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Jeremiah 46

ื™ืจืžื™ื”ื• ืคืจืง ืžืดื•

Section: ื ื‘ื™ืื™ื ยท ื ื‘ื™ืื™ื ืื—ืจื•ื ื™ื | Book: Jeremiah | Chapter: 46 of 52 | Day: 259 of 742

Date: October 28, 2026


ืงืœืื•ื“ ืขืœ ื”ื ืดืš

Chapter 46 opens a new section of the book. After forty-five chapters addressed to Yehudah and Yerushalayim, to kings, priests, false prophets, and finally to the broken remnant in Egypt, the superscription turns outward: the word of the LORD that came to Yirmiyahu the prophet concerning the nations (ืขืœ ื”ื’ื•ื™ื). Chapters 46 through 51 gather the oracles against the nations โ€” Egypt, the Pelishtim, Moav, Amon, Edom, Damesek, Kedar and Chatzor, Eilam, and at last Bavel itself โ€” and in doing so they fulfil the commission given at the very beginning of the book, when the young prophet was appointed โ€˜a prophet to the nationsโ€™ (1:5) and set โ€˜over the nations and over the kingdoms, to uproot and to pull downโ€ฆ to build and to plantโ€™ (1:10). Metzudat David reads the opening phrase as a heading for what follows: as if to say, now he will recount what happened. It is fitting that the series begins with Egypt. The previous three chapters were spent watching the Judean remnant flee to Pharaoh for protection against Bavel; chapter 46 now reveals what that protection was worth.

The chapter contains two distinct prophecies. The first (verses 2-12) is dated with unusual precision: it concerns the army of Pharaoh Nechoh at the river Perat by Carchemish, which Nevuchadnetzar king of Bavel struck in the fourth year of Yehoyakim son of Yoshiyahu. This was the decisive battle of the age. Radak reconstructs the background: Pharaoh Nechoh had marched north in the days of Yoshiyahu to take Carchemish, the city that the king of Ashur had once captured, and on the way he killed Yoshiyahu at Megiddo (II Melachim 23:29). His siege there stretched on until the fourth year of Yehoyakim, when Nevuchadnetzar came up against him and destroyed his army. The date is the same fourth year of Yehoyakim that frames chapters 25, 36 and 45 โ€” the year in which the prophet announced that the cup of wrath would pass to all the nations, and the year in which the scroll was written. Carchemish is the hinge on which the whole book turns: from that moment Egypt ceased to be a great power in the north, and Bavel became the rod of God over the region.

The poem itself is a masterpiece of irony. It opens with a rapid series of military commands โ€” set out buckler and shield (ืžื’ืŸ ื•ืฆื ื”), harness the horses, mount up, horsemen, take your stand in helmets, polish the spears, put on the armor. Rashi explains the equipment: the ืžื’ืŸ is of leather, boiled and anointed with oil before battle, while the ืฆื ื” is of wood. Metzudat David hears the commands as mockery addressed to Egypt: go on, array yourselves and advance against the Kasdim. Then, with no transition, the scene collapses: why do I see them terrified, falling back (ืžื“ื•ืข ืจืื™ืชื™ ื”ืžื” ื—ืชื™ื ื ืกื•ื’ื™ื ืื—ื•ืจ)? Their warriors are beaten down, they flee headlong and do not turn, and the prophetโ€™s signature phrase rings out โ€” terror all around (ืžื’ื•ืจ ืžืกื‘ื™ื‘). Radak explains the image: even while fleeing they fear an attack from every side. The swift cannot escape and the mighty cannot save himself; in the north, by the river Perat, they stumble and fall.

The second strophe (verses 7-12) returns to the boast. Who is this that rises like the Nile (ื›ื™ืื•ืจ ื™ืขืœื”), whose waters surge like rivers? It is Egypt, who said, โ€˜I will rise and cover the earth, I will destroy the city and its inhabitants.โ€™ The image is perfectly chosen: the annual flood of the Nile was the source of Egyptโ€™s wealth and the symbol of its power, and Pharaoh imagined his armies spreading over the nations the way the river spreads over the fields. Metzudat David identifies โ€˜the cityโ€™ as Carchemish itself, then in Assyrian hands. Again the commands ring out โ€” advance, horses; race madly, chariots; let the warriors go forth, Kush and Put who grasp the shield, and the Ludim who draw the bow. Rashi notes that ื•ื”ืชื”ืœืœื• is an expression of madness, and Radak describes the wild back-and-forth galloping of the chariots that looks like frenzy. But the day belongs not to Pharaoh. It is a day of vengeance (ื™ื•ื ื ืงืžื”) for the Lord GOD of Hosts, and both Radak and Metzudat David identify what is being avenged: the death of Yoshiyahu, whom Pharaoh Nechoh killed at Megiddo on his way to this very battlefield. The sword will eat and be sated and drink its fill of their blood, for the Lord has a sacrifice (ื–ื‘ื—) in the north country by the river Perat. The best king Yehudah had known since David is answered, two decades later, on the banks of the Euphrates.

The strophe ends with a famous taunt: go up to Gilead and take balm (ืฆืจื™), virgin daughter of Egypt; in vain have you multiplied remedies, there is no healing for you. Gileadโ€™s balm had been invoked earlier in the book for the wound of Yehudah โ€” โ€˜is there no balm in Gilead?โ€™ (8:22) โ€” and now the same medicine is offered to Egypt and declared useless. Metzudat David explains that Egypt is called a virgin because no nation had yet conquered it, and Radak reads the โ€˜remediesโ€™ as a figure for Egyptโ€™s allies, Kush, Put and Lud, who will avail nothing. The nations hear of her shame, and her outcry fills the earth, for warrior stumbles against warrior and both fall together โ€” Rashi and Radak picture the routed soldiers tripping over one another in their flight.

The second prophecy (verses 13-26) concerns a later event: Nevuchadnetzarโ€™s coming to strike the land of Egypt itself. Rashi, citing Seder Olam, dates it to the twenty-seventh year of Nevuchadnetzarโ€™s reign, the โ€˜second blowโ€™ foretold also by Yechezkel (29:17). Now the battle is not on the distant Euphrates but in Migdol, Nof and Tachpanches โ€” the very cities in which the Judean refugees of chapter 44 had settled. The proclamation to stand fast and prepare is hollow, for the sword has already devoured all around. Why are your mighty ones swept away? Because the LORD thrust them down. The mercenaries who came to Egyptโ€™s aid say to one another, โ€˜Arise, let us return to our people and to the land of our birth, from before the oppressing sword (ื—ืจื‘ ื”ื™ื•ื ื”)โ€™. Pharaoh is given a mocking nickname: โ€˜a noise who let the appointed time pass byโ€™ (ืฉืื•ืŸ ื”ืขื‘ื™ืจ ื”ืžื•ืขื“) โ€” a boaster who set a day for battle and then did not come out to fight. God swears by His life that the conqueror will come as surely as Tabor stands among the mountains and Carmel by the sea, and Egypt is told to pack the vessels of exile (ื›ืœื™ ื’ื•ืœื”).

The imagery of the closing strophes is vivid and often agricultural. Egypt is a very beautiful heifer (ืขื’ืœื” ื™ืคื” ืคื™ื”), and from the north comes the gadfly or butcher (ืงืจืฅ). Her mercenaries are like fattened calves who turn and flee on the day of their calamity. Her sound goes off like a snake slithering away, while the invaders come with axes like woodcutters to fell her forest, which cannot be searched out, for they are more numerous than locusts. Rashi on verse 22 brings a striking midrash: from the snake of Egypt we learn about the serpent of Gan Eden, whose voice, once his legs were cut off, travels from one end of the world to the other. The judgment reaches Amon of No, Pharaoh, Egypt, her gods and her kings, and all who trust in him โ€” a pointed reminder to the Judeans in Egypt that their refuge is itself under sentence. Yet the oracle ends with a surprising note of restoration: afterward she will dwell as in days of old. Rashi and Radak both connect this to Yechezkelโ€™s prophecy of Egyptโ€™s return after forty years, and Radak adds that it will be restored only to its land, not to its former greatness, for Yechezkel calls it โ€˜a lowly kingdomโ€™.

The chapter closes with a word to Israel that appeared almost verbatim in 30:10-11: but you, do not fear, My servant Yaakov, and do not be dismayed, Israel, for I will save you from afar and your seed from the land of their captivity. Radak explains why the passage is repeated here: having described the punishment of the nations, the prophet tells Israel that its fate is different. The nations may return to their lands after exile, but they will not be at rest, and in the end they will cease to be a people; Israelโ€™s name will endure like the days of the heavens over the earth. Metzudat David adds a pastoral dimension: the exiles in Bavel might see Egypt exiled to a nearby land and quickly restored, while they remained far off and unredeemed, and fear that they would be lost there forever. The final verse gives the principle that governs the entire series of oracles against the nations: I will make a full end of all the nations to which I have driven you, but of you I will not make a full end (ื•ืืชืš ืœื ืืขืฉื” ื›ืœื”); I will chastise you in measure (ืœืžืฉืคื˜). Rashi glosses this as sparing justice, little by little. Israel is not exempt from punishment, but its punishment is that of a son being corrected, not of an enemy being destroyed. Placed at the start of the oracles against the nations, the comfort to Yaakov frames everything that follows: the downfall of empires is not the end of history but a stage on the road to Israelโ€™s return.


ืคืจืง ืžืดื• ยท Chapter 46

ืคืกื•ืง ืืณ ยท Verse 1

Hebrew:

ืึฒืฉืึถึจืจ ื”ึธื™ึธึงื” ื“ึฐื‘ึทืจึพื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึ›ื” ืึถืœึพื™ึดืจึฐืžึฐื™ึธึฅื”ื•ึผ ื”ึทื ึผึธื‘ึดึ–ื™ื ืขึทืœึพื”ึทื’ึผื•ึนื™ึดึฝืืƒ

English:

The word of GOD to the prophet Jeremiah concerning the nations.

A new superscription opens the oracles against the nations that fill chapters 46-51. The prophet appointed in 1:5 'a prophet to the nations' now turns from Yehudah to the surrounding kingdoms. Metzudat David reads the verse as a heading: from here the prophet recounts what befell the nations, beginning with Egypt -- the very power in which the remnant of chapters 42-44 had placed its trust.

ืคืกื•ืง ื‘ืณ ยท Verse 2

Hebrew:

ืœึฐืžึดืฆึฐืจึทึ—ื™ึดื ืขึทืœึพื—ึตึจื™ืœ ืคึผึทืจึฐืขึนึคื” ื ึฐื›ื•ึนึ™ ืžึถึฃืœึถืšึฐ ืžึดืฆึฐืจึทึ”ื™ึดื ืึฒืฉืึถืจึพื”ึธื™ึธึฅื” ืขึทืœึพื ึฐื”ึทืจึพืคึผึฐืจึธึ–ืช ื‘ึผึฐื›ึทืจึฐื›ึผึฐืžึดึ‘ืฉื ืึฒืฉืึถึฃืจ ื”ึดื›ึผึธึ—ื” ื ึฐื‘ึฝื•ึผื›ึทื“ึฐืจึถืืฆึผึทืจึ™ ืžึถึฃืœึถืšึฐ ื‘ึผึธื‘ึถึ”ืœ ื‘ึผึดืฉืึฐื ึทืชึ™ ื”ึธืจึฐื‘ึดื™ืขึดึ”ื™ืช ืœึดื™ื”ื•ึนื™ึธืงึดึฅื™ื ื‘ึผึถืŸึพื™ึนืืฉืึดื™ึผึธึ–ื”ื•ึผ ืžึถึฅืœึถืšึฐ ื™ึฐื”ื•ึผื“ึธึฝื”ืƒ

English:

Concerning Egypt, about the army of Pharaoh Neco, king of Egypt, which was at the river Euphrates near Carchemish, and which was defeated by King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon, in the fourth year of King Jehoiakim son of Josiah of Judah.

The first oracle is dated to the battle of Carchemish in the fourth year of Yehoyakim, when Nevuchadnetzar shattered the army of Pharaoh Nechoh by the Perat. Radak explains that Nechoh had marched north in the days of Yoshiyahu and besieged Carchemish until Bavel came against him; Metzudat David notes that the prophecy is first about Egypt generally, then specifically about Pharaoh's army there.

ืคืกื•ืง ื’ืณ ยท Verse 3

Hebrew:

ืขึดืจึฐื›ึคื•ึผ ืžึธื’ึตืŸึ™ ื•ึฐืฆึดื ึผึธึ”ื” ื•ึผื’ึฐืฉืึ–ื•ึผ ืœึทืžึผึดืœึฐื—ึธืžึธึฝื”ืƒ

English:

Get ready buckler and shield, And move forward to battle!

The poem opens with crisp military commands: set out buckler and shield, advance to battle. Rashi describes the leather shield (magen) boiled and oiled for battle and the wooden buckler (tzinah). Metzudat David hears the orders as mockery addressed to Egypt, while Radak allows that they may be addressed to either army as the two sides draw up their lines.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืžื’ืŸ. ืฉืœ ืขื•ืจ ื”ื•ื ื•ื”ื•ื ืฉืœื•ืง ื•ื›ืฉื™ื•ืฆ' ืœืžืœื—ืžื” ืžื•ืฉื—ื• ื‘ืฉืžืŸ: ืฆื ื”. ืฉืœ ืขืฅ ื“ืžื•ืช ืชืจื™ืกื™ืŸ ืฉืœื ื•:
shield Heb. ืžื’ืŸ. It is made of leather, and it is boiled, and when he goes forth to battle, he anoints it with oil. and buckler Heb. ื•ืฆื ื”, [made] of wood, in the likeness of our shields.

ืคืกื•ืง ื“ืณ ยท Verse 4

Hebrew:

ืึดืกึฐืจึฃื•ึผ ื”ึทืกึผื•ึผืกึดึ—ื™ื ื•ึทึฝืขึฒืœื•ึผึ™ ื”ึทืคึผึธึฃืจึธืฉืึดึ”ื™ื ื•ึฐื”ึดึฝืชึฐื™ึทืฆึผึฐื‘ึ–ื•ึผ ื‘ึผึฐื›ื•ึนื‘ึธืขึดึ‘ื™ื ืžึดืจึฐืงื•ึผึ™ ื”ึธืจึฐืžึธื—ึดึ”ื™ื ืœึดื‘ึฐืฉืึ–ื•ึผ ื”ึทืกึผึดืจึฐื™ึนื ึนึฝืชืƒ

English:

Harness the horses; Mount, you riders! Fall in line, helmets on! Burnish the lances, Don your armor!

The commands continue: harness the horses, mount, horsemen, take position in helmets, polish the spears, put on the armor. Rashi links 'polish' (mirku) to the scouring of vessels in Vayikra 6:21. Metzudat David and Radak explain the burnishing as removing rust so that the weapons gleam, and the coats of mail as armor made of linked iron rings.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืžืจืงื• ื”ืจืžื—ื™ื. ื›ืžื• ื•ืžื•ืจืง ื•ืฉื•ื˜ืฃ (ื•ื™ืงืจื ื–) ืคื•ืจื‘ื™ืจ ื‘ืœืข"ื–:
polish the spears Heb. ืžืจืงื•. Cf. "It shall be scoured (ื•ึผืžึนืจึทืง) and rinsed" (Lev. 6:21), (forbir in O.F., to furbish).

ืคืกื•ืง ื”ืณ ยท Verse 5

Hebrew:

ืžึทื“ึผึฃื•ึผืขึท ืจึธืึดึ—ื™ืชึดื™ ื”ึตึฃืžึผึธื” ื—ึทืชึผึดื™ืึฎ ื ึฐืกึนื’ึดึฃื™ื ืึธื—ื•ึนืจึ’ ื•ึฐื’ึดื‘ึผื•ึนืจึตื™ื”ึถึฃื ื™ึปื›ึผึทึ”ืชึผื•ึผ ื•ึผืžึธื ึฅื•ึนืก ื ึธึ–ืกื•ึผ ื•ึฐืœึนึฃื ื”ึดืคึฐื ึ‘ื•ึผ ืžึธื’ึฅื•ึนืจ ืžึดืกึผึธื‘ึดึ–ื™ื‘ ื ึฐืึปืึพื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึฝื”ืƒ

English:

Why do I see them dismayed, Yielding ground? Their fighters are crushed, They flee in haste And do not turn backโ€” Terror all around! โ€”declares GOD.

Suddenly the prepared army is seen in collapse: terrified, falling back, its warriors beaten and fleeing without turning to face the pursuers. Rashi explains that they had no respite to stand and fight. Radak and Metzudat David note the closing phrase, 'terror all around' (magor misaviv) -- a signature phrase of Yirmiyahu -- as fear seizing every one of them from every direction.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื”ืžื” ื—ืชื™ื. ืžืฆืจื™ื: ื•ืœื ื”ืคื ื•. ืขื•ื“ ืœืขืžื•ื“ ื‘ืžืœื—ืžื” ืœื ื”ื™ื” ืœื”ื ืคื ืื™:
them breaking The Egyptians. and were not freed? [They were] no longer freed to stand in battle; they had no free time.

ืคืกื•ืง ื•ืณ ยท Verse 6

Hebrew:

ืึทืœึพื™ึธื ึฃื•ึผืก ื”ึทืงึผึทึ”ืœ ื•ึฐืึทืœึพื™ึดืžึผึธืœึตึ–ื˜ ื”ึทื’ึผึดื‘ึผึ‘ื•ึนืจ ืฆึธืคึ™ื•ึนื ึธื”ึ™ ืขึทืœึพื™ึทึฃื“ ื ึฐื”ึทืจึพืคึผึฐืจึธึ”ืช ื›ึผึธืฉืึฐืœึ–ื•ึผ ื•ึฐื ึธืคึธึฝืœื•ึผืƒ

English:

The swift cannot get away, The warrior cannot escape. In the north, by the river Euphrates, They stagger and fall.

Neither speed nor strength can save: the swift cannot flee and the mighty cannot escape. Radak explains that the fast runner will be overtaken and the warrior who stands to fight will gain nothing from his strength. Both Radak and Metzudat David locate the fall 'in the north' by the river Perat, at Carchemish, north of Egypt.

ืคืกื•ืง ื–ืณ ยท Verse 7

Hebrew:

ืžึดื™ึพื–ึถึ–ื” ื›ึผึทื™ึฐืึนึฃืจ ื™ึทืขึฒืœึถึ‘ื” ื›ึผึทื ึผึฐื”ึธืจึ•ื•ึนืช ื™ึดึฝืชึฐื’ึผึธืขึฒืฉืึ–ื•ึผ ืžึตื™ืžึธึฝื™ื•ืƒ

English:

Who is this that rises like the Nile, Like streams whose waters surge?

A mocking question introduces the second strophe: who is this rising like the Nile, whose waters surge like rivers? Rashi explains that Egypt was used to bringing up armies around it like a flooding river. Radak and Metzudat David hear the voice of a scoffer: how did a power that swelled so mightily now stumble before Nevuchadnetzar?
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื›ื™ืื•ืจ ื™ืขืœื”. ืฉื”ื™ื” ืจื’ื™ืœ ืœื”ืขืœื•ืช ื’ื™ื™ืกื•ืช ืกื‘ื™ื‘ื™ื• ื›ืžื• ื ื”ืจ ืœืฉื˜ืฃ ืกื‘ื™ื‘ื™ื•: ื™ืชื’ืขืฉื• ืžื™ืžื™ื•. ื“ืžื˜ืจืคื™ืŸ ืžื•ื”ื™:
Who...would come up like the Nile Who was wont to bring up troops around him like the waters of a river, to flood its environs.

ืคืกื•ืง ื—ืณ ยท Verse 8

Hebrew:

ืžึดืฆึฐืจึทึ™ื™ึดืึ™ ื›ึผึทื™ึฐืึนึฃืจ ื™ึทืขึฒืœึถึ”ื” ื•ึฐื›ึทื ึผึฐื”ึธืจึ–ื•ึนืช ื™ึดืชึฐื’ึผึนึฃืขึฒืฉืื•ึผ ืžึธึ‘ื™ึดื ื•ึทื™ึผึนึ—ืืžึถืจ ืึทึฝืขึฒืœึถื”ึ™ ืึฒื›ึทืกึผึถื”ึพืึถึ”ืจึถืฅ ืึนื‘ึดึฅื™ื“ึธื” ืขึดึ–ื™ืจ ื•ึฐื™ึนึฅืฉืึฐื‘ึตื™ ื‘ึธึฝื”ึผืƒ

English:

It is Egypt that rises like the Nile, Like streams whose waters surge, That said, โ€œI will rise, I will cover the earth, I will wipe out towns And those who dwell in them.

The answer: it is Egypt, which boasted, 'I will rise, cover the earth, and destroy the city and its inhabitants.' The Nile's annual flood, source of Egypt's wealth, becomes the image of its imperial arrogance. Metzudat David identifies 'the city' as Carchemish, then held by Ashur, while Rashi and Radak comment on the grammatical form of 'I will destroy' (ovidah).
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื›ื™ืื•ืจ ื™ืขืœื”. ื”ื™ื” ืจื’ื™ืœ ืœืขืœื•ืช: ืื•ื‘ื™ื“ื”. ื›ืžื• ืืื‘ื“:
would come up like the Nile Was accustomed to coming up. I will destroy Heb. ืึนื‘ึดื™ื“ึธื”, like ืึฒืึทื‘ึผึตื“.

ืคืกื•ืง ื˜ืณ ยท Verse 9

Hebrew:

ืขึฒืœึคื•ึผ ื”ึทืกึผื•ึผืกึดื™ืึ™ ื•ึฐื”ึดืชึฐื”ึนืœึฐืœึฃื•ึผ ื”ึธืจึถึ”ื›ึถื‘ ื•ึฐื™ึตืฆึฐืึ–ื•ึผ ื”ึทื’ึผึดื‘ึผื•ึนืจึดึ‘ื™ื ื›ึผึคื•ึผืฉื ื•ึผืคื•ึผื˜ึ™ ืชึผึนืคึฐืฉื‚ึตึฃื™ ืžึธื’ึตึ”ืŸ ื•ึฐืœื•ึผื“ึดึ•ื™ื ืชึผึนืคึฐืฉื‚ึตึ–ื™ ื“ึผึนึฅืจึฐื›ึตื™ ืงึธึฝืฉืึถืชืƒ

English:

Advance, O horses, Dash madly, O chariots! Let the warriors go forth, Cush and Put, that grasp the shield, And the Ludim who grasp and draw the bow!โ€

The prophet ironically urges Egypt's forces on: advance, horses; race madly, chariots; go out, warriors -- Kush and Put with the shield, and the Ludim who draw the bow. Rashi reads vehitholelu as an expression of madness, and Radak describes the frantic galloping back and forth. Metzudat David notes that Kush and Put had come as Egypt's allies.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื•ื”ืชื”ื•ืœืœื•. ืœืฉื•ืŸ ืกื›ืœื•ืช:
and rush madly Heb. ื•ื”ืชื”ืœืœื•, an expression of folly.

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืณ ยท Verse 10

Hebrew:

ื•ึฐึฝื”ึทื™ึผึจื•ึนื ื”ึทื”ึœื•ึผื ืœึทึฝืื“ึนื ึธึงื™ ื™ึฑื”ึนื•ึดึฃื” ืฆึฐื‘ึธืึ—ื•ึนืช ื™ึคื•ึนื ื ึฐืงึธืžึธื”ึ™ ืœึฐื”ึดื ึผึธืงึตึฃื ืžึดืฆึผึธืจึธึ”ื™ื• ื•ึฐืึธื›ึฐืœึธึฅื” ื—ึถึ™ืจึถื‘ึ™ ื•ึฐืฉื‚ึธึฃื‘ึฐืขึธึ”ื” ื•ึฐืจึธื•ึฐืชึธึ–ื” ืžึดื“ึผึธืžึธึ‘ื ื›ึผึดึฃื™ ื–ึถึ ื‘ึทื— ืœึทืื“ึนื ึธึจื™ ื™ึฑื”ึนื•ึดึงื” ืฆึฐื‘ึธืึ›ื•ึนืช ื‘ึผึฐืึถึฅืจึถืฅ ืฆึธืคึ–ื•ึนืŸ ืึถืœึพื ึฐื”ึทืจึพืคึผึฐืจึธึฝืชืƒ

English:

But that day shall be for my Sovereign GOD of Hosts a day for exacting retribution from all foes. The sword shall devour; it shall be sated and drunk with their blood. For my Sovereign GOD of Hosts is preparing a sacrifice in the northland, by the river Euphrates.

The day belongs not to Pharaoh but to the Lord GOD of Hosts -- a day of vengeance. Radak and Metzudat David identify what is avenged: the death of King Yoshiyahu, killed by Pharaoh Nechoh at Megiddo. The sword will eat and drink its fill, for God has a 'sacrifice' in the north by the Perat; Rashi recalls that Pharaoh marched on Nevuchadnetzar at Carchemish and fell there.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื•ืจื•ืชื”. ืœืฉื•ืŸ ืฉื•ื‘ืข, ืœ"ื ืœืฉื•ืŸ ืฉื›ืจื•ืŸ ื›ืžื• ืฉื›ืจ ื“ืžืชืจื’ืžื™ื ืŸ ืžืจื•ื™: ื‘ืืจืฅ ืฆืคื•ืŸ. ืฉื”ืœืš ืคืจืขื” ืขืœ ื ื‘ื•ื›ื“ื ืฆืจ ื‘ื›ืจื›ืžื™ืฉ ื•ื’ื ื ืคืœ ื•ื ื”ืจื’ื• ื’ื‘ื•ืจื™ื• ื•ื”ื•ื ื‘ืจื— ืžืŸ ื”ืžืœื—ืžื”:
and its thirst shall be quenched Heb. ื•ืจื•ืชื”, an expression of satiety. [Another interpretation: It] is an expression of drunkenness; cf. ืฉึผืึตื›ึทืจ, strong drink, which we translate ืžึฐืจึทื•ึตื™. in the north land For Pharaoh marched on Nebuchadnezzar in Carchemish, and there he fell and his mighty men were slain, and he fled from the battle.

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื ยท Verse 11

Hebrew:

ืขึฒืœึดึคื™ ื’ึดืœึฐืขึธื“ึ™ ื•ึผืงึฐื—ึดึฃื™ ืฆึณืจึดึ”ื™ ื‘ึผึฐืชื•ึผืœึทึ–ืช ื‘ึผึทืชึพืžึดืฆึฐืจึธึ‘ื™ึดื ืœึทืฉืึผึธื•ึฐืึ™ (ื”ืจื‘ื™ืชื™) [ื”ึดืจึฐื‘ึผึตึฃื™ืช] ืจึฐืคึปืึ”ื•ึนืช ืชึผึฐืขึธืœึธึ–ื” ืึตึฅื™ืŸ ืœึธึฝืšึฐืƒ

English:

Go up to Gilead and get balm, Fair Maiden Egypt. In vain do you seek many remedies, There is no healing for you.

A bitter taunt: go up to Gilead and take balm, virgin daughter of Egypt -- in vain you multiply remedies. Metzudat David explains that Egypt is called a virgin because no nation had yet conquered it. Radak reads the remedies as a figure for Egypt's allies Kush, Put and Lud, who cannot heal its wound. The balm of Gilead, once sought for Yehudah (8:22), is useless here.

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื‘ ยท Verse 12

Hebrew:

ืฉืึธืžึฐืขึคื•ึผ ื’ื•ึนื™ึดืึ™ ืงึฐืœื•ึนื ึตึ”ืšึฐ ื•ึฐืฆึดื•ึฐื—ึธืชึตึ–ืšึฐ ืžึธืœึฐืึธึฃื” ื”ึธืึธึ‘ืจึถืฅ ื›ึผึดึฝื™ึพื’ึดื‘ึผึคื•ึนืจ ื‘ึผึฐื’ึดื‘ึผื•ึนืจึ™ ื›ึผึธืฉืึธึ”ืœื•ึผ ื™ึทื—ึฐื“ึผึธึ–ื™ื• ื ึธืคึฐืœึฅื•ึผ ืฉืึฐื ึตื™ื”ึถึฝืืƒย {ืค}

English:

Nations have heard your shame; The earth resounds with your screams. For warrior stumbles against warrior; The two fall down together.

The nations hear Egypt's disgrace and its cry fills the earth, for warrior stumbles against warrior and both fall together. Rashi explains that in their flight they tripped over one another. Radak paints the scene: the first falls in his haste and the one behind trips over his body lying in the road. Metzudat David adds that the shame is Egypt's surrender into the hand of Bavel.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื’ื‘ื•ืจ ื‘ื’ื‘ื•ืจ ื›ืฉืœื•. ื›ืฉื”ื™ื• ื‘ื•ืจื—ื™ื ื”ื™ื• ื ื›ืฉืœื™ื ื•ื ืชืงืœื™ื ื–ื” ื‘ื–ื”:
a mighty man has stumbled upon a mighty man When they were fleeing they would stumble over each other.

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื’ ยท Verse 13

Hebrew:

ื”ึทื“ึผึธื‘ึธืจึ™ ืึฒืฉืึถึฃืจ ื“ึผึดื‘ึผึถึฃืจ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึ”ื” ืึถึฝืœึพื™ึดืจึฐืžึฐื™ึธึ–ื”ื•ึผ ื”ึทื ึผึธื‘ึดึ‘ื™ื ืœึธื‘ึ—ื•ึนื ื ึฐื‘ึฝื•ึผื›ึทื“ึฐืจึถืืฆึผึทืจึ™ ืžึถึฃืœึถืšึฐ ื‘ึผึธื‘ึถึ”ืœ ืœึฐื”ึทื›ึผึ–ื•ึนืช ืึถืชึพืึถึฅืจึถืฅ ืžึดืฆึฐืจึธึฝื™ึดืืƒ

English:

The word that GOD spoke to the prophet Jeremiah about the coming of King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon to attack the land of Egypt:

A second prophecy begins, concerning Nevuchadnetzar's coming to strike the land of Egypt itself. Rashi calls this 'a second blow', citing Seder Olam that Nevuchadnetzar devastated Egypt in the twenty-seventh year of his reign (cf. Yechezkel 29:17). Radak and Metzudat David note that the prophet foretold it before it happened -- this time the war reaches Egypt's own soil.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืœื‘ื ื ื‘ื•ื›ื“ืจืืฆืจ. ื–ื• ืžื›ื” ืฉื ื™ื™' ืฉื”ื—ืจื™ื‘ ื ื‘ื•ื›ื“ื ืฆืจ ืืช ืžืฆืจื™ื ื‘ืฉื ืช ืขืฉืจื™ื ื•ืฉื‘ืข ืœืžืœื›ื• (ื™ื—ื–ืงืืœ ื›ืดื˜:ื™ืดื“) ื›ืžื• ืฉืฉื ื™ื ื• ื‘ืกื“ืจ ืขื•ืœื:
concerning the coming of Nebuchadnezzar This was a second blow, [viz.] that Nebuchadnezzar laid Egypt waste in the twenty-seventh year of his reign (Ezek. 29:17), as we learned in Seder Olam (ch. 26).

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื“ ยท Verse 14

Hebrew:

ื”ึทื’ึผึดึคื™ื“ื•ึผ ื‘ึฐืžึดืฆึฐืจึทึ™ื™ึดืึ™ ื•ึฐื”ึทืฉืึฐืžึดึฃื™ืขึฝื•ึผ ื‘ึฐืžึดื’ึฐื“ึผึ”ื•ึนืœ ื•ึฐื”ึทืฉืึฐืžึดึฅื™ืขื•ึผ ื‘ึฐื ึนึ–ืฃ ื•ึผื‘ึฐืชึทื—ึฐืคึผึทื ึฐื—ึตึ‘ืก ืึดืžึฐืจึ—ื•ึผ ื”ึดืชึฐื™ึทืฆึผึตื‘ึ™ ื•ึฐื”ึธื›ึตึฃืŸ ืœึธึ”ืšึฐ ื›ึผึดึฝื™ึพืึธื›ึฐืœึธึฅื” ื—ึถึ–ืจึถื‘ ืกึฐื‘ึดื™ื‘ึถึฝื™ืšึธืƒ

English:

Declare in Egypt, proclaim in Migdol, Proclaim in Noph and Tahpanhes! Say: Take your posts and stand ready, For the sword has devoured all around you!

Announce it in Egypt, in Migdol, Nof and Tachpanches -- the very cities where the Judean refugees of chapter 44 had settled. Radak notes the pattern of general statement then detail, and identifies Migdol with the place named in the Torah 'between Migdol and the sea'. Metzudat David and Rashi read 'stand fast and prepare' as a call to Pharaoh to ready himself, for the sword has already devoured around him.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื”ืชื™ืฆื‘ ื•ื”ื›ืŸ ืœืš. ื›ื ื’ื“ ื”ืžืœื—ืžื”, ื•ื”ื›ืŸ ื•ืืชืงื™ืŸ:
"Stand fast and prepare yourself" for the war. ื•ื”ื›ืŸ means "and prepare."

ืคืกื•ืง ื˜ืดื• ยท Verse 15

Hebrew:

ืžึทื“ึผึ–ื•ึผืขึท ื ึดืกึฐื—ึทึฃืฃ ืึทื‘ึผึดื™ืจึถึ‘ื™ืšึธ ืœึนึฃื ืขึธืžึทึ”ื“ ื›ึผึดึฅื™ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึ–ื” ื”ึฒื“ึธืคึฝื•ึนืƒ

English:

Why are your stalwarts swept away? They did not stand firm, For GOD thrust them down;

Why are your mighty ones swept away? They did not stand, for the LORD thrust them down. Rashi traces nischaf to a sweeping rain and discusses Menachem and Dunash on the root. Radak explains the singular verb with a plural subject -- each and every one of your warriors -- and Metzudat David reads the second half as the answer: God Himself fought against them.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื ืกื—ืฃ. ื ืฉื˜ืคื• ื•ื”ื—ืœื™ืงื• ื’ื‘ื•ืจื™ืš ื›ืžื• ืžื˜ืจ ืกื•ื—ืฃ (ืžืฉืœื™ ื›ืดื—:ื’ืณ) ื ืกืชื—ืคื” ืฉื“ื”ื• ื‘ืœืฉื•ืŸ ืžืฉื ื” ื•ืžื ื—ื ื—ื‘ืจื• ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื›ืœื™ื•ืŸ ื•ื›ืŸ ื—ื‘ืจ ืžื˜ืจ ืกื•ื—ืฃ ื•ื“ื•ื ืฉ ืคืชืจ ืžื˜ืจ ืกื•ื—ืฃ ื›ืžื• ืžื˜ืจ ืกื•ืขืฃ ื›ืžื• ืžืกืขืฃ ืคืืจื” ื‘ืžืขืจืฆื” (ื™ืฉืขื™ื”ื• ื™ืณ:ืœืดื’):
been swept away? Heb. ื ืกื—ืฃ. Your mighty men have been swept away and have slid. Cf. "sweeping (ืกึนื—ึตืฃ) rain" (Prov. 28:3); "His field has been inundated (ื ืกืชื—ืคื”)" (Kethuboth 1:6). Menahem (Machbereth p. 126) classified it as an expression of complete destruction, and so did he classify ืžื˜ืจ ืกื—ืฃ. Dunash, however, interprets ืžื˜ืจ ืกื—ืฃ like ืžื˜ืจ ืกื•ืขืฃ, cutting rain. Cf. "Lops off (ืžึฐืกึธืขึตืฃ) the branches with a saw" (Isa. 10:33).

ืคืกื•ืง ื˜ืดื– ยท Verse 16

Hebrew:

ื”ึดืจึฐื‘ึผึธึ–ื” ื›ึผื•ึนืฉืึตึ‘ืœ ื’ึผึทืึพื ึธืคึทึžืœ ืึดึฃื™ืฉื ืึถืœึพืจึตืขึตึ—ื”ื•ึผ ื•ึทื™ึผึนึฝืืžึฐืจื•ึผึ™ ืงึฃื•ึผืžึธื”โ€‰ื€ ื•ึฐื ึธืฉืึปึฃื‘ึธื” ืึถืœึพืขึทืžึผึตึ—ื ื•ึผ ื•ึฐืึถืœึพืึถึ™ืจึถืฅึ™ ืžื•ึนืœึทื“ึฐืชึผึตึ”ื ื•ึผ ืžึดืคึผึฐื ึตึ–ื™ ื—ึถึฅืจึถื‘ ื”ึทื™ึผื•ึนื ึธึฝื”ืƒ

English:

Many were made to stumble, They fell over one another. They said: โ€œUp! let us return to our people, To the land of our birth, Because of the deadly sword.โ€

God multiplied stumbling; they fell upon one another and said, 'Arise, let us return to our people and to the land of our birth, from before the oppressing sword.' Radak and Metzudat David identify the speakers as the foreign mercenaries and residents in Egypt. Rashi cites Yonatan's rendering of cherev hayonah as a sword that intoxicates like wine, and alternatively as an oppressing sword.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื”ืจื‘ื” ื›ื•ืฉืœ. ื”ืงื‘"ื” ืฉื”ื“ืคื• ื•ื”ืจื‘ื” ืœื• ืžื›ืฉื•ืœ: ื’ื ื ืคืœ. ื ืชืงื‘ืฆื• ืื™ืฉ ืืœ ืจืขื”ื• ืœืืžืจ ื ืงื•ืžื” ื•ื ืฉื•ื‘ื” ืืœ ืขืžื ื• ืžืžืงื•ื ืฉื™ืฆืื ื• ืžืฉื ืœื”ืœื—ื: ื—ืจื‘ ื”ื™ื•ื ื”. ื—ืจื‘ื ื“ืกื ืื” ื“ื”ื™ื ื›ื—ืžืจ ืžืจื•ื™ื, ื”ื™ื•ื ื” ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื™ื™ืŸ ืœ"ื ืœืฉื•ืŸ ืื•ื ืื”:
He made many stumbling blocks The Holy One, blessed be He, Who pushed him down, made many stumbling blocks for him. yea, they joined Heb. ื ืคืœ [lit. fell]. They joined one another, saying, Arise and let us go back to our own people, whence we came to wage war. the oppressing sword Heb. ื—ืจื‘. Jonathan renders: The sword of the enemy, which is like intoxicating wine. ื”ื™ื•ื ื”. An expression of wine (ื™ื™ืŸ). Another interpretation: It is an expression of oppression (ืื•ื ืื”).

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื– ยท Verse 17

Hebrew:

ืงึธืจึฐืึ–ื•ึผ ืฉืึธึ‘ื ืคึผึทืจึฐืขึนึคื” ืžึถึฝืœึถืšึฐึพืžึดืฆึฐืจึทึ™ื™ึดืึ™ ืฉืึธืึ”ื•ึนืŸ ื”ึถืขึฑื‘ึดึ–ื™ืจ ื”ึทืžึผื•ึนืขึตึฝื“ืƒ

English:

There they called Pharaoh king of Egypt: โ€œBraggart who let the hour go by.โ€

There they gave Pharaoh a mocking nickname: 'a noise who let the appointed time pass by'. Rashi explains that Pharaoh, all boast and noise, had set a time to go out to war and then failed to appear. Metzudat David and Radak agree: he did not meet Bavel on the appointed day because fear entered his heart -- a king of loud talk and no substance.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืงืจืื• ืฉื. ื‘ืžืœื—ืžื” ื”ื›ืจื™ื–ื• ืžืฉืœ ืฉืœ ื—ืจืคื”: ืคืจืขื” ืžืœืš ืžืฆืจื™ื ืฉืื•ืŸ. ืฉื”ื™ื” ืžื’ื‘ื™ื” ืงื•ืœ ืฉืื•ื ื• ืชืฉื•ืื•ืช ืœื”ืชื”ืœืœ ื‘ื—ื™ื™ืœื•ืชื™ื•: ื”ืขื‘ื™ืจ ื”ืžื•ืขื“. ืฉื™ื™ืขื“ ื”ื™ื•ื ืžืœื—ืžื” ืงื‘ื•ืข ืœืฆืืช ื•ืœื”ืœื—ื ื•ืœื ื™ืฆื ื•ืขื‘ืจ ื™ื•ื ื–ืžืŸ ื”ืžื•ืขื“:
There they called out In the battle, they proclaimed publicly a reproachful byword. "Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made a lot of noise" Who would raise the sound of his noise, the noises to boast with his armies. has allowed the appointed time to pass by For he had appointed a set time to go forth and wage war, and he did not go forth, and the day of the appointed time passed by.

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื— ยท Verse 18

Hebrew:

ื—ึทื™ึพืึธึ™ื ึดื™ึ™ ื ึฐืึปืึพื”ึทืžึผึถึ”ืœึถืšึฐ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึฅื” ืฆึฐื‘ึธืึ–ื•ึนืช ืฉืึฐืžึ‘ื•ึน ื›ึผึดึšื™ ื›ึผึฐืชึธื‘ึฃื•ึนืจ ื‘ึผึถื”ึธืจึดึ”ื™ื ื•ึผื›ึฐื›ึทืจึฐืžึถึ–ืœ ื‘ึผึทื™ึผึธึฅื ื™ึธื‘ึฝื•ึนืืƒ

English:

As I liveโ€”declares the King, Whose name is GOD of Hostsโ€” As surely as Tabor is among the mountains And Carmel is by the sea, So shall this come to pass.

God swears by His own life: as surely as Tabor stands among the mountains and Carmel by the sea, so will the conqueror come. Rashi and Metzudat David read the comparison as a symbol of certainty and permanence. Radak cites his father, Rabbi Yosef Kimchi, that Tabor was a place for spreading nets and Carmel's timber was carried by sea -- so too Egypt will be trapped and carried off.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื›ื™ ื›ืชื‘ื•ืจ ื‘ื”ืจื™ื. ื›ื™ ื›ืืฉืจ ื“ื‘ืจ ืืžืช ื”ื•ื ืฉืชื‘ื•ืจ ืงื‘ื•ืข ื‘ื”ืจื™ื ื•ื”ืจ ื”ื›ืจืžืœ ืขืœ ื”ื™ื ื›ืŸ ื‘ืืžืช ื™ื‘ื ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ื–ื” ืขืœ ืžืฆืจื™ื:
that as sure as Tabor is among the mountains Just as it is a true fact that Tabor is fast among the mountains and Mount Carmel is by the sea, so is it true that this thing shall come upon Egypt.

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื˜ ยท Verse 19

Hebrew:

ื›ึผึฐืœึตึคื™ ื’ื•ึนืœึธื”ึ™ ืขึฒืฉื‚ึดึฃื™ ืœึธึ”ืšึฐ ื™ื•ึนืฉืึถึ–ื‘ึถืช ื‘ึผึทืชึพืžึดืฆึฐืจึธึ‘ื™ึดื ื›ึผึดื™ึพื ึนืฃึ™ ืœึฐืฉืึทืžึผึธึฃื” ืชึดึฝื”ึฐื™ึถึ”ื” ื•ึฐื ึดืฆึผึฐืชึธึ–ื” ืžึตืึตึฅื™ืŸ ื™ื•ึนืฉืึตึฝื‘ืƒย {ืก} ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 

English:

Equip yourself for exile, Fair Egypt, you who dwell secure! For Noph shall become a waste, Desolate, without inhabitants.

Prepare the vessels of exile, daughter of Egypt who dwells secure, for Nof will become a desolation without inhabitant. Rashi and Metzudat David describe the simple gear an exile packs for the road -- a flask and a cup to drink from, a vessel for kneading. Radak notes the irony: Egypt sat secure, expecting to remain long in its land, and now must prepare to go into exile.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื›ืœื™ ื’ื•ืœื”. ืื“ื ื™ื•ืฆื ืœื“ืจืš ืžืชืงืŸ ืœื• ื—ืžืช ื•ืžืงื“ื” ืฉืœ ื—ืจืก ืœืฉืชื•ืช ื‘ื”: ื•ื ืฆืชื”. ืœืฉื•ืŸ ืฆื™ื”:
equipment for exile When a person embarks on a journey, he prepares for himself a flask and an earthenware cup with which to drink. desolate Heb. ื•ื ืฆื—ื”, an expression of desolation (ืฆื™ื”).

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืณ ยท Verse 20

Hebrew:

ืขึถื’ึฐืœึธึฅื” ื™ึฐืคึตื”ึพืคึดื™ึผึธึ–ื” ืžึดืฆึฐืจึธึ‘ื™ึดื ืงึถึฅืจึถืฅ ืžึดืฆึผึธืคึ–ื•ึนืŸ ื‘ึผึธึฅื ื‘ึธึฝืืƒ

English:

Egypt is a handsome heiferโ€” A gadfly from the north is coming, coming!

Egypt is a very beautiful heifer, but from the north comes the destroyer, coming, coming. Rashi reads the heifer as a beautiful kingdom and keretz as one who cuts. Radak explains the doubled form yefeh-fiyah as expressing extreme beauty and plumpness, and both he and Metzudat David read the repetition 'ba ba' as emphasis -- he will surely come, from Bavel in the north.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืขื’ืœื” ื™ืคื”ืคื™ื”. ืžืœื›ื•ืชื ื™ืื™ื™ื: ืงืจืฅ. ืขืžืžื™ืŸ ืงื˜ื•ืœื™ืŸ ืงืจืฅ ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื—ืชื•ืš ื•ื›ืŸ ืžื—ื•ืžืจ ืงืจืฆืชื™ (ืื™ื•ื‘ ืœื’): ืžืฆืคื•ืŸ. ืžื‘ื‘ืœ:
a fair heifer A beautiful kingdom. destruction peoples that kill [acc. to Jonathan]. ืงึถืจึถืฅ is an expression of cutting. Cf. "I...was cut (ืงึนืจืฆืชื™) out of clay" (Job 33:6). from the north From Babylon.

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืดื ยท Verse 21

Hebrew:

ื’ึผึทืึพืฉื‚ึฐื›ึดืจึถึคื™ื”ึธ ื‘ึฐืงึดืจึฐื‘ึผึธื”ึผึ™ ื›ึผึฐืขึถื’ึฐืœึตึฃื™ ืžึทืจึฐื‘ึผึตึ”ืง ื›ึผึดึฝื™ึพื’ึทืึพื”ึตึงืžึผึธื” ื”ึดืคึฐื ึ›ื•ึผ ื ึธึฅืกื•ึผ ื™ึทื—ึฐื“ึผึธึ–ื™ื• ืœึนึฃื ืขึธืžึธึ‘ื“ื•ึผ ื›ึผึดึฃื™ ื™ึฅื•ึนื ืึตื™ื“ึธึ›ื ื‘ึผึธึฅื ืขึฒืœึตื™ื”ึถึ–ื ืขึตึฅืช ืคึผึฐืงึปื“ึผึธืชึธึฝืืƒ

English:

The mercenaries, too, in her midst Are like stall-fed calves; They too shall turn tail, Flee as one, and make no stand. Their day of disaster is upon them, The hour of their doom.

Even her hired troops in her midst are like fattened calves; they too turn and flee together and do not stand, for the day of their calamity has come. Radak identifies them as mercenaries who ate and drank rather than fighting, while Rashi, following Yonatan, reads 'her princes'. Metzudat David notes that the nobles, expected to stand firm, ran instead and fell among the slain.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืฉื›ื™ืจื™ื”. ืฉืจื™ื” ื›ืžื• ื‘ืชืขืจ ื”ืฉื›ื™ืจื” (ื™ืฉืขื™ื” ื–): ืžืจื‘ืง. ืงื•ืคืœ"ื ื‘ืœืขื–: ื”ืคื ื•. ืคื ื• ืขื•ืจืฃ ืœื‘ืงืฉ ืœื ื•ืก:
Also her princes Heb. ืฉื‚ึฐื›ึดืจึถื™ื”ึธ, her princes. Cf. "with the great razor (ื”ึทืฉื‚ึฐื›ึดื™ืจึธื”)" (Isa. 7:20). fattened (kopla in O.F., couple in modern French). turn around Turned their back to seek to flee.

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืดื‘ ยท Verse 22

Hebrew:

ืงื•ึนืœึธึ–ื”ึผ ื›ึผึทื ึผึธื—ึธึฃืฉื ื™ึตืœึตึ‘ืšึฐ ื›ึผึดึฝื™ึพื‘ึฐื—ึทึฃื™ึดืœ ื™ึตืœึตึ”ื›ื•ึผ ื•ึผื‘ึฐืงึทืจึฐื“ึผึปืžึผื•ึนืชึ™ ื‘ึผึธึฃืื•ึผ ืœึธึ”ื”ึผ ื›ึผึฐื—ึนื˜ึฐื‘ึตึ–ื™ ืขึตืฆึดึฝื™ืืƒ

English:

She shall rustle away like a snake As they come marching in force; They shall come against her with axes, Like hewers of wood.

Egypt's sound will go off like a fleeing snake as the Kasdim come with axes like woodcutters. Rashi brings a midrash: from here we learn that when the serpent of Gan Eden lost its legs, its voice carried to the end of the world. Radak reads it as Egypt's outcry heard far away, and Metzudat David stresses that trees cannot resist the woodcutter, nor Egypt the sword.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืงื•ืœื” ื›ื ื—ืฉ ื™ืœืš. ื”ืจื™ ื”ื ื—ืฉ ื‘ื ืœืœืžื“ ืขืœ ืžืฆืจื™ื ื•ื ืžืฆื ืœืžื“ ืœืžื“ื ื• ืžื›ืืŸ ืฉื›ืฉืืžืจ ื”ืงื‘"ื” ืœื ื—ืฉ ืขืœ ื’ื—ื•ื ืš ืชืœืš (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื’) ื•ืงื™ื˜ืข ืืช ืจื’ืœื™ื• ื•ื”ืœืš ืงื•ืœื• ื‘ืกื•ืฃ ื”ืขื•ืœื ื›ืš ืฉื ื•ื™ื™ื” ื‘ืœ"ื‘ ืžื“ื•ืช ื“ืจื‘ื™ ืืœื™ืขื–ืจ ื‘ื ื• ืฉืœ ืจื‘ื™ ื™ื•ืกื™ ื”ื’ืœื™ืœื™: ื›ื™ ื‘ื—ื™ืœ ื™ืœื›ื•. ืืœื™ื”:
Its voice shall go like [that of] the snake The "snake" comes to teach us about Egypt but ends by learning. For we learn from here that when the Holy One, blessed be He, said to the serpent, "You shall walk on your belly" (Gen. 3:14), He severed his feet, and his voice went to the end of the world. So we learned in the 'Thirty-two Methods of Rabbi Eliezer the son of Rabbi Jose the Galilean' (Method 12). for they will march with an army against her.

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืดื’ ยท Verse 23

Hebrew:

ื›ึผึธืจึฐืชึคื•ึผ ื™ึทืขึฐืจึธื”ึผึ™ ื ึฐืึปืึพื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึ”ื” ื›ึผึดึ–ื™ ืœึนึฃื ื™ึตื—ึธืงึตึ‘ืจ ื›ึผึดึคื™ ืจึทื‘ึผื•ึผึ™ ืžึตึฝืึทืจึฐื‘ึผึถึ”ื” ื•ึฐืึตึฅื™ืŸ ืœึธื”ึถึ–ื ืžึดืกึฐืคึผึธึฝืจืƒ

English:

They shall cut down her forest โ€”declares GODโ€” Though it cannot be measured; For they are more numerous than locusts, And cannot be counted.

They will cut down her forest, though it is unsearchable, for the invaders are more numerous than locusts. Radak discusses whether karetu is an imperative or a prophetic past and reads the forest as a figure for the people or nobles of Egypt. Rashi and Metzudat David explain that the Kasdim have the power to cut all down, for their numbers cannot be counted.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื›ืจืชื• ื™ืขืจื”. ื›ื— ื™ืฉ ื‘ื”ืŸ ืœื›ืจื•ืช ื›ืœ ื™ืขืจื”: ื›ื™ ืœื ื™ื—ืงืจ. ืžืกืคืจ ืฆื‘ืื:
They will cut down her forest They have power to cut down her forest. for they are innumerable [lit. it shall not be fathomed, i.e.,] the number of their host.

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืดื“ ยท Verse 24

Hebrew:

ื”ึนื‘ึดึ–ื™ืฉืึธื” ื‘ึผึทืชึพืžึดืฆึฐืจึธึ‘ื™ึดื ื ึดืชึผึฐื ึธึ–ื” ื‘ึผึฐื™ึทึฅื“ ืขึทืึพืฆึธืคึฝื•ึนืŸืƒ

English:

Fair Egypt shall be shamed, Handed over to the people of the north.

The daughter of Egypt is put to shame, handed over to the people of the north. Metzudat David identifies them as the Kasdim. Radak adds a note of measure for measure: the Kasdim had first exiled Yehudah from Yerushalayim, and now Egypt -- the false refuge of Yehudah -- is given into the same hands, and justly ashamed.

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืดื” ยท Verse 25

Hebrew:

ืึธืžึทืจึฉ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึจื” ืฆึฐื‘ึธืึœื•ึนืช ืึฑืœึนื”ึตึฃื™ ื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตึ—ืœ ื”ึดื ึฐื ึดึคื™ ืคื•ึนืงึตื“ึ™ ืึถืœึพืึธืžึฃื•ึนืŸ ืžึดื ึผึนึ”ื ื•ึฐืขึทืœึพืคึผึทืจึฐืขึนื”ึ™ ื•ึฐืขึทืœึพืžึดืฆึฐืจึทึ”ื™ึดื ื•ึฐืขึทืœึพืึฑืœึนื”ึถึ–ื™ื”ึธ ื•ึฐืขึทืœึพืžึฐืœึธื›ึถึ‘ื™ื”ึธ ื•ึฐืขึทึจืœึพืคึผึทืจึฐืขึนึ”ื” ื•ึฐืขึทึฅืœ ื”ึทื‘ึผึนื˜ึฐื—ึดึ–ื™ื ื‘ึผึฝื•ึนืƒ

English:

GOD of Hosts, the God of Israel, has said: I will inflict punishment on Amon of No and on Pharaohโ€”on Egypt, her gods, and her kingsโ€”on Pharaoh and all who rely on him.

The LORD of Hosts, God of Israel, will punish Amon of No, Pharaoh, Egypt, her gods and her kings, and all who trust in him. Radak explains the title 'God of Israel': Egypt's punishment repays its harm to Israel, from Shishak to Nechoh who killed Yoshiyahu. Rashi identifies No as Alexandria. 'Those who trust in him' is a pointed word to the Judeans in Egypt.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืืœ ืืžื•ืŸ. ืขืœ ืืžื•ืŸ, ืขืœ ื”ืฉืจ ืืžื•ืŸ ื™ืฉ ืฉื”ื•ื ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื’ื“ื•ืœื” ื›ืžื• ื”ืชื˜ื‘ื™ ืžื ื ืืžื•ืŸ (ื ื—ื•ื ื’ืณ:ื—ืณ): ืžื ื. ืืœื›ืกื ื“ืจื™' ืจื‘ืช' ืœืืฉื™ื ื™ื•ืจื™ื"ื” ื“ืœื™ืฉื ื“ืจ"ื ื‘ืœืข"ื–:
upon Amon Heb. ืืœ ืืžื•ืŸ, [lit. to Amon,] upon Amon, upon the prince Amon. There are some that are an expression of greatness. Cf. "Are you greater than the greatness of No (ืžึดื ึนื ืึธืžื•ึนืŸ)?" (Nahum 3: 8). of No The great Alexandria (les seigneurs d'Alexandria in O.F.).

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืดื• ยท Verse 26

Hebrew:

ื•ึผื ึฐืชึทืชึผึดึ—ื™ื ื‘ึผึฐื™ึทื“ึ™ ืžึฐื‘ึทืงึฐืฉืึตึฃื™ ื ึทืคึฐืฉืึธึ”ื ื•ึผื‘ึฐื™ึทึ›ื“ ื ึฐื‘ื•ึผื›ึทื“ึฐืจึถืืฆึผึทึฅืจ ืžึถืœึถืšึฐึพื‘ึผึธื‘ึถึ–ืœ ื•ึผื‘ึฐื™ึทื“ึพืขึฒื‘ึธื“ึธึ‘ื™ื• ื•ึฐืึทื—ึฒืจึตื™ึพื›ึตึ›ืŸ ืชึผึดืฉืึฐื›ึผึนึฅืŸ ื›ึผึดึฝื™ืžึตื™ึพืงึถึ–ื“ึถื ื ึฐืึปืึพื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึฝื”ืƒย {ืค}

English:

I will deliver them into the hands of those who seek to kill them, into the hands of King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon and into the hands of his subjects. But afterward she shall be inhabited again as in former days, declares GOD.

Egypt will be handed to Nevuchadnetzar and his servants, but afterward it will be inhabited as in days of old. Rashi, Radak and Metzudat David all connect this to Yechezkel's prophecy of Egypt's return after forty years. Radak adds that 'as in days of old' means only that it will dwell in its land, not regain its greatness, for Yechezkel calls it 'a lowly kingdom'.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื•ืื—ืจื™ ื›ืŸ. ืžืงืฅ ืืจื‘ืขื™ื ืฉื ื” ื›ืžื• ืฉืืžืจ ื™ื—ื–ืงืืœ (ื›ืดื˜:ื™ืดื’):
and after that At the end of forty years, as Ezekiel stated (29:1 3ff.).

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืดื– ยท Verse 27

Hebrew:

ื•ึฐึ ืึทืชึผึธึ ื” ืึทืœึพืชึผึดื™ืจึธึžื ืขึทื‘ึฐื“ึผึดึคื™ ื™ึทึฝืขึฒืงึนื‘ึ™ ื•ึฐืึทืœึพืชึผึตื—ึทึฃืช ื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตึ”ืœ ื›ึผึดึ ื™ ื”ึดื ึฐื ึดึคื™ ืžื•ึนืฉืึดึฝืขึฒืšึธึ™ ืžึตืจึธื—ึ”ื•ึนืง ื•ึฐืึถึฝืชึพื–ึทืจึฐืขึฒืšึธึ– ืžึตืึถึฃืจึถืฅ ืฉืึดื‘ึฐื™ึธึ‘ื ื•ึฐืฉืึธึงื‘ ื™ึทืขึฒืงึ›ื•ึนื‘ ื•ึฐืฉืึธืงึทึฅื˜ ื•ึฐืฉืึทืึฒื ึทึ–ืŸ ื•ึฐืึตึฅื™ืŸ ืžึทื—ึฒืจึดึฝื™ื“ืƒ

English:

But you, Have no fear, My servant Jacob, Be not dismayed, O Israel! I will deliver you from far away, Your folk from their land of captivity; And Jacob again shall have calm And quiet, with none to trouble him.

The oracle turns to Israel with words nearly identical to 30:10: do not fear, My servant Yaakov; I will save you from afar. Rashi applies it to the righteous exiled to Egypt against their will. Metzudat David sees comfort for the exiles in Bavel, who might despair seeing Egypt quickly restored while they remained far away. Radak explains why the passage is repeated here, after the nations' doom.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื•ืืชื” ืืœ ืชื™ืจื. ืฆื“ื™ืงื™ื ืฉื‘ืชื•ืš ืžืฆืจื™ื ืฉื’ืœื• ืฉื ืขืœ ื›ืจื—ื:
You fear not The righteous men who were in Egypt, who were exiled there against their will.

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืดื— ยท Verse 28

Hebrew:

ืึทึ ืชึผึธึ ื” ืึทืœึพืชึผึดื™ืจึธึžื ืขึทื‘ึฐื“ึผึดึคื™ ื™ึทึฝืขึฒืงึนื‘ึ™ ื ึฐืึปืึพื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึ”ื” ื›ึผึดึฅื™ ืึดืชึผึฐืšึธึ– ืึธึ‘ื ึดื™ ื›ึผึดื™ึฉ ืึถืขึฑืฉื‚ึถึจื” ื›ึธืœึธึœื” ื‘ึผึฐื›ื‡ึฝืœึพื”ึทื’ึผื•ึนื™ึดึฃืโ€‰ื€ ืึฒืฉืึถึงืจ ื”ึดื“ึผึทื—ึฐืชึผึดึฃื™ืšึธ ืฉืึผึธึ—ืžึผึธื” ื•ึฐืึนึฝืชึฐืšึธึ™ ืœึนืึพืึถืขึฑืฉื‚ึถึฃื” ื›ึธืœึธึ”ื” ื•ึฐื™ึดืกึผึทืจึฐืชึผึดึ™ื™ืšึธึ™ ืœึทืžึผึดืฉืึฐืคึผึธึ”ื˜ ื•ึฐื ึทืงึผึตึ–ื” ืœึนึฅื ืึฒื ึทืงึผึถึฝืšึผึธืƒย {ืค}

English:

But you, have no fear, My servant Jacob โ€”declares GODโ€” For I am with you. I will make an end of all the nations Among which I have banished you, But I will not make an end of you! I will not leave you unpunished, But I will chastise you in measure.

The governing principle of the oracles against the nations: I will make a full end of all the nations where I drove you, but of you I will not make a full end; I will chastise you in measure. Rashi glosses 'in measure' as sparing justice, little by little. Metzudat David explains that God will correct Israel as is fitting but never remove it from the world.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืœืžืฉืคื˜. ื‘ื“ื™ืŸ ื—ืกื•ืš ืžืขื˜ ืžืขื˜: ื•ื ืงื”. ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื˜ื™ืื•ื˜ ื•ื”ืฉืžื“ ื•ื›ืŸ ืชื™ืจื’ืžื• ื™ื•ื ืชืŸ ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื›ืœื™ื™ื”:
justly With sparing justice, little by little. completely destroy Heb. ื•ื ืงื” [lit. clean,] an expression of sweeping and destroying, and Jonathan too rendered it an expression of destroying.

โ† Jeremiah 45 | Jeremiah 47 โ†’

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