Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 51:45
My people, go ye out of the midst of her, and deliver ye every man his soul from the fierce anger of the LORD.
45. go ye out ] See Jer 51:6, Jer 50:8; Isa 52:11.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The fierce anger of the Lord – i. e., against Babylon. The people of God are to flee away that they may not be involved in the miseries of Babylon. See the Jer 50:8 note.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 45. My people, go ye out] A warning to all the Jews in Babylon to leave the city, and escape for their lives.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
These words are an exhortation to the Jews to be willing, upon the first proclamation of liberty by Cyrus, to go out of Babylon, notwithstanding the pleasantness of the place, and that now their stakes had been pitched there many years, because of the ruin which should most certainly come on that place.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
45, 46. (See on Jer51:6).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
My people, go ye out of the midst of her,…. This is a call of the Jews to go out of Babylon, not before the taking of the city by Cyrus; but when he should issue out a proclamation, giving them liberty to return to their own land; which many of them, being well settled in Babylon, would not be ready to accept of, but choose to continue there; wherefore they are urged to depart from thence, because of the danger they would be exposed unto; for though the city was not destroyed by Cyrus upon his taking it, yet it was by Darius Hystaspes some time after. The same call is given to the people of God to come out of mystical Babylon, Re 18:4;
and deliver ye every man his soul from the fierce anger of the Lord; shown in the destruction of Babylon; [See comments on Jer 51:6].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Since Babylon will be punished by the Lord with destruction, the people of God are to flee out of it, and to preserve their lives from the fierce anger of Jahveh, which will discharge itself on Babylon. , as in Jer 4:8, Jer 4:26, etc.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
Vs. 45-58: BABYLON IS FALLENI
1. Again the Lord calls upon His people to flee from Babylon, thus, escaping his fierce indignation and saving their own lives, (vs. 45; Isa 48:20; comp. Gen 19:12-16; Act 2:40).
2. They must not be discouraged, or faint-hearted, because of the political intrigue and violence in the land -when ruler is against
ruler! (vs. 46; Jer 46:21-28; Isa 43:5; Isa 13:3-5; comp. Isa 19:2).
3. When judgment falls upon Babylon, heaven and earth will herald the news with joy! (vs. 47-48a; comp. Isa 44:23; Isa 48:20; Isa 49:13).
4. Because of the slain of Israel, and the desecration of Jehovah’s temple in Jerusalem, Babylon will fall to an enemy from the north, (vs. 48b-51; comp. vs. 11, 27, Jer 50:29; Psa 137:8-9).
5. Again the Jews are urged to remember and return to Jerusalem (Psa 137:6) – fleeing the calamity that is about to fall upon the city of pride, (vs. 50,45; Deu 4:29-31).
6. Though Babylon builds fortifications that reach into the heavens, she, and her idols, cannot escape the destroyer that God is sending against her! (vs. 52-53; comp. Jer 49:16; Psa 139:8-10; Isa 14:12-13).
7. Midst the crash of the battle, a mighty cry rises up from Babylon; the Lord is bringing the hum of the great city to a devastating silence, (vs. 54-55a; comp. Jer 50:46).
8. The surging masses of Babylon’s foe are likened to the roar of mighty waves that flow over the walls and bring the queen of nations to an ignominious end! (vs. 55b-57; comp. Psa 124:2-5; Hab 2:8; Psa 76:1-12; Psa 94:1-2; Jer 25:27).
9. Her broad walls (11-25 feet thick) and lofty gates (40-60 feet high) are leveled and burned with fire, (vs. 58; Isa 45:1-2).
10. How utterly FOOLISH for men to exert themselves for what goes up in smoke, or to exhaust themselves for nothingness! (comp. Hab 2:13).
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
Here the Prophet exhorts the Israelites to flee from Chaldea and Assyria. Yet this exhortation was intended for another purpose, to encourage them in the hope of deliverance; for it was hardly credible that they should ever have a free exit, for Babylon was to them like a sepulcher. As then he exhorts them as to their deliverance, he intimates that God would be their redeemer, as he had promised. But he shows that God’s vengeance on Babylon would be dreadful, when he says, Flee from the indignation of God’s wrath.
We must, however, observe, that the faithful were thus awakened, lest, being inebriated with the indulgences of the Chaldeans, they should obstinately remain there, when God stretched forth his hand to them; for we know what happened when liberty to return was given to the Israelites — a small portion only returned; some despised the great favor of God; they were so accustomed to their habitations, and were so fixed there, that they made no account of the Temple, nor of the land promised them by God. The Prophet, then, that he might withdraw the faithful from such indulgences, says, that all who, in their torpor, remained there, would be miserable, because the indignation of God would kindle against that city. We now perceive the object of the Prophet.
It appears, indeed, but a simple exhortation to the Jews to remove, that they might not be polluted with the filth of Babylon, but another end is also to be regarded, proposed by the holy Prophet. This exhortation, then, contains in it a promise of return, as though he had said, that they were not to fear, because liberty would at length be given them, as God had promised. In the meantime, a stimulant is added to the promise, lest the Israelites should be delighted with the pleasures of Chaldea, and thus despise the inheritance promised them by God; for we know how great was the pleasantness of that land, and how great was the abundance it possessed of all blessings; for the fruitfulness of that land is more celebrated than that of all other countries. No wonder, then, that the Prophet so strongly urged the Jews to return, and that he set before them the vengeance of God to frighten them with terror, in case they slumbered in Chaldea. And he afterwards adds, —
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(45) Go ye out of the midst of her . . .The prophet repeats, with all the emphasis of iteration, the summons of Jer. 50:8; Jer. 51:6. The fierce anger of the Lord is that which was directed primarily against Babylon, but which would also fall on those who chose to remain and become partakers in her plagues. (Compare Rev. 18:4.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
God’s People Are Called On To Flee From Babylon ( Jer 51:45-46 ).
This is not so much a call to God’s people to return from exile, as a call to flee for their lives, deserting Babylon and all that it stood for, because of the catastrophe that was coming on it. Compare Jer 50:8; Jer 51:6. It is saying that Babylon was not the place for God’s people to be, because it was subject to the anger of YHWH against its multitudinous sins. They were, however, to bring Jerusalem to mind (Jer 51:50). And the same applies today to the ‘Babylon’ represented by this world with its selfish aims and motives, and all its sexual crudeness and ‘liberality’. God’s people are to flee from it, for it is under the wrath of God, and instead they are to look to the heavenly Jerusalem (Heb 12:22).
Jer 51:45-46
“My people, go you out of the midst of her,
And save yourselves every man from the fierce anger of YHWH,
And do let not your heart faint,
Nor fear you for the tidings that will be heard in the land,
For tidings will come one year,
And after that in another year, tidings,
And violence in the land,
Ruler against ruler.”
The call, then is for God’s people to flee from Babylon. We are reminded of Lot’s flight from Sodom (Gen 19:12-13). Babylon was subject to the same anger, an anger arising because of the sins of Babylon. God’s anger is never arbitrary. It results from His aversion to sin. Note the individuality of the appeal. Each must ensure his own escape. Nor were they to fear the tidings that they would hear from Babylonia, for it was to be subject to a period of great political uncertainty, as year by year tidings of violence flowed from the land, with ruler battling against ruler.
Certainly after the death of Nebuchadrezzar uncertainty reigned in Babylonia. The rising power of the Medes and Persians threatened without, whilst the murder of Nebuchadrezzar’s son Evil-merodach (in 560 BC) would be brought about by Neriglissar, Nebuchadrezzar’s son-in-law, who would himself be killed fighting against Babylon’s enemies (in 555 BC). His infant son Labashi Marduk would also take the throne only to be replaced within months by Nabonidus, father of Belshazzar. And Nabonidus would ‘retire’ to Arabia (the details are obscure), leaving his son to rule Babylon. All was uncertainty.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Jer 51:45 My people, go ye out of the midst of her, and deliver ye every man his soul from the fierce anger of the LORD.
Ver. 45. My people, go ye out of the midst of her. ] This is much pressed, Jer 48:6 and it was but need; for many of the Jews were as hardly drawn to depart thence as a dog, ab uncto corio, from a fat morsel.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Jer 51:45-48
45Come forth from her midst, My people,
And each of you save yourselves
From the fierce anger of the Lord.
46Now so that your heart does not grow faint,
And you are not afraid at the report that will be heard in the land-
For the report will come one year,
And after that another report in another year,
And violence will be in the land
With ruler against ruler-
47Therefore behold, days are coming
When I will punish the idols of Babylon;
And her whole land will be put to shame
And all her slain will fall in her midst.
48Then heaven and earth and all that is in them
Will shout for joy over Babylon,
For the destroyers will come to her from the north,
Declares the Lord.
Jer 51:45-48 This is another poem with two emphases.
1. YHWH calls for His people to leave the city of Babylon before His judgment comes (cf. Jer 50:8; Jer 51:6)
2. YHWH will punish Babylon
Jer 51:46 This may relate to Jer 50:28. There are two reports circulating.
1. Judah/Israel’s restoration (cf. Isa 48:20)
2. Babylon’s fall
lest your heart grow faint The faith challenge to God’s people is do not fear, do not lose heart, because I am with you; I am in control (cf. Deu 3:22; Deu 7:18; Deu 20:3; Deu 31:6; Deu 31:8; Jos 1:6-7; Jos 1:9; Isa 43:5; Jer 46:27-28). This same admonition is for the people of faith today!
The Jerome Biblical Commentary (p. 336) and NASB Study Bible (p. 1142) assert that this verse is reflected in Jesus’ eschatological discourse of Mat 24:6 ff.
Jer 51:48 heaven and earth These are the two ancient witnesses (cf. Isa 44:23; Isa 49:13). They summarize all creation (cf. Gen 1:1). Heaven refers to the atmosphere above the earth. See Special Topic: Heaven .
from the north See notes at Jer 50:3; Jer 50:9; Jer 50:41, which build on Jer 1:13-15.
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
go: Jer 51:6, Jer 51:9, Jer 51:50, Jer 50:8, Isa 48:20, Zec 2:7, Rev 14:8-11, Rev 18:4
deliver: Gen 19:12-16, Num 16:26, Act 2:40, 2Co 6:17
Reciprocal: Isa 52:2 – Shake Isa 52:11 – depart ye Zec 2:6 – and flee
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 51:45, This verse is a prediction in the form of an order. God’s people were to be released after Babylon was captured by the Persians, and they were to be given the privilege of returning to their own land.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Jer 51:45-46. My people, go ye out of the midst of her, &c. See note on Jer 50:8. And lest your heart faint, and ye fear for the rumour, &c. Lest the rumours of new forces, ready to join themselves to the Babylonians, dishearten you, and make you despair of seeing so great an empire subdued by any human power. A rumour shall come one year, and after that in another year This seems to be an idiomatic phrase, denoting that terrifying rumours should continue year after year. And in these words the prophet, by Gods direction, gives signs or tokens to the captive Jews, whereby they might know the exact time when Babylon should be taken, and, consequently, when they should remove from the city into some other place, that they might not be terrified, and induced to quit the city before there was any occasion for their doing so; and he acquaints them that there should come a rumour one year, namely, of Cyruss preparations against the Babylonians; and that the next year there should be another rumour, namely, as we may suppose, of Cyruss march into Asia, and his victories there, and of his drawing nearer and nearer to Babylon every day. And violence in the land, ruler against ruler It is possible, says Blaney, that the contests between the adverse powers of Babylon and Media, during which the dominions of the former were subjected to the miseries of foreign invasion, may alone be here intended. But Berosus, the Chaldean historian, as cited by Josephus, Contra Apion, lib. 1., gives an account of civil violences and disorders that were committed in the land after the death of Nebuchadnezzar, whose son, Evil-merodach, was, after a short reign, murdered, and his throne usurped by one of his subjects. The usurpers son, who succeeded him, was also murdered in his turn, and the kingdom restored to the lawful heir; and all this happened in the course of a few years previous to the foreign invasion. These therefore, I think, are more likely to be the violence in this passage alluded to, and introduced as the forerunners of still greater devastations.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
The Lord directed His people to leave Babylon, because He would bring judgment on her, and because He would fulfill the promises of Israel’s restoration (cf. Jer 51:6; Jer 50:8). It was God’s will for the Israelites to return to the Promised Land at the end of the Exile.