8 Move ye from the midst of Babylon, And from the land of the Chaldeans go out. And be as he-goats before a flock.

9 For, lo, I am stirring up, And am causing to come up against Babylon, An assembly of great nations from a land of the north, And they have set in array against her, From thence she is captured, Its arrow—as a skilful hero—returneth not empty, 10 And Chaldea hath been for a spoil, All her spoilers are satisfied, An affirmation of Jehovah. 11 Because thou rejoicest, because thou exultest, O spoilers of Mine inheritance, Because thou increasest as a heifer 'at' the tender grass, And dost cry aloud as bulls, 12 Ashamed hath been your mother greatly, Confounded hath she been that bare you, Lo, the hindermost of nations 'is' a wilderness, A dry land, and a desert. 13 Because of the wrath of Jehovah it is not inhabited, And it hath been a desolation—all of it. Every passer by at Babylon is astonished, And doth hiss because of all her plagues. 14 Set yourselves in array against Babylon round about, All ye treading a bow, Shoot at her, have no pity on the arrow, For against Jehovah she hath sinned. 15 Shout against her round about, She hath given forth her hand, Fallen have her foundations, Thrown down have been her walls, For it 'is' the vengeance of Jehovah, Be avenged of her, as she did—do ye to her. 16 Cut off the sower from Babylon, And him handling the sickle in the time of harvest, Because of the oppressing sword, Each unto his people—they turn, And each to his land—they flee. 17 A scattered sheep is Israel, lions have driven away, At first, devour him did the king of Asshur, And now, at last, broken his bone Hath Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon. 18 Therefore thus said Jehovah of Hosts, God of Israel: Lo, I am seeing after the king of Babylon, And after his land, As I have seen after the king of Asshur; 19 And I have brought back Israel unto his habitation, And he hath fed on Carmel, and on Bashan. And in mount Ephraim, and on Gilead is his soul satisfied. 20 In those days, and at that time, An affirmation of Jehovah, Sought is the iniquity of Israel, and it is not, And the sin of Judah, and it is not found, For I am propitious to those whom I leave!

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Jeremiah 50:8-20

Commentary on Jeremiah 50:8-20

(Read Jeremiah 50:8-20)

The desolation that shall be brought upon Babylon is set forth in a variety of expressions. The cause of this destruction is the wrath of the Lord. Babylon shall be wholly desolated; for she hath sinned against the Lord. Sin makes men a mark for the arrows of God's judgments. The mercy promised to the Israel of God, shall not only accompany, but arise from the destruction of Babylon. These sheep shall be gathered from the deserts, and put again into good pasture. All who return to God and their duty, shall find satisfaction of soul in so doing. Deliverances out of trouble are comforts indeed, when fruits of the forgiveness of sin.