Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 46:10
For this [is] the day of the Lord GOD of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries: and the sword shall devour, and it shall be satiate and made drunk with their blood: for the Lord GOD of hosts hath a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates.
10. For ] rather, But. For the language here cp. Isa 34:5-6; Isa 34:8. The expression of fierce vengeance, adduced by Schwally and others (see introd. notes) as an argument for rejecting the passage, is not unnatural, when we consider that the death of Josiah and captivity of Jehoahaz (cp. Jer 22:10) were still fresh in memory.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Rather, But that day belongeth to the Lord Yahweh of hosts. They march forth in haughty confidence, but that day, the day to which they are looking forward in proud hope of victory, is Yahwehs day, a day on which they will be the victims sacrificed in His honor.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 10. For this is the day of the Lord God of hosts] The prophet represents this as a mighty sacrifice, where innumerable victims were slain.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Or,
But this is the day of the Lord, & c. Pharaoh is mistaken in accounting this day his own, because of the multitude of his forces, this is
the day of the Lord, who as he is the Lord of all the hosts of his creatures, so hath a particular rule and government over hosts of men: this is further explained by the next words, a day of vengeance, which God hath set apart, in it to be avenged upon his enemies.
The sword shall devour, and it shall be satiate and made drunk with their blood: these phrases only metaphorically signify the great slaughter God would make that day amongst the Egyptians. This the prophet declares that God would do for his honour and glory, therefore he calls it a
sacrifice, by which also he declareth his justice in this punishment of the Egyptians; and for the further repute and credit of his prophecy, telleth them to whom he spake of the place it should be in, viz. near the river Euphrates, where Josiah was slain by him, 2Ki 23:29.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
10. vengeancefor theslaughter of Josiah (2Ki 23:29).
sword shall devour . . . be .. . drunkpoetical personification (De32:42).
a sacrifice (Isa 34:6;Eze 39:17). The slaughter of theEgyptians is represented as a sacrifice to satiate His righteousvengeance.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
For this [is] the day of the Lord God of hosts,…. Or, “but this is the day” y, c. notwithstanding this great apparatus for war, and those many auxiliaries the Egyptians would have, yet it would not be their day, in which they should get the better of their enemies but the Lord’s day; the day he had appointed; who is the Lord God of all armies, above and below; and who would bring his own armies together when he pleased, and give them victory:
a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his enemies: the enemies of his people, as the Targum; the Egyptians, who had been of old the implacable enemies of his people Israel; though now, contrary to his will, they too much trusted to them, and relied on them; according to Kimchi, this vengeance was taken on them for killing Josiah:
and the sword shall devour, and it shall be satiate and made drunk with their blood; that is, the sword of the Chaldeans shall destroy the Egyptians in such vast numbers, that there shall be no more to be slain; or there shall be no desire in the enemy to slay any more; they shall be glutted with their blood. All the phrases are designed to show the carnage that should be made; the vast destruction of the people; the large numbers that should be slain:
for the Lord God of hosts hath a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates; near Carchemish, situated by the river Euphrates, which lay north of Egypt; see Jer 46:6. Here is an allusion to the sacrifices of great persons, which are many; the Lord of hosts had a sacrifice, or a great slaughter of men, his enemies; inflicted punishment on them, wherein his power, justice, and holiness, were displayed; see Isa 34:6.
y “dies autem”, V. L. “atque dies”, Junius Tremellius “sed dies ille”, Schmidt.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
This formidable army shall perish; for the day of the battle is the day of the Lord of hosts, on which He will take vengeance upon His enemies. Among these enemies are the Egyptians, who have grievously sinned against Israel, the people of the Lord, not merely of late, by making war upon and killing King Josiah, by carrying away Jehoahaz, and making Jehoiakim his vassal, but also from the earliest times. For this, Egypt is now to be brought low. The sword shall devour and be refreshed by drinking the blood of the Egyptians. For the Lord is preparing for a slaying of sacrifices ( ) in the north, at the Euphrates. Isa 34:6 forms the basis of these words.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
The Prophet having described the terrible forces of Pharaoh, in which he so trusted, that he dared to boast of a certain victory, now says that the event would be very different: But this day, he says, will be the day of Jehovah’s vengeance; as though he had said, that Pharaoh would look only on his chariots and horsemen, his hired soldiers, their arms and warlike preparations, and that he would not at the same time look to God, who is not without reason called the God of hosts. Though the Scripture in many places ascribes this title to God, yet here it has a special application. For the Prophet derides the folly of Pharaoh, because he thought the issue of the war was in his own hand, as though the over-ruling of all things was not in God’s hand. He then says, that victory depended on God only; and farther, he announces what was to be: This day, he says, will be the day of God’s vengeance.
By these words he intimates that God was incensed with the Egyptians, and the cause we referred to yesterday, even because Pharaoh-necho had in passing through slain the pious King Josiah. He then deserved that God should lay prostrate his arrogance, and also chastise his cruelty and check his tyranny. But when he calls the Egyptians God’s adversaries, this was said for the consolation of the chosen people, to shew that God would undertake their cause. For whence was it that he was an enemy to the Egyptians? even because he would not suffer the pious king to be killed with impunity. We now then understand what these words mean, that this day would be a day of vengeance to the God of hosts; as though he had said, that God would preside over and regulate that war, so that all the forces of Pharaoh would avail him nothing.
he afterwards expresses more clearly, for confirmation, what he had said: The sword, he says, shall devour, and shall be satiated and made drunk with their blood But at the end of the verse he says, that this would be the righteous judgment of God. For God so extols his own power, that he yet would have himself acknowledged to be just whenever he inflicts punishment on the ungodly; for as his severity often appears extreme, hence the Prophets, when they speak of acts of vengeance which God executes, at the same time adds some testimony as to his judgment being righteous, as in this place, when it is said, that the God of hosts had a sacrifice
By sacrifice the Prophet means, that the slaughter would be free from every stain; for it is the same thing as though he had said, “God will be glorified in that slaughter, when all the Egyptians shall be destroyed.” For why do we offer sacrifices to God except that his glory may be proclaimed, that he is just as well as merciful, and almighty, and the fountain of all wisdom and uprightness? We hence see the purpose for which the word sacrifice is used, even that none should dare to blame that slaughter, as though God were too rigid and exceeded the limits of justice in shedding that blood. He then says that all the slaughters would be as so many sacrifices, in which God’s justice as well as his power would shine forth, he again points out the place, the land of the north, nigh Euphrates, in order that more credit and certainty might be given to the prophecy. It now follows, —
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(10) This is the day of the Lord God of hosts.The prophet contemplates the issue of all these great preparations, and sees that they will end in a disastrous overthrow, the righteous retribution for long years of cruelty and outrage. In doing so he falls back upon the language of earlier prophets (Isa. 34:8; Zep. 1:7), in part also upon that of Deu. 32:42. There is to be a great sacrifice, and the army of Egypt is the destined victim; and the banks of the Euphrates (i.e., Carchemish) are to be as the altar.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
10. For this is the day, etc. Rather, but that day belongs to the Lord of hosts.
The Lord hath a sacrifice The Lord is making ready to slay sacrifices. So the slaughter of the Egyptians is represented.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jer 46:10. For this is the day of the Lord That is, as it follows, the day of his vengeance; hence the day of the Lord is used in the New Testament to signify the day of judgment: the same phrase of a sacrifice in the north country, (Bozrah) is used by Isaiah, ch. Jer 34:6.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Jer 46:10 For this [is] the day of the Lord GOD of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries: and the sword shall devour, and it shall be satiate and made drunk with their blood: for the Lord GOD of hosts hath a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates.
Ver. 10. For this is the day of the Lord God of hosts. ] See Isa 34:5-8 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the Lord GOD of hosts. Hebrew Adonai Jehovah Z baoth. App-4. See note on Jer 2:19.
a day of vengeance. On the Egyptians.
made drunk = bathed. Reference to Pentateuch (Deu 32:42).
hath a sacrifice. Compare Isa 34:6. Eze 39:17.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
day of the Lord
See Day (of Jehovah) note, (See Scofield “Isa 2:12”).
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
the day: Jer 51:6, Isa 13:6, Isa 34:6, Isa 34:8, Isa 61:2, Isa 63:4, Joe 1:15, Joe 2:1, Zep 1:14, Zep 1:15, Luk 21:22
the sword: Deu 32:42, Isa 34:5-8, Eze 39:17-21, Zep 1:7, Zep 1:8, Rev 19:17-21
the north: Jer 46:2, Jer 46:6, 2Ki 24:7
Reciprocal: Num 31:3 – avenge the Lord Jos 6:17 – accursed 2Sa 2:26 – sword Isa 2:12 – the day Jer 25:27 – because Jer 46:5 – fear Jer 46:14 – the sword Jer 46:20 – it cometh Jer 47:4 – the day Jer 50:15 – for it Dan 11:43 – the Libyans Zep 2:12 – Ethiopians Zec 6:6 – the north
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 46:10. This is a pronoun referring to the day of the Lord God of hosts, and that day was to be when He brought the Babylonians against the land of Egypt. Sword shall devour means the sword of the Babylonians will slay the people of Egypt. Made drunk does not mean Intoxication in the ordinary sense of that word for blood will not do that. It means the same as to be satisfied or filled and gorged. The passage means the Babylonians will shed an abundance of biood when the Egyptians resist them. Sacrifice in the north country. ‘ The land of Egypt will not literally be taken to Babylon, but it will be sacrificed to the Lords will and the service will be executed by a people from the north whose capital is on the Euphrates. (See verse 6 on the word north.)
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
46:10 For this [is] the day of the Lord GOD of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries: and the sword shall devour, and it shall be satisfied and made drunk with their blood: for the Lord GOD of hosts hath {h} a sacrifice in the north country {i} by the river Euphrates.
(h) He calls the slaughter of God’s enemies a sacrifice, because it is a thing that pleases him, Isa 34:6 .
(i) That is, at Carchemish.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
The outcome of the battle was up to sovereign Yahweh, the God of armies. He would use it to accomplish a slaughter according to His will. Part of His vengeance may have been over Neco’s killing of King Josiah. The "day" in view is the day God would judge the nation; it has no eschatological connotation.