Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 50:38
A drought [is] upon her waters; and they shall be dried up: for it [is] the land of graven images, and they are mad upon [their] idols.
38. A drought ] The Heb. words for drought and sword (differing by one vowel only, reb, ereb) are sufficiently alike to make it quite possible that here as at the beginning of the two previous verses the latter should be read. In that case sword is thought to be used figuratively in reference to the stratagem by which the water supply of Babylon was cut off by its assailants; though this seems rather a farfetched application of the word. Drought on the contrary will more naturally refer to the drying up of the many canals by which the water of the Euphrates was distributed throughout the whole country for drainage and irrigation as well as for commercial purposes. Cp. Jer 51:13; Psa 137:1.
they are mad upon idols ] rather, through idols do they make themselves mad. “Idols,” lit. as mg. terrors, the grotesque objects by which heathen often represent their gods. But there is strong support in the Versions (LXX, Aq., Symm., Syr., Vulg., Targ.) for reading (with different vocalisation) and of idols do they boast themselves (cp. Psa 97:7).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
A drought – Rather, a sword, i. e., military skill and forethought.
They are mad upon their idols – Omit their. The word for idols, literally terrors Psa 88:16 is used in this one place only of objects of worship. Probably it refers to those montrous forms invented as representations of their deities.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 38. A drought is upon her waters] May not this refer to the draining of the channel of the Euphrates, by which the army of Cyrus entered the city. See on Jer 50:24. The original is, however, chereb, a sword, as in the preceding verses, which signifies war, or any calamity by which the thing on which it falls is ruined.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
A drought is upon her waters, and they shall be dried up: some think that this phrase hath a special reference to Cyruss stratagem used in the surprise of Babylon; one part of it was fortified by the great river Euphrates, running on one side, which Cyrus diverted by cutting several channels, till he had drained it so low, that it became passable for his army to go over. Others think that a want of rain is here threatened.
For it is the land of graven images, and they are mad upon their idols: God gives the reason of this judgment, which was their idolatry, and exceeding zeal for it.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
38. droughtAltering thepointing, this verse will begin as the three previous verses, “Asword.” However, all the pointed manuscripts read, “Adrought,” as English Version. Cyrus turned off the watersof the Euphrates into a new channel and so marched through thedried-up bed into the city (Jer51:32). Babylonia once was famed for its corn, which oftenyielded from one to two hundredfold [HERODOTUS].This was due to its network of water-courses from the Euphrates forirrigation, traces of which [LAYARD]are seen still on all sides, but dry and barren (Isa44:27).
their idolsliterally,”terrors.” They are mad after idols that are morecalculated to frighten than to attract (Jer 51:44;Jer 51:47; Jer 51:52;Dan 3:1). Mere bugbears withwhich to frighten children.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
A drought [is] upon her waters, and they shall be dried up,…. Either on the waters of the land of Chaldea in general, from whence should follow barrenness, and so a want of the necessaries of life; hence Kimchi interprets it of a consumption of riches, and all good things; or on the waters of Babylon, the river Euphrates, which ran through it; the channel of which was diverted by Cyrus, and drained and made so dry, that he marched his army up it into the city. Some say Babylon was taken three times, by this stratagem of turning the river Euphrates another way; first by Semiramis; and after Cyrus by Alexander: this may well be applied to the drying up of the river Euphrates, upon the pouring out of the sixth vial, and to the destruction of the antichristian states, signified by the many waters on which the great whore of Babylon or Rome sitteth, Re 16:12;
for it [is] the land of graven images; much given to idolatry; had idols of gold, silver, brass, iron, wood, and stone, Da 5:2;
and they are mad upon [their] idols; greatly affected, and much devoted to them; superstitiously mad upon them: or, “they gloried in them”; as the Targum, Vulgate Latin version, and others p; they praised and extolled them as true deities; as Belshazzar and his nobles did the very night Babylon was taken, Da 5:4; and this their idolatry was one cause of their ruin. The word q for “idols” signifies “terrors”, or terrible things; because their worshippers stood in fear of them, as Kimchi observes.
p “gloriantur”, Vulg. Lat. Schmidt, Munster, Tigurine version. q “horrendis” vel “terriculamentis”, Schmidt, Munster, Calvin; “terricula”, Junius & Tremellius.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Here the same word is used in a different sense: he had often before used the word חרב, chereb, “sword;” but now by changing only a point, he uses it in the sense of waste, or drought. (74) But as he mentions waters, the Prophet, no doubt, means drought; nor was it without reason that he mentioned this, because the Euphrates, as it is well known, flowed near the city, and it was also divided into many streams, so that there were many islands, as it were, made by the skill and hand of men. Thus the city was in no ordinary way fortified, for it was difficult of access, being on one side surrounded by so large a river: it had also trenches full of water, and it had many channels. But Cyrus, as Xenophon relates, when attempting to take the city, used the same contrivance, and imitated those who had fortified Babylon, but for a different purpose; for he diverted the streams, so that the river might be forded. Thus, then, he dried up that great river, which was like a sea; so that Babylon was taken with no great trouble. Cyrus, indeed, entered in by night, and unexpectedly invaded Babylon, while they were securely feasting, and celebrating a festival, as we find in the book of Daniel. However, the way by which Cyrus contrived to take the city was, by dividing the Euphrates into many streams. Hence it was, that the Prophet, in order that the Jews might see, as it were, with their own eyes, spoke nothing without reason, having not only predicted the slaughter and destruction of the city, but showed also the very way in which it was done, as though the event had been portrayed before them.
The reason is added, because it is the land of carvings, or gravings. God, indeed, took vengeance on Babylon for other things, as it has before appeared; but the Prophet here speaks of carvings, that the Israelites might know that there is no certain salvation anywhere else except in the one true God, who had revealed himself to them. Jeremiah, in short, means, that when any country is destitute of God’s help, though it may excel in arms, in number, in wealth, and in wisdom, yet everything under heaven is of no avail without the blessing and favor of God. He has spoken of princes and of wise men, and he has named chariots, horses, and treasures, — all these have been mentioned for the purpose I have just stated, even to show, that were we supplied with all that may seem necessary to defend us, except God protected us, whatever the world may offer would be all in vain; for we shall at length find, that without God neither arms, nor chariots, nor wisdom nor counsel, nor any other helps, can avail us anything.
It follows, that Chaldea gloried in images The word אימים , aimim, means terrors, and giants are called by this name in Deu 2:10, because they inspire terror by their aspect. But this name is no doubt applied to images, because they are only bugbears, des epovantailz, as we say in French. (75) As then they are mere scarecrows, which only frighten children, they are called אימים, aimim. And he says, that they gloried in, or doted on them — for הלל, elal, means both, in Hithpael, as it is found here. It means to boast or to elate one’s-self, and also to be mad or to dote. Either sense would not be unsuitable to this place; for the unbelieving gloried in their idols, and at the same time were mad: yet the first meaning seems to me the best, that they gloried in their idols, as it is said in Psa 47:7,
“
Let them perish who trust in images and glory in them.”
Though the verb there is indeed different, yet the meaning is the same.
It was not, indeed, without reason, that the Prophet reproaches the Chaldeans, that they gloried in their idols, because they thereby robbed God of his honor; for what is ascribed to idols is taken away from God. He intimates, in short, that the Chaldeans would be justly punished as guilty of sacrilege, because they had impiously transferred the glory of God to their own idols. And this passage teaches us, that when God is purely worshipped among us, and when true religion flourishes, it will be our best protection. We shall then be more impregnable than if we had all the power and wealth of the world: nothing can hurt us, if we give to God his due honor, and strive to worship him in sincerity and truth. It now follows, —
(74) It is so rendered by the Vulg. and the Targ., omitted by the Sept., and rendered “sword” by the Syr., and also by Blayney and Henderson. The same incongruity exists as to the treasures; but the sword here, means those who wielded it, the soldiers of Cyrus: they spoiled the treasures, they turned the streams of the rivers. — Ed.
(75) That the Babylonians had large idols or images, which were of terrific size, is evident from Dan 3:1 — Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(38) A drought is upon her waters.Better, A sword. The Hebrew word for drought has the same consonants as that for sword, with different vowel-points. In the original text the form of the two words must have been identical, as the vowel-points were of later introduction. The editors of the present text were probably guided by the thought that the context in this case determined the meaning of the word as meaning drought, and not a sword. So in Deu. 28:22 the text of the Authorised version gives sword, and the margin drought. There is, however, a certain loss of rhetorical emphasis in the change of the word with which the three previous verses had begun. The waters include the canals of Babylon as well as the Euphrates.
They are mad upon their idols.The word for idols means literally terrors, or objects of terror, as in Psa. 88:16; Job. 20:25, and this is the only place in which it is used of the objects of worship. In Gen. 14:5; Deu. 2:10-11 it appears as the name of the Emim, probably as meaning the terrible, or gigantic ones. Here it seems used for the colossal figureswinged bulls, human-headed lions, and the likewhich were the objects of Babylonian worship. (See note on Jer. 49:16.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
38. A drought The consonants of the original for “drought” are the same with those for sword in the verse preceding; the only difference is in the vowel pointings of the Masoretes. Hence there are not a few who believe that the true form of this word is sword, and not drought. But the consistency of the MSS. with one another, the general uniformity of the Versions, and the more exact fitness of the sense, vindicate the present reading, even if they do not demonstrate its correctness; and hence it is better to retain it.
Waters The canals and watercourses constituting the system of irrigation for the Babylonian plain, which system was doubtless at this time, the most perfect on the face of the earth.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jer 50:38. A drought is upon her waters A sword is upon her waters, that they may be dried up; because it is a land of idols, and they glory in vain gods. Our translators, after the example of the Vulgate and others, read choreb, in this place a drought, differently from the reading and sense given to it in the preceding verses, chereb, a sword, as supposing that a sword has nothing to do with waters, But the sword is used metaphorically, to denote either the instrument of divine vengeance generally, or the operations and effects of war in particular; in either of which senses it may be applied to waters as well as to treasures. And the allusion here is evidently to the stratagem of Cyrus, who drained off the waters of the Euphrates, which ran through the city of Babylon, by means of which his troops by night marched along the bed of the river into the heart of the city, and surprised it.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Jer 50:38 A drought [is] upon her waters; and they shall be dried up: for it [is] the land of graven images, and they are mad upon [their] idols.
Ver. 38. A drought is upon her waters. ] Which Cyrus did so drain by many outlets, that without any great difficulty he took the city, assaulting it on two sides. Frontinius saith, a that thrice Babylon was taken by this stratagem; (1.) By Semiramis; (2.) By Cyrus; (3.) By Alexander the Great.
And they are mad upon their idols.
a Lib. iii. c. 7. s. 4.
b .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
idols = horrors.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
A drought: Jer 50:12, Jer 51:32-36, Isa 44:27, Rev 16:12, Rev 17:15, Rev 17:16
the land: Jer 50:2, Jer 51:44, Jer 51:47, Jer 51:52, Isa 46:1-7, Dan 3:1-30, Dan 5:4, Hab 2:18, Hab 2:19, Rev 17:5
mad: Jer 51:7, Isa 44:25, Act 17:16
Reciprocal: Jdg 6:30 – Bring Jdg 18:24 – what have Isa 21:9 – all Isa 57:5 – Enflaming Jer 51:36 – and I will Jer 51:37 – become Eze 23:5 – doted Eze 30:12 – I will make Hos 5:4 – for Act 17:22 – I perceive Act 19:28 – and cried
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 50:38. Drought when used literally refers to a lack of moisture and that was actually brought about in this case. The Persians diverted the stream of the Euphrates River so they could march into the cily of Babylon. Tbe reader should again consult the historical note referred to in verse 3. This great event made a logical occasion for Lhe predictions of the following two verses on the desolation of Babylon.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Jer 50:38-40. A drought is upon all her waters Our translators, after the example of the Vulgate and others, have rendered , a drought, here, whereas they have translated it a sword in the preceding verses, as supposing, it seems, that a sword has nothing to do with waters. But they might very properly have rendered it a sword here also: for this term is used metaphorically, to denote either the instrument of divine vengeance generally, or the operations and effects of war in particular; in either of which senses it may be applied to waters as well as to treasures. And the allusion here is evidently to the stratagem of Cyrus, who drained off the waters of the Euphrates, which ran through the city of Babylon, by means of which his troops, by night, marched along the bed of the river into the heart of the city, and surprised it. For it is the land of graven images, &c. This vengeance comes upon them, because they have been the great encouragers and supporters of idolatry. It may be remarked, that the executioners of the divine judgments were the Persians, who, in opposition to the Sabians, (whose notions the Chaldeans embraced,) followed the ancient discipline of the magi, or wise men among them, and had neither altars nor images; as is attested by Strabo and Herodotus: see Prideauxs Connections, p. 177, and Lowth. And they are mad upon their idols
See note on Isa 57:5. They may well be termed mad who make a god of any creature, and especially those who worship images which their own hands have made. Therefore the wild beasts of the desert, &c. Blaney renders this clause, Therefore shall wild cats, with jackals dwell, the daughters of the ostrich also shall dwell in her; and refers to Bochart in justification of the propriety of his translation. Compare this passage with the parallel one, Isa 13:19-22, where see the notes.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
50:38 A {a} drought [is] upon her waters; and they shall be dried up: for it [is] the land of graven images, and they are mad over [their] idols.
(a) For Cyrus cut the river Euphrates and divided the course of it into many streams, so that it might be passed over as though there had been no water: which he did by the counsel of two of Belshazzar’s captains, who conspired against their king, because he had gelded one of them in spite and slain the son of the other.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Babylon’s waters would dry up, too, in judgment, because of the idolatry that was rampant there. The city of Babylon depended on waterways for irrigation and agriculture, just as the whole nation relied on the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers and their tributaries and canals. When Cyrus captured Babylon, he may have entered under the walls, using the dry riverbed, after he diverted the Euphrates River that flowed through the city. [Note: Harrison, Jeremiah and . . ., p. 185.] But cuneiform documents have put this account of Babylon’s fall by Herodotus in question. [Note: See Edward J. Young, The Book of Isaiah , 3:191.]