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Jeremiah Capitolo 46
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How judgment began at the house of God we have found in the foregoing prophecy and history; but now we shall find that it did not end there. In this and the following chapters we have predictions of the desolations of the neighbouring nations, and those brought upon them too mostly by the king of Babylon, till at length Babylon itself comes to be reckoned with. The prophecy against Egypt is here put first and takes up this whole chapter, in which we have, I. A prophecy of the defeat of Pharaoh-necho's army by the Chaldean forces at Carchemish, which was accomplished soon after, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim, Jer 46:1-12. II. A prophecy of the descent which Nebuchadnezzar should make upon the land of Egypt, and his success in it, which was accomplished some years after the destruction of Jerusalem, Jer 46:13-26. III. A word of comfort to the Israel of God in the midst of those calamities, Jer 46:27,28.
1-11
The Judgment of Egypt (608 BC)
简体中文
对埃及的审判（主前608年）
¹ 耶和华论到列国临到先知耶利米的话： ² 论到埃及，论到埃及王法老尼哥的军队，这军队在幼发拉底河的迦基米施，被巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒所击败，时在犹大王约西亚的儿子约雅敬第四年。 ³ 你们要预备大小盾牌，往前上阵。 ⁴ 你们要套上车马，骑兵上马，顶盔站立；要磨拭枪矛，穿上铠甲。 ⁵ 我为何看见他们惊惶转身退后呢？他们的勇士败倒，速速逃跑，并不回顾；因为惊吓四围可畏，耶和华说。 ⁶ 不要让快跑的逃避，不要让勇士逃脱；他们在北方、幼发拉底河边，必绊跌仆倒。 ⁷ 这像挪伯河涌上来、像江河翻腾的是谁呢？ ⁸ 埃及如挪伯涌上，其水如江河翻腾；他说：「我要涨发遮盖这地，我要毁灭城邑和其中的居民。」 ⁹ 马匹上前吧！车辆狂奔吧！让勇士出来吧！那拿盾牌的古实人、弗人，和那拉弓的吕底亚人！ ¹⁰ 因为这是主万军之耶和华的日子，是报仇的日子，好向他的仇敌报仇；刀剑必吞吃，必饱足，必因他们的血沉醉；因为主万军之耶和华在北方之地、幼发拉底河边有献祭的事。 ¹¹ 埃及的民哪（原文作「埃及的女子」），你上基列去取乳香吧！你虽多服良药，总是徒然，不得治好。
第一节是本书论及周围列国那部分的标题，紧接其后。这是「耶和华临到耶利米论列国的话」；因为神是列国的君王和审判者，他认识那些不认识他、也不理会他的人，并要追究他们。以赛亚和以西结都曾论到耶利米在此分别宣告的这些列国，所论及的事件也相同。在旧约里，我们有「耶和华论列国的话」；在新约里，我们有「耶和华为列国的话」——使那些「远处的人得以亲近」（弗2:13）。
他从埃及开始，因为埃及自古以来就是欺压以色列的，近来又成了他们的欺哄者——以色列竟信靠他们。在以下经文里，他预言法老尼哥的军队将被尼布甲尼撒击败，「时在约雅敬第四年」；这场胜利对巴比伦王而言如此彻底，以致他从埃及河直到幼发拉底河，「凡属埃及王的地都归了他」，并使埃及王元气大伤，「不再从本地出来」（正如王下24:7所言），从而使他为四年前那场征讨亚述王的远征（在那次战役中他杀了约西亚，王下23:29）付上了沉重代价。这就是此处以崇高的胜利凯歌所预言的事件——论到埃及这样被挫败；耶利米讲到这事时，必有特别的喜悦，因为他所哀悼的约西亚之死，如今在法老尼哥身上得了报应。在此我们看到，
一、埃及人因他们为这次远征所作的盛大预备而被责备；其中先知呼召他们尽其所能地作好准备，因他们必要如此行：「来吧，『预备盾牌』，让战争的兵器都齐备」（耶46:3）。埃及以「马」闻名——要让它们「套上」，让骑兵稳坐马鞍：「骑兵上马，顶盔站立」等等（耶46:4）。看世人为了彼此杀戮，怀着多少挂虑、劳苦和浩大花费作预备，好像他们死得还不够快似的。先知把他们出征比作他们尼罗河的泛滥（耶46:7-8）：「埃及如今如洪水涌上」，不肯安居在自己的河道之内，威胁要淹没一切邻近之地。埃及人在这次场合带到战场的，是一支极为可畏的军队。先知召唤他们（耶46:9）：「马匹上前吧！车辆狂奔吧！」他挑战他们，叫他们把一切盟军都集合起来——「古实人」（他们与埃及人同出一源，创10:6，又是埃及的邻舍和盟友），「弗人和吕底亚人」（都住在非洲，在埃及以西），埃及从他们那里征调辅助兵力。让他们尽一切技巧和势力来加强自己吧，然而这一切都必归于徒然；他们必羞愧地被击败，因为神必与他们争战，而「无人能以智慧、聪明、谋略敌挡耶和华」（箴21:30-31）。出征的人所当留意的，不仅是「预备盾牌」、「套上车马」，更是悔改自己的罪，向神祈求他的同在，并保守自己远离一切恶事。
二、他们因对这次远征所怀的极大指望而被责备——这些指望与神招聚他们所要成就的，完全相反。他们晓得自己的心思，神也晓得，并在天上嗤笑他们；「他们却不知道耶和华的意念，因为他将他们聚集，好像把禾捆聚到禾场一样」（弥4:11-12）。埃及说（耶46:8）：「我要上去；我要遮盖这地」，无人能阻拦我；「我要毁灭城邑」，无论什么城邑挡在我路上。正如昔日的法老说：「『我要追赶，我要追上。』」埃及人说他们要得胜度日，但神说那日子是属他的：「『这是主万军之耶和华的日子』（耶46:10）——就是在埃及的倾覆中他自己被高举的日子。」他们心怀一事，神却心怀另一事；他们定意为要抬高自己的威严、扩张自己的国权，神却定意要大大地降卑、削弱他们的国。这是「为约西亚之死报仇的日子」；这是向神的公义献祭的日子，埃及的众罪人要像祭物一样仆倒。当记取：当人想借推进不义之业来抬高自己时，当预料神必借击打他们、剪除他们来荣耀自己。
三、他们因开战时所显的怯懦和不光彩的逃跑而被责备（耶46:5-6）：「『我为何看见他们』，尽管作了这一切浩大可畏的预备、尽管发表了这一切英勇决心的言论，当迦勒底军兵与他们对面而立时，他们竟『惊惶、转身退后』，完全丧胆，毫无斗志。」1. 他们羞愧地撤退。连「他们的勇士」——人以为本该坚守阵地的人——也「一同逃跑」，同心溃逃，竭力奔命，仓皇混乱地逃窜；他们既无时间也无心情「回顾」，只觉「惊吓四围」笼罩，因为他们如此惧怕。然而，2. 他们却无法逃脱。他们受了逃跑之辱，却得不到借逃跑自救的满足；他们不如坚守阵地、战死原地；因为连「快跑的也不能逃脱」。他们脚下的轻快在试炼之时必归于失效，正如他们心中的勇气一样；「勇士」不能幸免，他们更被「打败」、被击得粉碎。他们在逃跑中「绊跌仆倒」，仆倒「向北」，即向敌人之地仆倒；因为他们仓皇逃窜时，竟不像人平常那样向后跑回家去，反倒向前直冲。当记取：「快跑的未必能赢，战争的胜利也未必归勇士」（传9:11）。勇猛的人并不常是得胜的。
四、他们因再也不能恢复这一致命打击而被责备——这打击对他们本国是致命的（耶46:11-12）。那「埃及的女子」——素来奢华显赫的埃及之民——因这次挫败受了重伤。让她如今往基列去寻求「乳香」和那里的医师吧；让她用她一切智者所能开列的药物来医治这伤、弥补这次败仗所受的损失吧；然而都归徒然；「不得治好」；他们再也不能把这样一支强军带到战场上了。「『列国』——曾传扬你的荣耀与势力的——如今『已听见你的羞辱』，听见你是何等羞耻地溃败，又是何等地被削弱。」这事不必借征服者的凯旋来传扬，被征服者的哀号与呼喊就足已宣告：「你的喊声充满了周围四方。」因为当他们四散奔逃时，一个勇士绊在另一个勇士身上，彼此相撞，混乱不堪，以致「两人一同」沦为追兵的掠物，是容易到手的掠物。必有千万这类可怕的事故发生，使全地满了被战胜之人的喊叫。因此，「勇士不要因他的勇力夸口」（耶9:23），因为时候将到，那勇力必无济于事。
Originale inglese
The Judgment of Egypt (608 BC)
¹ The word of the LORD which came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Gentiles;
² Against 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.
³ Order ye the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle.
⁴ Harness the horses; and get up, ye horsemen, and stand forth with your helmets; furbish the spears, and put on the brigandines.
⁵ Wherefore 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.
⁶ Let not the swift flee away, nor the mighty man escape; they shall stumble, and fall toward the north by the river Euphrates.
⁷ Who is this that cometh up as a flood, whose waters are moved as the rivers?
⁸ Egypt 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.
⁹ Come 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.
¹⁰ For 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.
¹¹ Go 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.
The first verse is the title of that part of this book, which relates to the neighbouring nations, and follows here. It is the word of the Lord which came to Jeremiah against the Gentiles; for God is King and Judge of nations, knows and will call to an account those who know him not nor take any notice of him. Both Isaiah and Ezekiel prophesied against these nations that Jeremiah here has a separate saying to, and with reference to the same events. In the Old Testament we have the word of the Lord against the Gentiles; in the New Testament we have the word of the Lord for the Gentiles, that those who were afar off are made nigh.
He begins with Egypt, because they were of old Israel's oppressors and of late their deceivers, when they put confidence in them. In these verses he foretells the overthrow of the army of Pharaoh-necho, by Nebuchadnezzar, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim, which was so complete a victory to the king of Babylon that thereby he recovered from the river of Egypt to the river Euphrates, all that pertained to the king of Egypt, and so weakened him that he came not again any more out of his land (as we find, 2Ki 24:7), and so made him pay dearly for his expedition against the king of Assyria four years before, in which he slew Josiah, 2Ki 23:29. This is the event that is here foretold in lofty expressions of triumph over Egypt thus foiled, which Jeremiah would speak of with a particular pleasure, because the death of Josiah, which he had lamented, was now avenged on Pharaoh-necho. Now here,
I. The Egyptians are upbraided with the mighty preparations they made for this expedition, in which the prophet calls to them to do their utmost, for so they would: "Come then, order the buckler, let the weapons of war be got ready," Jer 46:3. Egypt was famous for horses—let them be harnessed and the cavalry well mounted: Get up, you horsemen, and stand forth, etc., Jer 46:4. See what preparations the children of men make, with abundance of care and trouble and at a vast expense, to kill one another, as if they did not die fast enough of themselves. He compares their marching out upon this expedition to the rising of their river Nile (Jer 46:7,8): Egypt now rises up like a flood, scorning to keep within its own banks and threatening to overflow all the neighbouring lands. It is a very formidable army that the Egyptians bring into the field upon this occasion. The prophet summons them (Jer 46:9): Come up, you horses; rage, you chariots. He challenges them to bring all their confederate troops together, the Ethiopians, that descended from the same stock with the Egyptians (Ge 10:6), and were their neighbours and allies, the Libyans and Lydians, both seated in Africa, to the west of Egypt, and from them the Egyptians fetched their auxiliary forces. Let them strengthen themselves with all the art and interest they have, yet it shall be all in vain; they shall be shamefully defeated notwithstanding, for God will fight against them, and against him there is no wisdom nor counsel, Pr 21:30,31. It concerns those that go forth to war not only to order the buckler, and harness the horses, but to repent of their sins, and pray to God for his presence with them, and that they may have it to keep themselves from every wicked thing.
II. They are upbraided with the great expectations they had from this expedition, which were quite contrary to what God intended in bringing them together. They knew their own thoughts, and God knew them, and sat in heaven and laughed at them; but they knew not the thoughts of the Lord, for he gathers them as sheaves into the floor, Mic 4:11,12. Egypt saith (Jer 46:8): I will go up; I will cover the earth, and none shall hinder me; I will destroy the city, whatever city it is that stands in my way. Like Pharaoh of old, I will pursue, I will overtake. The Egyptians say that they shall have a day of it, but God saith that it shall be his day: The is the day of the Lord God of hosts (Jer 46:10), the day in which he will be exalted in the overthrow of the Egyptians. They meant one thing, but God meant another; they designed it for the advancement of their dignity and the enlargement of their dominion, but God designed it for the great abasement and weakening of their kingdom. It is a day of vengeance for Josiah's death; it is a day of sacrifice to divine justice, to which multitudes of the sinners of Egypt shall fall as victims. Note, When men think to magnify themselves by pushing on unrighteous enterprises, let them expect that God will glorify himself by blasting them and cutting them off.
III. They are upbraided with their cowardice and inglorious flight when they come to an engagement (Jer 46:5,6): "Wherefore have I seen them, notwithstanding all these mighty and vast preparations and all these expressions of bravery and resolution, when the Chaldean army faces them, dismayed, turned back, quite disheartened, and no spirit left in them." 1. They make a shameful retreat. Even their mighty ones, who, one would think, should have stood their ground, flee a flight, flee by consent, make the best of their way, flee in confusion and with the utmost precipitation; they have neither time nor heart to look back, but fear is round about them, for they apprehend it so. And yet, 2. They cannot make their escape. They have the shame of flying, and yet not the satisfaction of saving themselves by flight; they might as well have stood their ground and died upon the spot; for even the swift shall not flee away. The lightness of their heels shall fail them when it comes to the trial, as well as the stoutness of their hearts; the mighty shall not escape, nay, they are beaten down and broken to pieces. They shall stumble in their flight, and fall towards the north, towards their enemy's country; for such confusion were they in when they took to their feet that instead of making homeward, as men usually do in that case, they made forward. Note, The race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong. Valiant men are not always victorious.
IV. They are upbraided with their utter inability ever to recover this blow, which should be fatal to their nation, Jer 46:11,12. The damsel, the daughter of Egypt, that lived in great pomp and state, is sorely wounded by this defeat. Let her now seek for balm in Gilead and physicians there; let her use all the medicines her wise men can prescribe for the healing of this hurt, and the repairing of the loss sustained by this defeat; but all in vain; no cure shall be to them; they shall never be able to bring such a powerful army as this into the field again. "The nations that rang of thy glory and strength have now heard of thy shame, how shamefully thou wast routed and how thou are weakened by it." It needs not be spread by the triumphs of the conquerors, the shrieks and outcries of the conquered will proclaim it: Thy cry hath filled the country about. For, when they fled several ways, one mighty man stumbled upon another and dashed against another, such confusion were they in, so that both together became a prey to the pursuers, an easy prey. A thousand such dreadful accidents there should be, which should fill the country with the cry of those that were overcome. Let not the mighty man therefore glory in his might, for the time may come when it will stand him in no stead.
12-28
The Judgment of Egypt (608 BC)
简体中文
埃及的审判 (608 BC)
¹² 列国听见你的羞辱，你的呼喊充满了全地；因为勇士与勇士相撞，二者一同仆倒。 ¹³ 耶和华借先知耶利米所说的话，论到巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒要来攻击埃及地。 ¹⁴ 你们要在埃及宣告，在密夺宣告，在挪弗、答比匿宣告，说：要站住，预备自己；因为刀剑必在你四围施行吞灭。 ¹⁵ 你的勇士为何被扫除呢？他们站立不住，因为是耶和华驱逐他们。 ¹⁶ 他使多人仆倒；是的，这人仆倒在那人身上，彼此相压；他们说：起来，我们回到本族本地去，好脱离欺压的刀剑。 ¹⁷ 他们在那里呼喊说：埃及王法老不过是声音；他已错过了所定的时候。 ¹⁸ 君王——他的名为万军之耶和华——说：我指着我的永生起誓，他必如他泊山在众山之中，如迦密山在海边一样来到。 ¹⁹ 住在埃及的女子啊，要为自己备办物件去被掳；因为挪弗必成为荒凉，无人居住。 ²⁰ 埃及像极美的母牛犊；但毁灭从北方来到。 ²¹ 其中雇来的勇士在它中间如同肥牛犊；他们也转背逃跑，一同奔逃；他们站立不住，因为他们遭难的日子、追讨之时临到了他们。 ²² 它的声音必像蛇行的声音；因为敌人必带军队而来，如砍伐树木的人带着斧头攻击她。 ²³ 耶和华说：他们必砍伐她的树林，虽然不能测度；因为他们多如蝗虫，不可胜数。 ²⁴ 埃及的女子必蒙羞；她必被交在北方之民的手中。 ²⁵ 万军之耶和华、以色列的神如此说：看哪，我必刑罚挪的众人，与法老并埃及，又刑罚他们的神、他们的君王——就是法老和一切信靠他的人； ²⁶ 我必将他们交在寻索他们性命之人的手中，交在巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒和他臣仆的手中；此后这地必再有人居住，如古时一样；这是耶和华说的。 ²⁷ 至于你，我的仆人雅各啊，不要惧怕；以色列啊，不要惊惶；因为看哪，我必从远方拯救你，拯救你的后裔脱离被掳之地；雅各必归回，得享平安宁静，无人使他害怕。 ²⁸ 我的仆人雅各啊，你不要惧怕；耶和华说：因为我与你同在；我必从我所赶你去的各国中将他们灭绝净尽；却不将你灭绝净尽，倒要按理管教你，却总不让你全然不受罚。
在这些经文中，我们看到：
一、对埃及所说的混乱与恐惧。本章前段预言的应验使埃及人无力再向别国发起进攻；因为他们的军队既已被击溃，他们还能做什么呢？然而他们在本国境内仍然强盛，邻国无人敢向他们动手。虽然埃及王不再「出离本地」（王下24:7），他们在自己的境内仍安然无虞；他们还奢求什么，能过于太平地享受自己的所有呢？人皆以为大家理当知足于此，不再贪图入侵邻国。然而埃及罪孽的满盈之期已到，如今他们必不能长久享受自己的所有；那些曾侵犯别人的，如今自己也必被侵犯。此处预言的要点是表明「巴比伦王」不久必「来攻击埃及地」，将他们素来带入他边境的战火引入自己的怀抱（耶46:13）。这预言由与前者相同的手——即尼布甲尼撒——成就，却在多年之后，至少二十年之后；这预言的时间可能也远在先前那预言之后，也许与另一段论同一事件的预言（耶43:10）大致同时。
1. 这里在埃及响起了战争的警号，使他们大为惊骇（耶46:14），通报全国敌人临近，「刀剑正在邻国四围施行吞灭」，因此埃及人当趁早进入防御态势，预备迎敌，好给敌人一个热烈的迎击。这要在埃及全境——尤其在密夺、挪弗、答比匿——宣告，因为犹太的逃亡者——不如说是叛逃者——正是藐视神的命令（耶44:1）而在这些地方定居下来的；让他们听听埃及可能给他们怎样的可怜庇护。
2. 这里预言了埃及所雇用之他国军队随后的撤退。这些军队中相当一部分可能被布置在边境守卫，在那里被入侵者击溃而溃逃。于是「勇士被扫除」（耶46:15），如「大雨冲刷」一般（箴28:3所用的是同一个词）；他们无一能站稳，因为「耶和华驱逐他们」离开各自岗位；他以恐惧驱逐他们；他借使迦勒底人能驱逐他们来驱逐他们。神怒气所追赶的，断无可立定之处。正是他（耶46:16）「使多人仆倒」——是的，当他们仆倒之日来到，敌人无需推倒他们，他们「彼此相压」，各人都成了同伴、跟从者的绊脚石；不，若神定意，他们就要「彼此相压」，「各人的刀剑要攻击同伴」。「它雇来的人」，即埃及所雇的军兵，在它中间确如「肥牛犊」，强壮、健硕、士气高昂，看来足以在战场上有所作为，可以对敌有所交代；然而「他们转背」；他们丧胆了，没有作战，反而「一同奔逃」。当「遭难的日子」——神在怒中追讨他们的日子——临到他们之时，他们怎能抵挡命运呢？有人认为将他们比作肥牛犊，是因为他们奢华纵欲；他们在享乐中荒淫无度，因此极不适应艰苦，所以转背逃奔，站立不住。在这惊惶中，（1）他们全都向本国奔逃（耶46:16）：他们说：「起来，我们回到本族那里去」，在那里我们可以「脱离欺压的刀剑」——迦勒底人那摧枯拉朽的刀剑。危急之时，不可对只为雇金而战、与其所护卫者毫无干系的外国雇佣军寄予多大信任。（2）他们极力咒骂法老，他们的败绩很可能归因于法老的怯懦或指挥失当。他将他们布置在本国边境之时，可能曾应许他们，他将在某时之内亲自率领本国一支雄兵来支援；然而他失信了，当敌人推进之时，他们发觉无人支援，完全被交在入侵者的怒火中。无怪乎他们擅离职守、弃役而去，呼喊说：「埃及王法老不过是声音」（耶46:17）；他只会逞威风，大谈他将成就的伟业，但仅此而已；一事无成。他对盟友、对他所雇用之人的一切应许都化为烟云。他没有送来他应承的支援，或来得太迟：「他已错过了所定的时候」；他不守诺言，不守所约之日，因此他们与他告别，再也不肯在他麾下效命了。请注意：在一切事务中叫嚷最响的，往往不过是声音。夸夸其谈者，鲜有实行。
3. 这里描述了迦勒底大军的可怕威势，摧枯拉朽。「万王之王」，其名为「万军之耶和华」，在他面前地上最强的君王——虽于我们如神一般——却不过如蝗虫；他已说了，他已起誓：「我指着我的永生起誓，」这位「君王」说，「如他泊山高过众山，如迦密山俯瞰大海」，巴比伦王必压倒埃及一切兵力，他必拥有如此号令、如此权势（耶46:18）。他和他的「军队必带着斧头如砍伐树木的人来攻击埃及」（耶46:22），埃及人无力抵挡他们，如同树无力抵挡那带斧头来「砍伐」它的人一般；于是埃及必如「树林」被「砍伐者」伐倒一般——若伐木者众多、工具齐备，不久即可完工。埃及人口众多，城镇林立，如同树林，其树「不能测度，不能数算」；又极为富庶，藏宝无数，其中许多要逃过迦勒底士兵搜寻的目光；然而他们必在全国大肆劫掠，因为「他们多过蝗虫」——蝗虫成群而来、漫山遍野，吞尽一切青物（珥1:6-7）——迦勒底人必如此行，因为他们「不可胜数」。请注意：万军之耶和华有无数军兵听他号令。
4. 这里预言了埃及由此所受的荒凉，以及那富庶之国所要遭受的毁坏。「埃及如今像极美的母牛犊」（耶46:20），肥壮光润，不「习服」屈辱之轭，如饱食之母牛犊般放荡嬉戏。有人认为此处暗指阿匹斯——埃及人所敬拜的公牛或牛犊，以色列人正是从埃及学了敬拜金牛犊。埃及美如女神，自我崇拜，「但毁灭来到；宰割来到」（有人如此读）；「它从北方来到」；迦勒底士兵从那里而来，如同许多屠夫或献祭者，来宰杀并宰割这「极美的母牛犊」。（1）埃及人必被降卑，被驯服，调子全然改变：「埃及的女子必蒙羞」（耶46:24），充满惊骇。「她的声音必像蛇行的声音」，即必极其低沉顺服；他们不再像极美的母牛犊那样大声鸣叫，而是如蛇一般从洞中发出嘶嘶之声。他们不敢大声控诉征服者的残忍，只在静默的咕哝中发泄哀痛。他们不再像素常那样粗鲁回答，而是「像穷人那样，使用恳求」，乞求活命。（2）他们必被掳往敌人之地为囚虏（耶46:19）：「你这女儿！安稳娇弱地『住在埃及』」——那肥美宜人之国——「不要以为这会永远如此，而要为自己『备办物件去被掳』；不要华服——那只会招惹敌人剥你——要预备朴素温暖的衣服；不要精巧的鞋，要预备结实的鞋；并要使自己习惯于艰苦，好能更好地承受。」请注意：在我们一切预备中，当为患难作预备，这是我们所当留意的。我们为款待朋友预备，也不可疏忽为款待敌人预备；在一切器具之中，不可缺被掳所用的器具。埃及人必须预备逃亡，因为他们的城邑必被撤离。挪弗尤其「必成为荒凉，无人居住」，杀戮与被掳必如此普遍。有些刑罚，按我们所说，君王与众人是可免除的，然而在此连这些也在劫难逃：「挪的众人必受刑罚」；那称为「人多之挪」（鸿3:8）。「虽手联手」，也必不能逃脱；无人能妄想混在人群中脱身。他们无论人数何其众多，必发现神比他们更多。他们的君王和一切小王侯必都倾倒；他们的神明也必倾倒（耶43:12-13），他们的偶像和他们的大人物。他们所称为护国之神明的，必不能保护他们。法老必被降卑，「一切信靠他的人」（耶46:25）也是如此——尤其是那些来到他国寄居、信靠他过于信靠神的犹太人。这一切必被「交在北方列国的手中」（耶46:24），交在尼布甲尼撒那强权君王手中，也「交在他臣仆的手中」——照着对含后裔的咒诅（埃及人正是含的后裔），他们必作「奴仆的奴仆」。这些臣仆寻索他们的性命，他们必被交在他们手中。
5. 这里暗示埃及日久必再复兴（耶46:26）：「此后这地必再有人居住」，必再有人居住，虽然这场毁灭几乎使之灭族。以西结预言这事必在四十年之末成就（结29:13）。请看地上的列国所遭受的变化何等大——他们如何被倒空，又如何再增满；因此兴盛之国不可自恃，目前受奴役之国也不可绝望。
二、这里对神的以色列说了安慰和平安的话（耶46:27-28）。有人认为这是指那些被埃及王与约哈斯一同掳去的人，但我们并未读到有何人与他一同被掳；因此它更可能是指被掳于巴比伦之人，神为他们存留了怜悯；或更普遍地，是指神全体百姓，为要在最艰难之时——当神的审判在列国中施行之时——鼓励他们而设。这段安慰的话我们在耶30:10-11已见过。1. 愿地上的恶人战栗，他们理当如此；「至于你，我的仆人雅各啊，不要惧怕；以色列啊，不要惊惶！」又说：「雅各啊，你不要惧怕！」神不愿他的百姓作胆怯之民。2. 地上的恶人「必如渣滓被除掉」，不再被记念；但神的百姓，为要得救，必被寻见、被招聚——虽在远方；必蒙救赎——虽被囚禁紧紧拘押；并必归回。3. 恶人「像翻腾的海，不得平静」，无人追赶也奔逃。但雅各因在神家中，「必得享安宁宁静，无人使他害怕」；因为他「惧怕之时」有「可信靠的神」。4. 恶人，神「从远处看见」；但无论你在何处，「雅各啊，我与你同在，是极其相近的帮助」。5. 那些欺压神以色列的列国——如埃及、巴比伦——必被「灭绝净尽」；但为神的以色列必存留怜悯：他们必受管教，却不被弃绝；管教必合乎分寸，无论在程度还是时间上。列国都有其周期；犹太国本身作为一个国家也已终结；但福音教会——神属灵的以色列——仍然继续，直到末时；这应许要在其中完全应验：神虽管教，却总不「将其灭绝净尽」。
Originale inglese
The Judgment of Egypt (608 BC)
¹² The 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.
¹³ The word that the LORD spake to Jeremiah the prophet, how Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon should come and smite the land of Egypt.
¹⁴ Declare ye in Egypt, and publish in Migdol, and publish in Noph and in Tahpanhes: say ye, Stand fast, and prepare thee; for the sword shall devour round about thee.
¹⁵ Why are thy valiant men swept away? they stood not, because the LORD did drive them.
¹⁶ He made many to fall, yea, one fell upon another: and they said, Arise, and let us go again to our own people, and to the land of our nativity, from the oppressing sword.
¹⁷ They did cry there, Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a noise; he hath passed the time appointed.
¹⁸ As I live, saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts, Surely as Tabor is among the mountains, and as Carmel by the sea, so shall he come.
¹⁹ O thou daughter dwelling in Egypt, furnish thyself to go into captivity: for Noph shall be waste and desolate without an inhabitant.
²⁰ Egypt is like a very fair heifer, but destruction cometh; it cometh out of the north.
²¹ Also her hired men are in the midst of her like fatted bullocks; for they also are turned back, and are fled away together: they did not stand, because the day of their calamity was come upon them, and the time of their visitation.
²² The voice thereof shall go like a serpent; for they shall march with an army, and come against her with axes, as hewers of wood.
²³ They shall cut down her forest, saith the LORD, though it cannot be searched; because they are more than the grasshoppers, and are innumerable.
²⁴ The daughter of Egypt shall be confounded; she shall be delivered into the hand of the people of the north.
²⁵ The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saith; Behold, I will punish the multitude of No, and Pharaoh, and Egypt, with their gods, and their kings; even Pharaoh, and all them that trust in him:
²⁶ And I will deliver them into the hand of those that seek their lives, and into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of his servants: and afterward it shall be inhabited, as in the days of old, saith the LORD.
²⁷ But fear not thou, O my servant Jacob, and be not dismayed, O Israel: for, behold, I will save thee from afar off, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and be in rest and at ease, and none shall make him afraid.
²⁸ Fear thou not, O Jacob my servant, saith the LORD: for I am with thee; for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee: but I will not make a full end of thee, but correct thee in measure; yet will I not leave thee wholly unpunished.
In these verses we have,
I. Confusion and terror spoken to Egypt. The accomplishment of the prediction in the former part of the chapter disabled the Egyptians from making any attempts upon other nations; for what could they do when their army was routed? But still they remained strong at home, and none of their neighbours durst make any attempts upon them. Though the kings of Egypt came no more out of their land (2Ki 24:7), yet they kept safe and easy in their land; and what would they desire more than peaceably to enjoy their own? One would think all men should be content to do this, and not covet to invade their neighbours. But the measure of Egypt's iniquity is full, and now they shall not long enjoy their own; those that encroached on others shall not be themselves encroached on. The scope of the prophecy here is to show how the king of Babylon should shortly come and smite the land of Egypt, and bring the war into their own bosoms which they had formerly carried into his borders, Jer 46:13. This was fulfilled by the same hand with the former, even Nebuchadnezzar's, but many years after, twenty at least, and probably the prediction of it was long after the former prediction, and perhaps much about the same time with that other prediction of the same event which we had Jer 43:10.
1. Here is the alarm of war sounded in Egypt, to their great amazement (Jer 46:14), notice given to the country that the enemy is approaching, the sword is devouring round about in the neighbouring countries, and therefore it is time for the Egyptians to put themselves in a posture of defence, to prepare for war, that they may give the enemy a warm reception. This must be proclaimed in all parts of Egypt, particularly in Migdol, Noph, and Tahpanhes, because in these places especially the Jewish refugees, or fugitives rather, had planted themselves, in contempt of God's command (Jer 44:1), and let them hear what a sorry shelter Egypt is likely to be to them.
2. The retreat hereupon of the forces of other nations which the Egyptians had in their pay is here foretold. Some considerable number of those troops, it is probable, were posted upon the frontiers to guard them, where they were beaten off by the invaders and put to flights. Then were the valiant men swept away (Jer 46:15) as with a sweeping rain (it is the word that is used Pr 28:3); they can none of them stand their ground, because the Lord drives them from their respective posts; he drives them by his terrors; he drives them by enabling the Chaldeans to drive them. It is not possible that those should fix whom the wrath of God chases. He it was (Jer 46:16) that made many to fall, yea, when their day shall come to fall, the enemy needs not throw them down, they shall fall one upon another, every man shall be a stumbling-block to his fellow, to his follower; nay, if God please, they shall be made to fall upon one another, they shall be made to fall upon one another, every man's sword shall be against his fellow. Her hired men, the troops Egypt has in he service, are indeed in the midst of her like fatted bullocks, lusty men, able bodied and high spirited, who were likely for action and promised to make their part good against the enemy; but they are turned back; their hearts failed them, and, instead of fighting, they have fled away together. How could they withstand their fate when the day of their calamity had come, the day in which God will visit them in wrath? Some think they are compared to fatted bullocks for their luxury; they had wantoned in pleasures, so that they were very unfit for hardships, and therefore turned back and could not stand. In this consternation, (1.) They all made homeward towards their own country (Jer 46:16): They said, "Arise, and let us go again to our own people, where we may be safe from the oppressing sword of the Chaldeans, that bears down all before it." In times of exigence little confidence is to be put in mercenary troops, that fight purely for pay, and have no interest in theirs whom they fight for. (2.) They exclaimed vehemently against Pharaoh, to whose cowardice or bad management, it is probably, their defeat was owing. When he posted them there upon the borders of his country it is probably that he told them he would within such a time come himself with a gallant army of his own subjects to support them; but he failed them, and, when the enemy advanced, they found they had none to back them, so that they were perfectly abandoned to the fury of the invaders. No marvel then that they quitted their post and deserted the service, crying out, Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a noise (Jer 46:17); he can hector, and talk big of the mighty things he would do, but that is all; he brings nothing to pass. All his promises to those in alliance with him, or that are employed for him, vanish into smoke. He brings not the succours he engaged to bring, or not till it is too late: He has passed the time appointed; he did not keep his word, nor keep his day, and therefore they bid him farewell, they will never serve under him any more. Note, Those that make most noise in any business are frequently but a noise. Great talkers are little doers.
3. The formidable power of the Chaldean army is here described as bearing down all before it. The King of kings, whose name is the Lord of hosts, and before whom the mightiest kings on earth, though gods to us, are but as grasshoppers, he hath said it, he hath sworn it, As I live, saith this king, as Tabor overtops the mountains and Carmel overlooks the sea, so shall the king of Babylon overpower all the force of Egypt, such a command shall he have, such a sway shall he bear, Jer 46:18. He and his army shall come against Egypt with axes, as hewers of wood (Jer 46:22), and the Egyptians shall be no more able to resist them than the tree is to resist the man that comes with an axe to cut it down; so that Egypt shall be felled as a forest is by the hewers of wood, which (if there by many of them, and those well provided with instruments for the purpose) will be done in a little time. Egypt is very populous, full of towns and cities, like a forest, the trees of which cannot be searched or numbered, and very rich, full of hidden treasures, many of which will escape the searching eye of the Chaldean soldiers; but they shall make a great spoil in the country, for they are more than the locusts, that come in vast swarms and overrun a country, devouring every green thing (Joe 1:6,7), so shall the Chaldeans do, for they are innumerable. Note, The Lord of hosts hath numberless hosts at his command.
4. The desolation of Egypt hereby is foretold, and the waste that should be made of that rich country. Egypt is now like a very fair heifer, or calf (Jer 46:20), fat and shining, and not accustomed to the yoke of subjection, wanton as a heifer that is well fed, and very sportful. Some think here is an allusion to Apis, the bull or calf which the Egyptians worshipped, from whom the children of Israel learned to worship the golden calf. Egypt is as fair as a goddess, and adores herself, but destruction comes; cutting up comes (so some read it); it comes out of the north; thence the Chaldean soldiers shall come, as so many butchers or sacrificers, to kill and cut up this fair heifer. (1.) The Egyptians shall be brought down, shall be tamed, and their tune changed: The daughters of Egypt shall be confounded (Jer 46:24), shall be filled with astonishment. Their voice shall go like a serpent, that is, it shall be very low and submissive; they shall not low like a fair heifer, that makes a great noise, but hiss out of their holes like serpents. They shall not dare to make loud complaints of the cruelty of the conquerors, but vent their griefs in silent murmurs. They shall not now, as they used to do, answer roughly, but, with the poor, use entreaties and beg for their lives. (2.) They shall be carried away prisoners into their enemy's land (Jer 46:19): "O thou daughter! dwelling securely and delicately in Egypt, that fruitful pleasant country, do not think this will last always, but furnish thyself to go into captivity; instead of rich clothes, which will but tempt the enemy to strip thee, get plain and warm clothes; instead of fine shoes, provide strong ones; and inure thyself to hardship, that thou mayest bear it the better." Note, It concerns us, among all our preparations, to prepare for trouble. We provide for the entertainment of our friends, let us not neglect to provide for the entertainment of our enemies, nor among all our furniture omit furniture for captivity. The Egyptians must prepare to flee; for their cities shall be evacuated. Noph particularly shall be desolate, without an inhabitant, so general shall the slaughter and the captivity be. There are some penalties which, we say, the king and the multitude are exempted from, but here even these are obnoxious: The multitude of No shall be punished: it is called populous No, Nah 3:8. Though hand join in hand, yet they shall not escape; nor can any think to go off in the crowd. Be they ever so many, they shall find God will be too many for them. Their kings and all their petty princes shall fall; and their gods too (Jer 43:12,13), their idols and their great men. Those which they call their tutelar deities shall be no protection to them. Pharaoh shall be brought down, and all those that trust in him (Jer 46:25), particularly the Jews that came to sojourn in his country, trusting in him rather than in God. All these shall be delivered into the hands of the northern nations (Jer 46:24), into the hand not only of Nebuchadnezzar that mighty potentate, but into the hands of his servants, according to the curse on Ham's posterity, of which the Egyptians were, that they should be the servants of servants. These seek their lives, and into their hands they shall be delivered.
5. An intimation is given that in process of time Egypt shall recover itself again (Jer 46:26): Afterwards it shall be inhabited, shall be peopled again, whereas by this destruction it was almost dispeopled. Ezekiel foretels that this should be at the end of forty years, Eze 29:13. See what changes the nations of the earth are subject to, how they are emptied and increased again; and let not nations that prosper be secure, nor those that for the present are in thraldom despair.
II. Comfort and peace are here spoken to the Israel of God, Jer 46:27,28. Some understand it of those whom the king of Egypt had carried into captivity with Jehoahaz, but we read not of any that were carried away captives with him; it may therefore rather refer to the captives in Babylon, whom God had mercy in store for, or, more generally, to all the people of God, designed for their encouragement in the most difficult times, when the judgments of God are abroad among the nations. We had these words of comfort before, Jer 30:10,11. 1. Let the wicked of the earth tremble, they have cause for it; but fear not thou, O my servant Jacob! and be not dismayed, O Israel! and again, Fear thou not, O Jacob! God would not have his people to be a timorous people. 2. The wicked of the earth shall be put away like dross, not be looked after any more; but God's people, in order to their being saved, shall be found out and gathered though they be far off, shall be redeemed though they be held fast in captivity, and shall return. 3. The wicked is like the troubled sea when it cannot rest; they flee when none pursues. But Jacob, being at home in God, shall be at rest and at ease, and none shall make him afraid; for what time he is afraid he has a God to trust to. 4. The wicked God beholds afar off; but, wherever thou art, O Jacob! I am with thee, a very present help. 5. A full end shall be made of the nations that oppressed God's Israel, as Egypt and Babylon; but mercy shall be kept in store for the Israel of God: they shall be corrected, but not cast off; the correction shall be in measure, in respect of degree and continuance. Nations have their periods; the Jewish nation itself has come to an end as a nation; but the gospel church, God's spiritual Israel, still continues, and will to the end of time; in that this promise is to have its full accomplishment, that, though God correct it, he will never make a full end of it.
在前面的预言和史书中,我们看见审判如何从神的家起首;如今我们将看见这审判并不终于此。在本章及随后几章中,我们读到关于周围列国荒凉的预言,而这些灾祸也多半是巴比伦王所加,直到末了巴比伦自己也受清算。论到埃及的预言排在最先,占去整章篇幅,内容包括:一、预言法老尼哥的军队将在迦基米施被迦勒底军击败,这事不久之后、约在约雅敬第四年便应验了(耶46:1-12)。二、预言尼布甲尼撒将进军埃及地并得胜,这事在耶路撒冷被毁数年后才应验(耶46:13-26)。三、在这些灾祸之中赐给属神之以色列的安慰之言(耶46:27,28)。