Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 6:22
Thus saith the LORD, Behold, a people cometh from the north country, and a great nation shall be raised from the sides of the earth.
22. from the north country ] The reference, originally at any rate, was to the Scythians. See on Jer 1:14.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
22 30. The last of the four divisions. See introd. note to the ch.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Raised – Or, awakened, to undertake distant expeditions.
The sides of the earth – Or ends, the most distant regions (see Jer 25:32).
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Now the prophet is showing what these destructive stumbling-blocks shall be, of which he had prophesied forty years already, and yet they would not be warned. The north country: see Jer 6:1.
A great nation shall be raised; God shall stir up the Chaldeans like a great storm or tempest, Jer 1:15; 25:32. See Eze 23:22.
From the sides of the earth; the remote and uttermost parts of the Babylonian territories, though at the greatest distance, yet God will bring them: which may note the greatness of Gods displeasure against Judah, this circumstance being noted among the curses, Deu 28:49. See Isa 5:25,26, &c.; Jer 5:15.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
22. north . . . sides of theearthThe ancients were little acquainted with the north;therefore it is called the remotest regions (as the Hebrewfor “sides” ought to be translated, see on Isa14:13) of the earth. The Chaldees are meant (Jer 1:15;Jer 5:15). It is striking thatthe very same calamities which the Chaldeans had inflicted on Zionare threatened as the retribution to be dealt in turn to themselvesby Jehovah (Jer50:41-43).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Thus saith the Lord, behold, a people cometh from the north country,…. The Assyrians from Babylon, which lay north of Judea, as in Jer 1:14:
and a great nation shall be raised; that is, by the Lord, who would stir them up to this undertaking. The Targum is,
“many people shall come openly:”
from the sides of the earth; afar off, as Babylon was, Jer 5:15.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
A distant, cruel people will execute the judgment, since Judah, under the trial, has proved to be worthless metal. – Jer 6:22. “Thus hath Jahveh said: Behold, a people cometh from the land of the north, and a great nation raises itself from the furthermost sides of the earth. Jer 6:23. Bows and javelins they bear; cruel it is, and they have no mercy; their voice roareth like the sea; and on horses they ride, equipped as a man for the war against thee, daughter of Zion. Jer 6:24. We heard the rumour thereof: weak are our hands: anguish hath taken hold of us, and pain, as of a woman in travail. Jer 6:25. Go not forth into the field, and in the way walk not; for a sword hath the enemy, fear is all around. Jer 6:26. O daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth, and besprinkle thee with ashes; make mourning for an only son, butter lamentation: for suddenly shall the spoiler come upon us. Jer 6:27. For a trier have I set thee among my people as a strong tower, that thou mightest know and try their way. Jer 6:28. They are all revolters of revolters; go about as slanderers; brass and iron; they are all dealing corruptingly. Jer 6:29. Burned are the bellows by the fire, at an end is the lead; in vain they melt and melt; and wicked ones are not separated. Jer 6:30. Rejected silver they call them, for Jahveh hath rejected them.”
In Jer 6:22 the stumbling-blocks of Jer 6:21 are explained. At the end of this discourse yet again the invasion of the enemy from the far north is announced, cf. Jer 4:13 and Jer 5:15, and its terribleness is portrayed with new colours. The farther the land is from which the enemy comes, the more strange and terrible he appears to the imagination. The farthest (hindmost) sides of the earth (cf. Jer 25:32) is only a heightening of the idea: land of the north, or of the far distance (Jer 5:15); in other words, the far uttermost north (cf. Isa 14:13). In this notice of their home, Hitz. finds a proof that the enemies were the Scythians, not the Chaldeans; since, acc. to Eze 38:6, Eze 38:15, and Eze 39:2, Gog, i.e., The Scythians, come “from the sides of the north.” But “sides of the earth” is not a geographical term for any particular northern country, but only for very remote lands; and that the Chaldeans were reckoned as falling within this term, is shown by the passage Jer 31:8, according to which Israel is to be gathered again from the land of the north and from the sides of the earth. Here any connection with Scythia in “sides of the earth” is not to be thought of, since prophecy knows nothing of a captivity of Israel in Scythia, but regards Assur and Babylon alone as the lands of the exile of Israelites and Jews. As weapons of the enemy then are mentioned bows (cf. Jer 4:29; Jer 5:16), and the javelin or lance ( , not shield; see on 1Sa 17:6). It is cruel, knows no pity, and is so numerous and powerful, that its voice, i.e., the tumult of its approach, is like the roaring of the sea; cf. Isa 5:30; Isa 17:12. On horses they ride; cf. Jer 4:13; Jer 8:16; Hab 1:8. in the singular, answering to “cruel it is,” points back to or . is not for (Ros.), but for , cf. 1Sa 17:33; Isa 42:13; and the genitive is omitted only because of the coming immediately after (Graf). “Against thee” is dependent on : equipped as a warrior is equipped for the war, against the daughter of Zion. In Jer 6:24-26 are set forth the terrors and the suspense which the appearance of the foe will spread abroad. In Jer 6:24 the prophet, as a member of the people, gives utterance to its feelings. As to the sense, the clauses are to be connected thus: As soon as we hear the rumour of the people, i.e., of its approach, our hands become feeble through dread, all power to resist vanishes: cf. Isa 13:7; and for the metaphor of travail, Isa 13:8; Mic 4:9, etc. In v. 28 the inhabitants of Jerusalem, personified as the daughter of Zion, are warned not to go forth of the city into the field or about the country, lest they fall into the enemies’ hands and be put to death. , often used by Jeremiah, cf. Jer 20:3, Jer 20:10; Jer 46:5; Jer 49:29, and, as Jer 20:10 shows, taken from Psa 31:14. Fear or terrors around, i.e., on all sides danger and destruction threaten.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
Vs. 22-26: TERROR FROM THE NORTH
1. Jehovah calls upon Judah to “Behold” a people coming against them from the north country, (vs. 22-23; Jer 1:15; Jer 5:15; Jer 10:22).
a. From the uttermost part of the earth a great nation is stirred up against them – a people who approach with bow and spear, (vs. 22b 23a; Jer 4:29; comp. Isa 5:30; Neh 1:9).
b. Cruel, merciless, loud, swift and orderly, they come to make war against the daughter of Zion, (vs. 23b).
2. At the report of the rapacious hosts bearing down upon them, the people of Judah are paralyzed with fear, (vs. 24; Jer 4:19-20; Isa 28:19; Jer 4:31; Jer 13:21; Jer 30:6); but they DO NOT REPENT!
3. Jeremiah sees “terror on every side” – his people utterly helpless, (vs. 25; 20:3, comp. Isa 5:24).
4. If Judah were wise she would be garbed in sackcloth (Jer 4:8) and wallowing in ashes (Jer 25:34) – lamenting the wretchedness of her sin in such bitterness as one who mourns the loss of an only son! (vs. 26; Amo 8:10; comp. Zec 12:10); the destroyer is coming soon!
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
It was no useless repetition when the Prophet said so often that God said. He might have said only, “Behold, a nation shall come from the north;” but he premises by saying that he derived this message from God, and not only so, but he introduces God as the speaker, that his message might be more impressive. In the former verse he had also said, Thus saith Jehovah, and elsewhere: but he now repeats the same words, that the holy name of God might more powerfully rouse their minds.
Behold, he says, a people shall come from the land of the north For forty years Jeremiah ceased not to proclaim war against the Jews, and also openly to name their enemies: we yet see that so much preaching was without fruit. This was dreadful indeed: but we may thus see, as it were in a mirror, how great is our hardness and stupor, and how great is our fury and madness against God. He then designates here the Chaldeans as a northern nation, and says that it was a great nation: and yet he shews, that the Chaldeans would not of themselves come; it shall be roused, he says. This act is to be applied to God; for though ambition and avarice impelled the Chaldeans to lay waste nations and lands far and wide, yet that war was carried on under the guidance of God himself: he armed and impelled the Chaldeans, and used them as the scourges of his wrath. We may learn this from the verb יעור, iour, “ shall be roused;” and he says, from the sides of the earth, (181) for they came from a distant country. But the Prophet means, that there would be nothing to hinder the Chaldeans from entering Judea, and from destroying and putting to flight the people, and from demolishing the city and the temple.
(181) The ancient versions render it, “from the end, or ends, or extremities, of the earth.” — Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
5. Description of the foe (Jer. 6:22-26)
TRANSLATION
(22) Thus said the LORD: Behold, a people is about to come from a north land, a great nation shall be aroused from the uttermost parts of the earth.
(23) Bow and spear they bear. They are ruthless and have no compassion. Their voices roar like the sea. Upon horses they ride equipped as men for war against you, O daughter of Zion. (24) We have heard the report of them. Our hands are feeble. Anguish has taken hold of us, pain as a woman in childbirth. (25) Do not go out into the field nor walk in the way for the enemy has a sword, terror round about. (26) O daughter of My people, Gird on sackcloth and wallow in the dust; make for your selves the mourning of an only son, most bitter lamentation for suddenly the spoiler shall come upon us.
COMMENTS
In order to impress once again upon the minds of the people what the nation of Judah is up against, Jeremiah describes in terrifying detail the foe from the north. In contrast to tiny Judah the northern foe is a great nation. They come from the uttermost part of the earth (v, 22). In Jer. 31:8 this phrase is used of Babylon (cf. Jer. 25:32; Isa. 14:13). The enemy soldiers carry both bow and spear. They are ruthless and have compassion on no one. The cruelty of the Mesopotamian armies in antiquity is well documented in the monuments, They were feared throughout the ancient Near East (cf. Nah. 3:1; Hab. 1:6-7). The noise of their countless horsemen and chariotry resembled the roar of the sea. This vast and invincible army will shortly come to make war against the daughter of Zion, the inhabitants of Jerusalem (Jer. 6:23).
In Jer. 6:24 the prophet again projects himself into the future to describe the reaction of the populace of Jerusalem as this vast host approaches. He identifies himself with his people and expresses the general feeling of anxiety and pain which will prevail in the city at that time. The Jewish soldiers lose their courage; they are too scared to resist. Throughout Jerusalem there is panic and pain which can only be compared to that which a woman experiences in childbirth (Jer. 6:24). No one is safe; the enemy is everywhere. No one should venture outside the walls of Jerusalem. Terror surrounds the city (Jer. 6:25). In view of the spoilers rapid descent on Jerusalem, Jeremiah calls his countrymen to bitter lamentation. The bereavement for the loss of an only son was the most severe a Hebrew could suffer (cf. Amo. 8:10; Zec. 12:10). Jeremiah loves his nation as a father loves his daughter and thus he addresses Judah as the daughter of my people. They refused to shed the tears of repentance; they will now be forced to shed the tears of lamentation (Jer. 6:26).
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(22) From the north country . . .The words point, as in Jer. 1:13-15, to the Chaldan, perhaps, also, to the Scythian, invasion. So the north quarters are used in Eze. 38:6; Eze. 38:15; Eze. 39:2 of the home of Gog as the representative of the Scythian tribes.
Shall be raised.Literally, shall be roused, or awakened.
The sides of the earth.sc., its ends, or far-off regions.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
GREATNESS OF THE CALAMITY, Jer 6:22-30.
22. The north country Babylonia.
Sides of the earth Rather, ends; most distant regions. As the enemy comes from these, so the captivity will be to these. (Jer 31:8.)
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jer 6:22. Behold, a people, &c. The Chaldeans are here again described as in chap. Jer 5:15, &c. a distant nation, violent, cruel, armed with bows and spears, and well mounted: Instead of sides of the earth, we may read, the coasts, ends, or extremities.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
The last of these verses throws a light on the whole passage, by way of explanation, on the principles of the gospel of Christ. All men are as reprobate silver, until the Great Refiner and Purifier of silver hath brought them through the furnace of his regenerating and renewing Spirit. All in themselves are forever rejected, until chosen and accepted in Jesus. Eph 1:4-7 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jer 6:22 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, a people cometh from the north country, and a great nation shall be raised from the sides of the earth.
Ver. 22. Thus saith the Lord. ] It is not in vain that this is so oft prefaced to the ensuing prophecies. Dictum Iehovae The word the Lord is very emphatic and authoritative.
Behold, a people cometh from the north.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Jer 6:22-26
22Thus says the LORD,
Behold, a people is coming from the north land,
And a great nation will be aroused from the remote parts of the earth.
23They seize bow and spear;
They are cruel and have no mercy;
Their voice roars like the sea,
And they ride on horses,
Arrayed as a man for the battle
Against you, O daughter of Zion!
24We have heard the report of it;
Our hands are limp.
Anguish has seized us,
Pain as of a woman in childbirth.
25Do not go out into the field
And do not walk on the road,
For the enemy has a sword,
Terror is on every side.
26O daughter of my people, put on sackcloth
And roll in ashes;
Mourn as for an only son,
A lamentation most bitter.
For suddenly the destroyer
Will come upon us.
Jer 6:22-26 This strophe describes the Mesopotamian invaders (cf. Jer 50:41-43).
1. they come from the north
2. they are a great nation
3. they are aroused by God
4. they seize bow and spear (BDB 475 I, javelin in 1Sa 17:6 or sword in DSS)
5. they are cruel and have no mercy (cf. Isa 13:18)
6. their voices roar (cf. Isa 5:30; Isa 17:12)
7. they ride horses (cf. Jer 4:13; Jer 4:19)
It also describes Zion’s response.
1. they have heard the report
2. their hands are limp (from fear, cf. Isa 13:7; Zep 3:16)
3. anguish seizes them (like childbirth)
4. they (Qere) are afraid to travel
5. they grieve (see Special Topic at Jer 2:37)
a. put on sackcloth
b. roll in ashes (cf. Jer 25:34)
c. mourn as for a son
d. lament bitterly
The destroyer will come suddenly!
Jer 6:25 Terror is on every side This is a recurrent phrase in Jeremiah (cf. Jer 20:3-4; Jer 20:10; Jer 46:5; Jer 49:29).
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
the sides, &c. Idiom for a great distance.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Jer 6:22-26
Jer 6:22-24
“Thus saith Jehovah, Behold, a people cometh from the north country; and a great nation shall be stirred up from the uttermost parts of the earth. They lay hold on the bow and the spear, they are cruel, and have no mercy; their voice roareth like the sea, and they ride upon horses, every one set in array, as a man to the battle, against thee, O daughter of Zion. We have heard the report thereof; our hands wax feeble: anguish hath taken hold of us; and pangs, as of a woman in travail.”
“Everyone set in array, as a man for the battle …” (Jer 6:23). This reference to an army marching in closed ranks “could not apply to the barbaric Scythians.
The Babylonians indeed were a merciless and cruel invader, but perhaps not so terrible as the Assyrians; and some have found an element of mercy in God’s deliverance of Judah to Babylon instead of Assyria; but either nation was more than terrible enough.
Feinberg noted that the use of cavalry in a military charge, as contrasted with the use of horses in drawing the chariots such as those used in Egypt, was apparently a new thing here.
Jer 6:25-26
“Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way: for the sword of the enemy and terror, are on every side. O daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth, and wallow thyself in ashes: make thee mourning, as for an only son, most bitter lamentation; for the destroyer shall suddenly come upon us.”
“O daughter of my people …” (Jer 6:26). The pathos in the heart of the prophet with such a tragic message shows in this pathetic remark; the very words seem to drip with tears. Note in the final clause the pronoun “us.” Jeremiah surely identified himself with the miseries coming upon the beloved city.
“Wallow thyself in ashes …” (Jer 6:26). “It was the custom of Jewish mourners to cast ashes only upon their heads; wallowing in them therefore refers to something far more than ordinary grief. Actually, there was no adequate manner for symbolizing the horrible grief that overcame the people of God in their capture and captivity.
5. Description of the foe (Jer 6:22-26)
In order to impress once again upon the minds of the people what the nation of Judah is up against, Jeremiah describes in terrifying detail the foe from the north. In contrast to tiny Judah the northern foe is a great nation. They come from the uttermost part of the earth (v, 22). In Jer 31:8 this phrase is used of Babylon (cf. Jer 25:32; Isa 14:13). The enemy soldiers carry both bow and spear. They are ruthless and have compassion on no one. The cruelty of the Mesopotamian armies in antiquity is well documented in the monuments, They were feared throughout the ancient Near East (cf. Nah 3:1; Hab 1:6-7). The noise of their countless horsemen and chariotry resembled the roar of the sea. This vast and invincible army will shortly come to make war against the daughter of Zion, the inhabitants of Jerusalem (Jer 6:23).
In Jer 6:24 the prophet again projects himself into the future to describe the reaction of the populace of Jerusalem as this vast host approaches. He identifies himself with his people and expresses the general feeling of anxiety and pain which will prevail in the city at that time. The Jewish soldiers lose their courage; they are too scared to resist. Throughout Jerusalem there is panic and pain which can only be compared to that which a woman experiences in childbirth (Jer 6:24). No one is safe; the enemy is everywhere. No one should venture outside the walls of Jerusalem. Terror surrounds the city (Jer 6:25). In view of the spoilers rapid descent on Jerusalem, Jeremiah calls his countrymen to bitter lamentation. The bereavement for the loss of an only son was the most severe a Hebrew could suffer (cf. Amo 8:10; Zec 12:10). Jeremiah loves his nation as a father loves his daughter and thus he addresses Judah as the daughter of my people. They refused to shed the tears of repentance; they will now be forced to shed the tears of lamentation (Jer 6:26).
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
a people: Jer 6:1, Jer 1:14, Jer 1:15, Jer 5:15, Jer 10:22, Jer 25:9, Jer 50:41-43
Reciprocal: Isa 13:9 – cruel Jer 4:6 – for I will Jer 13:20 – and Jer 50:42 – hold Eze 21:7 – For the Eze 21:31 – and skilful Eze 23:22 – and I Hab 1:6 – I raise Mat 24:6 – ye shall hear
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 6:22. We know this is the meaning the prophet puts into his use of stumblingblocks, for this verse which follows immediately begins with the word thus which Is a word of comparison. He then makes a literal prediction of what that obstacle was to be; it was the invasion of some people from the north. (See the explanation of thaf last word in a note at Isa 14:31 in Vol. 3 of this Commentary.)
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Jer 6:22-26. The Foe from the North is again described (cf. Jer 5:15-17) in his advance against Jerusalem (Jer 6:22-23). Its inhabitants utter their dismay (wax feeble, Jer 6:24; Heb. are slack). The prophet warns of the danger without (Jer 6:25), and bids the (individualised) people mourn (Amo 8:10, Zec 12:10) for the coming disaster.
Jer 6:22-24 are repeated in connexion with Babylon in Jer 50:41-43.
Fuente: Peake’s Commentary on the Bible
6:22 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, a people cometh from the {s} north country, and a great nation shall be raised from the sides of the earth.
(s) From Babylon by Dan, which was north of Jerusalem.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
The people’s response to the invader’s attack 6:22-26
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)
Again Yahweh announced that people from a great and distant land would descend on Judah from the north.