Jeremiah 46

Following the word given to Baruch in Jeremiah 45, this chapter begins a series of prophecies concerning various nations that continues through chapter 51. The first nation addressed is Egypt. In the Septuagint, these oracles appear in a different order and are placed in the middle of chapter 25.

Outline

• Verses 1–2 The chapter opens with the heading for the word concerning the nations. This oracle concerns the army of Pharaoh Necho, which Nebuchadnezzar defeated at Carchemish by the river Euphrates in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah.
• Verses 3–6 The Egyptian army is summoned to arm for battle. Yet the soldiers are terrified and flee, and they stumble and fall toward the north by the river Euphrates.
• Verses 7–9 Egypt boasts that it will rise like the Nile and cover the earth, and it calls up mercenaries from Cush, Put, and Lud.
• Verses 10–12 That day is the day on which the LORD of hosts takes vengeance on His adversaries. Not even the balm of Gilead can heal Egypt.
• Verses 13–19 Nebuchadnezzar's coming attack on the land of Egypt is proclaimed in Migdol, Noph, and Tahpanhes. The mighty men fall, and Noph becomes desolate.
• Verses 20–24 Destruction comes out of the north upon Egypt, which is likened to a very fair heifer, and even its hired soldiers flee.
• Verses 25–26 The LORD punishes Amon of No, Pharaoh, and the gods of Egypt, and delivers them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar. Afterward, however, the land will be inhabited again.
• Verses 27–28 Jacob is comforted and told not to fear. Though the LORD makes a full end of the nations, He will not make a full end of Jacob but will correct him in measure.

Key Verses

• Jeremiah 46:10 "For this is the day of the Lord GOD of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries" — This verse reflects the chapter's central perspective, which interprets the outcome of battle as the Day of the LORD.
• Jeremiah 46:28 "but I will not make a full end of thee, but correct thee in measure" — A promise of Israel's restoration is placed at the close of the oracle of judgment. Verses 27–28 are nearly identical to Jeremiah 30:10–11.

People and Places

• Jeremiah: The prophet who received this oracle.
• Jehoiakim: The son of Josiah and king of Judah.
• Pharaoh Necho: The king of Egypt defeated at Carchemish.
• Nebuchadnezzar: The king of Babylon.
• Carchemish: A city on the upper Euphrates; the battle fought there is generally dated to around 605 BC.
• Gilead: A region east of the Jordan, known as a source of balm.
• Migdol, Noph, and Tahpanhes: Cities of Egypt. Noph is identified with Memphis.
• No: Identified with Thebes in Egypt. Amon was the god worshiped there.
• Tabor and Mount Carmel: Prominent mountains used figuratively in verse 18.

Points for Reflection

• This chapter presents the view that God governs the history not only of Israel but also of the nations.
• The balm of Gilead mentioned in verse 11 also appears in Jeremiah 8:22.
• The prophecy of invasion in verse 13 is connected to the symbolic act performed at Tahpanhes in Jeremiah 43. Scholars differ in their accounts of when and on what scale Nebuchadnezzar actually attacked Egypt.
• Views also differ on when the text was written and edited. Traditional interpretation generally regards it as prophecy from Jeremiah's own time, while some critical scholars posit later editing.
• The New Testament does not directly quote this chapter.