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Jeremiah 51

ירמיהו פרק נ״א

Section: נביאים · נביאים אחרונים | Book: Jeremiah | Chapter: 51 of 52 | Day: 264 of 742

Date: November 2, 2026

קלאוד על הנ״ך

Chapters 46 to 51 hold Yirmiyahu’s prophecies against the nations, and Bavel, the greatest of them, comes last. Chapter 51 finishes the long prophecy against Bavel that began in chapter 50. Most of it is poetry about Bavel’s sudden fall: the “golden cup in God’s hand” that made the whole world drunk now drops and shatters (51:7-8). It ends with a short story, a scroll tied to a stone and thrown into the Euphrates.

The central image is a club. “You are My war club,” God tells Bavel, and then says “with you I smashed” ten times: nations and kingdoms, horse and rider, old and young, shepherd and farmer (51:20-23). The list is meant to wear the reader down, because Bavel really did crush the world, but it did so as a tool in God’s hand. Radak (on 51:20) explains why the tool is now punished: God was angry with Israel only a little, and Bavel went far beyond what was asked of it. So the very next verse turns: “I will repay Bavel for all the evil they did to Zion before your eyes” (51:24).

In the middle of the poem, Jerusalem speaks for herself. Nevuchadnetzar swallowed her like a sea monster, filled his belly with her best things, and set her down like an empty dish rinsed clean (51:34). God answers her directly: “I will take up your cause” (51:36). Bavel’s fall is not just one more empire collapsing. It is God’s answer to what was done to His people and His Temple, or as verse 11 puts it, “the vengeance of His Temple.”

The chapter also speaks to the Jews living in Bavel. They are told to leave, to “remember God from afar, and call Jerusalem to mind” (51:50). Their reply is honest: they feel ashamed, because strangers walked into God’s holy places (51:51). Rashi explains the insult: the Chaldeans boasted that their god had destroyed the house of the God of Israel. God’s answer comes at once: He will punish Bavel’s idols, and no tower will save it, even one that reaches the sky (51:52-53).

The chapter closes in prose. In Tzidkiyahu’s fourth year, long before any of this happened, Yirmiyahu writes the whole prophecy in one scroll and gives it to Serayah, who is travelling to Bavel. Serayah is to read it aloud there, tie a stone to it, and throw it into the Euphrates, saying: “So shall Bavel sink and never rise again” (51:64). It is a quiet, almost private act. Yet the prophecy is spoken in the heart of the empire, while Bavel is at the height of its power and Jerusalem is still standing.

Then come the words “Thus far the words of Yirmiyahu.” Radak explains that chapter 52 is a historical account of the destruction, not his prophecy. So the prophet who spent forty years warning Jerusalem ends his words with a promise that its destroyer will fall. The book that began with uprooting and tearing down closes its prophecy with the fall of the one who tore down.

פרק נ״א · Chapter 51

פסוק א׳ · Verse 1

Hebrew:

כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה הִנְנִי֙ מֵעִ֣יר עַל־בָּבֶ֔ל וְאֶל־יֹשְׁבֵ֖י לֵ֣ב קָמָ֑י ר֖וּחַ מַשְׁחִֽית׃

English:

Thus said GOD: See, I am rousing a destructive wind Against Babylon and the inhabitants of Leb-kamai.

God announces that He is stirring up a destroying wind against Bavel. 'Lev-kamai' is a coded name: Rashi, Radak and Metzudat David all read it by the At-bash letter cipher as Kasdim, the Chaldeans. Metzudat David adds that the code name also fits its plain sense, 'the heart of those who rise against Me', since Bavel rose against God and destroyed His house.
▶Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
לב קמי. כשדים בגימ' דא"ת ב"ש, רוח משחית את רוח מלך פרס ומדי שהוא משחית, רוח טלנ"ט בלע"ז:
Leb-kamai Casdim (Chaldeans) according to cypher of 'At-bash' (א"תב"ש). the desire of a destroyer The desire of the king of Persia and Media, who is a destroyer. Heb. רוּחַ (talent in O.F.).

פסוק ב׳ · Verse 2

Hebrew:

וְשִׁלַּחְתִּ֨י לְבָבֶ֤ל ׀ זָרִים֙ וְזֵר֔וּהָ וִיבֹקְק֖וּ אֶת־אַרְצָ֑הּ כִּי־הָי֥וּ עָלֶ֛יהָ מִסָּבִ֖יב בְּי֥וֹם רָעָֽה׃

English:

I will send strangers against Babylon, and they shall winnow her. And they shall strip her land bare; They shall beset her on all sides On the day of disaster.

Foreign invaders will come and winnow Bavel like grain in the wind, emptying the land and surrounding it on every side. Radak points out the wordplay between zarim, strangers, and v'zeruha, they will scatter her: the strangers will scatter the city that once scattered others.
▶Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
וזרוה. ונפצוה: ויבוקקו. וירוקנו:
and they shall scatter her Heb. וְזֵרוּהָ. and empty her land Heb. וִיבֹקְקוּ.

פסוק ג׳ · Verse 3

Hebrew:

אֶֽל־יִדְרֹ֤ךְ (ידרך) הַדֹּרֵךְ֙ קַשְׁתּ֔וֹ וְאֶֽל־יִתְעַ֖ל בְּסִרְיֹנ֑וֹ וְאַֽל־תַּחְמְלוּ֙ אֶל־בַּ֣חֻרֶ֔יהָ הַחֲרִ֖ימוּ כׇּל־צְבָאָֽהּ׃

English:

Let the archer draw his bow, And let him stand ready in his coat of mail! Show no pity to her young men, Wipe out all her host!

The attackers are told to shoot without holding back and to spare none of Bavel's young men. Rashi treats the opening as a compressed phrase: wherever God directs, there the archer will draw his bow. Radak reads it as an order aimed at any Babylonian who stands proudly in his armour.
▶Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
אל ידרוך. הדורך הרי זה מקרא קצר אל אשר אני אומר שם ידרוך הדורך קשתו: ואל יתעל בסריונו. אל ירפא:
To...the archer shall bend This is an elliptical verse. [The meaning is:] To wherever I say, there the archer shall bend his bow. and he shall not be healed with his coat of mail Heb. וְאַל יִתְעַל.

פסוק ד׳ · Verse 4

Hebrew:

וְנָפְל֥וּ חֲלָלִ֖ים בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כַּשְׂדִּ֑ים וּמְדֻקָּרִ֖ים בְּחוּצוֹתֶֽיהָ׃

English:

Let them fall slain in the land of Chaldea, Pierced through in her streets.

A short verse that restates the result: the slain will fall in the land of the Chaldeans, pierced through in its streets. Radak notes that the line repeats the same idea in different words, a common way in prophetic poetry to give a statement extra force.

פסוק ה׳ · Verse 5

Hebrew:

כִּ֠י לֹא־אַלְמָ֨ן יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל וִֽיהוּדָה֙ מֵאֱלֹהָ֔יו מֵיְהֹוָ֖ה צְבָא֑וֹת כִּ֤י אַרְצָם֙ מָלְאָ֣ה אָשָׁ֔ם מִקְּד֖וֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

English:

For Israel and Judah were not bereft Of their God— GOD of Hosts, But their land was filled with guilt Before the Holy One of Israel.

The reason for Bavel's fall: Israel is not a widow. Radak explains that a widow's husband is gone forever, but Israel's 'husband' is alive, and even after sending her into exile He will return to her and punish her enemies. Metzudat David and Rashi read the second half as Bavel's land being full of guilt for what it did against the Holy One of Israel.
▶Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
כי לא אלמן. לא שכחו מלנקום נקמתו: כי ארצם. של כשדים:
For Israel is not widowed He has not forgotten him to avenge him. for their land of the Chaldeans.

פסוק ו׳ · Verse 6

Hebrew:

נֻ֣סוּ ׀ מִתּ֣וֹךְ בָּבֶ֗ל וּמַלְּטוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ נַפְשׁ֔וֹ אַל־תִּדַּ֖מּוּ בַּעֲוֺנָ֑הּ כִּי֩ עֵ֨ת נְקָמָ֥ה הִיא֙ לַיהֹוָ֔ה גְּמ֕וּל ה֥וּא מְשַׁלֵּ֖ם לָֽהּ׃

English:

Flee from the midst of Babylon And save your lives, each of you! Do not perish for her iniquity; For this is a time of vengeance for GOD, Who will deal retribution to her.

A call to flee Bavel before its punishment comes, so as not to be swept away in its sin. Rashi says the call is addressed to Israel in exile. Radak and Metzudat David apply it to foreigners from other lands living in Bavel for trade. The time of God's vengeance has arrived.
▶Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
נוסו. ישראל מתוך בבל:
Flee Israel, from within Babylon.

פסוק ז׳ · Verse 7

Hebrew:

כּוֹס־זָהָ֤ב בָּבֶל֙ בְּיַד־יְהֹוָ֔ה מְשַׁכֶּ֖רֶת כׇּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ מִיֵּינָהּ֙ שָׁת֣וּ גוֹיִ֔ם עַל־כֵּ֖ן יִתְהֹלְל֥וּ גוֹיִֽם׃

English:

Babylon was a golden cup in GOD’s hand, It made the whole earth drunk; The nations drank of her wine— That is why the nations are mad.

Bavel was a golden cup in God's hand, and the nations who drank from it lost their senses. Rashi explains that until now Bavel was God's instrument for making the world drunk with the wine of His anger. Radak links the image to the cup of wrath in chapter 25 and notes that the cup is called gold because God's work is pure.
▶Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
כוס זהב. היתה בבל עד הנה ביד ה' לשכר בה את כל הארץ יין החימה: על כן יתהללו גוים. נשתכרו ונשתטו:
a golden cup Until now, Babylon was [a golden cup] in the Lord's hand with which to intoxicate the whole earth with the wine of wrath. therefore, nations are mad They have become drunk and have become mad.

פסוק ח׳ · Verse 8

Hebrew:

פִּתְאֹ֛ם נָפְלָ֥ה בָבֶ֖ל וַתִּשָּׁבֵ֑ר הֵילִ֣ילוּ עָלֶ֗יהָ קְח֤וּ צֳרִי֙ לְמַכְאוֹבָ֔הּ אוּלַ֖י תֵּרָפֵֽא׃

English:

Suddenly Babylon has fallen and is shattered; Howl over her! Get balm for her wounds: Perhaps she can be healed.

Bavel falls suddenly and shatters. The call to bring balm in case she can be healed is mocking, as both Radak and Metzudat David note: no medicine will help a wound like this.

פסוק ט׳ · Verse 9

Hebrew:

רִפִּ֤אנוּ אֶת־בָּבֶל֙ וְלֹ֣א נִרְפָּ֔תָה עִזְב֕וּהָ וְנֵלֵ֖ךְ אִ֣ישׁ לְאַרְצ֑וֹ כִּֽי־נָגַ֤ע אֶל־הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ מִשְׁפָּטָ֔הּ וְנִשָּׂ֖א עַד־שְׁחָקִֽים׃

English:

We tried to cure Babylon But she was incurable. Let us leave her and go, Each to our own land; For her punishment reaches to heaven, It is as high as the sky.

The foreigners who lived in Bavel answer that they tried to heal her and could not, so each will go home. Metzudat David reads this as part of the mocking tone, and adds that they leave so her sickness will not cling to them. Her guilt is so great that, in Rashi's words, her punishment reaches the sky.
▶Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
נגע אל השמים משפטה. גבה פורענות' עד אל השמים:
her judgment has touched the sky Their retribution has reached high up to the sky.

פסוק י׳ · Verse 10

Hebrew:

הוֹצִ֥יא יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶת־צִדְקֹתֵ֑ינוּ בֹּ֚אוּ וּנְסַפְּרָ֣ה בְצִיּ֔וֹן אֶֽת־מַעֲשֵׂ֖ה יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃ {ס}         

English:

GOD has proclaimed our vindication; Come, let us recount in Zion The deeds of the ETERNAL our God.

Now Israel speaks: God has brought our righteousness to light, so let us tell the story in Zion. Rashi reads it as God remembering Israel favourably, including the merit of their forefathers. Radak notes that the words are spoken by the Jews who were living in Bavel.
▶Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
הוציא ה' את צדקותינו. נזכרנו לפניו לזכות ובאו צדקות אבותינו לפניו:
"The Lord has brought forth our merits" We have been remembered by Him favorably, and the merits of our forefathers have come before Him.

פסוק י״א · Verse 11

Hebrew:

הָבֵ֣רוּ הַחִצִּים֮ מִלְא֣וּ הַשְּׁלָטִים֒ הֵעִ֣יר יְהֹוָ֗ה אֶת־ר֙וּחַ֙ מַלְכֵ֣י מָדַ֔י כִּֽי־עַל־בָּבֶ֥ל מְזִמָּת֖וֹ לְהַשְׁחִיתָ֑הּ כִּֽי־נִקְמַ֤ת יְהֹוָה֙ הִ֔יא נִקְמַ֖ת הֵיכָלֽוֹ׃

English:

Polish the arrows, Fill the quivers! GOD has roused the spirit of the kings of Media, For the divine plan against Babylon is to destroy her. This is GOD’s vengeance, Vengeance for the holy temple.

The armies are told to sharpen arrows and gather shields, for God has stirred the kings of Media against Bavel. Metzudat David identifies them as Daryavesh and his son-in-law Koresh, and stresses the closing words: this is vengeance for God's Temple, not for what Bavel did to other nations.
▶Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
הברו. ל' נקיון: השלטים. אשפות שהחצים נתונים בהם:
Polish Heb. הברו, an expression of cleaning. the quivers Heb. השלטים, the quivers into which the arrows are placed.

פסוק י״ב · Verse 12

Hebrew:

אֶל־חוֹמֹ֨ת בָּבֶ֜ל שְׂאוּ־נֵ֗ס הַחֲזִ֙יקוּ֙ הַמִּשְׁמָ֔ר הָקִ֙ימוּ֙ שֹֽׁמְרִ֔ים הָכִ֖ינוּ הָאֹֽרְבִ֑ים כִּ֚י גַּם־זָמַ֣ם יְהֹוָ֔ה גַּם־עָשָׂ֕ה אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֖ר אֶל־יֹשְׁבֵ֥י בָבֶֽל׃

English:

Raise a standard against the walls of Babylon! Set up a blockade; station watchmen; Prepare those in ambush. For GOD has both planned and performed What was decreed against the inhabitants of Babylon.

Orders for the siege: raise a banner, post guards, set ambushes. Radak explains that a banner was raised on a captured city's walls to show who now owned it. Rashi adds that the double 'also' teaches that God both planned this long ago and now carries it out.
▶Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
גם זמם ה'. זה ימים רבים: גם עשה. את מזימתו דרך המקרא לדבר שני גמין זה אחר זה ועל ידי האחרון בא הראשון:
for the Lord both planned already many days. and did His plan. It is customary for Scripture to speak with the word גַם twice, one after the other, and following the latter, comes the former.

פסוק י״ג · Verse 13

Hebrew:

(שכנתי) [שֹׁכַנְתְּ֙] עַל־מַ֣יִם רַבִּ֔ים רַבַּ֖ת אוֹצָרֹ֑ת בָּ֥א קִצֵּ֖ךְ אַמַּ֥ת בִּצְעֵֽךְ׃

English:

O you who dwell by great waters, With vast storehouses, Your time is come, the hour of your end.

Bavel sat on great waters, rich in treasure. The waters are the Euphrates and its canals that watered Bavel's fields, as Metzudat David explains. Radak adds that the image also stands for the great wealth Bavel enjoyed. Now its end has come.
▶Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
בא קצך. קץ שלך: אמת בצעך. מדת חמסך ל"א אמת בצעך מדת סופך כמו כי יבצע:
your end has come Heb. קצך, your end. the measure of your violence Heb. אַמַתבִּצְעֵךְ, the measure of your violence. Another explanation: אַמַתבִּצְעֵךְ means: the measure of your end. Cf. "When... completes (יִבַצַע)" (Isa. 10:12).

פסוק י״ד · Verse 14

Hebrew:

נִשְׁבַּ֛ע יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת בְּנַפְשׁ֑וֹ כִּ֣י אִם־מִלֵּאתִ֤יךְ אָדָם֙ כַּיֶּ֔לֶק וְעָנ֥וּ עָלַ֖יִךְ הֵידָֽד׃ {ס}         

English:

GOD of Hosts has wholeheartedly sworn: I will fill you with enemies like a locust swarm, They will raise a shout against you.

God swears by Himself that He will fill Bavel with enemies as many as locusts, who will raise a shout of triumph over it. Radak explains that 'by His soul' is human language for an oath by God Himself, since God has no separate soul. Metzudat David calls the shout the cry of plunderers.
▶Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
בנפשו. אינשימישימו"ש בלע"ז: כי אם. לשון באמת: מלאתיך אדם. אמלינך משריית עממין דסגיאין כזחלא: וענו עליך הידד. וירימון עלך בקלהון:
by Himself (en soi meme in French.) indeed Heb. כי אם, an expression of 'in truth.' I have...filled you with men I will fill you with camps of peoples, as many as locusts. and they shall raise a battle- cry against you And they shall raise their voice against you.

פסוק ט״ו · Verse 15

Hebrew:

עֹשֵׂ֥ה אֶ֙רֶץ֙ בְּכֹח֔וֹ מֵכִ֥ין תֵּבֵ֖ל בְּחׇכְמָת֑וֹ וּבִתְבוּנָת֖וֹ נָטָ֥ה שָׁמָֽיִם׃

English:

[God] made the earth by might, Established the world by wisdom, And with understanding stretched out the skies.

A hymn to God the Creator, who made the earth by His strength and spread out the heavens with understanding. Radak notes that these verses repeat a passage from chapter 10, with small changes, and are placed here against the idols that the Babylonians trusted for their success.

פסוק ט״ז · Verse 16

Hebrew:

לְק֨וֹל תִּתּ֜וֹ הֲמ֥וֹן מַ֙יִם֙ בַּשָּׁמַ֔יִם וַיַּ֥עַל נְשִׂאִ֖ים מִקְצֵה־אָ֑רֶץ בְּרָקִ֤ים לַמָּטָר֙ עָשָׂ֔ה וַיּ֥וֹצֵא ר֖וּחַ מֵאֹצְרֹתָֽיו׃

English:

When [God] bellows, There is a rumbling of waters in the skies; Vapors rise from the end of the earth, Lightning accompanies the rain, And wind is brought forth from God’s treasuries.

God's voice brings storm clouds, lightning and rain, and the wind comes out of His storehouses. Metzudat David describes how the clouds seem to rise from the edge of the horizon until God brings them over the place He wants to water. The point is that the One who rules nature can surely carry out His word against Bavel.

פסוק י״ז · Verse 17

Hebrew:

נִבְעַ֤ר כׇּל־אָדָם֙ מִדַּ֔עַת הֹבִ֥ישׁ כׇּל־צֹרֵ֖ף מִפָּ֑סֶל כִּ֛י שֶׁ֥קֶר נִסְכּ֖וֹ וְלֹא־ר֥וּחַ בָּֽם׃

English:

Every mortal is proved dull, without knowledge; Every goldsmith is put to shame because of the idol, For their molten images are a deceit— There is no breath in them.

Every idol maker is shown to be foolish and shamed by his own work, for the molten image is a lie with no breath in it. Rashi says the foolishness belongs to anyone who makes an image to be a god. Metzudat David says the smith himself will be shamed when he sees what he has made.
▶Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
נבער כל אדם. העושה פסל לאלוה: נסכו. לשון מסכה:
Every man is brutish [i.e.,] whoever makes a graven image for a god. molten images [As translated], an expression [denoting] molten images.

פסוק י״ח · Verse 18

Hebrew:

הֶ֣בֶל הֵ֔מָּה מַעֲשֵׂ֖ה תַּעְתֻּעִ֑ים בְּעֵ֥ת פְּקֻדָּתָ֖ם יֹאבֵֽדוּ׃

English:

They are delusion, a work of mockery; In their hour of doom, they shall perish.

The idols are a work of delusion and mockery. Rashi explains that at the time of their reckoning, when God punishes them and their worshippers, they will vanish. Metzudat David calls them the work of people who have strayed from reason.
▶Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
בעת פקודתם. כשיפקוד הקב"ה עליהם ועל עובדיהם:
at the time of their visitation When the Holy One, blessed be He, visits retribution upon them and upon their worshippers.

פסוק י״ט · Verse 19

Hebrew:

לֹֽא־כְאֵ֜לֶּה חֵ֣לֶק יַעֲק֗וֹב כִּֽי־יוֹצֵ֤ר הַכֹּל֙ ה֔וּא וְשֵׁ֖בֶט נַחֲלָת֑וֹ יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת שְׁמֽוֹ׃ {פ}

English:

Not like these is the Portion of Jacob— The One who formed all things, With Israel as a permanent possession— Whose name is GOD of Hosts.

The Portion of Yaakov is not like these idols. He formed everything and chose Israel as His own tribe. Metzudat David ties this back to Bavel: since the God of Israel is the Creator, He will surely keep His word to destroy Bavel and bring salvation to Israel.
▶Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
ושבט נחלתו. יעקב הנזכר למעלה בראש המקרא:
and the tribe of His inheritance Jacob mentioned above at the beginning of the verse.

פסוק כ׳ · Verse 20

Hebrew:

מַפֵּץ־אַתָּ֣ה לִ֔י כְּלֵ֖י מִלְחָמָ֑ה וְנִפַּצְתִּ֤י בְךָ֙ גּוֹיִ֔ם וְהִשְׁחַתִּ֥י בְךָ֖ מַמְלָכֽוֹת׃

English:

You are My war club, [My] weapons of battle; With you I clubbed nations, With you I destroyed kingdoms;

God addresses Bavel: you were My war club, My weapon for smashing nations and kingdoms. Radak explains that God used Bavel's king as His tool, but will now punish him because he did far more harm to Israel than God intended.
▶Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
מפץ אתה לי. עד הנה העמדתיך לי למשחית ולמפץ את האומות שגזרתי עליהם גולה:
for Me a shatterer Heb. מפץ. Until now, I have appointed you as a destroyer and a shatterer of the nations upon whom I decreed exile.

פסוק כ״א · Verse 21

Hebrew:

וְנִפַּצְתִּ֣י בְךָ֔ ס֖וּס וְרֹכְב֑וֹ וְנִפַּצְתִּ֣י בְךָ֔ רֶ֖כֶב וְרֹכְבֽוֹ׃

English:

With you I clubbed horse and rider, With you I clubbed chariot and driver,

The refrain 'with you I smashed' continues: horse and rider, chariot and driver. Radak notes that the verb can also be read as future tense, since parts of this prophecy may have been said before Nevuchadnetzar rose to power.

פסוק כ״ב · Verse 22

Hebrew:

וְנִפַּצְתִּ֤י בְךָ֙ אִ֣ישׁ וְאִשָּׁ֔ה וְנִפַּצְתִּ֥י בְךָ֖ זָקֵ֣ן וָנָ֑עַר וְנִפַּצְתִּ֣י בְךָ֔ בָּח֖וּר וּבְתוּלָֽה׃

English:

With you I clubbed man and woman, With you I clubbed graybeard and boy, With you I clubbed youth and maiden;

פסוק כ״ג · Verse 23

Hebrew:

וְנִפַּצְתִּ֤י בְךָ֙ רֹעֶ֣ה וְעֶדְר֔וֹ וְנִפַּצְתִּ֥י בְךָ֖ אִכָּ֣ר וְצִמְדּ֑וֹ וְנִפַּצְתִּ֣י בְךָ֔ פַּח֖וֹת וּסְגָנִֽים׃

English:

With you I clubbed shepherd and flock, With you I clubbed plower and team, With you I clubbed governors and prefects.

The list ends with shepherd and flock, farmer and his team of oxen, governors and officials. Metzudat David explains the farmer's team as the pair of oxen that pull his plough. The repetition shows how completely Bavel crushed the world it conquered.

פסוק כ״ד · Verse 24

Hebrew:

וְשִׁלַּמְתִּ֨י לְבָבֶ֜ל וּלְכֹ֣ל ׀ יוֹשְׁבֵ֣י כַשְׂדִּ֗ים אֵ֧ת כׇּל־רָעָתָ֛ם אֲשֶׁר־עָשׂ֥וּ בְצִיּ֖וֹן לְעֵינֵיכֶ֑ם נְאֻ֖ם יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס}         

English:

But I will requite Babylon and all the inhabitants of Chaldea For all the wicked things they did to Zion before your eyes —declares GOD.

The turning point: after using Bavel as His club, God will repay Bavel and all Chaldea for the evil they did to Zion. Rashi says this comes once God's vengeance on the nations through Bavel is complete. Metzudat David stresses 'before your eyes': Israel will see it happen.
▶Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
ושלמתי לבבל. אחרי כל זאת שאגמור נקמתי על ידו בעובדי כוכבים:
And I will recompense Babylon After all this, when I complete My vengeance upon the nations through him.

פסוק כ״ה · Verse 25

Hebrew:

הִנְנִ֨י אֵלֶ֜יךָ הַ֤ר הַמַּשְׁחִית֙ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֔ה הַמַּשְׁחִ֖ית אֶת־כׇּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וְנָטִ֨יתִי אֶת־יָדִ֜י עָלֶ֗יךָ וְגִלְגַּלְתִּ֙יךָ֙ מִן־הַסְּלָעִ֔ים וּנְתַתִּ֖יךָ לְהַ֥ר שְׂרֵפָֽה׃

English:

See, I will deal with you, O mountain of the destroyer —declares GOD— Destroyer of the whole earth! I will stretch out My hand against you And roll you down from the crags, And make you a burnt-out mountain.

God calls Bavel a 'destroying mountain' and promises to roll it down from the crags and leave it a burnt-out mountain. Radak and Metzudat David note that Bavel lies on a flat plain; it is called a mountain because it was so strong, and the crags stand for its tall towers.

פסוק כ״ו · Verse 26

Hebrew:

וְלֹֽא־יִקְח֤וּ מִמְּךָ֙ אֶ֣בֶן לְפִנָּ֔ה וְאֶ֖בֶן לְמוֹסָד֑וֹת כִּֽי־שִׁמְמ֥וֹת עוֹלָ֛ם תִּהְיֶ֖ה נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃

English:

They shall never take from you A cornerstone or foundation stone; You shall be a desolation for all time —declares GOD.

Not even a cornerstone or foundation stone will be taken from Bavel's ruins. Metzudat David explains that no one will come to reuse its stones, since it will lie waste forever. Radak cites Targum Yonatan, which reads it as a metaphor: no king or ruler will ever again come from Bavel.

פסוק כ״ז · Verse 27

Hebrew:

שְׂאוּ־נֵ֣ס בָּאָ֗רֶץ תִּקְע֨וּ שׁוֹפָ֤ר בַּגּוֹיִם֙ קַדְּשׁ֤וּ עָלֶ֙יהָ֙ גּוֹיִ֔ם הַשְׁמִ֧יעוּ עָלֶ֛יהָ מַמְלְכ֥וֹת אֲרָרַ֖ט מִנִּ֣י וְאַשְׁכְּנָ֑ז פִּקְד֤וּ עָלֶ֙יהָ֙ טִפְסָ֔ר הַעֲלוּ־ס֖וּס כְּיֶ֥לֶק סָמָֽר׃

English:

Raise a standard on earth, Sound a horn among the nations, Appoint nations against her, Assemble kingdoms against her— Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz— Designate a marshal against her, Bring up horses like swarming locusts!

Raise a banner and blow the shofar to call the nations to war: Ararat, Minni and Ashkenaz. Metzudat David explains the banner and shofar as signals for gathering armies, and describes the horses as bristling like locusts. Radak says the command is addressed to whoever hears it, not to anyone in particular.
▶Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
קדשו. זמנו: טפסר. לשון חיל (או ל' אדון): סמר. הריצי"יר בלע"ז כמו תסמר שערי בשרי (איוב ד׳:ט״ו):
prepare Heb. קַדְשוֹ. a marshal Heb. טפסר, an expression of an army [or an expression of a lord]. bristling Heb. סמר. (Herisse in French), covered with spikes. Cf. "It made the hair of my flesh stand up like spikes (תְּסַּמֵר)" (Job 4:15).

פסוק כ״ח · Verse 28

Hebrew:

קַדְּשׁ֨וּ עָלֶ֤יהָ גוֹיִם֙ אֶת־מַלְכֵ֣י מָדַ֔י אֶת־פַּחוֹתֶ֖יהָ וְאֶת־כׇּל־סְגָנֶ֑יהָ וְאֵ֖ת כׇּל־אֶ֥רֶץ מֶמְשַׁלְתּֽוֹ׃

English:

Appoint nations for war against her— The kings of Media, Her governors and all her prefects, And all the lands they rule!

The nations to be prepared for battle are now named: the kings of Media and all the lands they rule. Metzudat David again identifies the kings as Daryavesh and Koresh. Radak says Ararat, Minni and Ashkenaz from the previous verse came as allies with Daryavesh.

פסוק כ״ט · Verse 29

Hebrew:

וַתִּרְעַ֥שׁ הָאָ֖רֶץ וַתָּחֹ֑ל כִּ֣י קָ֤מָה עַל־בָּבֶל֙ מַחְשְׁב֣וֹת יְהֹוָ֔ה לָשׂ֞וּם אֶת־אֶ֧רֶץ בָּבֶ֛ל לְשַׁמָּ֖ה מֵאֵ֥ין יוֹשֵֽׁב׃

English:

Then the earth quakes and writhes, For GOD’s purpose is fulfilled against Babylon, To make the land of Babylon A waste without inhabitant.

The earth shakes and writhes as God's plans against Bavel come true. Radak notes that the verse uses a singular verb with the plural 'plans': every single plan God made against Bavel will be fulfilled. Rashi explains the writhing as pain, like a woman in labour.
▶Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
ותחול. לשון חלחלה:
and was in pain Heb. ותחל, an expression of חַלְחָלָה pain.

פסוק ל׳ · Verse 30

Hebrew:

חָדְלוּ֩ גִבּוֹרֵ֨י בָבֶ֜ל לְהִלָּחֵ֗ם יָֽשְׁבוּ֙ בַּמְּצָד֔וֹת נָשְׁתָ֥ה גְבוּרָתָ֖ם הָי֣וּ לְנָשִׁ֑ים הִצִּ֥יתוּ מִשְׁכְּנֹתֶ֖יהָ נִשְׁבְּר֥וּ בְרִיחֶֽיהָ׃

English:

The warriors of Babylon stop fighting, They sit in the strongholds, Their might is dried up, They become women. Her dwellings are set afire, Her bars are broken.

Bavel's warriors stop fighting and hide in their forts. Their strength is gone and they become like women. Rashi links the rare word nashtah to the gid ha-nasheh, the sinew that slipped out of place. Metzudat David explains that fear entered their hearts.
▶Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
נשתה. קפצה כמו גיד הנשה (בראשית לג) שנשה ממקומו:
failed Heb. נשתה, [lit.] jumped. Compare "the hip sinew (הנשה)" (Gen. 33:32), so called because it jumped [was dislocated] from its place.

פסוק ל״א · Verse 31

Hebrew:

רָ֤ץ לִקְרַאת־רָץ֙ יָר֔וּץ וּמַגִּ֖יד לִקְרַ֣את מַגִּ֑יד לְהַגִּיד֙ לְמֶ֣לֶךְ בָּבֶ֔ל כִּֽי־נִלְכְּדָ֥ה עִיר֖וֹ מִקָּצֶֽה׃

English:

Runner dashes to meet runner, Messenger to meet messenger, To report to the king of Babylon That his city is captured, from end to end.

Runners and messengers rush to tell the king of Bavel that his city has been taken from end to end. Radak and Metzudat David picture one runner returning from the king and meeting the next runner on the way, each bringing worse news.

פסוק ל״ב · Verse 32

Hebrew:

וְהַמַּעְבָּר֣וֹת נִתְפָּ֔שׂוּ וְאֶת־הָאֲגַמִּ֖ים שָׂרְפ֣וּ בָאֵ֑שׁ וְאַנְשֵׁ֥י הַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה נִבְהָֽלוּ׃ {ס}         

English:

The fords are captured, And the swamp thickets are consumed in fire; And the warriors are in panic.

The river crossings are seized, the reed marshes burned, and the soldiers panic. Radak explains that once the towers at the crossings fell, nothing could stop the attackers from entering. Burning the reeds removed any place to hide, as Metzudat David notes.

פסוק ל״ג · Verse 33

Hebrew:

כִּי֩ כֹ֨ה אָמַ֜ר יְהֹוָ֤ה צְבָאוֹת֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בַּת־בָּבֶ֕ל כְּגֹ֖רֶן עֵ֣ת הִדְרִיכָ֑הּ ע֣וֹד מְעַ֔ט וּבָ֥אָה עֵֽת־הַקָּצִ֖יר לָֽהּ׃

English:

For thus said GOD of Hosts, the God of Israel: Fair Babylon is like a threshing floor Ready to be trodden; In a little while her harvesttime will come.

Bavel is like a threshing floor at treading time. Rashi explains that it is now full like a threshing floor heaped with grain, but soon it will be empty. Radak notes that God is called 'the God of Israel' here because He is taking Israel's revenge.
▶Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
כגורן עת הדריכה. הרי היא עתה מלאה כגורן בעת שדשו תבואתה שהיא מלאה חטין: עוד מעט. ותתרוקן ותדמה לגורן בעת תחלת הקציר שהיא ריקנית:
is like a granary at the time it is threshed Behold, now it is full, like a granary at the time they have threshed its grain, when it is full of wheat. A little more time and she shall he emptied and shall resemble a granary at the time of the beginning of the harvest, when it is empty.

פסוק ל״ד · Verse 34

Hebrew:

(אכלנו) [אֲכָלַ֣נִי] (הממנו) [הֲמָמַ֗נִי] נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּר֮ מֶ֣לֶךְ בָּבֶל֒ (הציגנו) [הִצִּיגַ֙נִי֙] כְּלִ֣י רִ֔יק (בלענו) [בְּלָעַ֙נִי֙] כַּתַּנִּ֔ין מִלָּ֥א כְרֵשׂ֖וֹ מֵעֲדָנָ֑י (הדיחנו) [הֱדִיחָֽנִי] ׃

English:

“Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon Devoured me and discomfited me; He swallowed me like a dragon, He filled his belly with my dainties, And set me down like an empty dish; Then he rinsed me out.

Now Jerusalem speaks: Nevuchadnetzar devoured me, swallowed me like a sea monster, and left me like an empty dish rinsed clean. Metzudat David explains that a monster swallows without chewing, and a rinsed dish has nothing left in it: Bavel took everything.

פסוק ל״ה · Verse 35

Hebrew:

חֲמָסִ֤י וּשְׁאֵרִי֙ עַל־בָּבֶ֔ל תֹּאמַ֖ר יֹשֶׁ֣בֶת צִיּ֑וֹן וְדָמִי֙ אֶל־יֹשְׁבֵ֣י כַשְׂדִּ֔ים תֹּאמַ֖ר יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ {ס}         

English:

Let the violence done me and my kindred Be upon Babylon,” Says the inhabitant of Zion; “And let my blood be upon the inhabitants of Chaldea,” Says Jerusalem.

Zion asks that the violence done to her and her people be laid on Bavel, and her blood on the Chaldeans. Radak reads 'my violence' as stolen property and 'my flesh' as the slain. Rashi reads 'my flesh' as 'my food', since the enemy ate it.
▶Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
חמסי שארי. צעקת חמסי ומזונתי אשר אכלו שארי:
the plundering done me and my food The cry of violence done me and my food, for they have eaten my food.

פסוק ל״ו · Verse 36

Hebrew:

לָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה הִנְנִי־רָב֙ אֶת־רִיבֵ֔ךְ וְנִקַּמְתִּ֖י אֶת־נִקְמָתֵ֑ךְ וְהַֽחֲרַבְתִּי֙ אֶת־יַמָּ֔הּ וְהֹֽבַשְׁתִּ֖י אֶת־מְקוֹרָֽהּ׃

English:

Assuredly, thus said GOD: I am going to uphold your cause And take vengeance for you; I will dry up her sea And make her fountain run dry.

God answers Zion's cry: I will take up your cause and avenge you. I will dry up Bavel's sea and her spring. Radak and Metzudat David read the sea as a picture of Bavel's great wealth, which will dry up.

פסוק ל״ז · Verse 37

Hebrew:

וְהָיְתָה֩ בָבֶ֨ל ׀ לְגַלִּ֧ים ׀ מְעוֹן־תַּנִּ֛ים שַׁמָּ֥ה וּשְׁרֵקָ֖ה מֵאֵ֥ין יוֹשֵֽׁב׃

English:

Babylon shall become rubble, A den for jackals, An object of horror and hissing, Without inhabitant.

Bavel will become heaps of rubble, a den of jackals, and an object of horror. Metzudat David explains that people whistle in amazement when they see something great destroyed. Radak says every passer-by will whistle at her.

פסוק ל״ח · Verse 38

Hebrew:

יַחְדָּ֖ו כַּכְּפִרִ֣ים יִשְׁאָ֑גוּ נָעֲר֖וּ כְּגוֹרֵ֥י אֲרָיֽוֹת׃

English:

Like lions, they roar together, They growl like lion cubs.

The people of Bavel roar together like young lions. Radak offers two readings: either Bavel's people roar in distress, or the Median army roars as it captures the city. Rashi compares the word for growling to the braying of a donkey.
▶Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
נערו. ל' חמור נוער:
they growl Heb. נערו, an expression of a braying (נוֹעֵר) donkey.

פסוק ל״ט · Verse 39

Hebrew:

בְּחֻמָּ֞ם אָשִׁ֣ית אֶת־מִשְׁתֵּיהֶ֗ם וְהִשְׁכַּרְתִּים֙ לְמַ֣עַן יַעֲלֹ֔זוּ וְיָשְׁנ֥וּ שְׁנַת־עוֹלָ֖ם וְלֹ֣א יָקִ֑יצוּ נְאֻ֖ם יְהֹוָֽה׃

English:

When they are heated, I will set out their drink And get them drunk, that they may become hilarious And then sleep an endless sleep, Never to awake —declares GOD.

While they are heated, God will set out their feast and make them drunk, and they will sleep forever. Rashi and Radak connect this to the night Belshatzar held his great feast, described in Daniel 5, when the city fell. Most drunkards wake up; these will not.
▶Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
בחומם אשית את משתיהם. אכוין שיהו משתיהן בעת החום כדי שישתכרו: למען יעלוזו וישנו. וירדמו: שנת עולם. שנת עולמית וכן עלתה שם מתוך משתה ושכרות נחרבו ונהרגו ונלכדה העיר כמו שנ' (בדניאל ה׳:ב׳) בלשאצר אמר בטעם חמרא וגו' (שם) אשתי חמרא וגו' (שם) ביה בליליא קטיל בלשאצר מלכא וג' (שם) ודריוש מדאה קביל מלכותא:
in their heat, I will place their wine feasts I will intend that their wine feasts shall be in the hot season so that they become drunk. in order that they become joyful and sleep Heb. וישנו, and sleep soundly. a perpetual sleep Heb. שנתעולם, a perpetual sleep, and so it happened to them; out of their wine feast and drunkenness they were destroyed and slain, and the city was captured, as it is written in Daniel (5:2): "Belshazzar said while he tasted the wine, etc."; (5:4), "They drank wine, etc."; (5: 30), "On that night, Belshazzar, the king of the Chaldeans, was slain"; (6:1), "And Darius the Mede received the kingship."

פסוק מ׳ · Verse 40

Hebrew:

אוֹרִידֵ֖ם כְּכָרִ֣ים לִטְב֑וֹחַ כְּאֵילִ֖ים עִם־עַתּוּדִֽים׃

English:

I will bring them down like lambs for slaughter, Like rams and he-goats.

God will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams and goats. Metzudat David explains that the people of Bavel will be led to slaughter as lambs are led. Rashi notes that Targum Yonatan reads the word as bulls rather than lambs.
▶Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
ככרים. כבשים, (וי"ת) כתורין:
like lambs Heb. כברים, lambs (and Jonathan renders:) like bulls.

פסוק מ״א · Verse 41

Hebrew:

אֵ֚יךְ נִלְכְּדָ֣ה שֵׁשַׁ֔ךְ וַתִּתָּפֵ֖שׂ תְּהִלַּ֣ת כׇּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ אֵ֣יךְ הָיְתָ֧ה לְשַׁמָּ֛ה בָּבֶ֖ל בַּגּוֹיִֽם׃

English:

How has Sheshach been captured, The praise of the whole earth been taken! How has Babylon become A horror to the nations!

How Sheshach has been captured, the pride of all the earth. Rashi and Radak explain that Sheshach is Bavel in the At-bash code, as in 25:26. Metzudat David says the city that was once the world's glory has become a sight that astonishes the nations.
▶Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
ששך. בבל בגי' דא"ת ב"ש:
Sheshach Babylon in the 'At-bash' (א"תב"ש), cipher.

פסוק מ״ב · Verse 42

Hebrew:

עָלָ֥ה עַל־בָּבֶ֖ל הַיָּ֑ם בַּהֲמ֥וֹן גַּלָּ֖יו נִכְסָֽתָה׃

English:

The sea has risen over Babylon, She is covered by its roaring waves.

The sea rises over Bavel and covers it with roaring waves. Rashi, Radak and Metzudat David all read the sea as a huge army that floods the land like the waters of the sea.
▶Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
עלה על בבל הים. חיל גדול כמו הים:
The sea has ascended upon Babylon A huge army, like the waters of [the sea].

פסוק מ״ג · Verse 43

Hebrew:

הָי֤וּ עָרֶ֙יהָ֙ לְשַׁמָּ֔ה אֶ֖רֶץ צִיָּ֣ה וַעֲרָבָ֑ה אֶ֗רֶץ לֹֽא־יֵשֵׁ֤ב בָּהֵן֙ כׇּל־אִ֔ישׁ וְלֹא־יַעֲבֹ֥ר בָּהֵ֖ן בֶּן־אָדָֽם׃

English:

Her towns are a desolation, A land of desert and steppe, A land nobody at all lives in And no human passes through.

Bavel's towns become a dry wasteland where no one lives and no one even passes through. Metzudat David points out that not even travellers will pass through it on the way somewhere else.

פסוק מ״ד · Verse 44

Hebrew:

וּפָקַדְתִּ֨י עַל־בֵּ֜ל בְּבָבֶ֗ל וְהֹצֵאתִ֤י אֶת־בִּלְעוֹ֙ מִפִּ֔יו וְלֹא־יִנְהֲר֥וּ אֵלָ֛יו ע֖וֹד גּוֹיִ֑ם גַּם־חוֹמַ֥ת בָּבֶ֖ל נָפָֽלָה׃

English:

And I will deal with Bel in Babylon, And make him disgorge what he has swallowed, And nations shall no more gaze on him with joy. Even the wall of Babylon shall fall.

God will punish Bel, Bavel's chief god, and make him spit out what he swallowed. Radak and Metzudat David explain that the enemy will smash the idol and carry off its gold. Radak adds that the swallowed riches are the gifts brought to the idol, and Rashi says the nations will no longer stream to it like rivers to the sea.
▶Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
על בל. על עבודת כוכבים של בבל: את בלעו. שהושפלו כל יושב הארץ תחתיו: ולא ינהרו. ולא יאספו וכן ונהרו אליו כל הגוים (ישעיהו ב׳:ב׳) כמימי נהרות כולם ההולכים אל הים:
on Bel On the deity of Babylon. what he has swallowed That all the inhabitants of the land were humbled under him. shall no longer stream Heb. יהרו, and shall not gather. Cf. "And all the nations shall stream (ונהרוּ) to it" (Isa. 2:2). Like the waters of the river, all of which go to the sea.

פסוק מ״ה · Verse 45

Hebrew:

צְא֤וּ מִתּוֹכָהּ֙ עַמִּ֔י וּמַלְּט֖וּ אִ֣ישׁ אֶת־נַפְשׁ֑וֹ מֵחֲר֖וֹן אַף־יְהֹוָֽה׃

English:

Depart from there, O My people, Save your lives, each of you, From GOD’s furious anger.

God calls His people to leave Bavel and save themselves from His burning anger. Metzudat David explains that they should not be struck together with the Babylonians.

פסוק מ״ו · Verse 46

Hebrew:

וּפֶן־יֵרַ֤ךְ לְבַבְכֶם֙ וְתִֽירְא֔וּ בַּשְּׁמוּעָ֖ה הַנִּשְׁמַ֣עַת בָּאָ֑רֶץ וּבָ֧א בַשָּׁנָ֣ה הַשְּׁמוּעָ֗ה וְאַחֲרָ֤יו בַּשָּׁנָה֙ הַשְּׁמוּעָ֔ה וְחָמָ֣ס בָּאָ֔רֶץ וּמֹשֵׁ֖ל עַל־מֹשֵֽׁל׃

English:

Do not be downhearted or afraid At the rumors heard in the land: A rumor will come one year, And another rumor the next year Of violence in the land, And of ruler against ruler.

Do not lose heart at the rumours: one year one report, the next year another, violence in the land and ruler against ruler. Radak explains that Belshatzar reigned three years, with news of the Median threat each year, and the ruler after ruler is Koresh following Daryavesh. Metzudat David says all this news is for Israel's good.
▶Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
בשמועה הנשמעת בארץ. השמועה הזאת של בלשצר שנהרג: ובא בשנה השמועה. באותה שנה עצמה תבוא השמועה שחרבה בבל מאליה מן השמים שנאמר (שם יג) והיתה בבל צבי ממלכות תפאר' גאון כשדים כמהפכת אלהים את סדום ואת עמורה: ואחריו בשנה. השניה: השמועה. הטובה לכם כה אמר כורש מלך פרס (עזרא א׳:ג׳) מי בכם מכל עמו: ומושל על מושל. דריוש המדי מלך שנה אחת ובשנה השנייה כורש הפרסי:
because of the rumor that is heard in the land This rumor concerning Belshazzar that he was slain. for a rumor shall come one year In that very year there will come a rumor that Babylon has been destroyed by itself from heaven as it is stated: "And Babylon, the beauty of the kingdoms the glory of the pride of the Chaldee, shall be like God's overturning of Sodom and Gemorrah" (Isa. 13: 19). and after it in a year [In] the second [year]. a rumor that is good for you [viz.] "So said Cyrus, the king of Persia..., Whoever among you of all His people..." (Ezra 1:2f). and one ruler upon another ruler Darius the Mede reigned one year, and in the second year Cyrus the Persian.

פסוק מ״ז · Verse 47

Hebrew:

לָכֵן֙ הִנֵּ֣ה יָמִ֣ים בָּאִ֔ים וּפָֽקַדְתִּי֙ עַל־פְּסִילֵ֣י בָבֶ֔ל וְכׇל־אַרְצָ֖הּ תֵּב֑וֹשׁ וְכׇל־חֲלָלֶ֖יהָ יִפְּל֥וּ בְתוֹכָֽהּ׃

English:

Assuredly, days are coming, When I will deal with Babylon’s images; Her whole land shall be shamed, And all her slain shall fall in her midst.

Days are coming when God will punish Bavel's idols, its whole land will be shamed, and its slain will fall inside it. Metzudat David explains that the Babylonians will be too afraid to fight in the field and will be killed inside their city. Radak says the shame comes from seeing their idols smashed.

פסוק מ״ח · Verse 48

Hebrew:

וְרִנְּנ֤וּ עַל־בָּבֶל֙ שָׁמַ֣יִם וָאָ֔רֶץ וְכֹ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר בָּהֶ֑ם כִּ֧י מִצָּפ֛וֹן יָבוֹא־לָ֥הּ הַשּׁוֹדְדִ֖ים נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃

English:

Heavens and earth and all that is in them Shall shout over Babylon; For the ravagers shall come upon her from the north —declares GOD.

Heaven and earth will sing over Bavel's fall when the destroyers come from the north. Metzudat David explains that the whole world will rejoice because Bavel harmed every nation, and identifies the northerners as Persia and Media. Radak names the destroyer as Daryavesh and his army.

פסוק מ״ט · Verse 49

Hebrew:

גַּם־בָּבֶ֕ל לִנְפֹּ֖ל חַֽלְלֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל גַּם־לְבָבֶ֥ל נָפְל֖וּ חַֽלְלֵ֥י כׇל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃

English:

Yes, Babylon is to fall [For] the slain of Israel, As the slain of all the earth Have fallen through Babylon.

Bavel must fall for the slain of Israel, just as the slain of all the earth fell because of Bavel. Rashi and Metzudat David read the verse as measure for measure: the nation that caused so many to fall will now fall itself.
▶Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
גם בבל. היתה לנפול בה חללי ישראל: גם לבבל. יפלו חללי כל ארצה:
As Babylon was [a cause] for the slain of Israel to fall therein. so in Babylon shall fall the slain of all her land.

פסוק נ׳ · Verse 50

Hebrew:

פְּלֵטִ֣ים מֵחֶ֔רֶב הִלְכ֖וּ אַֽל־תַּעֲמֹ֑דוּ זִכְר֤וּ מֵרָחוֹק֙ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֔ה וִירוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם תַּעֲלֶ֥ה עַל־לְבַבְכֶֽם׃

English:

You fugitives from the sword, Go, don’t delay! Remember GOD from afar, And call Jerusalem to mind.

Israel's survivors are told to leave without delay, to remember God from far away, and to keep Jerusalem in mind. Rashi says these are the Jews who escaped Nevuzaradan's sword. Radak reads 'from afar' as after seventy years: remember the Temple service that has stopped.
▶Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
פליטים מחרב. ישראל שגלו לתוכה שפלטו מחרב נבוזראדן:
Fugitives from the sword Israel, who was exiled into her midst, who escaped the sword of Nebuzaradan.

פסוק נ״א · Verse 51

Hebrew:

בֹּ֚שְׁנוּ כִּֽי־שָׁמַ֣עְנוּ חֶרְפָּ֔ה כִּסְּתָ֥ה כְלִמָּ֖ה פָּנֵ֑ינוּ כִּ֚י בָּ֣אוּ זָרִ֔ים עַֽל־מִקְדְּשֵׁ֖י בֵּ֥ית יְהֹוָֽה׃ {פ}

English:

“We were shamed, we heard taunts; Humiliation covered our faces, When aliens entered The sacred areas of GOD’s House.”

The exiles reply: we are ashamed, we have heard insults, and disgrace covers our faces because strangers entered God's holy places. Rashi says the Chaldeans mocked them, boasting that their god had destroyed the God of Israel's house. Their shame is what makes them hesitate to go back.
▶Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
כי שמענו חרפה. שהיו כשדים אומרים ומחרפים אותנו לאמר יד אלהינו רמה שהחרבנו את ביתו:
for we have heard reproach For the Chaldeans were saying and reproaching us, saying, "The hand of our god is exalted for we have destroyed His house."

פסוק נ״ב · Verse 52

Hebrew:

לָכֵ֞ן הִנֵּֽה־יָמִ֤ים בָּאִים֙ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֔ה וּפָקַדְתִּ֖י עַל־פְּסִילֶ֑יהָ וּבְכׇל־אַרְצָ֖הּ יֶאֱנֹ֥ק חָלָֽל׃

English:

Assuredly, days are coming —declares GOD— When I will deal with her images, And throughout her land the dying shall groan.

God answers: days are coming when He will punish Bavel's idols and the wounded will groan throughout its land. Rashi and Radak explain the groan as the cry of a dying man. The idols that mocked Israel's God will be judged.
▶Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
יאנק חלל. יצעק חלל כשהורגים את האדם בחץ או ברומח והוא גונח כשמוציא הרומח הוא האנקה:
the mortally wounded shall groan Heb. יאנק. The mortally wounded shall cry. When they kill a person with an arrow or with a spear, and he groans when they remove the spear, that is אנקה.

פסוק נ״ג · Verse 53

Hebrew:

כִּֽי־תַעֲלֶ֤ה בָבֶל֙ הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וְכִ֥י תְבַצֵּ֖ר מְר֣וֹם עֻזָּ֑הּ מֵאִתִּ֗י יָבֹ֧אוּ שֹׁדְדִ֛ים לָ֖הּ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס}         

English:

Though Babylon should climb to the skies, Though she fortify her strongholds up to heaven, The ravagers would come against her from Me —declares GOD.

Even if Bavel climbs to the sky and builds its fortress in the heavens, destroyers from God will reach it. Rashi explains that the destroyers come from God, who is higher than any tower. Metzudat David says no fortress can stand against Him.
▶Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
וכי תבצר. לשון מבצר חוזק: מאתי יבואו שודדים לה. מאתי מן השמים הגבוהים ממנה יבואו לה השודדים:
and should she fortify Heb. תבצר, an expression of a strong fortress. from Me shall spoilers come upon her From Me, from the heavens that are higher than she, shall the spoilers come upon her.

פסוק נ״ד · Verse 54

Hebrew:

ק֥וֹל זְעָקָ֖ה מִבָּבֶ֑ל וְשֶׁ֥בֶר גָּד֖וֹל מֵאֶ֥רֶץ כַּשְׂדִּֽים׃

English:

Hark! an outcry from Babylon, Great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans.

A cry is heard from Bavel, the sound of great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans. Radak and Metzudat David explain that the scream will be heard rising out of Bavel itself.

פסוק נ״ה · Verse 55

Hebrew:

כִּֽי־שֹׁדֵ֤ד יְהֹוָה֙ אֶת־בָּבֶ֔ל וְאִבַּ֥ד מִמֶּ֖נָּה ק֣וֹל גָּד֑וֹל וְהָמ֤וּ גַלֵּיהֶם֙ כְּמַ֣יִם רַבִּ֔ים נִתַּ֥ן שְׁא֖וֹן קוֹלָֽם׃

English:

For GOD is ravaging Babylon; He will put an end to her great din, Whose roar is like waves of mighty waters, Whose tumultuous noise resounds.

God is destroying Bavel and silencing its great noise, which roared like mighty waters. Radak explains that Bavel was a crowded, noisy city whose crowds roared like waves. Metzudat David adds that its arrogant noise will be silenced.
▶Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
נתן שאון קולם. נשמע קול צעקתם:
the stirring of their voice was uttered The sound of their cry is heard.

פסוק נ״ו · Verse 56

Hebrew:

כִּי֩ בָ֨א עָלֶ֤יהָ עַל־בָּבֶל֙ שׁוֹדֵ֔ד וְנִלְכְּדוּ֙ גִּבּוֹרֶ֔יהָ חִתְּתָ֖ה קַשְּׁתוֹתָ֑ם כִּ֣י אֵ֧ל גְּמֻל֛וֹת יְהֹוָ֖ה שַׁלֵּ֥ם יְשַׁלֵּֽם׃

English:

For a ravager is coming upon Babylon, Her warriors shall be captured, their bows shall be snapped. For the ETERNAL is a God of requital— Who deals retribution.

The destroyer comes, Bavel's warriors are captured and their bows broken, for God is a God of repayment. Radak suggests that Bavel broke its own bows through its many sins, which is why the verse ends with God's repayment. Metzudat David says God pays back Bavel for the evil it did.

פסוק נ״ז · Verse 57

Hebrew:

וְ֠הִשְׁכַּרְתִּ֠י שָׂרֶ֨יהָ וַחֲכָמֶ֜יהָ פַּחוֹתֶ֤יהָ וּסְגָנֶ֙יהָ֙ וְגִבּוֹרֶ֔יהָ וְיָשְׁנ֥וּ שְׁנַת־עוֹלָ֖ם וְלֹ֣א יָקִ֑יצוּ נְאֻ֨ם־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת שְׁמֽוֹ׃ {ס}         

English:

I will make her officials and her sages drunk, Her governors and prefects and warriors; And they shall sleep an endless sleep, Never to awaken —declares the King whose name is GOD of Hosts.

God will make Bavel's officials, sages and warriors drunk, and they will sleep forever and never wake. Radak links this to verse 39 and notes that the King, the Lord of hosts, can remove any kingdom and give it to whomever He wishes.

פסוק נ״ח · Verse 58

Hebrew:

כֹּֽה־אָמַ֞ר יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֗וֹת חֹ֠מ֠וֹת בָּבֶ֤ל הָרְחָבָה֙ עַרְעֵ֣ר תִּתְעַרְעָ֔ר וּשְׁעָרֶ֥יהָ הַגְּבֹהִ֖ים בָּאֵ֣שׁ יִצַּ֑תּוּ וְיִֽגְע֨וּ עַמִּ֧ים בְּדֵי־רִ֛יק וּלְאֻמִּ֥ים בְּדֵי־אֵ֖שׁ וְיָעֵֽפוּ׃ {ס}         

English:

Thus said GOD of Hosts: Babylon’s broad wall shall be knocked down, And her high gates set afire. Peoples shall labor for naught, And nations have wearied themselves for fire.

Bavel's broad walls will be torn down and its high gates burned. The nations will have worn themselves out for nothing. Metzudat David explains that all their effort in the war will be wasted, and in the end they will be too tired to put out the fire.
▶Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
תתערער. לשון חפירה ל' ערו ערו עד היסוד (תהילים קל״ז:ז׳): בדי ריק. בהרבה ריק שיבא עליהם:
shall be overthrown Heb. תתערער, an expression of digging. An expression like "Dig under it, dig under it (עָרוּ), until its foundation" (Psalms 137:7). for much futility For much futility which it will bring upon them.

פסוק נ״ט · Verse 59

Hebrew:

הַדָּבָ֞ר אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֣ה ׀ יִרְמְיָ֣הוּ הַנָּבִ֗יא אֶת־שְׂרָיָ֣ה בֶן־נֵרִיָּה֮ בֶּן־מַחְסֵיָה֒ בְּלֶכְתּ֞וֹ אֶת־צִדְקִיָּ֤הוּ מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָה֙ בָּבֶ֔ל בִּשְׁנַ֥ת הָרְבִעִ֖ית לְמׇלְכ֑וֹ וּשְׂרָיָ֖ה שַׂ֥ר מְנוּחָֽה׃

English:

The instructions that the prophet Jeremiah gave to Seraiah son of Neriah son of Mahseiah, when the latter went with King Zedekiah of Judah to Babylonia, in the fourth year of [Zedekiah’s] reign. Seraiah was quartermaster.

The scene changes to narrative. In Tzidkiyahu's fourth year, Yirmiyahu gives instructions to Serayah son of Neriyah, Baruch's brother, who travels to Bavel. Radak cites Seder Olam that Tzidkiyahu went to pay respects to the king of Bavel, and explains 'sar menuchah' as the king's companion at his times of rest.

פסוק ס׳ · Verse 60

Hebrew:

וַיִּכְתֹּ֣ב יִרְמְיָ֗הוּ אֵ֧ת כׇּל־הָרָעָ֛ה אֲשֶׁר־תָּב֥וֹא אֶל־בָּבֶ֖ל אֶל־סֵ֣פֶר אֶחָ֑ד אֵ֚ת כׇּל־הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה הַכְּתֻבִ֖ים אֶל־בָּבֶֽל׃

English:

Jeremiah wrote down in one scroll all the disaster that would come upon Babylon, all these things that are written concerning Babylon.

Yirmiyahu writes all the disaster that will come on Bavel in a single scroll. Metzudat David explains that the verse calls it a scroll by what it will become once the writing is finished.

פסוק ס״א · Verse 61

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ אֶל־שְׂרָיָ֑ה כְּבֹאֲךָ֣ בָבֶ֔ל וְֽרָאִ֔יתָ וְֽקָרָ֔אתָ אֵ֥ת כׇּל־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵֽלֶּה׃

English:

And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, “When you get to Babylon, see that you read out all these words.

Yirmiyahu tells Serayah that when he reaches Bavel he must read all these words aloud. The prophecy is to be spoken in the very city it condemns, years before it comes true.

פסוק ס״ב · Verse 62

Hebrew:

וְאָמַרְתָּ֗ יְהֹוָה֙ אַתָּ֨ה דִבַּ֜רְתָּ אֶל־הַמָּק֤וֹם הַזֶּה֙ לְהַכְרִית֔וֹ לְבִלְתִּ֤י הֱיֽוֹת־בּוֹ֙ יוֹשֵׁ֔ב לְמֵאָדָ֖ם וְעַד־בְּהֵמָ֑ה כִּֽי־שִׁמְמ֥וֹת עוֹלָ֖ם תִּהְיֶֽה׃

English:

And say, ‘O ETERNAL One, You Yourself have declared concerning this place that it shall be cut off, without inhabitants—humans or animals; that it shall be a desolation for all time.’

Serayah is to say: God, You have said this place will be cut off forever, without people or animals. Metzudat David explains the prayer: these words came from You through Yirmiyahu, so surely You will fulfil them.

פסוק ס״ג · Verse 63

Hebrew:

וְהָיָה֙ כְּכַלֹּ֣תְךָ֔ לִקְרֹ֖א אֶת־הַסֵּ֣פֶר הַזֶּ֑ה תִּקְשֹׁ֤ר עָלָיו֙ אֶ֔בֶן וְהִשְׁלַכְתּ֖וֹ אֶל־תּ֥וֹךְ פְּרָֽת׃

English:

And when you finish reading this scroll, tie a stone to it and hurl it into the Euphrates.

When he finishes reading, Serayah must tie a stone to the scroll and throw it into the Euphrates. Metzudat David says the stone makes the scroll sink. Radak notes that the Torah calls the Euphrates Israel's border, and he had heard that the river runs all the way down to Bavel.

פסוק ס״ד · Verse 64

Hebrew:

וְאָמַרְתָּ֗ כָּ֠כָה תִּשְׁקַ֨ע בָּבֶ֤ל וְלֹֽא־תָקוּם֙ מִפְּנֵ֣י הָרָעָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֧ר אָנֹכִ֛י מֵבִ֥יא עָלֶ֖יהָ וְיָעֵ֑פוּ עַד־הֵ֖נָּה דִּבְרֵ֥י יִרְמְיָֽהוּ׃ {פ}

English:

And say, ‘Thus shall Babylon sink and never rise again, because of the disaster that I will bring upon it. And [nations] shall have wearied themselves [for fire].’” Thus far the words of Jeremiah.

The scroll's sinking is a sign: so will Bavel sink and never rise. The verse closes 'Thus far the words of Yirmiyahu'. Radak and Metzudat David explain that chapter 52 is a historical account of the destruction rather than his prophecy, so his own words end here.

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