Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 51:31
One post shall run to meet another, and one messenger to meet another, to show the king of Babylon that his city is taken at [one] end,
31. post ] lit. runner. The word survives in this sense in modern English only in the expression post-haste. For the sense here cp.
“Your native town you entered like a post.”
Coriolanus, Act v sc. 5.
First denoting that which is placed ( positum), it came to denote a fixed spot, e.g. a military post, or a place where horses are kept for travellers, then the person so travelling, and then any one travelling quickly. See Bible Word Book.
shall run to meet another ] Bearing the tidings from opposite quarters, they shall meet at the king’s castle in the heart of the city.
on every quarter ] See on Jer 50:26.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The royal palace was a strong fortification in the heart of the city. The messengers thus met one another.
At one end – Rather, from all sides, entirely, completely.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 31. One post shall run to meet another] As the city was taken by surprise, in the manner already related, so now messengers, one after another, were despatched to give the king information of what was done; viz., that the city was taken at one end. Herodotus tells us that the extreme parts of the city were taken, before those of the centre knew any thing of the invasion. Herodot. lib. i. c. 191.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
We have had occasion one and again to recite what we have in civil historians about the taking of Babylon by Cyrus, viz., that it was taken by surprise, by the Median emperors unexpected diverting the river Euphrates by divers channels which he cut; as also that Babylon was a very vast city, the greatness of which might admit of posts and messengers from one end of the city to another, to acquaint the king what was done at the other end of the city in which himself was resident; and it is said that the king of Babylon, when his city, was taken, did not know of his danger until the enemy had entered the city.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
31. (See on Jer50:24).
One postOne courierafter another shall announce the capture of the city. The couriersdespatched from the walls, where Cyrus enters, shall “meet“those sent by the king. Their confused running to and fro wouldresult from the sudden panic at the entrance of Cyrus into the city,which he had so long besieged ineffectually; the Babylonians hadlaughed at his attempts and were feasting at the time without fear.
taken at one endwhichwas not known for a long time to the king and his courtiers feastingin the middle of the city; so great was its extent that, when thecity was already three days in the enemy’s hands, the fact was notknown in some parts of the city [ARISTOTLE,Politics, 3.2].
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
One post shall run to meet another, and one messenger to meet another,…. That is, one post should be after another, and one messenger after another, post upon post, and messenger upon messenger, as fast as they could run; when one had been with his message, and delivered it, and returned, he meets another; or they met one another, coming from different places:
to show the king of Babylon his city is taken at [one] end; or, “at the end” l; we render it “one end”, as Kimchi does; at the end where Cyrus’s army first landed, when they came up the channel of the river Euphrates they had drained. And so Herodotus m says, that when the Babylonians, which inhabited the “extreme parts” of the city, were taken, they that were in the middle of it were not sensible of it, because of the greatness of the city; and the rather, because they were engaged that night in feasting and dancing. Nay, Aristotle n says, it was reported that one part of the city was taken three days before the other end knew it, it being more like a country than a city; which does not seem credible, nor is it consistent with the Scripture account of it; however, it was taken by surprise, and some parts of it before the king was aware of it; who very probably had his palace in the middle of it, whither these messengers ran one after another, or from different parts, to acquaint him with it.
l “a fine”, Montanus; “ab extremitate”, Calvin, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, De Dieu, Schmidt. m L. 1. sive Clio, c. 191. n Politic. l. 3. c. 3.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
This also was fulfilled according to the testimony of heathen authors, as well as of Daniel. They do not indeed repeat these words, but according to the whole tenor of history we may easily conclude that messengers ran here and there, for the Babylonians never thought that the enemy could so suddenly penetrate into the city, for there was no entrance. We have seen how high the walls were, for there were no muskets then, and the walls could not have been beaten down. There were indeed battering-rams; but what was the breadth of the walls? even fifty feet, as already stated, so that four horses abreast could pass without coming into contact. There was then no battering-ram that could throw down walls so thick. As to the fords, the thing seemed incredible; so that they kept a feast in perfect security. In such an irruption, what our Prophet testifies here must have necessarily happened. But it is quite evident that he was the instrument of the Holy Spirit; for Cyrus was not as yet born when this prophecy was announced. We hence then know, that the holy man was guided from above, and that what he said was not produced in his own head, but was really celestial; for he could not have divined any such thing, nor was it through probable conjecture that he was able thus to speak and lead the Jews, as it were, into the very scene itself.
Nor is there a doubt but that this authority was afterwards confirmed when the fathers told their children, “So have we heard from the mouth of the Prophet what we now see with our eyes; and yet no man could have conjectured any such thing, nor have discovered it by reason or clearsightedness: hence Jeremiah must have necessarily been taught by the Spirit of God.” This, then, is the reason why God designed that the destruction of Babylon should be, as we see, so graphically described.
He then says, A runner ran to meet a runner, and then, a messenger to meet a messenger, to tell the king of Babylon that his city was taken at its extremity ? (93) Had this been said of a small city, it might have appeared ridiculous: why are these runners? one might say. But it has been sufficiently shown, that so extensive was that city, that runners, passing through many fields, might have come to the king, and convey the news that the city was taken at one of its extremities. And heathen writers cannot sufficiently eulogize the contrivance and skill of Cyrus, that, he thus took possession of so great a city; for he might have only secured one half of it, and Belshazzar might have retained the other half, and might have bravely contested with Cyrus and all his forces; and he would have no doubt overcome him, had it not been for the wonderful and unusual expedition of Cyrus. This haste, then, or expedition of Cyrus, is what the Prophet now sets forth, when he says that messengers ran to the king to tell him that the city was taken He now adds, respecting other things, what no one could have divined, —
(93) It seems to have been taken at its two extremities: hence the runners met each other at the king’s palace, from both ends of the city, and each said, that it was taken at its end. — Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(31) One post shall run to meet another.The words exactly answer to the account of the capture of Babylon given in Herod. i. (see Note on Jer. 51:24). The history of Belshazzars feast (Dan. 5:1-30) must obviously have ended in a like result. No words could paint more vividly the panic of the surprised city.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
31. One post shall run and one messenger Indicative of haste and confusion.
To show the king Who is in his royal palace. These messengers come from all directions and meet one another in the palace with the same dreadful news.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jer 51:31-32. One post shall run to meet another As Babylon was taken by surprise, this occasioned many messengers to run one after another, to acquaint the king with this sudden and unexpected event. Herodotus says, that the extreme parts of the city were taken before those who lived in the centre were sensible of the danger. The beauty and sublimity of this passage, which describes this event as immediately before our eyes, is lost by our translation. Houbigant renders the 30th and these verses in the present tense, which gives the passage its due force; and he omits the connecting particles, which greatly augments its energy, Jer 51:31. Courier comes to meet courier,messenger meets messenger,to inform the king of Babylon that his city is taken at one side, Jer 51:32. That the passages are stopped [or surprised; see Jer 51:41.]That fires are burning among the reedsthat the men of war are terrified.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Jer 51:31 One post shall run to meet another, and one messenger to meet another, to shew the king of Babylon that his city is taken at [one] end,
Ver. 31. One post shall run to meet another. ] Observe how punctually all things were foretold in the several circumstances more than fifty years before.
At one end,
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
post = runner.
at one end. Supply the Ellipsis by the word “each”, instead of “one” = “at [each] end”. This will accord with the history; for Herodotus says the Babylonians retired to the city, and “remained in their holds”. Cyrus, having turned the waters of the Euphrates, entered the city, by the bed of the river, at each end (see Herod 1 191). Compare Dan 5:3, Dan 5:4, Dan 5:23, Dan 5:30. The Revised Version, “on every quarter”, quite misses the point. This passage, therefore, belongs to the past fulfilment; while others still await a future fulfilment.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
post: Jer 4:20, Jer 50:24, 1Sa 4:12-18, 2Sa 18:19-31, 2Ch 30:6, Est 3:13-15, Est 8:10, Est 8:14, Job 9:25
to show: Jer 50:43, Isa 21:3-9, Isa 47:11-13, Dan 5:2-5, Dan 5:30
Reciprocal: Job 1:14 – messenger Job 1:18 – there came Psa 127:1 – the watchman
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 51:31. Before reading this and the following verse it is very important to read the historical note or quotation made at Isaiah 13: 78 in volume 3 of this COMMENTARY. A post is a runner whose business it is to spread news or reports of great interest, and this verse is a prediction of the events that took place on the memorable night of Belshazzar’s feast and death, city taken at one end. While the king was absorbed in his drinking feast, the Persians were making their way into the city at one end, the place where the Euphrates River entered beneath the walls. (See note again.)
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
51:31 One post shall run to meet another, and one messenger to meet another, to show the king of Babylon that his city is taken at {r} [one] end,
(r) By turning the course of the river one side was made open and the reeds that grew in the water were destroyed which Cyrus did by the counsel of Gobria and Gabatha Belshazzar’s captains.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
The king of Babylon would learn from messengers running from opposite edges of the city that it had fallen. The enemy had captured the fording places of the waterways, and had burned the marshy areas where refugees might hide. He would hear that his soldiers were terrified.