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英文原文
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)
埃及的審判（主前608年）
¹ 耶和華論列國的話臨到先知耶利米。
² 論到關乎埃及王法老尼哥的軍隊：這軍隊安營在伯拉河邊的迦基米施，是被巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒在猶大王約西亞的兒子約雅敬第四年所打敗的。
³ 你們要預備大小盾牌，往前上陣。
⁴ 你們套上車，騎上馬！頂盔站立，磨槍披甲！
⁵ 我為何看見他們驚惶轉身退後呢？他們的勇士打敗了，急忙逃跑，並不回頭；驚嚇四圍都有！這是耶和華說的。
⁶ 不要容快跑的逃避；不要容勇士逃脱；他們在北方伯拉河邊絆跌仆倒。
⁷ 像尼羅河漲發，像江河的水翻騰的是誰呢？
⁸ 埃及像尼羅河漲發，像江河的水翻騰。他說：我要漲發遮蓋遍地；我要毀滅城邑和其中的居民。
⁹ 馬匹上去吧！車輛急行吧！勇士，就是手拿盾牌的古實人和弗人，並拉弓的路德族，都出去吧！
¹⁰ 因為是主—萬軍之耶和華報仇的日子，要向敵人報仇。刀劍必吞吃得飽，飲血飲足；因為主—萬軍之耶和華在北方伯拉河邊有獻祭的事。
¹¹ 埃及的民哪，你上基列去取乳香去吧！你雖多服良藥，總是徒然，不得治好。
第一節是本書論及鄰近列國、並緊接於此的那部分的標題。這是「臨到耶利米論列國的耶和華的話」；因為神是列國的君王與審判官，他認識那些不認識他、也不理會他的人，並要叫他們交帳。以賽亞和以西結都曾論到耶利米在此分別宣告的這些列國，且都是指着同樣的事件說的。在舊約裏，我們有「論外邦人的耶和華的話」；在新約裏，我們有「為外邦人的耶和華的話」，使「那些遠離的人得以親近」。
他從埃及開始，因為他們素來是欺壓以色列的人，近來又是迷惑以色列的人——當以色列投靠他們的時候。在這幾節裏，他預告法老尼哥的軍隊將在約雅敬第四年被尼布甲尼撒所擊潰；這對巴比倫王是一場徹底的勝利，使他从埃及河直到伯拉河，一切原屬埃及王的都奪了回來，並大大削弱了他，使他「不再從本地出來」（參王下24:7），又叫他為四年前征伐亞述王、在那一役中殺了約西亞的行動（王下23:29）付出沉重代價。這就是此處以高舉的筆調、為着埃及如此敗北而誇勝所預告的事件；耶利米論到此事必格外欣喜，因為他曾為約西亞之死哀哭，如今這死在法老尼哥身上得了報應。現在這裏，
一、埃及人因他們為這次出征所作的盛大預備而受責備，先知在其中呼召他們要盡力而為，因為他們確會如此行：「來吧，預備大小盾牌，讓兵器都齊備」，耶46:3。埃及以馬匹聞名——讓馬匹都套上，讓騎兵都好好上馬：「騎上馬，挺身而出」等等，耶46:4。世人為了彼此殘殺，作了何等多的預備，費盡心思、付上極大代價，好像他們不會自己死得夠快似的。先知把他們為這次出征的開拔比作尼羅河的氾濫（耶46:7,8）：「埃及如江河翻騰」，不守自己的河岸，威脅要淹沒鄰近各地。埃及人在此場合帶上戰場的軍隊，是極其可畏的。先知召聚他們（耶46:9）：「馬匹上去吧！車輛急行吧！」他挑戰他們召集一切同盟的軍兵——「古實人」，他們與埃及人同出一源（創10:6），是埃及的鄰舍與盟友；「弗人和路德族」，二者都住在非洲、埃及以西，埃及就是從他們那裏招募僱傭兵的。讓他們盡一切技藝與勢力來堅固自己吧，然而終歸徒然；儘管如此，他們仍要羞愧地敗北，因為神要與他們爭戰，而面對他「沒有智慧、沒有謀略能以抵擋」，箴21:30,31。出去爭戰的人，不僅當預備大小盾牌、套上馬匹，更當為自己的罪悔改，並向神祈求他的同在，又要保守自己遠離一切惡事。
二、他們因對這次出征所抱的極大盼望而受責備——這盼望與神招聚他們聚集的本意完全相反。他們知道自己的心思，神也知道，並在天上坐着發笑；「他們卻不知道耶和華的意念，也不明白他的籌算。他必將他們聚攏像禾捆到禾場一樣」，彌4:11,12。埃及說（耶46:8）：「我要漲發遮蓋遍地」，無人能阻擋我；「我要毀滅城邑」，凡擋我路的城邑都要被毀。如同從前的法老：「我要追趕，我要追上。」埃及人以為那是他們揚威的日子，神卻說那是他的日子：「這是主—萬軍之耶和華的日子」（耶46:10），就是他在傾覆埃及人時得高舉的日子。他們的意思是一回事，神的意思卻是另一回事；他們圖謀要抬舉自己的尊榮、擴張自己的版圖，神卻定意使他們的國大受貶抑與削弱。這是「為約西亞之死報仇的日子」；這是向神的公義獻祭的日子，必有無數埃及的罪人如犧牲一般仆倒其中。請注意，當人以為可以藉着推進不義的圖謀來抬高自己時，就當預料神要藉着挫敗他們、剪除他們來榮耀自己。
三、他們因在交鋒時的怯懦與狼狽潰逃而受責備（耶46:5,6）：「我為何看見他們」——儘管作了這一切盛大威武的預備，儘管口出種種英勇果敢的豪言——當迦勒底軍兵一迎面而來，他們竟「驚惶轉身退後」，完全喪膽，再無半點鬥志。1. 他們羞愧地撤退。連「他們的勇士」——本該站穩的人——也「逃跑」，是眾人一同逃，是盡力而逃，是在混亂與極度驚惶中逃；他們既無時間也無心「回頭」，因為「驚嚇四圍都有」。然而，2. 他們仍無法逃脫。他們受了逃跑的羞辱，卻不能從逃跑中得到保全；他們倒不如站穩當場戰死。因為「快跑的也不能逃避」。腳程的輕快到了試驗之時要與他們的勇氣一樣失效；「勇士也不能逃脱」，不，他們「被打敗」，「跌碎」。他們在逃跑中「絆跌」，「向北方仆倒」，就是向着敵境的方向；因為他們拔腿而逃時，竟不似常人那樣往自家方向跑，反而向前直衝。請注意，「快跑的未必能贏，強壯的未必能勝」。勇士並不總是得勝的。
四、他們因永遠無法從這致命的一擊中恢復而受責備——這一擊要成為他們國族的致命傷，耶46:11,12。那「埃及的女子」——素來極其奢華威風的——如今因這場敗績受了重傷。讓她如今去基列尋找乳香、尋找醫生吧；讓她用盡她那些智者所能開的一切藥方，來醫治這創傷、挽回這場敗績所造成的損失吧；卻全是徒然；「不得治好」；他們再也無法像這次一樣把這樣強大的軍隊帶上戰場了。「素來傳揚你的榮耀與力量的列國」，如今「聽見了你的羞辱」，聽見你敗得多麼丟臉，又因此削弱了多少。這事不必征服者誇勝來傳揚，被征服者的哀號與呼喊就要把它傳開：「你的呼喊充滿了四圍」。因為當他們四散奔逃時，一個勇士「絆跌」在另一個勇士身上，彼此相撞，混亂不堪，以致「兩人一同」成了追趕者的擄物，輕易就被擒獲。這樣可怕的意外必有一千件之多，使遍地充滿了被擊敗之人的呼喊。因此，「勇士不可因他的勇力誇口」，因為時候將到，那勇力對他毫無用處。
英文原文
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)
埃及的審判（主前 608 年）
¹² 列國聽見你的羞辱，你的喊聲充滿了全地；因為勇士與勇士相撞，二人一同跌倒。
¹³ 耶和華對先知耶利米所說的話，論到巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒來攻擊埃及地的事：
¹⁴ 你們要在埃及傳揚，在密奪報告，在挪弗、答比匿宣佈，說：要站穩，預備自己；因為刀劍在你四圍施行吞滅。
¹⁵ 你的勇士為何被掃除？他們站立不住，因為耶和華驅逐他們。
¹⁶ 他使多人絆跌，甚至彼此相壓；他們說：起來吧，我們再回到本國本鄉的同胞那裏去，躲避欺壓的刀劍。
¹⁷ 他們在那裏喊叫說：埃及王法老不過是個聲音；他已錯過所定的時候。
¹⁸ 君王——他的名為萬軍之耶和華——說：我憑我的永生起誓，他必如他泊在眾山之中，如迦密在海邊一樣來到。
¹⁹ 住在埃及的女子啊，你當為自己預備被擄的器具；因為挪弗必成為荒涼，無人居住。
²⁰ 埃及好像極美的母牛犢，但毀滅從北方來到。
²¹ 其中雇傭的兵丁好像肥壯的牛犢；他們也一同退後逃跑，站立不住，因為他們遭難的日子臨到他們，就是追討他們的時候。
²² 它的聲音必如蛇行；因為他們必帶著軍隊如伐木者拿著斧頭來攻擊她。
²³ 耶和華說：他們必砍伐她的樹林，雖然不能查究；因為他們多於蝗蟲，不可勝數。
²⁴ 埃及的女子必蒙羞，必交在北方百姓的手中。
²⁵ 萬軍之耶和華以色列的神說：看哪，我必刑罰挪的眾人、法老和埃及，又刑罰埃及的神和君王；連法老和一切倚靠他的人，
²⁶ 我都必交在尋索他們性命之人的手中，交在巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒和他臣僕的手中；以後這地必再有人居住，如從前一樣——這是耶和華說的。
²⁷ 我的僕人雅各啊，不要懼怕；以色列啊，不要驚惶；因為看哪，我必從遠方拯救你，拯救你的後裔脫離被擄之地；雅各必回來，得享平靜安寧，無人使他害怕。
²⁸ 我的僕人雅各啊，不要懼怕——這是耶和華說的；因為我與你同在。我必將凡我所趕你去的各國全然滅絕，卻不將你全然滅絕，必按公平懲治你，總不赦免你而讓你全然無罪。
在這幾節中我們看見：
一. 對埃及所傳的信息：混亂與驚惶。本章前半所記預言的應驗使埃及人無力再攻擊別國；因為他們的軍隊既已潰敗，還能作甚麼呢？但他們在本國境內仍保持強大，鄰舍中無人敢攻擊他們。埃及的王雖不再從他們的地出來（王下 24:7），卻在自己地中安然無虞；他們還能比和平享用自己所有的盼望更多嗎？人原會以為人人都當滿足於此，而不覬覦侵犯鄰舍。但埃及的罪孽已經滿盈，如今他們不能長久享用自己所有的了；那侵占別人的，如今自己也要被侵佔。此處預言的重點是要顯明巴比倫王不久必來攻擊埃及地（Jer 46:13），將他們從前帶到他邊境的戰爭引入自己的腹地。這事由從前同一隻手——尼布甲尼撒的手——所成就，但至少在此後二十年；這預言大概遠在從前那次預言之後，或許與我們在 Jer 43:10 所讀到的、關於同一件事的另一預言時間相近。
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戰爭的警報在埃及響起，使他們大大驚惶（Jer 46:14）。向鄉間通報仇敵逼近，刀劍正在鄰近各國四圍吞滅，因此埃及人是時候進入防備狀態、預備戰爭，好給仇敵一個猛烈的迎擊。這要在埃及各地宣佈——特別在密奪、挪弗和答比匿，因為猶太的難民——或更恰當地說逃亡者——正是在這些地方安頓下來，藐視神的命令（Jer 44:1）；讓他們聽聽埃及可能成為他們何等可悲的避難所。
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此處預言埃及所僱用的別國軍隊的撤退。這些軍隊中大概有相當人數駐紮在邊境守衛，卻被入侵者擊退。於是勇士被掃除（Jer 46:15）——如同大雨沖洗（箴 28:3 所用的詞）；他們沒有一個能站穩陣腳，因為耶和華驅逐他們離開各自的崗位——祂以威嚇驅逐他們；祂使迦勒底人得以驅逐他們。神的怒氣所追趕的，不可能站穩。正是祂（Jer 46:16）使多人絆跌——當他們傾覆的日子來到，仇敵不必推倒他們，他們彼此相壓——每個人都成了同伴和跟從者的絆腳石；不，神若願意，他們要彼此相壓，各人的刀劍要攻擊同伴。她所雇傭的兵丁，確實在她中間如同肥壯的牛犢——健壯的人，體格強健、士氣高昂，看來大有可為，似乎能堅守陣地；但他們退後了——心都喪膽了，不但沒有打仗，反而一同逃跑。當遭難的日子來到——就是神在怒氣中追討他們的日子——他們怎能抵擋命運呢？有人認為他們被比作肥壯的牛犢是因他們的奢華：他們在享樂中放縱，以致極不適合吃苦，因此退後逃跑、站立不住。在這種驚惶中：（1.）他們都朝自己的本國撤退（Jer 46:16）：他們說：「起來，我們再回到本國本鄉的同胞那裏去，或可在那裏安全躲避迦勒底人欺壓的刀劍——那刀劍所向披靡。」在危急之時，不可太信賴僱傭兵——他們純粹為薪俸而戰，與他們所保衛的人毫無利益關係。（2.）他們激烈地責備法老——他們的失敗大概因法老的懦弱或指揮失當。當法老把他們派駐在他國邊境時，或許曾告訴他們他要在某時親自帶領一支本國的精兵來支援他們；他卻失信了，當仇敵推進時，他們發現無人支持，完全被丟棄在入侵者的怒氣之中。難怪他們棄崗離職、退出戰役，喊著說：埃及王法老不過是個聲音（Jer 46:17）；他只會虛張聲勢，誇口自己要作的大事，但這就是全部了；他一事無成。他對同盟者或受僱者的一切承諾都化為煙雲。他沒有帶來他應許的援軍，或帶得太遲了：他已錯過所定的時候；他沒有守信，沒有守約，因此他們與他告別，再也不肯在他麾下服役。注意，在任何事上最會喧嚷的人往往不過是個聲音。說大話的人往往作不成大事。
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此處描述迦勒底軍隊可畏的力量——所向披靡。萬王之王——祂的名是萬軍之耶和華——在祂面前世上最有權勢的王，縱然在我們看來如同神，也不過如蝗蟲——祂說了，祂起了誓：我憑我的永生起誓——這位君王如此說——如他泊在眾山之上、迦密俯視大海，巴比倫王也必如此壓倒埃及一切的力量，他必擁有如此的統帥權、施展如此的威勢（Jer 46:18）。他和他的軍隊必帶著斧頭如伐木者一般來攻擊埃及（Jer 46:22），埃及人不能抵抗他們，正如樹不能抵抗那帶著斧頭來砍伐它的人；因此埃及要如樹林被伐木者伐倒——若伐木者人多且工具齊備，這在短時間內即可作成。埃及人口眾多，城鎮星羅棋布如樹林，其樹木不可查究、不可勝數；埃及也十分富足，滿了隱藏的財寶，許多要逃過迦勒底士兵搜索的眼睛；但他們必在這國大肆掠奪，因為他們多於蝗蟲——蝗蟲成群結隊、漫天蔽日，吞盡一切青綠之物（珥 1:6,7）——迦勒底人必如此行，因為他們不可勝數。注意，萬軍之耶和華有不可勝數的軍隊聽祂調遣。
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此處預言埃及因此所受的荒涼，以及那富庶之國所要遭的蹂躪。埃及如今好像極美的母牛犢（Jer 46:20）——肥壯光潤，不習慣順服的軛，如同一頭餵得飽足、活潑嬉戲的母牛犢。有人認為此處暗指亞皮斯——埃及人所敬拜的公牛或牛犢，以色列人從中學會了拜金牛犢。埃及美如女神，自拜自賞，但毀滅來到——或作宰殺來到（有人如此讀）；它從北方而來；迦勒底士兵要從那裏如屠夫或祭司一般來到，殺宰這頭極美的母牛犢。（1.）埃及人要被降卑、被馴服，他們的腔調要改變：埃及的女子必蒙羞（Jer 46:24）——滿了驚惶。它的聲音必如蛇行——就是極其低微順服；他們不再如極美的母牛犢大聲鳴叫，卻如蛇從洞中發出嘶嘶之聲。他們不敢大聲抱怨征服者的殘酷，只在無聲的低語中發洩悲傷。他們不再如從前那樣粗魯回話，而是如窮人一般懇求、乞命。（2.）他們要被擄到仇敵之地（Jer 46:19）：「住在埃及的女子啊，你安享安逸美滿——這塊豐盛悅人之地的女子——不要以為這會永遠持續，你要為自己預備被擄的器具；不要帶華美的衣服，那只會誘惑仇敵來剝奪你，要預備樸素保暖的衣服；不要帶精緻的鞋，要預備結實的鞋；要使自己習慣吃苦，好叫你能更好地忍受。」注意，我們在一切預備中當預備患難。我們為款待朋友而預備，不可忽略為款待仇敵而預備；在一切傢具中不可缺少為被擄而預備的。埃及人必須預備逃亡，因為他們的城必被疏散。挪弗特別要成為荒涼，無人居住——屠殺和被擄要如此普遍。有些刑罰我們說王和群眾可免，但此處連這些也不能倖免：挪的眾人必受刑罰——它被稱為人多 的挪（鴻 3:8）。雖手拉手也不能逃脫；無人以為可以混在人群中溜走。他們人數再多，也必發現神比他們更多。他們的王和一切小王侯都要傾覆；他們的神明也不例外（Jer 43:12,13）——他們的偶像和大人。他們所稱為護國神祇的，不能保護他們。法老必被降卑，一切倚靠他的人（Jer 46:25）——特別是那些來寄居他國、倚靠他過於倚靠神的猶太人——也必如此。這一切都要交在北方列國的手中（Jer 46:24），交在不僅是尼布甲尼撒那強大的君王、更交在他臣僕的手中——正如含的後裔（埃及人即為其後裔）所受的咒詛：他們要作僕人的僕人。這些人尋索他們的性命，他們就必被交在這些人手中。
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此處暗示埃及日久必再復原（Jer 46:26）：以後這地必再有人居住，再被人口充滿——而這次毀滅幾乎使它人口盡失。以西結預言這要在四十年期滿之時（結 29:13）。請看地上的列國何等變幻無常——如何被倒空又再增長；因此興盛的國不可安逸，目前受轄制的也不可絕望。
二. 此處對神的以色列所傳的信息：安慰與平安（Jer 46:27,28）。有人把這話理解為埃及王從前隨約哈斯一同擄去的人，但我們沒有讀到有誰隨他一同被擄；因此這話更可能是指被擄在巴比倫的人——神為他們存留了憐憫；或更廣義地說，是指神的一切百姓——為要在神的審判遍及列國、最艱難之時鼓勵他們。這些安慰的話我們從前已有（Jer 30:10,11）。1. 願地上的惡人戰慄——他們有理由如此；但我的僕人雅各啊，你不要懼怕！以色列啊，不要驚惶！又說：雅各啊，你不要懼怕！神不要祂的百姓成為膽怯的百姓。2. 地上的惡人必如渣滓被除掉，不再被記念；但神的百姓為要得拯救，必被找著、被招聚——縱然他們遠在異方；必被救贖——縱然他們被擄困住；並要歸回。3. 惡人如翻騰的海不得平靜，無人追趕卻要逃跑；但雅各以神為家，必得享平靜安寧，無人使他害怕；因為他懼怕的時候有神可以倚靠。4. 惡人神從遠處觀看；但無論你在何處，雅各啊！我與你同在——是隨時的幫助。5. 壓迫神之以色列的列國（如埃及和巴比倫）必被全然滅絕；但對神的以色列，憐憫必被存留：他們要受責罰，卻不被棄絕；責罰是有限度的——無論在程度或持續時間上。列國有其週期；連猶太國作為一個國家也已終結；但福音的教會——神屬靈的以色列——仍繼續存留，直到末了；這應許要在其中完全應驗：神雖管教它，卻永不將它全然滅絕。
英文原文
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.
審判怎樣從神的家起首，我們已在前面的預言與記敘中看見了；如今我們要看見，這審判並不止於此。在本章及隨後數章，我們讀到關於鄰近列國將被荒廢的預言，而這些荒廢多半也是巴比倫王所加的，直到末了巴比倫自己也受到報應。論到埃及的預言在此列於首位，佔了整章；其中我們看見：一、關於法老尼哥的軍隊在迦基米施被迦勒底軍兵擊潰的預言，這事不久之後便告應驗，時在約雅敬第四年，耶46:1-12。二、關於尼布甲尼撒將要進攻埃及地並在那裏得勝的預言，這事在耶路撒冷被毀數年之後才應驗，耶46:13-26。三、在這些災禍之中，賜給神的以色列的安慰之言，耶46:27,28。