Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 51:12

Set up the standard upon the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set up the watchmen, prepare the ambushes: for the LORD hath both devised and done that which he spoke against the inhabitants of Babylon.

12. Exhortation to commence the blockade.

watchmen ] those of the attacking force who were appointed to see that the investiture was thorough.

the ambushes ] to attack any of the besieged that ventured beyond the walls; or (better) to take advantage of a sortie to push their way through the opened gates. Cp. Jos 8:12 ff.; Jdg 20:29 ff.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Upon the walls of Babylon – Or, against the walls. The King James Version takes the word ironically, as a summons to Babylon to prepare for her defense; others take it as a summons to the army to make the attack.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Verse 12. Set up the standard] A call to the enemies of Babylon to invest the city and press the siege.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

Some judge these words spoken to the Medes, declaring the will of God, that they should use all probable means to conquer Babylon, or (as some would have it) display their banners upon the walls of it, as signs of its being already conquered: but certainly it is more reasonable to conclude them the prophets words to the Babylonians, either rousing them out of their security, (for it appears they were strangely secure from Da 5; historians tell us that the city was fortified by walls fifty cubits high, and two hundred cubits broad, and by a very deep and large ditch, besides that on one side it had the river Euphrates,) or at least quickening them to make all the preparation they could, though all would be to very little purpose, for God had resolved upon what he would do upon Babylon, and it was already as good as done.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

12. With all your efforts, yourcity shall be taken.

standardto summon thedefenders together to any point threatened by the besiegers.

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

Set up the standard upon the walls of Babylon,…. This is not said to the Medes and Persians, to put up a flag on the walls of Babylon, as a sign of victory, as Kimchi, Abarbinel, and others think; for as yet the city is not supposed to be taken by what follows; but rather to the Babylonians, to set up an ensign on their walls, to gather the inhabitants together, to defend their city, and the bulwarks of it; which, with what follows, is ironically spoken:

make the watch strong; to guard the city; observe the motions of the enemy, and give proper and timely notice; increase and double it:

set up watchmen; meaning the keepers of the walls; place them upon them, to keep a good look out, that they might not be surprised: this seems to respect the great carelessness and security the whole city was in the night it was taken; being wholly engaged in feasting and revelling, in rioting and drunkenness, having no fear of danger, or concern for their safety; with which they are tacitly upbraided:

prepare the ambushes; or, “liers in wait” p; to second or relieve those on the walls upon occasion; or seize unawares the besiegers, should they attempt to scale the walls, and enter the city:

for the Lord hath devised and done that which he spoke against the inhabitants of Babylon; or as he hath devised, so hath he done, or will do: his purposes cannot be frustrated, his counsel shall stand; and therefore had the Babylonians been ever so industrious in their own defence, they could never have prevented their ruin and destruction, which was resolved upon, and accordingly effected.

p “insidiatores”, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Cocceius, Schmidt.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

These words seem to have been addressed to the Chaldeans rather than to the Medes or the Persians, as some expound them; for this is favored by the context; for as he bids them first to raise a standard on the walls, so he adds, Increase the watch, which refers to the citizens of Babylon, and then he says, set the watchmen All this cannot apply to the Persians and the Medes, but must be referred to the besieged, as being most suitable to them. I do not then doubt but that the Prophet here treats, with a taunt, all the efforts the Chaldeans would make for the defense of their city. For not only they who attack a city raise a standard, but also they who are besieged, and this as a sign of confidence, in order to show that they possess sufficient courage to check their enemies, and to sustain all their attacks. It was then the design of the Prophet to show, that however strenuously the Chaldeans might defend themselves, yet all their exertions would be in vain, because God would, without labor, destroy the city.

Raise, he says, the banner on the walls of Babylon, and strengthen, or increase the watch; and afterwards, set watchmen, so that every one might watch with more care than usual. He says at last, set in order the ambushes “When all things have been tried by you, your labor will be without any advantage, for the Lord hath spoken ” When the particle גם, gam, is repeated, it ought to be rendered as and so — for as the Lord hath thought, so will he do what he hath said, etc. He says again that God had thought, lest the faithful should imagine that he heedlessly casts forth threatenings; for this thought often occurs to the mind, that God terrifies without effecting anything, Hence the Prophet, that he might more fully confirm his prophecy, says, that the thing had been meditated upon by God; and we said yesterday that God does not deliberate with himself like men; but as we cannot otherwise understand the certainty and unchangeableness of his secret counsel, nor form an idea of the validity of his decrees, the word thought is mentioned. The Prophet, in short, means, that he brought forth nothing but what God had decreed. For words are often heedlessly uttered, and the reality and the words are not always connected; but Jeremiah testifies that he had taken what he announced from the hidden and immutable counsel of God. Then he adds, what he hath spoken or said; and this refers to his doctrine or his prediction. It follows, —

Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary

(12) Set up the standard upon the walls of Babylon.The Authorised version, following the LXX. and the Vulgate, takes the words as an ironical summons to a defence which will prove fruitless. The preposition for upon may, however, mean against, and this agrees better with the context. The standards are the banners or signals that direct an attack on a given point of the walls. The watch and watchmen are the scouts and sentinels placed to give notice of any attempt at a sally on the part of the besieged. The ambush may indicate generally any sudden attack, or, more specifically, the stratagem of a feigned flight, like that employed by Joshua in the attack on Ai (Jos. 8:14-16; comp. Jdg. 20:33-35).

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

12. Upon the walls Rather, against “the walls of Babylon.” The language is not, as some have understood, ironical, but a summons to the enemy to make the attack. Make the watch strong, etc. This language has reference to the details of attack, rather than modes of defence.

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

Jer 51:12 Set up the standard upon the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set up the watchmen, prepare the ambushes: for the LORD hath both devised and done that which he spake against the inhabitants of Babylon.

Ver. 12. Set up the standard. ] An irony all along, a as Jer 51:11 .

a Hortatio ironica. – Piscator.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)