Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 50:25

The LORD hath opened his armory, and hath brought forth the weapons of his indignation: for this [is] the work of the Lord GOD of hosts in the land of the Chaldeans.

25. the weapons of his indignation ] used also in Isa 13:5 of the nations who unconsciously discharge God’s bidding in war.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

By a grand figure the prophet describes Yahweh arming Himself that in person He may execute justice upon the wicked city.

For this is the work – Rather, for my Lord Yahweh of hosts hath a work to do in the land of the Chaldaeans.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Babylon was so rich and potent a nation, and had been so great a conqueror, that people looking only with the eye of sense, and judging according to probabilities in the eyes of men, might well ask how these things could possibly be. To which the prophet here answereth, that the hand of God was to be eyed in the case, this was the Lords work upon the Chaldeans; God had

opened his armoury, and the Medes were to make use of the weapons of his indignation. He who threatened this destruction was able to carry it through, and it was no great matter what weapons either the Babylonians had to defend themselves, or the Medes to offend them, Gods power and strength as only to be regarded.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

25. weapons of his indignationtheMedes and Persians (Isa 13:5).

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

The Lord hath opened his armoury,…. Alluding to the manner of kings, who have some particular edifice built for an armoury; see So 4:4; wherein are provided and laid up all sorts of armour, small and great, which are fetched out from thence, in time of need. This armoury is to be understood of Media and Persia, and other parts, from whence a mighty army, well accoutred, was brought by the powerful providence of God; and indeed the whole world is his armoury, from whence he can raise up instruments to do his will at pleasure; or, “his treasury” y; so the Targum; and some think this is said with reference to the treasure of the Lord’s house the king of Babylon had seized upon, and now by way of retaliation the Lord would open his treasury to his ruin:

and hath brought forth the weapons of his indignation; as a king, when he goes to war, opens his armoury, and takes out armour of every kind, both offensive and defensive, swords, spears, shields, c. so the Lord would now bring the Medes and Persians, well armed, to be the instruments of his wrath and vengeance on Babylon: or, “the vessels of his indignation” z having some view to the vessels of the sanctuary, as some think, the king of Babylon had taken away and profaned; these may well be applied to the vials of wrath poured out on the antichristian states by the angels, called forth out of the temple,

Re 15:1;

for this [is] the work of the Lord God of hosts in the land of the Chaldeans; which he decreed and ordered to be done; and which, without his power and providence, could never have been done: compare with this

Re 18:8.

y “thesaurum suum”, Vulg. Lat. Vatablus, Pagninus, Montanus, Schmidt. z “vasa irae suae”, Vulg. Lat. Pagninus; “vasa indignationis suae”, Montanus.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

The Prophet here expresses more clearly what he bad touched upon, even that this war would not be that of the Persians, but of God himself. He then says, that God had opened his treasure, even because he has various and manifold ways and means, which cannot be comprehended by men, when he resolves to destroy the ungodly. That monarchy was impregnable according to the judgment of men; but God here says that he had hidden means by which he would lay waste Babylon and reduce it to nothing. Then what is by a similitude called the treasure of God, means such a way as surpasses the comprehension of men, that is, when God executes his judgments in a way hidden and unexpected.

As, then, the faithful could hardly conceive what Jeremiah said, he raises up their thoughts to God’s providence, which ought not to be subjected to human judgment; for it is absurd in men to judge of God’s power according to the perceptions of the flesh; it is the same as though they attempted to include heaven and earth in the hollow of their hand. God himself says, that he takes heaven and earth in the hollow of his hand. When, therefore, men seek to comprehend the power of God, it is like a fly attempting to devour all the mountains. Hence the Prophet reproves this presumption to which we are all by nature inclined, even to determine according to the comprehension of our minds what God is about or ought to do, as though his power were not infinite.

This is the reason why the Prophet says, God hath opened his treasury; and then, he hath thence brought forth the instruments of his wrath, that is, from his treasury, even in a way and manner which was then incomprehensible. (65) And subjoined is the reason, Because this is the work of God alone, the God of hosts, in the land of the Chaldeans (66) Here the Prophet briefly concludes, intimating, that the faithful ought quietly to wait until what he taught came to pass, even because it was the work of God. And there is nothing more absurd than for men to seek to measure God’s power, as it has been said, by their own judgment. It follows, — but I cannot explain the verse now.

(65) “Treasury” here means an armory or arsenal, as rendered by Blayney: and then “instruments” signify weapons, drawn from the armory. — Ed.

(66) Literally it is, —

For a work — this the Lord Jehovah of hosts has In the land of the Chaldeans.

—

Ed.

Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary

(25) The Lord hath opened his armoury.The word is the same as that for treasures in Jer. 10:13; Jer. 51:16, the choice of the appropriate English word being determined, in each case, by the context. Here the figure is that of a mighty king going to his arsenal and equipping himself with the weapons which will insure his victory. An expansion of the same imagery is found in Wis. 5:17-23; Wis. 18:15-16.

This is the work of the Lord God of hosts.Better, the Lord God of hosts hath a work . . .

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

25. Weapons of his indignation The Medes and Persians. For this is the work, etc. Better, for the Lord Jehovah of hosts hath a work in the land of the Chaldeans.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments