Jeremiah

ORACLES AGAINST THE NATIONS

Introduction

These are the Lord’s words spoken to the prophet Jeremiah about the nations.

Against Egypt

Concerning Egypt, this is the message against the army of Pharaoh Neco, king of Egypt, which was defeated at Carchemish on the Euphrates by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, king of Judah:

“Prepare shield and buckler, and march to battle!

Harness the horses. Into your saddles, horsemen! To your ranks, with your helmets on! Polish your spears! Put on your breastplates!

But what do I see? With broken ranks, they fall back; their warriors are routed. They flee headlong without looking back, as terrors explode on every side.

The swift cannot escape, nor can the hero flee. In the north, by the Euphrates, they stumble and fall.

Who is this rushing forward like the Nile, like rivers of foaming waters?

Egypt surges like the Nile, like rivers of foaming waters. She says: ‘I will rise and flood the earth; I will sweep away cities and their inhabitants.’

Charge, horses! Drive wildly, charioteers! March on, warriors— men of Cush and Put, with your shields, men of Lydia, with your bows.

This is the day of the Lord God of Armies, a day of vengeance on his enemies. The sword devours, drunken with blood; for the Lord God Sabaoth holds a sacrifice in the northern land by the Euphrates.

Go up to Gilead in search of balm, virgin daughter of Egypt. You have taken medicines in vain, but there is no healing for you.

The nations have heard of your shame, the earth is filled with your cries; warriors have stumbled against each other, and both have fallen together.

This is the message the Lord gave to the prophet Jeremiah about the coming of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, who was to attack Egypt:

“Announce this in Egypt, and proclaim it in Migdol, Memphis, and Tahpanhes. Say to them: Take your posts; prepare for the worst! The sword has consumed your neighbors.

Why has Apis fled? Your black bull god did not stand firm! Why? Because the Lord pushed him down

and caused him to stumble and fall. Then they said to each other: ‘Get up, let us return to our people, to the land of our birth, away from the threatening sword.’

Pharaoh, king of Egypt, will be called ‘The noisy one who misses his chance.’

As surely as I live—says the King whose name is the Lord Sabaoth— one will come who is like Tabor, like Carmel beyond the sea.

Pack your belongings for exile, you who live in Egypt, because Memphis will be deserted and devastated, without inhabitants.

Egypt is like a beautiful heifer, but a gadfly from the north has come upon her.

The mercenaries in her army Are like fattened calves; however, they have also fled, unable to stand their ground, for the day of their disaster has arrived, the time for their punishment.

She makes a sound like a fleeing serpent as her enemies approach with force, coming against her with axes, like loggers chopping down trees.

Dense though her forest is, they will raze it—says the Lord. They are beyond number, more numerous than locusts.

The daughter of Egypt will be humiliated, handed over to the people of the north.”

The Lord Sabaoth, the God of Israel, has said: “I will punish Amon of Thebes, and Egypt with her gods and kings—Pharaoh and those who trust in him.

I will hand them over to the ones seeking their lives, to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and his officials. However, Egypt will later be inhabited again, as in past times—it is the Lord who says so.

But do not fear, my servant Jacob; do not be afraid, O Israel. I will rescue you from a distant land, your descendants from their exile. Jacob will find rest again, and no one will make him afraid.

Do not fear, Jacob my servant, for I am with you —the Lord says— I will put an end to the nations among which I scattered you, but I will spare you. I will correct you with justice; I will not leave you unpunished.