Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 51:61
And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, When thou comest to Babylon, and shalt see, and shalt read all these words;
61, 62. then see and say ] From “and say” to the end of Jer 51:62 is probably the addition of a compiler; it is a needless interruption to the close connexion of the preceding words with Jer 51:63.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Not to the Chaldeans, nor possibly is it to be understood of a mere private reading of them to himself, but to the Jews that were in Babylon, acquainting them with what God had spoken against Babylon by the prophet.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
61. readnot in public, forthe Chaldeans would not have understood Hebrew; but inprivate, as is to be inferred from his addressing himself altogetherto God (Jer 51:62) [CALVIN].
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And Jeremiah said to Seraiah,…. At the time he delivered the copy to him:
when thou comest to Babylon; or art come to Babylon, to the city of Babylon, and to the captive Jews there:
and shalt see them; the captives; or rather the great and populous city of Babylon, its high walls, gates, and towers, whose destruction is foretold in this book, and which might seem incredible. Abarbinel interprets it of his looking into the book given him; which he thinks was not to be opened and looked into till he came to Babylon:
and shalt read all these words; not before the king of Babylon and his princes, and yet not privately to himself; but in some proper place, in the presence of the captive Jews, or the chief of them, convened for that purpose.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Jeremiah, then, wrote in a book all the evil which was to come on Babylon, even all those words, (he refers to the prophecies which we have seen;) and Jeremiah said to Seraiah, (112) etc. Here the boldness of Jeremiah comes to view, that he hesitated not to command Seraiah to read this book when he came to Babylon and had seen it. To see it, is not mentioned here without reason, for the splendor of that city might have astonished Seraiah. Then the Prophet here seasonably meets the difficulty, and bids him to disregard the height of the walls and towers; and that however Babylon might dazzle the eyes of others, yet he was to look down, as from on high, on all that pomp and pride: When thou enterest the city, and hast seen it, then read this book The verb קרא , kora, means to call, to proclaim, and also to read. Then Seraiah must have read this book by himself; nor do I doubt but that the words ought to be so understood, as we shall see. It was not then necessary for Seraiah to have a pulpit, or in a public way to read the book to an assembled people; but it was sufficient to read it privately by himself, without any witnesses; and this may be gathered from the context.
(112) That the connection may appear more evident, Jer 51:60 and the first sentence in Jer 51:61 ought to be put within a parenthesis; for “the word which Jeremiah commanded Seraiah,” mentioned in Jer 51:59, is what follows, “When thou comest to Babylon,” etc. — Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(61) When thou comest to Babylon, and shalt see, and shalt read . . .The meaning of the Hebrew would be better expressed by, thou shalt see to it and read, or see to it and read. The English version, as it is, leaves it doubtful who or what is to be seen. The verb for read implies reading aloud. Saraiah was to read the prophecy to those whom it concerned, probably to a chosen few among his own countrymen. The idea that it was to be read to the Babylonians is in the highest degree improbable.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
61. And shalt see, and shalt read Better, see that thou read. Not for the purpose of warning the Babylonians, but as part of a proclamation that the Jews might understand.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jer 51:61 And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, When thou comest to Babylon, and shalt see, and shalt read all these words;
Ver. 61. When thou comest to Babylon, and shalt see, ] sc., The sinfulness as well as the stateliness of that city.
And shalt read all these words.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
and shalt see, &c. = then shalt thou look out and read.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
and shalt see: Mat 24:1, Mar 13:1
read: Jer 29:1, Jer 29:2, Col 4:16, 1Th 4:18, 1Th 5:27, Rev 1:3
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 51:61. Jeremiah instructed Seraiah to read the document after he had seen the situation at Babylon.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
The prophet instructed Seraiah to read his prophecies about Babylon publicly, right there at "ground zero"-in Babylon. Some commentators assume that Seraiah was to read the scroll only to the Jewish exiles, but there does not seem to be warrant for this limitation in the text. He was to announce that Yahweh had promised to destroy Babylon completely and to make it desolate. Seraiah carried out a mission to Babylon, similar to Jonah’s mission to Nineveh.