Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 46:9
Come up, ye horses; and rage, ye chariots; and let the mighty men come forth; the Ethiopians and the Libyans, that handle the shield; and the Lydians, that handle [and] bend the bow.
9. Probably a continuation of Pharaoh’s appeal to his warriors, as put into his mouth by Jeremiah.
Go up ] The summons is to cavalry, chariots, and infantry that they should set forth from Egypt.
Cush and Put and the Ludim ] the mercenary troops, who formed from the days of Psammetichus the chief part of the Egyptian armies. The Ethiopians (Cush) were children of Ham (Gen 10:6). The situation of Put is doubtful. It is generally placed on the N. coast of Africa, W. of Egypt, but may have been Punt, a country on the Red Sea. The Ludim (see Gen 10:13) were also Africans. Possibly, however, we should read Lubim here, as in Nah 3:9, i.e. the people of Libya (W. of Egypt). We have the three peoples here mentioned spoken of again as Egyptian mercenaries in Eze 30:5.
bend ] literally, tread, string.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Rather, Go up, advance, ye horses; and drive furiously, ye chariots; and let the mighty men go forth. They march out of Egypt, arranged in three divisions, cavalry, chariots, and infantry, to begin the campaign. The armies of Egypt were composed chiefly of mercenaries. Cush (see the margin), the Nubian negro, and Phut, the Libyans of Mauritania, supplied the heavy-armed soldiers Jer 46:3; and Ludim, the Hamite Lydians of North Africa (see Gen 10:13 note), a weaker race, served as light-armed troops.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 9. The Ethiopians] Heb. Cush, Phut, and the Ludim. This army was composed of many nations. Cush, which we translate Ethiopians, almost invariably means the Arabians; and here, those Arabs that bordered on Egypt near the Red Sea. Phut probably means the Libyans; for Phut settled in Libya, according to Josephus. Phut and Cush were two of the sons of Ham, and brothers to Mitsraim, the father of the Egyptians, Ge 10:6; and the Ludim were descended from Mitsraim; see Ge 10:13. Bochart contends that the Ludim were Ethiopians, and that they were famous for the use of the bow. Phaleg, lib. iv. 26.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Their ancient way of fighting was with chariots and bows; the prophet calls, in the name of the commanders of the Egyptian armies, to the horses and chariots to come on, and engage in the fight. The
Ethiopians were the Cushites, who were neighbours to the Egyptians, so were the Libyans; both of them it should seem were famous for handling the shield: the
Libyans were descended from Phut; both the Cushites and the Phutites or Libyans were descended from Ham, Gen 10:6. The
Lydians were as famous for the use of the bow in war; they were descended from Mizraim or Shem, Gen 10:13,22; the Lydians here meant are thought to be those descended from Mizraim, and some think these were Ethiopians. They were all auxiliaries to the Egyptians in this expedition.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
9. Ironical exhortation, as inJer 46:3. The Egyptians, owingto the heat of their climate and abstinence from animal food, werephysically weak, and therefore employed mercenary soldiers.
EthiopiansHebrew,Cush: Abyssinia and Nubia.
LibyansPhut,Mauritania, west of Egypt (compare Ge10:6).
shieldThe Libyansborrowed from Egypt the use of the long shield extending to the feet[XENOPHON, Cyropdia,6 and 7].
Lydiansnot the Lydianswest of Asia Minor (Gen 10:22;Eze 30:5), but the Ludim,an African nation descended from Egypt (Mizraim) (Gen 10:13;Eze 30:5; Nah 3:9).
handle and bend the bowTheemployment of two verbs expresses the manner of bending thebow, namely, the foot being pressed on the center, and the handsholding the ends of it.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Come up, ye horses; and rage, ye chariots,…. These are either the words of Pharaoh, giving orders to his cavalry and charioteers to make haste and come up to battle, not doubting of victory: or rather of the Lord by the prophet, ironically calling upon the horsemen in the Egyptian army to come on and engage with the enemy, and behave gallantly; and those in the chariots to drive, Jehu like, 2Ki 9:20, with great swiftness, force, and fury, to make their chariots rattle again, and run about here and there like madmen, as the word u signifies, to throw the enemy into confusion and disorder if they could:
and let the mighty men come forth: out of the land of Egypt, as Abarbinel; or let them come forth, and appear in the field of battle with courage and greatness of mind, and do all their might and skill can furnish them with, or enable them to do:
the Ethiopians and the Lybians, that handle the shield; or Cush and Phut, both sons of Ham, and brethren of Mizraim, from whence Egypt had its name, Ge 10:6; the posterity of these are meant. The Cushites or Ethiopians were near neighbours of the Egyptians, and their allies and confederates. The Lybians or Phuteans, as the Targum, were the posterity of Phut, who dwelt to the westward of Egypt, and were the auxiliaries of that nation, and with the Ethiopians and Lydians are mentioned as such in Eze 30:4; as here. The shield was a weapon they much used in war, and were famous for their skill in it, and are described by it. The Egyptians were remarkable for their shields: Xenophon w describes them as having shields reaching down to their feet; and which covered their bodies more than the breast plates and targets of the Persians did; which helped them to push forward, having them on their shoulders, so that the enemy could not withstand them:
and the Lydians, that handle [and] bend the bow; these were the posterity of Ludim the son of Mizraim, Ge 10:13; and were the Lydians in Africa, and not in Asia, who sprung from Lud the son of Shem,
Ge 10:22; they were famous for their skilfulness in the use of bows and arrows; see Isa 66:19; now these are called together to use their military skill, and show all the courage they were masters of; and yet all would be in vain. Bochart x endeavours to prove, by various arguments, that these Lydians were Ethiopians; and, among the rest, because they are here, and in Isa 66:19; described as expert in handling, bending, and drawing the bow; which he proves, by the testimonies of several writers, the Ethiopians were famous for; that bows were their armour; and that theirs were larger than others, even than the Persians, being four cubits long; that they were very dexterous in shooting their arrows; took sure aim, and seldom missed.
u “insanite”, Pagninus, Montanus, Cocceius, Schmidt; “insano impetu agitamini”, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. w Cyropaedia, l. 6. c. 14. & l. 7. c. 9. x Phaleg. l. 4. c. 26. col. 266.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
He goes on with the same subject, and enumerates whatever might discredit his prophecy. For when the faithful saw that the Egyptians went on that expedition not only with immense forces, but had also, as foreign aids, the Ethiopians and the Libyans, and even transmarine soldiers from Lydia, — when they saw hired soldiers from all parts joined to the Egyptians, it was hardly credible that such an army could be put to flight. Then the Prophet says here, that though Pharaoh hired the Ethiopians, the Libyans, and the Lydians, yet with all these forces he would perish.
He again speaks in the name of Pharaoh, Ascend, ye horses; toss, ye chariots, and let the valiant come forth This coming forth may refer to the lands whence they came. He mentions first the Ethiopians, who were near the Egyptians, though separated from them. Then he adds the people of Libya, who were Africans, or who were in the middle between Egypt and Africa. Then he says, that they laid hold on the shield. He points out their principal armor, not that they were without a helmet and sword and other arms, but they mainly trusted in their shields. As we know that the Macedonians wore the pelta, and were remarkable for that piece of armor, so the Prophet says that the Ethiopians and Libyans were furnished with bucklers or shields. He mentions also the Lydians, who were from another part, even from the opposite shore of the sea; for we know that the Lydians were in Asia Minor, while the Egyptians were in the middle between Africa and Judea. The Mediterranean Sea was therefore between them. It hence appears, that auxiliaries from a distance, and with great expense, were procured by Pharaoh when he undertook this war. And it is also probable that other nations were hired; but the Prophet mentions only the Ethiopians, Libyans, and Lydians: and he says, that those named last laid hold on the bow, because they were the best archers. It now follows, —
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(9) The Ethiopians and the Libyans.In the Hebrew, Cush and Put. The verse describes the prominent elements in the composition of the Egyptian army. The chariots and horses had long been proverbial (1Ki. 10:28-29; 2Ch. 1:16; Exo. 15:19). The Cushites were the Ethiopians of the Upper Valley of the Nile, sometimes, as under Zerah (2Ch. 14:9) and Tirhakah (2Ki. 19:9), asserting their independence, but at this time subject to Necho. The name Phut meets us, with Cush and Mizraim, in the list of the sons of Ham in Gen. 10:6; and presumably, therefore, belongs to an African people. Wherever it is mentioned by the prophets it is as an ally or tributary of Egypt (Nah. 3:9; Eze. 27:10; Eze. 30:5; Eze. 38:5). The LXX. version renders it by Libyan, and is followed by the Vulgate and the English. In Nah. 3:9, however, Phut is distinguished from the Libyans (= Lubim); and the LXX. has but one word for both. The word PET is found on Egyptian inscriptions, both as meaning a bowand as the name of a people, and this may correspond to the Put of the Hebrew text. The Lydians, or Ludim, are named in the list of Hamite nations as descended from Mizraim (Gen. 10:13); the name is joined with Phut in Eze. 27:10, with Cush and Phut in Eze. 30:4-5. This would seem to point to an African rather than an Asiatic people like the Lydians. On the other hand, we learn from Herodotus (ii. 153) that, some thirty or forty years before the time of Jeremiah and Ezekiel, Psammetichus I. had settled a large colony of Ionian and Carian emigrants on both banks of the Nile, between Bubastis and the Pelusiac mouth of that river, and that Amasis afterwards formed them into a bodyguard at Memphis. It is obvious that the fame of the monarchy which had its capital at Sardis might easily lead to these Greeks being classed as Lydians, and that thus the name (without entering into its earlier ethnological significance) would acquire a new prominence at the time when the prophets wrote in connexion with Egypt.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
9. Ethiopians Libyans Lydians Auxiliaries or mercenaries, because the Egyptians were not themselves of such physical vigour as to make a nation of soldiers. There is a similar description of the Egyptian army in Eze 30:5.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
YHWH Challenges Them And Dares Them To Go Forth To What Is To Be His Day, A Day Of Vengeance And Sacrifice ( Jer 46:9-10 ).
But YHWH saw things differently. The Egyptian Army was composed largely of mercenaries, experienced warriors from many nations. They appeared invincible. But they are now called on to be aware that it is a day of YHWH’s judgment. Thus while they may go forth proudly, they are to recognise that His sword will drink of their blood, whilst they themselves are to become a sacrifice offered up to Him. Without being aware of it the Egyptians are offering themselves up to YHWH.
Jer 46:9-10
Go up, you horses, and rage, you chariots,
And let the mighty men go forth,
Cush and Put, who handle the shield,
And the Ludim, who handle and bend the bow.
’
For that day is of the Lord,
YHWH of hosts,
A day of vengeance,
That he may avenge him of his adversaries.
And the sword will devour and be satiated
And will drink its fill of their blood,
For the Lord, YHWH of hosts, has a sacrifice,
In the north country by the river Euphrates.’
The army is efficient and well prepared, containing horsemen, and chariots, and mighty men. The North Africans from Sudan and Libya (see Gen 10:6 for Cush and Put) are experienced in armed warfare, while the Ludim are expert bowmen. Ludim possibly refers to Lydians, although North Africans may be in mind (see Gen 10:13). Certainly Egyptian mercenaries would include Greeks and Jews. But despite their expertise they have no hope, for it is the Day of YHWH’s vengeance, possibly for the death of Josiah, but equally possibly because they had pretensions against Palestine and were thus YHWH’s adversaries. Thus it is in the end His sword, as contained in the swords of their enemies, which will smite them, and they will become a sacrificial offering made to Him, offered in Gentile territory.
Jer 46:11-12
‘Go up into Gilead, and take balm,
O virgin daughter of Egypt.
In vain do you use many medicines.
There is no healing for you.’
The nations have heard of your shame,
And the earth is full of your cry,
For the mighty man has stumbled against the mighty,
They are fallen both of them together.’
The prophecy ends with a warning that there is no cure for their ills. There is an irony in the fact that Egypt, in which the people of Judah/Israel had taken refuge, is itself seen as seeking to Israel for its healing. Gilead (east of Jordan) was famous for its healing balms (compare Jer 8:22; Jer 51:8), but such would be their wounds that it would offer them no hope. Indeed news of their rout would go out among the nations, and their despairing cry would be heard by all men, for so devastating would be their situation that even their mighty men, their champions, would be falling over each other and finally collapsing together.
‘O Virgin Daughter Of Egypt.’ The idea of a virgin daughter may be of one well-protected and seemingly invulnerable. But it is being made clear that she is in fact vulnerable, in that she will be looking to Gilead for healing balms. We can compare the Virgin Daughter Israel/Judah (Jer 14:17; Jer 18:13; Jer 31:4; Amo 5:2), and the Virgin Daughter of Babylon (Isa 47:1).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Jer 46:9 Come up, ye horses; and rage, ye chariots; and let the mighty men come forth; the Ethiopians and the Libyans, that handle the shield; and the Lydians, that handle [and] bend the bow.
Ver. 9. Come up, ye horses, ] i.e., Ye horsemen, all the cavalry of Egypt. as Exo 14:7
And rage.
The Ethiopians and the Lybians.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Come up, &c. Figure of speech Eironeia. Compare Jer 46:11.
the Ethiopians = Cush. Mercenaries, forming the chief part of the Egyptian forces.
the Libyans. Hebrew Phut. Compare Eze 27:10; Eze 30:5; and Act 2:10.
the Lydians. Not those in Western Asia (Gen 10:22). All belonging to Africa.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
rage: Nah 2:3, Nah 2:4
Ethiopians: Heb. Cush and Put, Gen 10:6, Phut, 1Co 1:8, Eze 27:10, Phut, Nah 3:9, Lubim, Act 2:10
Lydians: Gen 10:13, 1Ch 1:11, Ludim, Isa 66:19, Eze 27:10, Lud, Jer 30:5
Reciprocal: 1Ch 12:8 – handle Isa 8:9 – Associate Jer 46:21 – her hired Jer 47:3 – the noise Jer 50:14 – bend Jer 51:11 – Make Eze 30:5 – Ethiopia Eze 38:4 – handling Dan 11:43 – the Libyans Nah 3:14 – fortify Zep 2:12 – Ethiopians
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 46:9. Many of the passages along here are in the nature of a challenge to Egypt It is as if the Lord said to her: “Just come on and do your best if you think you can defeat My plans. In that spirit God bids Egypt to come on with her horses and let the (war) chariots rage. She is even challenged to attach to herself all the allies she wishes, such as the Ethiopians and Libyans and others.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
46:9 Come up, ye horses; and rage, ye chariots; and let the mighty men come forth; {g} the Cushites and the Libyans, that handle the shield; and the Lydians, that handle [and] bend the bow.
(g) For these nations took part with the Egyptians.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
The Egyptians and their allies-the Ethiopians, Libyans (or possibly residents of modern Somalia), and Lydians (cf. Isa 66:19; or North Africans, cf. Gen 10:13; Nah 3:9)-pressed the battle (cf. Eze 30:5). Modern Somalia is east and south of Ethiopia. Libya was Egypt’s neighbor to the west, and the Lydian Kingdom was in Anatolia (modern western Turkey).