover that land, and: “I will surely destroy the city and its inhabitants.”‘ The horses and chariots are shouted at and chased ( ). The mighty men appear, assured of victory. There are not only Egyptians. Also “Ethiopia and Put, that handle the shield”, and “the Lydians, that handle [and] bend the bow”, are part of this mighty army. Then we hear the LORD again in His exaltation above all this puffed-up stuff of puny little people. It is His day, not Egypt’s ( ). “The Lord GOD of hosts” will avenge Himself on His foes. It is He Who ultimately judges Egypt, using the Babylonians to do so. The slaughter wrought by the sword is “before the Lord GOD of hosts”. The place of slaughter is “in the land of the north by the river Euphrates”, at Carchemish. Mockingly, the LORD addresses the “virgin daughter of Egypt” who lies there as mortally wounded on the banks of the Euphrates ( ). Let them go to Gilead to get balm for their wounds. The same was said to Judah ( ). But though the Egyptians have so much medical knowledge and though they take so many medicines, there will be no recovery of their former strength. The blows and wounds inflicted upon them are incurable. The testimony of their ignominious demise reaches the nations ( ). In their land itself there is wailing. Their warriors have all fallen from their pedestals. Instead of helping each other, they have stumbled over each other and both of them have fallen down together.

‏ Jeremiah 46:7

The Pride of Egypt Humbled

It is as if the LORD is saying that He will take a good look at who it is that comes up there like the Nile with great violence (Jer 46:7). Oh yes, it’s Egypt coming up like the raging Nile (Jer 46:8). The LORD hears how he speaks with a big mouth, saying: “I will rise.” ‘I, mighty Egypt, am so numerous that I will cover that land, and: “I will surely destroy the city and its inhabitants.”‘

The horses and chariots are shouted at and chased (Jer 46:9). The mighty men appear, assured of victory. There are not only Egyptians. Also “Ethiopia and Put, that handle the shield”, and “the Lydians, that handle [and] bend the bow”, are part of this mighty army.

Then we hear the LORD again in His exaltation above all this puffed-up stuff of puny little people. It is His day, not Egypt’s (Jer 46:10). “The Lord GOD of hosts” will avenge Himself on His foes. It is He Who ultimately judges Egypt, using the Babylonians to do so. The slaughter wrought by the sword is “before the Lord GOD of hosts”. The place of slaughter is “in the land of the north by the river Euphrates”, at Carchemish.

Mockingly, the LORD addresses the “virgin daughter of Egypt” who lies there as mortally wounded on the banks of the Euphrates (Jer 46:11). Let them go to Gilead to get balm for their wounds. The same was said to Judah (Jer 8:22). But though the Egyptians have so much medical knowledge and though they take so many medicines, there will be no recovery of their former strength. The blows and wounds inflicted upon them are incurable.

The testimony of their ignominious demise reaches the nations (Jer 46:12). In their land itself there is wailing. Their warriors have all fallen from their pedestals. Instead of helping each other, they have stumbled over each other and both of them have fallen down together.