Jeremiah 46:13 - Meaning and Application

These verses show confusion and fear coming on Egypt. The earlier part of the chapter had already warned that Babylon would defeat Egypt’s army, and that would leave Egypt unable to attack other nations. Still, Egypt felt strong at home, and its neighbors did not dare strike it. The kings of Egypt no longer came out to war (2 Kings 24:7), so they seemed safe enough in their own land. But they would not keep that peace for long. Those who had pushed into other lands would soon have the war brought to their own door, as Jeremiah 46:13 says.

The Lord is showing how the king of Babylon would soon come and strike Egypt. This was fulfilled later by Nebuchadnezzar, though many years passed before it happened. The prophecy begins with an alarm of war sounded through Egypt, to their great shock (Jeremiah 46:14). They are told that the sword is sweeping through the nearby lands, so they must get ready for battle. This warning was to be proclaimed especially in Migdol, Noph, and Tahpanhes, where the Jewish refugees had settled against God’s command (Jeremiah 44:1). They would learn that Egypt was a poor shelter after all.

The text also foretells the retreat of the foreign troops Egypt had hired. Some of these soldiers were likely posted on the borders, where they were driven back by the invaders. The brave men are said to be swept away, like by a driving rain (Jeremiah 46:15; Proverbs 28:3). None of them can hold their ground, because the Lord himself is driving them out. When God’s wrath comes, no one can stay fixed in place.

God made many of them fall, and when their time had come, they stumbled into each other and collapsed together (Jeremiah 46:16). Their own swords were turned against one another. Egypt’s hired soldiers were like well-fed calves, strong and bold, yet they lost heart and fled. Some think the image of fat calves points to their luxury, since they had lived in comfort and were not ready for hardship. Their own comfort had made them weak when trouble came.

In panic, they turned back toward their own countries, saying, “Let us go back to our own people” (Jeremiah 46:16). When danger comes, mercenary troops, who fight only for pay, are not dependable. They also blamed Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, for their defeat, likely because his poor planning or cowardice left them exposed. He had promised support, but when the enemy came, no help arrived. So they called him “only a noise” (Jeremiah 46:17). He made big claims, but he did not deliver. He had missed the appointed time, broken his word, and they would serve under him no more. People who talk the loudest often do the least.

The power of the Chaldean army is then described as overwhelming everything in its path. The Lord of hosts, the King over all kings, has spoken and sworn it. As sure as he lives, Babylon’s king will rise over Egypt like Mount Tabor above the hills and like Carmel above the sea (Jeremiah 46:18). He and his army will come with axes, like men cutting down trees (Jeremiah 46:22). Egypt will be helpless before them, like a forest being chopped down. Though Egypt is crowded with towns and cities, and rich with hidden treasures, the Chaldeans will still plunder much of it. They are compared to locusts, because they will come in huge numbers and strip the land bare (Joel 1:6-7). The Lord of hosts has endless armies at his command.

Egypt’s ruin is also pictured as the destruction of a beautiful heifer, or young cow, fat and lively, not used to the yoke of control (Jeremiah 46:20). Some think this image points to Apis, the bull or calf that the Egyptians worshipped. In that way, the prophecy also recalls how Israel once fell into idol worship with the golden calf.

Egypt is proud and beautiful, like a goddess who admires herself, but destruction is coming. Some read the word here as “cutting up,” and that is the sense: ruin comes out of the north, where the Chaldean soldiers, the Babylonians, will come like butchers to slaughter this fine heifer.

The Egyptians will be brought low and made humble, and their tone will change completely. The daughters of Egypt (Jeremiah 46:24) will be filled with fear and shock. Their voice will be like a serpent’s, very quiet and submissive. They will no longer bellow like a strong heifer, but will hiss from their holes like snakes. They will not dare to complain loudly about the cruelty of their conquerors. Instead, they will whisper their grief and beg for their lives.

They will also be taken as prisoners into the land of their enemies (Jeremiah 46:19). The daughter of Egypt, living safely and comfortably in that fertile and pleasant land, must not think this ease will last forever. She should get ready for captivity. Instead of rich clothes, which may only make the enemy more eager to strip them away, she should put on plain and warm clothes. Instead of fine shoes, she should wear strong ones. She should train herself for hardship so she can bear it better.

This is a warning to us all. In all our preparations, we should also prepare for trouble. We make plans to welcome friends, but we should not forget to be ready for enemies. We should not leave out what we may need in captivity. Egypt must prepare to flee, because its cities will be emptied. Noph will be left desolate, with no inhabitant, so complete will the slaughter and captivity be.

Some penalties seem to spare the great and the many, but not here. The multitude of No, that populous city (Nahum 3:8), will be punished too. Even if they all join together, they will not escape. No one can hide in the crowd. However many they are, they will find that God is more than enough to overcome them. Their kings and all their lesser rulers will fall, and so will their gods (Jeremiah 43:12, Jeremiah 43:13), their idols and their great men. Those they trusted as protectors will not protect them.

Pharaoh will be brought down, along with all who trusted in him (Jeremiah 46:25), especially the Jews who had settled in his land and trusted him instead of God. All of them will be given over to the northern nations (Jeremiah 46:24), into the hand not only of Nebuchadnezzar, the mighty ruler of Babylon, but also into the hands of his servants. This fits the curse on Ham’s descendants, and the Egyptians were among them, that they would become servants of servants. Those who sought the Egyptians’ lives will get them into their hands.

Yet there is also a hint that Egypt would recover in time (Jeremiah 46:26). Later, it would be inhabited again and filled with people, since this judgment would almost empty it. Ezekiel says this would happen after forty years (Ezekiel 29:13). We should notice how nations rise and fall, how they are emptied and filled again. So let prosperous nations not feel secure, and let those who are in hardship not lose hope.

Then comfort and peace are spoken to the Israel of God, the true people of God, in Jeremiah 46:27, Jeremiah 46:28. Some think this refers to those whom the king of Egypt carried away with Jehoahaz, but we do not read of any such captives. It may more likely point to the captives in Babylon, for whom God had mercy reserved, or more generally to all God’s people. The message is meant to encourage them in the hardest times, when God’s judgments are moving among the nations. These same words of comfort were given before (Jeremiah 30:10, Jeremiah 30:11).

Let the wicked of the earth tremble, for they have reason to. But God says, “Do not fear, my servant Jacob. Do not be dismayed, Israel.” Again he says, “Do not fear, Jacob.” God does not want his people to be afraid people. The wicked will be swept away like dross, and no one will look for them again. But God’s people will be found and gathered, even if they are far away. Though they are held fast in captivity, they will be redeemed and brought back.

The wicked are like a restless sea that cannot calm down, so they run even when no one is chasing them. But Jacob, living safely in God, will be at rest and secure, and no one will make him afraid. Even when he is afraid, he has God to trust. The wicked are watched from far away by God, but he says, “Wherever you are, Jacob, I am with you,” a very present help.

A complete end will come to the nations that oppressed God’s Israel, such as Egypt and Babylon. But mercy will remain for the Israel of God. They will be corrected, but not thrown away. Their punishment will be limited in size and length. Nations have their times and seasons. Even the Jewish nation, as a nation, has come to an end. But the gospel church, God’s spiritual Israel, still continues and will continue to the end of time. In that church, this promise will be fully shown, that though God corrects it, he will never make a full end of it.