Babylon’s triumphant invasion (vv 13-26). Historians tell us that this occurred in 568-67 BC, and fulfilled not only this prophecy but also what Jeremiah had described earlier (43:8-13). Again, the Egyptian army stood fast as the Babylonians swept on them. The Babylonian soldiers called Pharoah Necho a ‘big noise’. Nebuchadnezzar when he appeared on the horizon he looked like a huge mountain (v 18).
Look at the graphic symbology and images Jeremiah used. Egypt was like a heifer (v 20). The mercenaries in Pharaoh’s army were like fatted calves that stampeded (v 21), and the Egyptian soldiers fled like hissing serpents (v 22) and fell before the Babylonians like trees before woodcutters (v 23). Egypt was like a young woman being violated and unable to escape (v 24).
The defeat of Egypt was the defeat of Egypt’s gods (v 25). This didn’t mean that the gods of Babylon were stronger than the gods of Egypt. It meant that Yehovah was stronger than the many other gods. God also decreed that Egypt would be restored (v 26), a promise He also gave Moab (Jer 48:47), Ammon (Jer 49:6) and Elam (Jer 49:39).
Israel’s assured future (vv 27-28). God promised that the exiles would be released from Babylon in 70 years.
Twice the Lord said, “Don’t be afraid”. God always gives His people the light of His promises. (2 Pet 1:19-21).
Extra Notes
Jer 46:14 Migdol = “tower” a fortified city on the Egyptian border.
Nof = “presentability” another name for ‘Memphis’ the capital city of Egypt.
Tachpanches = “thou will fill hands with pity” a city in Egypt; modern ‘Tel Defenneh’ or ‘Tel Defneh’ located approx 18 miles (29 km) east southeast from Tanis.
Jer 46:18 Tavor = “mound” a mountain in the plain of Esdraelon rising abruptly and insulated, except for a narrow ridge on the west connecting it to the hills of Nazareth.
Karmel = “garden-land” a mountain on the Mediterranean coast of northern Israel, just below Haifa. Also a town in the mountains on the west side of the Dead Sea and south of Hebron.
Jer 46:25; 49:6 Ammon = “tribal” land east of Jordan and north-east of Moab, between Arnon and Jabbok.
Jer 46:25 No = “disrupting” the ancient capital of Egypt; also ‘Thebes’.
Nebuchadrezzar = “may Nebo protect the crown”
Bavel or Babylon = “confusion (by mixing)” (modern Hillah) situated on the Euphrates.
Jer 48:47 Moab = “of his father” A son of Lot by his oldest daughter.
Jer 46:25; 49:6 Ammon = “tribal” land east of Jordan and north-east of Moab, between Arnon and Jabbok.
Jer 49:39 Elam = “eternity”