In 49.28-30, Babylon is described as the instrument of God’s wrath. Here the nation itself is punished. The fact that she was God’s instrument does not indicate any righteousness in her. Jeremiah devotes two long chapters to this powerful nation; indicating that Babylon was a key player in God’s plans, yet was all along subject to the will of God.

v1: The scripture is explicit about who is being addressed. No one could mistake these words.

v2: Opening promise and prediction, that “Babylon will be captured.” Her power was always limited, and God is greater than the greatest of men. . The verse opens and summarises this long two-chapter section.

The first sin of Babylon was idolatry, the “land of idols” (v38), and Bel and Marduk and mentioned here. Their trust in idols proved to be useless.

v3: Babylon, often referred to as attacking from the north, is herself defeated by an attack from the north, see v9. The land will become desolate, see v13.

v4-5: The people of Israel and Judah will seek their God, the only true God. They will not revert to idols. They will return in tears to seek God, to renew the covenant with Him, and come and bind themselves to Him. This means putting away the sins of the past, and trusting themselves utterly to the Lord God.

v6-7: Israel and Judah remained “my people,” not forgotten by God. They were affected by the events affecting Babylon, and therefore the prophet gives time to Babylon’s future, but that is not independent of Israel and Judah.

The people of God were lost sheep, led astray by their shepherds; a succession of kings, priests, prophets had led them away from true faith in the true God. They were taken from their resting place, and made to roam aimlessly among the nations. In particular, they were devoured by Babylon. Babylon justified her own cruelty, “for they have sinned against the Lord.”

Vengeance belongs to the Lord, and we cannot take such actions into our own hands.

v8-10: In the light of the impending attack upon Babylon, the command was for God’s people to flee; Rev 18.4.

v11: Babylon had rejoiced in her victory over Judah, “my heritage.” The Lord was not ignorant of the suffering of His people.

v12-13: The Lord’s anger poured out upon Babylon. The once great nation turned into a desolate wilderness.

v14-16: Babylon had sinned against the Lord, and therefore received punishment to fit her crimes; for God is always just and fair in His actions.

v17: Israel had been scattered, first by Assyria, then by Babylon. They were sent to devour and to crush; this was God’s work, and historical fact.

v18: Words from the Lord God of Israel, for He has not forsaken His own. The works of God are so often clearly on behalf of His people – He will not forsake His own.

Assyria had been punished, and Babylon was to follow. Again, such events are historical, as the Medes and Persians defeated the Babylonians.

v19: Israel will once more graze and be satisfied in his own land. Even in Gilead, east of the Jordan; that too will be inhabited.

v20: Israel’s sin and guilt remembered no more.

v21-32: The attack upon Babylon.

God Himself called armies to attack Babylon; this was His work; His weapons, His arsenal (v25). Babylon had been the “hammer of the whole earth,” used by God to bring judgment elsewhere (v23). But she was not without guilt herself, and she opposed and defied the Lord God (v24, 29).

Fugitives returned to Jerusalem, where they joyfully reported the defeat of Babylon (v28). Judah’s own security was tied up with the defeat of Babylon. See 51.10; Rev 19.1-3.

v33: Babylon oppressed Israel and Judah, just as Assyria had done (v17-18).

v34: To fight against the people of God is to fight against their Redeemer, the Lord of Hosts. He will plead their cause, and none can answer. God’s promise of rest for His people, but unrest for Babylon, and any who oppose His people.

v35-38: The Lord’s word, “A sword against the Babylonians.” There was no escape, v30,32. Her soothsayers and prophets, surprised by the sudden doom, were disgraced and shamed.

v39-40: Babylon shall be destroyed, see also 49.18; even as Sodom and Gomorrah.

v41: The attack from the north, by an army of great kings allied against Babylon; for Babylon had herself attacked many nations; this time, many are allied against her.

v42: Babylon had shown no mercy (v11), and would therefore receive no mercy; her land desolate, non one to dwell there (v3), utterly desolate (v13), cut apart and broken (v23), nothing left (v26), none escaped (v30,32), and inhabited no more (v39).

v43: Even the powerful king of Babylon grew weak at the news of defeat.

v44-46: God had spoken, and His word must be fulfilled. His plans against Babylon would happen.