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51:1–64 The judgment oracle against Babylon continues, focusing on Babylon’s ultimate destruction. The poetic oracles of judgment are concluded with an account of a symbolic action representing Babylon’s demise in vv. 59–64.

51:1 Leb-qamai This Hebrew expression means “heart of one who rises against me.” It probably is a coded reference and not a place-name.

Hebrew lev qamay is an athbash cryptogram for kasdim (“Chaldea,” another name for Babylon). The cryptogram clearly is not used to conceal contempt for Babylon, so it is more likely a type of wordplay. The literal meaning of this phrase also emphasizes Babylon’s pride (compare 50:13). On the athbash cipher, see note on 25:26.

Atbash ZEB A—C

51:5 the Holy One of Israel Compare 50:29. This name for God is most frequently used by Isaiah (see note on Isa 1:4).

51:7 a cup of gold in the hand of Yahweh Babylon was Yahweh’s tool to judge the nations. Compare the imagery of the cup of wrath in Jer 25:15–29 and the depiction of Assyria as Yahweh’s tool of judgment in Isa 10:5.

51:11 the kings of the Medes Media was in northwest Iran, the region to the north and east of Babylon. The Medes became a province of Persia in 549 bc and participated in Persia’s takeover of the Babylonian Empire in 539 bc. Compare Isa 13:17; 21:2. See Dan 5:24–30.

Media

Medes ISBE

Medes AEHL

Media AYBD

51:12 Against the walls of Babylon raise a banner Compare Isa 13:2.

51:14 Yahweh of hosts has sworn by himself See Jer 22:5 and note.

51:15–19 This passage is essentially identical to 10:12–16 and makes use of stock poetic imagery about Yahweh as Creator. See note on 10:12; note on 10:13; note on 10:14; note on 10:16.

51:15 the one who made the earth by his power Yahweh’s sovereignty over the universe is linked to His creative power.

51:17 All humankind turns out to be stupid, without knowledge See note on 10:14.

51:19 The portion of Jacob See note on 10:16.

51:20 a war club for me, a weapon of battle Compare Isa 10:5 and note.

51:24 wickedness that they have done in Zion Namely, the destruction of the temple. Compare Jer 50:28; 51:11.

51:25 O mountain of the destruction For the image of Babylon as a mountain, see Dan 2:35.

51:27 Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz Regions of eastern Turkey, northwest Iran, and the Caucasus—all part of the territory controlled by the Medes (see Jer 51:28).

Ashkenaz refers to the Scythians, a people from north of the Caucasus Mountains (Gen 10:3). Herodotus recorded that Scythians invaded Palestine in the late-seventh century bc, making it as far south as Ashkelon. The Minni are probably the Mannai mentioned in Akkadian sources who lived in northwest Iran around Lake Urmia. Ararat refers to the rugged mountainous region of Urartu in eastern Asia Minor or Turkey in the vicinity of Lake Van. The regions were part of the Assyrian Empire but were taken over by the Medes after the fall of Assyria. The peoples of these lands had participated in ending Assyrian rule; now they are being summoned to assist in toppling Babylon.

Assyrian Empire

Scythians ISBE

Minni ISBE

Ararat AYBD

51:30 they have become as women See Jer 50:37 and note.

51:33 like a threshing floor A place where grain was beaten off the stalk with a sledge drawn by a pair of oxen. See note on 1 Sam 23:1; note on Isa 28:27.

51:34 Nebuchadnezzar See note on Jer 21:2.

51:41 Sheshach The Hebrew text uses sheshakh for “Babylon” (see 25:26 and note). Sheshach (Sheshak) is an athbash cryptogram. See note on 25:26; note on v. 1.

51:44 Bel Babylon’s chief deity (called both “Bel” and “Marduk”). See note on 50:2.

51:59–64 The lengthy oracle condemning Babylon concludes with a final symbolic action that Jeremiah performs vicariously through the royal official Seraiah, brother of Baruch (see note on 32:12). Seraiah is part of the delegation accompanying King Zedekiah to Babylon in 593 bc. The delegation might have been in response to the rebellion in Syria-Palestine being promoted by Edom, Moab, Tyre, and Sidon (27:3). Perhaps Zedekiah was bringing tribute to Nebuchadnezzar to emphasize his submission and avoid reprisals (see 27:17 and note). Jeremiah gives Seraiah a scroll listing the disasters that will befall Babylon. He commands Seraiah to read the scroll aloud in Babylon, then tie it to a rock and throw it into the Euphrates River. The action symbolizes that the list will come true; the same thing that happened to the scroll will happen to Babylon.

Symbolic Actions of the Prophets Table

51:59 Seraiah Brother of Baruch. See note on 32:12.

Zedekiah See note on 21:1.

the fourth year of his reign 593 bc. See note on 27:1.

the quartermaster The official responsible for supplies and travel arrangements. His title in Hebrew is literally “chief of resting.”

Quartermaster ISBE

Quartermaster HIBD

51:60 one scroll Probably a papyrus scroll. See note on 30:2.

51:63 into the middle of the Euphrates One of the two major rivers of Mesopotamia. See note on 13:4.

51:64 Thus shall Babylon sink Compare the symbolic actions in 19:10–11.

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