Jeremiah 46

Textual witnesses

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text tradition, which includes the Codex Cairensis (895), the Petersburg Codex of the Prophets (916), Aleppo Codex (10th century), Codex Leningradensis (1008).^[4] Some fragments containing parts of this chapter were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls, i.e., 2QJer (2Q13; 1st century CE^[5]), with extant verses 27‑28.^[6][7]

There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint (with a different chapter and verse numbering), made in the last few centuries BCE. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus (B; ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}}$^B; 4th century), Codex Sinaiticus (S; BHK: ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}}$^S; 4th century), Codex Alexandrinus (A; ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}}$^A; 5th century) and Codex Marchalianus (Q; ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}}$^Q; 6th century).^[8]

Verse 1

The word of the Lord which came to Jeremiah the prophet against the nations.^[11]

• Cross reference: Jeremiah 25:13

This statement serves as an introduction to the oracles, as Jeremiah 1:2, 14:1 and 25:1 act as introductions to other sections.^[3]

Verse 2

Against Egypt.

Concerning the army of Pharaoh Necho, king of Egypt, which was by the River Euphrates in Carchemish, and which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon defeated in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah:^[12]

• Cross reference: 2 Chronicles 35:20

In May/June 605 BCE the army of Nebuchadnezzar, at the time the Crown Prince of Babylon, defeated the troops of Pharaoh Necho II at Carchemish, on the northern Euphrates 95 km (59 mi) west of Haran (Genesis 11:31), and pursued the troop to the border of Egypt.^[3]

Verse 3

"Order the buckler and shield,

And draw near to battle!^[13]

For "order", some commentators read "prepare" or, more literally, "set in line".^[14] O'Connor suggests that "it is not clear which army is being addressed, the Egyptian for the defence or the Babylonian for the attack".^[2] "Harness the horses" (verse 4, coupled with verse 9) suggests the appeal is addressed to the Egyptian armies, whereas the nineteenth century commentator Edward Plumptre argues that this verse is "a summons to the hosts of Nebuchadnezzar to prepare for their victory".^[15]

Verse 11

Go up into Gilead and take balm,

O virgin daughter of Egypt;

in vain you shall use many medicines,

for you will not be cured.^[16]

• "Virgin daughter": alluding to Egypt’s geographical isolation that provides safety and protection "enjoyed by a virgin living at home under her father’s protection"^[17]