Глава 51

Then the Prophet gives various names to the enemies, and firstly calls them (Jer. 51:1) “the scorching wind,” which usually destroys plants; then (Jer. 51:2) “scoffers,” and this makes it clear the justice of the punishment; because he will endure, as it is said, “Create the tree” (Jer. 50:25.). Commanding the enemies to pour out their anger on everyone without mercy, God added: Jer.51:5. Because Israel and Judah were not widows from their God, from the Lord Almighty, for their land was filled with iniquity from the saints of Israel. Because of the superstition and iniquity of the Israelites, I turned my eyes away from them; but did not completely deprive them of My care for them. Jer.51:7. The golden cup of Babylon is in the hand of the Lord, soldering the whole earth This people was filled with his wine, shaking the nations. (Jer.51:8). “Suddenly Babylon fell and was crushed.” And blessed Daniel, interpreting Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, said that the “golden head” was the king of Babylon himself (Dan. 2:38). And here the Prophet called the punishment inflicted on other nations “the cup of gold.” Therefore, he says that, having subjected other nations to punishment, suddenly, beyond all expectations, Babylon itself was taken and destroyed. Then he says to the peoples who came to help: “Cry for him, take the oath for his illness, so that he may be healed,” that is, give him medicine to help. At the same time, the Prophet brings these helpers into the midst, and puts the following answer into their mouths: him, “and you will not be healed: let us leave him, and let us each go to his own land, for his judgment will ascend to heaven, and ascend even to the stars.” (Jer.51:10). “The Lord has brought forth His judgment.” Blessed Isaiah also foretold this arrogance of the king of Babylon; for he says: he said: “I will set my throne above the stars” (Is. 14:13). Then the Prophet more clearly imagines both the one giving the command and the one fulfilling it. (Jer.51:11). “The Lord raises up the spirit” of the king of Mida, “for His wrath is against Babylon, so that He may destroy, even though the vengeance of the Lord is, the vengeance” of “His” church. (Jer.51:12). "On the walls of Babylon". What he dared to do to the church, I will do to the walls of Babylon. Then, as if laughing, God advises the Babylonians to place “guards” on the walls, excite them and prepare weapons. And letting them know that all this would be of no benefit to them, he added: “And the Lord will do”, elika “speech against those living in Babylon;” because its destruction was predicted by the mouth of the Prophets. The Prophet says that God (Jer. 51:14) swore “with His arm,” that is, with His power; for he added: Jer.51:15. Having created the earth in His power, having ordered the universe in His wisdom, spreading out the heavens with His understanding. (Jer.51:16). In hearing His voice, He placed a lot of water “in the heavens,” raised “clouds from the ends of the earth, made lightning in the rain,” and brought forth “light from His treasures.” The Prophet presented both the works of creation and the works of industry; because God not only created everything, but also controls everything. Having said: in hearing His voice He placed a lot of water “in the heavens,” indicating thunder coming from the clouds. The Prophet contrasts this teaching about God with the powerlessness of demons, shows that idols need the art (Jer. 51:17) of “mergers”, and having received being from others, do not have the power of “breathing” even on a par with dumb animals. But he also predicts that they will no longer exist; for he says: (Jer. 51:18) “at the hour of visitation they will perish.” Jer.51:19. This is not the part of Jacob, for He who created all things is part of it, and “Israel” “the rod of His inheritance, the Lord” of strength “His name”. The gods of Babylon are demons, and the God of Israel is the Creator of all things; Therefore it is just that the Babylonians will perish, and the Israelites will return. Jer.51:20. You have broken the vessels of battle for Me, and I will break the tongues in you. The Syriac interpreter translated: prepare for me battle vessels, and according to the Greek translation it should be understood as follows: since you acted against My people with weapons, you struck with arrows and spears; then “I will crush your tongues.” For this is what God says: I will also, in destruction, scatter the nations that came to your aid, both the horses and their horsemen, people of every age and of both sexes, rulers and rulers, shepherds and farmers. You will endure all this because of what you dared to do (Jer. 51:21) “over Zion.” Jer.51:25. Behold, I am upon you, a deadly mountain, says the Lord, corrupting the whole earth. He calls Babylon a mountain because of the glory of its dominion, but a deadly mountain because of its wickedness and lawlessness. “And I will stretch out My hand against you, and I will cast you out of the stones,” that is, I will bring you to humiliation. “And I will give you to the mountain, burnt,” that is, completely useless. And this is shown by the following words: Jer.51:26. And they will not take away from You a stone for a corner, and a stone for a foundation, for you are consumed forever, says the Lord. Neither a king nor a prince was appointed from the new inhabitants. For the foundations support the building, and the corners bind it. Jer.51:27. Raise the banner on the ground, sound the trumpet “with a trumpet, sanctify”, that is, separate, “the tongues, proclaim to the barbarian kingdoms from Mene”, “and Ashanazeom. The Prophet calls Armenia “Ararat”, while “Askhanazei” is another people neighboring the Armenians; All of them were united into one by the king of the Persians and Medes. For this is what the Prophet adds. (Jer.51:28). Sanctify “the nations, the king, Midska, his commander, and all his warriors.” It also says (Jer. 51:29) “the earth shook, the purpose of the Lord arose against Babylon, to lay the land of Babylon empty and uninhabited.” He predicts a siege, and the powerlessness of the soldiers, such as there were in Babylon, and the burning of the city, and how they announce to the king about the capture of the city. The destruction of houses is likened to a threshing floor that has been threshed and a ripe harvest. Adds to this the words spoken by Jerusalem about the king of Babylon. Jer.51:34. Crush me, eat me, accept me, as “darkness is thin, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.” The refined air penetrates our bodies more quickly. Therefore Jerusalem says: the darkness of disaster has filled even the very joints of my soul, making me like an empty vessel; “devour me like a serpent, fill your belly with my sweetness,” that is, Babylon deprived me of all benefits, and taking all my wealth, depriving me of prosperity, became like a serpent devouring sparrow chicks. At the same time, he reveals that the iniquities of Babylon made him powerless, and Jerusalem strong. “I have been cast out” (Jer. 51:35) “my labors and my troubles are against Babylon, says he who lives in Zion: and my blood is against them that dwell in Chaldee, says Jerusalem.” My blood will be avenged on the Babylonians, says Jerusalem, and they will bear punishment for their lawless deeds towards me. This is how the Prophet explains both what was done to Jerusalem and the righteous sentence pronounced by God for it. Jer.51:36. For this reason, the Lord says this: Behold, I will judge your opponent and will take your vengeance; because you have recognized the harm caused by sin. “And I will make its sea empty,” that is, a multitude of subjects. “And I will dry up its streams,” and the kingdom and dominion over all. Then the Prophet describes what is characteristic of desolation, which we often talked about. (Jer.51:37). “There will be no one living in it.” Nowadays there are few houses in Babylon, and they are scattered. Having likened the Babylonian nobles to lions, the Prophet predicts their fear and death; for he says: Jer.51:39. I will give them drink, and I will make them drink, so that they may sleep and sleep eternal sleep, and not rise, says the Lord. (Jer.51:40). “And I will bring down, like lambs to the slaughter, and like rams from the goats,” both rulers and rulers, together with the king and subjects. For the Prophet called the subjects “lambs” and “goats,” and the rulers “rams.” Jer.51:41. How did Sheshach come, and this was the glory of all the earth. This is what Babylon itself calls it: because Sesach, in what we explained above, called the king of Babylon (Jer. 25:26). It is likely that the city was called that way in ancient times, but was later renamed Babylon. And that the Prophet calls the city by this name is evidenced by the added words: “How fast was it” for the destruction of “Babylon in” all the “pagans”? Shows the multitude who have taken up arms against him. Jer.51:42. Ascend to Babylon, the sea covered with the sound of its waves. Then, foretelling desolation, he again brings Vila out into the open; for he says: “(Jer.51:44). And I will visit Bel in Babylon, and I will spew out what he has swallowed up out of his mouth, and the nations will no longer be gathered to him.” And Daniel mentions the food brought to him, and how the priests destroyed it (Dan.14:1-22). The prophetic word predicts the end of error, consoles the people of God, advises them not to fear the disasters that threaten Babylon, and announces that they will be announced long before. Jer.51:46. In that summer hearing will come, and after the summer hearing, poverty and injustice on the earth, and ruler against ruler." and parable upon parable. Although the invasion of enemies was announced a year and even two years in advance; but they are stuck in untruth and their usual lawlessness. Therefore, he threatens with destruction, not only the sculptures that the Babylonians worshiped, but also those who worshiped, and says that all creation will rejoice at the final death of Babylon, and also reveals the justice of the punishment. (Jer.51:49). In Babylon, Israel “fell with plagues” in it. Therefore, the inhabitants of “Babylon will fall in plague” “throughout all the earth.” What they did to Israel, they themselves will suffer from others. from the earth, “go, do not stand: even from afar remember the Lord.” This is what the Prophet says to the captive Jews. “And let Jerusalem rise upon your heart.” Don't forget the city dedicated to God. Then the Prophet continues on their behalf: Jer.51:51. We were put to shame, before we heard our reproach, our face was covered with shame, for strangers had come into our holiness into the house of the Lord. Thus the Jews complained, and the Lord said: Jer.51:52. Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord: and I will visit his graven images, and plagues will fall throughout all his land. (Jer.51:53). “If Babylon rises” like “heaven, and if she establishes” the height of her fortress, “her destruction will come from Me, says the Lord.” The walls of Babylon were very thick and high. Therefore, the Lord God reveals that they will not receive any benefit from when He Himself pronounces His judgment on them. The Prophet adds the matter itself to the divine sentence and says: in Babylon, and “the destruction is great” in “the land of Chaldeans:” (Jer. 51:55) “for the Lord has destroyed Babylon,” and destroy “from her the noise of a voice like many waters.” This Prophet designated a multitude of inhabitants, and says that neither bows nor spears helped at all when God imposed punishment on Babylon. For not only military leaders and valiant warriors will endure it, but also (Jer. 51:58) its “wall” “will be undermined very wide, and its high gates will be burned with fire.” Having thus predicted this, the Prophet makes it known that he wrote this prophecy by God’s command (Jer. 51:59) “in the fourth year of the kingdom of Zedekiah,” and gave the book to Sarei, who was sent by Zedekiah to Babylon, and that he ordered the book to be read in Babylon and to say: Jer.51:62. Lord, You have spoken against this place to destroy it, and let no one live in it, from man to beast, and let it be an eternal desert. Having said this prayer, he said: tie the book to a stone, throw it into the Euphrates, and say: Jer.51:64. Thus Babylon will be drowned, and will not rise from the face of the evil that I will bring down. The Lord commanded this to be done for the approval of the captives, so that, having learned about the capture of Babylon and about their own liberation, they would have consolation in the hope of good things. And with this the prophecy ended.