9 Lo, I am sending, and have taken all the families of the north—an affirmation of Jehovah—even unto Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, My servant, and have brought them in against this land, and against its inhabitants, and against all these nations round about, and have devoted them, and appointed them for an astonishment, and for a hissing, and for wastes age-during. 10 And I have destroyed from them the voice of rejoicing, and the voice of joy, voice of bridegroom and voice of bride, noise of millstones, and the light of lamps. 11 And all this land hath been for a waste, for an astonishment, and these nations have served the king of Babylon seventy years. 12 'And it hath come to pass, at the fulness of seventy years, I charge against the king of Babylon, and against that nation—an affirmation of Jehovah—their iniquity, and against the land of the Chaldeans, and have appointed it for desolations age-during.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Jeremiah 25:9-12
Commentary on Jeremiah 25:8-14
(Read Jeremiah 25:8-14)
The fixing of the time during which the Jewish captivity should last, would not only confirm the prophecy, but also comfort the people of God, and encourage faith and prayer. The ruin of Babylon is foretold: the rod will be thrown into the fire when the correcting work is done. When the set time to favour Zion is come, Babylon shall be punished for their iniquity, as other nations have been punished for their sins. Every threatening of the Scripture will certainly be accomplished.