Jeremiah 46:1-12 · Bible study
Jeremiah 46:1-12 Commentary: Egypt's Fall Before God's Sovereignty
Hebrew · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
This passage opens Jeremiah's oracles against the nations, focusing on Egypt.
Research Summary
- Meaning: God's judgment on Egypt demonstrates His sovereignty over the nations.
- Key words: 'al (on/against, v.1); ye'or (Nile, vv.7-8); nekamah (vengeance, v.10); zebach (sacrifice, v.10); tzori (balm, v.11).
- Main debate: Whether the preposition 'al' in v.1 means 'against' (judgment) or 'concerning' (oracle about). The difference affects the tone of the whole collection.
- Theological theme: The day of the Lord as a day of vengeance and sacrifice, where God acts to vindicate His name and humble the proud.
- Best use: Teaching on God's control over history, the futility of human pride, and the call to trust in God rather than earthly alliances.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
1This is the word of the LORD about the nations—the word that came to Jeremiah the prophet
2concerning Egypt and the army of Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt, which was defeated at Carchemish on the Euphrates River by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah:
3“Deploy your shields, small and large; advance for battle!
4Harness the horses; mount the steeds; take your positions with helmets on! Polish your spears; put on armor!
5Why am I seeing this? They are terrified, they are retreating; their warriors are defeated, they flee in haste without looking back; terror is on every side!” declares the LORD.
6“The swift cannot flee, and the warrior cannot escape! In the north by the River Euphrates they stumble and fall.
7Who is this, rising like the Nile, like rivers whose waters churn?
8Egypt rises like the Nile, and its waters churn like rivers, boasting, ‘I will rise and cover the earth; I will destroy the cities and their people.’
9Advance, O horses! Race furiously, O chariots! Let the warriors come forth— Cush and Put carrying their shields, men of Lydia drawing the bow.
10For that day belongs to the Lord GOD of Hosts, a day of vengeance against His foes. The sword will devour until it is satisfied, until it is quenched with their blood. For the Lord GOD of Hosts will hold a sacrifice in the land of the north by the River Euphrates.
11Go up to Gilead for balm, O Virgin Daughter of Egypt! In vain you try many remedies, but for you there is no healing.
12The nations have heard of your shame, and your outcry fills the earth, because warrior stumbles over warrior and both of them have fallen together.”
WEB World English Bible 2000
1Yahweh’s word which came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the nations.
2Of Egypt: concerning the army of Pharaoh Necoh king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon struck in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah.
3“Prepare the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle!
4Harness the horses, and get up, you horsemen, and stand up with your helmets. Polish the spears, put on the coats of mail.
5Why have I seen it? They are dismayed and are turned backward. Their mighty ones are beaten down, have fled in haste, and don’t look back. Terror is on every side,” says Yahweh.
6“Don’t let the swift flee away, nor the mighty man escape. In the north by the river Euphrates they have stumbled and fallen.
7“Who is this who rises up like the Nile, like rivers whose waters surge?
8Egypt rises up like the Nile, like rivers whose waters surge. He says, ‘I will rise up. I will cover the earth. I will destroy cities and its inhabitants.’
9Go up, you horses! Rage, you chariots! Let the mighty men go out: Cush and Put, who handle the shield; and the Ludim, who handle and bend the bow.
10For that day is of the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge himself of his adversaries. The sword will devour and be satiated, and will drink its fill of their blood; for the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, has a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates.
11Go up into Gilead, and take balm, virgin daughter of Egypt. You use many medicines in vain. There is no healing for you.
12The nations have heard of your shame, and the earth is full of your cry; for the mighty man has stumbled against the mighty, they both fall together.”
KJV King James Version 1769
1The word of the Lord which came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Gentiles;
2Against Egypt, against the army of Pharaoh–necho king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon smote in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah.
3Order ye the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle.
4Harness the horses; and get up, ye horsemen, and stand forth with your helmets; furbish the spears, and put on the brigandines.
5Wherefore have I seen them dismayed and turned away back? and their mighty ones are beaten down, and are fled apace, and look not back: for fear was round about, saith the Lord.
6Let not the swift flee away, nor the mighty man escape; they shall stumble, and fall toward the north by the river Euphrates.
7Who is this that cometh up as a flood, whose waters are moved as the rivers?
8Egypt riseth up like a flood, and his waters are moved like the rivers; and he saith, I will go up, and will cover the earth; I will destroy the city and the inhabitants thereof.
9Come up, ye horses; and rage, ye chariots; and let the mighty men come forth; the Ethiopians and the Libyans, that handle the shield; and the Lydians, that handle and bend the bow.
10For this is the day of the Lord God of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries: and the sword shall devour, and it shall be satiate and made drunk with their blood: for the Lord God of hosts hath a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates.
11Go up into Gilead, and take balm, O virgin, the daughter of Egypt: in vain shalt thou use many medicines; for thou shalt not be cured.
12The nations have heard of thy shame, and thy cry hath filled the land: for the mighty man hath stumbled against the mighty, and they are fallen both together.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
1The word of Jehovah which came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the nations.
2Of Egypt: concerning the army of Pharaoh-neco king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon smote in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah.
3Prepare ye the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle.
4Harness the horses, and get up, ye horsemen, and stand forth with your helmets; furbish the spears, put on the coats of mail.
5Wherefore have I seen it? they are dismayed and are turned backward; and their mighty ones are beaten down, and are fled apace, and look not back: terror is on every side, saith Jehovah.
6Let not the swift flee away, nor the mighty man escape; in the north by the river Euphrates have they stumbled and fallen.
7Who is this that riseth up like the Nile, whose waters toss themselves like the rivers?
8Egypt riseth up like the Nile, and his waters toss themselves like the rivers: and he saith, I will rise up, I will cover the earth; I will destroy cities and the inhabitants thereof.
9Go up, ye horses; and rage, ye chariots; and let the mighty men go forth: Cush and Put, that handle the shield; and the Ludim, that handle and bend the bow.
10For that day is a day of the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries: and the sword shall devour and be satiate, and shall drink its fill of their blood; for the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, hath a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates.
11Go up into Gilead, and take balm, O virgin daughter of Egypt: in vain dost thou use many medicines; there is no healing for thee.
12The nations have heard of thy shame, and the earth is full of thy cry; for the mighty man hath stumbled against the mighty, they are fallen both of them together.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
1That which hath been the word of Jehovah unto Jeremiah the prophet concerning the nations,
2For Egypt, concerning the force of Pharaoh-Necho king of Egypt, that hath been by the river Phrat, in Carchemish, that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath smitten, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah:
3`Set ye in array shield and buckler, And draw nigh to battle.
4Gird the horses, and go up, ye horsemen, And station yourselves with helmets, Polish the javelins, put on the coats of mail.
5Wherefore have I seen them dismayed--They are turned backward, And their mighty ones are beaten down, And to a refuge they have fled, and not turned the face? Fear is round about--an affirmation of Jehovah.
6The swift do not flee, nor do the mighty escape, Northward, by the side of the river Phrat, They have stumbled and fallen.
7Who is this? as a flood he cometh up, As rivers do his waters shake themselves!
8Egypt, as a flood cometh up, And as rivers the waters shake themselves. And he saith, I go up; I cover the land, I destroy the city and the inhabitants in it.
9Go up, ye horses; and boast yourselves, ye chariots, And go forth, ye mighty, Cush and Phut handling the shield, And Lud handling--treading the bow.
10And that day is to the Lord Jehovah of Hosts A day of vengeance, To be avenged of His adversaries, And the sword hath devoured, and been satisfied, And it hath been watered from their blood, For a sacrifice is to the Lord Jehovah of Hosts, In the land of the north, by the river Phrat.
11Go up to Gilead, and take balm, O virgin daughter of Egypt, In vain thou hast multiplied medicines, Healing there is none for thee.
12Nations have heard of thy shame, And thy cry hath filled the land, For the mighty on the mighty did stumble, Together they have fallen--both of them!'
Darby Darby Bible 1890
1The word of Jehovah that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the nations.
2Of Egypt: concerning the army of Pharaoh-Necho king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates at Carchemish, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon smote in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, the king of Judah.
3Make ready buckler and shield, and draw near to battle!
4Harness the horses, and mount ye horsemen, and stand forth with helmets; polish the spears, put on the coats of mail!
5Why do I see them dismayed, turned away back? And their mighty ones are beaten down, and take to flight, and look not back? Terror [is] on every side, saith Jehovah.
6Let not the swift flee away, neither let the mighty man escape! — Toward the north, hard by the river Euphrates, they have stumbled and fallen.
7Who is this [that] riseth up as the Nile, whose waters toss themselves like the rivers?
8It is Egypt that riseth up as the Nile, and [his] waters toss themselves like the rivers; and he saith, I will rise up, I will cover the earth; I will destroy the city and the inhabitants thereof.
9Go up, ye horses, and drive furiously, ye chariots; and let the mighty men go forth: Cush and Phut that handle the shield, and the Ludim that handle the bow [and] bend it.
10For this is the day of the Lord Jehovah of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may be avenged of his adversaries; and the sword shall devour, and it shall be sated and made drunk with their blood; for the Lord Jehovah of hosts hath a sacrifice in the north country, by the river Euphrates.
11Go up to Gilead, and fetch balm, O virgin-daughter of Egypt! In vain shalt thou multiply remedies: there is no healing for thee.
12The nations have heard of thy shame, and thy cry hath filled the earth; for the mighty man stumbleth against the mighty, they are both fallen together.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
1The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Gentiles,
2Against Egypt, against the army of Pharao Nechao king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates in Charcamis, whom Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon defeated, in the fourth year of Joakim the son of Josias king of Juda.
3Prepare ye the shield and buckler, and go forth to battle.
4Harness the horses, and get up, ye horsemen: stand forth with helmets, furbish the spears, put on coats of mail.
5What then? I have seen them dismayed, and turning their backs, their valiant ones slain: they fled apace, and they looked not back: terror was round about, saith the Lord.
6Let not the swift flee away, nor the strong think to escape: they are overthrown, and fallen down, towards the north by the river Euphrates.
7Who is this that cometh up as a flood: and his streams swell like those of rivers?
8Egypt riseth up like a flood, and the waves thereof shall be moved as rivers, and he shall say: I will go up and will cover the earth: I will destroy the city, and its inhabitants.
9Get ye up on horses, and glory in chariots, and let the valiant men come forth, the Ethiopians, and the Libyans that hold the shield, and the Lydians that take, and shoot arrows.
10For this is the day of the Lord the God of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may revenge himself of his enemies: the sword shall devour, and shall be filled, and shall be drunk with their blood: for there is a sacrifice of the Lord God of hosts in the north country, by the river Euphrates.
11Go up into Galaad, and take balm, O virgin daughter of Egypt: in vain dost thou multiply medicines, there shall be no cure for thee.
12The nations have heard of thy disgrace, and thy howling hath filled the land: for the strong hath stumbled against the strong, and both are fallen together.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Jeremiah 46:1
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that Jeremiah 46:1-12 introduces a collection of prophecies against foreign nations (the goyim), with Egypt as the first subject. The event anchoring the passage is the battle of Carchemish (605 BC), where Nebuchadnezzar crushed Pharaoh Neco's army. Keil and Delitzsch note that the superscription in v.1 functions as a heading for the entire block in chapters 46, 51. The passage itself moves through three dramatic movements: a derisive call to arms (vv.3, 4), a vision of sudden panic and rout (vv.5, 6), and the boast of Egypt rising like the Nile, only to be met with the terrifying statement that this day belongs to Yahweh of Armies, a day of vengeance and a sacrifice (v.10). Calvin observed that the prophet speaks in the language of common judgment, mocking the Egyptians' confidence. Barnes and the Cambridge Bible both highlight the irony: Egypt's proud flood-metaphor collapses into a heap of fallen warriors. The final image of incurable wounds (v.11) and mutual stumbling (v.12) underscores the totality of the defeat. All the supplied sources affirm that the passage is a unified prophetic oracle, not a later historical report, though it references a real battle.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- The preposition 'al' as 'against' (judgment-oriented): The immediate context of vengeance (v.10), the mocking tone of the battle summons, and the emphasis on divine wrath support a hostile reading.
- The preposition 'al' as 'concerning' (neutral heading): The same word is used in other superscriptions (Jeremiah 47:1, 49:34) without necessarily implying hostility; the collection as a whole pronounces judgment on various nations, but each oracle could be seen as a word 'about' them.
What is clear: God sovereignly judges nations, and human pride cannot withstand His purposes. The historical defeat of Egypt at Carchemish is presented as the work of Yahweh of Armies.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Translation of 'al' in verse 1 | The preposition 'al' connects the word of God to the nations; it heads a collection of oracles. | Some translations render it 'against' (KJV, Geneva), stressing God's hostile judgment. Others render it 'concerning' (WEB, BSB), as a neutral heading for the scroll. The context supports judgment, but the Hebrew preposition itself allows either. |
| Date of the Carchemish battle | The battle occurred in 605 BC, the fourth year of Jehoiakim of Judah (Jeremiah 46:2). | Some commentators treat the passage as a prophecy delivered before the battle (thus predictive). Others see it as a retrospective account set in prophetic form after the event. The supplied sources lean toward the former, given the verb 'came to Jeremiah' in v.1. |
| Nature of the 'day of the Lord' in verse 10 | The day belongs to Yahweh of Armies; it is a day of vengeance and a sacrifice. | Some read it as literal vengeance for the blood of Josiah and Israel's oppression by Egypt (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown). Others see it as a broader theological symbol: every such judgment previews the final day of the Lord. Both views affirm God's justice. |
| The image of balm in verse 11 | Gilead's balm was a proverbial remedy for wounds (cf. Jeremiah 8:22). | Some take the command 'Go up into Gilead' as literal irony, Egypt should try human medicine but it will fail. Others read it as a figure: no political alliance or military recovery can restore Egypt after God's judgment. Both agree the point is utter helplessness. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The historical setting of Jeremiah 46:1-12 is the late seventh century BC, a period of shifting imperial powers. Pharaoh Neco (610, 594 BC) ascended the throne of Egypt and sought to reassert Egyptian influence in Syria-Palestine. In 609 BC, he marched north to assist the fading Assyrian empire against the rising Babylonians. On the way, he encountered King Josiah of Judah at Megiddo; Josiah was killed, and Neco installed Jehoiakim as a vassal king in Jerusalem (2 Kings 23:29-34). The prophet Jeremiah received this oracle in the fourth year of Jehoiakim (605 BC), the same year Nebuchadnezzar defeated Neco at Carchemish on the Euphrates. This battle marked the end of Egyptian ambitions in the region and established Babylon as the dominant power.
Literarily, the passage opens a scroll of oracles against the nations (Jeremiah 46, 51), a genre shared with Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Amos. The words אֶל־ ('al, v.1) introduces the subject: either against or concerning the nations. The Hebrew verb sequence in vv.3-4 uses imperatives (עִרְכוּ, 'set in order'; אִסְרוּ, 'harness'), a mocking summons to battle. The image of Egypt rising like the Nile (יְאֹר, ye'or) draws on Egypt's own self-image: the annual flood that brought life. Here, that same surge becomes a threat to destroy cities, but it is met by Yahweh's day. The mention of Cush, Put, and Ludim (v.9) reflects Egypt's practice of hiring mercenaries. The balm of Gilead (v.11) was a proverbial remedy; the irony cuts deep: no medicine can cure Yahweh's judgment.
Textual Notes
The supplied commentaries note no significant textual variants in Jeremiah 46:1-12. The Cambridge Bible observes that the Septuagint reads 'your voice' for 'your shame' in v.12, a minor divergence that does not affect the overall meaning of the passage. The Masoretic text is well preserved and consistent across modern editions. The historical details (Pharaoh Neco, Carchemish, fourth year of Jehoiakim) are confirmed by extra-biblical sources, reinforcing the reliability of the passage.
Reception History
Jeremiah 46:1-12 has been read throughout church history as a demonstration of God's sovereignty over the nations. Early Christian writers, such as Jerome, cited this passage in their arguments that earthly powers are subject to divine judgment. During the Reformation, commentators like John Calvin used the oracle to warn against trusting in political alliances rather than in God. The image of Egypt's incurable wound was applied to any nation, including the Papacy by some Protestants, as a symbol of divine punishment. In the modern era, the passage has been a source of comfort for Christians under oppressive regimes, affirming that God sees injustice and will act in His time. More recently, it has been interpreted as a model for how believers should view world events: not with fear, but with confidence that the Lord of Hosts rules history.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Human pride and preparation cannot stand against God's plan. Egypt arrays its armies, harnesses horses, and polishes spears (vv.3-4), yet in one scene they are terror-stricken and fleeing (v.5). God does not need to raise a hand, He simply declares the outcome.
- God uses nations to judge other nations. Nebuchadnezzar is the instrument, but the real actor is Yahweh of Armies (v.10). The battle is His day of vengeance, His sacrifice. The one who struck Josiah is now struck down.
- The day of the Lord is both a comfort and a warning. For the oppressed, it means God sees and acts. For the proud, it means certain ruin. Egypt's wound is incurable (v.11).
Five-point outline
- Call to arms (vv.3-4): The prophet mocks Egypt's frantic preparation, knowing the outcome.
- Panic and flight (vv.5-6): God sees their dismay; swiftness and strength cannot save.
- Boast like the Nile (vv.7-8): Egypt's arrogance is voiced in its own words, 'I will rise up, I will cover the earth.'
- The day of the Lord (vv.9-10): The Lord of Hosts takes vengeance; the sword is His instrument, the blood a drink-offering.
- Incurable wound (vv.11-12): The virgin daughter of Egypt is mocked: no balm of Gilead, no medicine can heal. The nations hear and the earth fills with cries.
Illustration hooks
- A star athlete who taunts opponents before a championship game, only to lose in a humiliating upset. The boast becomes the story of their fall.
- A company that overestimates its market dominance and ignores changing trends, then collapses under a new competitor. All their strategy counts for nothing.
- Someone who trusts in their own resume, health, or savings as ultimate security, then faces a diagnosis, job loss, or crisis that no human effort reverses.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does God really judge nations today, or is that only in the Old Testament? How do we see it in current events?
- If Egypt's wound is incurable, does that mean God's judgment leaves no room for repentance?
- How does this passage on judgment connect with the New Testament teaching on loving our enemies?
Leading a Discussion
This passage opens a major section in Jeremiah where God speaks through the prophet to the surrounding nations. Egypt, once a source of false hope for Judah, is shown to be nothing before the Lord of Hosts. As you work through these verses, notice the shift in tone: from frantic preparation to sudden panic, from boastful flood to total defeat. The central question is not 'does God judge?', but 'what do we trust in when everything else fails?'
Discussion questions
- Read vv.3-4 aloud. Why does the prophet use commands like “Prepare the shield” and “Harness the horses” when he knows Egypt will lose? What effect does this have on the listener?
- Verse 5 asks, “Why have I seen it?” The prophet acts as if he is surprised. What does this rhetorical question reveal about human confidence versus God's reality?
- Egypt’s boast in v.8 uses the image of the Nile rising. What was Egypt trusting in? What are the “Niles” of our own lives, resources, strength, reputation, that we rely on too heavily?
- Verse 10 calls the battle “the day of the Lord, a day of vengeance… a sacrifice.” How does this language shape your understanding of God's actions in history? Is judgment compatible with love?
- The balm of Gilead was a known healing remedy (Jeremiah 8:22). Why does the prophet tell Egypt to get it, only to say “there is no healing for you”? What does this say about God's judgment?
- Verse 12 ends with warriors stumbling over one another. What does this chaos tell us about how human pride collapses?
- How does this oracle about Egypt help God's people today to place their trust in God alone, rather than in earthly powers?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 10:5 | Of these were the islands of the nations divided in their lands, everyone after his language, after their families, in their nations. |
| Numbers 23:9 | For from the top of the rocks I see him. From the hills I see him. Behold, it is a people that dwells alone, and shall not be listed among the nations. |
| Jeremiah 1:10 | Behold, I have today set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to uproot and to tear down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.” |
| Jeremiah 4:7 | A lion has gone up from his thicket, and a destroyer of nations. He is on his way. He has gone out from his place, to make your land desolate, that your cities be laid waste, without inhabitant. |
| Jeremiah 25:15 | For Yahweh, the God of Israel, says to me: “Take this cup of the wine of wrath from my hand, and cause all the nations to whom I send you to drink it. |
| Jeremiah 25:38 | He has left his covert, as the lion; for their land has become an astonishment because of the fierceness of the oppression, and because of his fierce anger. |
| Zechariah 2:8 | For Yahweh of Armies says: ‘For honor he has sent me to the nations which plundered you; for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye. |
| Romans 3:29 | Or is God the God of Jews only? Isn’t he the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
6 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes draws attention to the deliberate arrangement of Jeremiah's prophecies against foreign nations into two groups totaling seven, a meaningful number. He also observes that Jeremiah uses plain, unadorned prose when addressing Jerusalem but shifts into brilliant, poetic language when pronouncing judgment on the Gentile nations.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill reads the entire prophecy as divine irony. God gives Egypt mocking battle commands to prepare, knowing their efforts are futile. All their armies, allies and military skill cannot change that this is the Lord's day of vengeance, and their defeat is certain.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
Jfb explains that this prophecy against Egypt was meant to comfort the Jews grieving King Josiah's death, showing that God would avenge it through Nebuchadnezzar. He highlights the irony of Egypt's army boasting like the flooding Nile, then fleeing in utter confusion and dismay.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange argues that the prophecy against Egypt was triggered not by the battle of Carchemish but by the news that Egypt's army had taken up position there. Jeremiah saw that Egypt's presence on the Euphrates made a clash with Babylon inevitable, and he predicted the defeat without naming Nebuchadnezzar.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry emphasizes that Egypt's downfall at Carchemish exposes the emptiness of human confidence in military might and alliances. Even Egypt's famous physicians and the balm of Gilead could not heal its wound, proving that when God brings a day of vengeance, no earthly resource can save.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley reads this verse as the heading for prophecies of judgment against foreign nations, not just Israel. He stresses the futility of escape for the swift or mighty, and interprets phrases like "made drunk" as metaphors for a great slaughter where enemies stumble over each other in collapse.