Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 51:8
Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed.
8. take balm ] See on Jer 46:11.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Destroyed – literally, broken, as was the hammer Jer 50:23. The cup, though of metal, is thrown down so violently as to be shattered by the fall.
Howl for her – The persons addressed are the many inhabitants of Babylon who were dragged from their homes to people its void places, and especially the Israelites. They have dwelt there long enough to feel pity for her, when they contrast her past magnificence with her terrible fall. Compare Jer 29:7.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 8. Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed] These appear to be the words of some of the spectators of Babylon’s misery.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
That is, she shall suddenly fall and be destroyed; you may try all the probable ways for her cure, but they will all be used to no purpose.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
8, 9. Her friends andconfederates, who behold her fall, are invited to her aid. Theyreply, her case is incurable, and that they must leave her to herfate. (Isa 21:9; Rev 14:8;Rev 18:2; Rev 18:9).
balm (Jer 8:22;Jer 46:11).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed,…. Or “broken” g; even into shivers, as a cup is; for when it had been used to answer the purposes designed by the Lord, he let it fall cut of his hands at once, and it was broken; or rather he dashed it in pieces, as a potter’s vessel. The destruction of Babylon was brought about in a very short time, considering the strength of it; and was unexpected by the inhabitants of it, and by the nations round about; but, when it was come, it was irreparable: so the destruction of mystical Babylon will be in one hour, and it will be an utter and entire destruction,
Re 18:8;
howl for her; as the inhabitants of Babylon, and her friends and allies that loved her, did no doubt; and as the kings and merchants of the earth, and others, will howl for spiritual Babylon, Re 18:9;
take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed: or balsam; see
Jer 46:11; which is said by way of derision and mockery, as Kimchi and Abarbinel observe; or in an ironical and sarcastic manner; suggesting, that, let what means soever be made use of, her wound was incurable, her ruin inevitable, and her case irrecoverable.
g “confracta est”, Schmidt; “fracta est”, Cocceius; “contrita est”, Piscator.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The Prophet now declares that the fall of Babylon would be sudden, that the faithful might understand that God could accomplish in one moment what he had decreed. For when the prophets spoke of God’s judgments, the people questioned among themselves, how could that be which surpassed the common ideas of men. That men, therefore, might not estimate God’s power according to their own thoughts, he introduces this word, suddenly; as though he had said, that God had no need of warlike forces; for though he makes no preparations, yet he can subvert every power that exists in the world.
He then adds, Howl for her; and this is said, because it could not be but that many nations would either bewail the ruin of so great a monarch, or be astonished at her, and thus many things would be said. He then says, that though the whole world were to howl for Babylon, it would yet fall and be suddenly broken, whenever it pleased God. And he says, by way of irony, Take balm, if peradventure it can be healed The word צרי, tsari, is, by some, rendered balsam, but it means rosin, for we know that it was deemed precious in Judea; and the Prophet no doubt accommodated what he said to what was commonly known. As then that medicament was in common use among the Jews, he now says, Take rosin As there is hardly any country which has not its peculiar remedies; so we see that Jeremiah refers not to what was usually done at Babylon, or to medicaments used by the Chaldeans, but to what was commonly used in his own country, as it appears from other places. Now rosin was a juice which flowed from trees, and it was a thick juice. The best rosin which we now use is from the terebinth; but in these parts they have what proceeds from the fir, for here the terebinth is not found. But Judea had a most valuable rosin, as we learn from many parts of Scripture. And under this one thing is included everything, Take rosin; as though he had said, “Let physicians come together (otherwise she will perish) from every place, if peradventure she can be healed. ” This is said ironically, that the faithful might know that the diseases of Babylon would be incurable.
We have said elsewhere, that Babylon was not wholly demolished when taken by Cyrus, and that the people were not then driven away. They dwelt there as usual, though made tributary, as they were afterwards, under the dominion of the Persians. Babylon was also grievously oppressed, when punished for its revolt, until what Jeremiah and others prophesied was fulfilled. Then the time of which he speaks ought not to be confined to one calamity only, which was only a prelude to others still greater. He afterwards adds, —
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(8) Babylon is suddenly fallen . . .The form of announcement seems taken in part from Isa. 21:9.
Take balm for her pain . . .The words are significant. The captive people are not invited simply to raise a shout of triumph at the fall of their oppressor: they are to take balm (comp. the use of the same image in Jer. 8:22; Jer. 46:11), and try to heal her. They are still to seek the peace of the city (Jer. 29:7), to render kindly service, to pour balm into the bleeding wounds.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
8. Destroyed Literally, broken. This suggests a change in the figure, or that golden means ornamented with gold, or that this golden cup, though metal, is dashed so violently as to be shattered.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jer 51:8 Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed.
Ver. 8. Babylon is suddenly fallen. ] Jer 50:2 . So ruet alto a culmine Roma So Rome will be destroyed from its highest heights. Rev 14:8 ; Rev 18:2 ; Rev 18:10
If so be she may be healed,
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
is suddenly, &c. This must refer to a future fulfilment, for the present condition came gradually, See Isa 21:9; Isa 47:9, Isa 47:11. Compare Rev 14:8; Rev 18:8, Rev 18:10, Rev 18:17, Rev 18:19.
destroyed = broken down. Hebrew. shabar. Not the same as in verses: Jer 51:1, Jer 51:3, Jer 51:11, Jer 1:20, Jer 1:25, Jer 1:25, Jer 1:55.
take balm = fetch balSamaritan Pentateuch Compare Jer 8:22; Jer 46:11.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
suddenly: Jer 51:41, Jer 50:2, Isa 21:9, Isa 47:9, Rev 14:8, Rev 18:2, Rev 18:8
howl: Jer 48:20, Jer 48:31, Isa 13:6, Isa 13:7, Eze 27:30-32, Eze 30:2, Dan 5:24, Dan 5:31, Rev 18:9-11, Rev 18:17-19
take balm: Jer 8:22, Jer 30:12-15, Jer 46:11, Nah 3:19
Reciprocal: Exo 10:7 – that Egypt Jer 49:3 – Howl Jer 50:3 – which Jer 50:24 – and thou wast Lam 2:13 – who can Eze 30:21 – it shall not Mic 7:10 – she that Hab 2:8 – the violence Zec 9:5 – and be Mar 5:26 – had suffered Rev 18:10 – for
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 51:8. Babylon is fallen is present tense in form but future in thought. Suddenly refers to the surprise attack described in Daniel 5.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Jer 51:8-9. Babylon is suddenly fallen It was one of the aggravations of the punishment of Babylon, that her destruction came upon her suddenly and unexpectedly. Howl for her, &c. So the kings, the merchants, and other factors, are described as lamenting the destruction of mystical Babylon, Rev 18:9; Rev 18:11; Rev 18:17-19. Take balm for her pain Use your utmost endeavours, and try every thing you can to save her from destruction. This is spoken ironically, implying her ruin to be irrecoverable. We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed Some think this is spoken in the name of Gods prophets, and the other witnesses of his truth, importing that they had sufficiently testified against her errors and idolatries, but that she was irreclaimable; and therefore that it was time for all the lovers of truth to depart out of her, lest they should be involved in her punishments. But it is more probable that the nations which had been subject to Babylon, and were her allies, are the speakers here, declaring that they had assisted her to the utmost of their power, and had endeavoured to support her sinking cause, but all in vain, nothing which they had done or could do availing to save her from destruction. And therefore, as her case was desperate, it was time for them to shift for themselves, and to leave Babylon to its fate, since it seemed to be the decree of Heaven that it should fall. Those who have written of the downfall of Babylon relate, that when its affairs seemed to grow desperate, it was deserted by most of its allies, few or none of them persevering to lend it any assistance. Her judgment reacheth unto heaven That is, her sin, bringing down Gods judgments; and is lifted up even to the skies It comes to the ears of even God himself, and engages him to take account of it and punish her.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
The fall of Babylon would be sudden and final. The cup that was Babylon would break and be irreparable. People will lament over her demise, and will wish they could revive her, but will not be able to do so (cf. Rev 18:11-19). Therefore, they would abandon her to her monumental judgment (cf. Num 13:28; Deu 1:28).
"What is special to this passage is the note of sadness over her incurable condition (Jer 51:8-9 a)-a note which chimes in with this book’s description of sin as desperate sickness [cf. Jer 46:11], and also with the many glimpses of God’s reluctant resort to judgment when all else has failed." [Note: Kidner, p. 151.]