Verse 1. “The word of the Lord....... against the Gentiles.”—This is a general title appropriate to the five following chapters, which describe the Lord's judgments against various foreign nations mentioned in the history of the Jews. As here put together, towards the end of the book, these prophecies are evidently out of their proper chronological order; but those who collected and arranged the prophecies of Jeremiah, appear to have considered it expedient thus to bring together those predictions which had no immediate connection with the affairs of the Jews. 2. "Against the army of Pharaoh-necho."-This chapter contains two prophecies against Egypt, referring to different transactions. That which begins here relates to that defeat of Necho's army, by Nebuchadnezzar, which we have already noticed under 2 Chron. xxxv. 20. The passage which Josephus quotes from the third book of the Chaldaic history of Berosus, appears to refer to this and the other victories and conquests of Nebuchadnezzar in early life, as he places them at the beginning of his reign, or rather at the end of his father's reign. The other prophecy, beginning with verse 13, obviously relates to that invasion of Egypt, in the latter days of Pharaoh-hophra, which has just engaged our attention. 9. “Come up, ye horses; and rage, ye chariots."-Egypt and its principal allies are here strikingly alluded to by their military characteristics. The present allusion to the furious rapidity of the horses, and the raging force with which the chariots were whirled along in the Egyptian armies, will appear remarkably characteristic to those who have had opportunities of observing the overpowering fury of the horses and chariots, as exhibited in ancient paintings, copied in the various splendid works on Egyptian antiquities which have been published since the commencement of the present century. "The Ethiopians and the Libyans, that handle the shield."-That the African Ethiopians are intended, as distinguished from those of Arabia, is rendered probable by the consideration stated under 2 Chron. xiv. 9, where we find them associated in like manner with the Libyans, in the army of Shishak, king of Egypt. Compare also the second note under 2 Chron. xii. 3; where we find "shields" mentioned prominently among the warlike instruments of a nation of African Ethiopia. Although the word here rendered Libyans" is not the same (Lubims) as that which, under the text just referred to, we have considered to denote the Libyans, but " Phut" (from the third son of Ham), there is every probability that the satne people-or at least neighbouring peoples of similar habits-are intended by both words. In this view it is a remarkable fact that the Libyans were celebrated for their shields, even by heathen writers. Herodotus says (Melpomene, 189) that the Greeks borrowed from the Libyans the form of the famous shield (Ægis) which they gave to Minerva; excepting only that the bordering fringe was, in the Libyan shield, of leathern thongs, and not of serpents, as in the Ægis. Lydians."-The original is Ludim, and the people denoted must certainly not be confounded with the Lydians of Asia Minor, with whom the Egyptians, and the other African nations usually associated with them, could have no conceivable connection. There were two Luds, one the son of Shem, from whom these Lydians are supposed to have descended; the other, the son of Misraim, the settler of Egypt, and whose descendants we should, from this very circumstance, expect to be here denoted. From their inclusion among African nations, they were probably settled in Africa, and doubtless near Egypt. But it is impossible to point out the particular part of that continent which they occupied; although from their being always mentioned with the Libyans (Phut), and from the fact that they served with them as mercenary soldiers of Tyre (Ezek. xxx. 5), which perhaps implies that there was a maritime communication between them and the Tyrians, we may obtain the conclusion that they were settled in the neighbourhood of the African coast, near or among the Libyans. 19. "Noph shall be waste."-Under ch. ii. 16, we have mentioned Noph as identical with Memphis, and stated that its site is to be sought at Metrahenny; a representation of the village of that name being also there given. Thebes and Memphis were the two most famous and magnificent cities of ancient Egypt. The latter was, like the former, the residence of mighty kings, and the capital of a great empire. From the confusion of dynasties and kingdoms, it is difficult to determine the commencement and duration of the metropolitan character in different cities, without entering into larger chronological and historical details than would be interesting or profitable to the Bible reader. We shall therefore only premise, that although Memphis was a most ancient city, yet its foundation, and still more its metropolitan rank, was posterior to that of Thebes, which it ultimately superseded as the capital of Egypt. To explain this a little, it should be observed that the Egyptian traditions, as preserved by the Greek historians, and confirmed by modern investigation, state that Upper Egypt was the first settled and brought under cultivation. From thence colonies proceeded into Middle and Lower Egypt, and these became the parents of other colonies, till the whole country was settled and cultivated. It appears that the principal colonies either immediately assumed or soon acquired the character of independent states or kingdoms, each with its own metropolis. But although Egypt thus contained several contemporary kingdoms, and Thebes ceased to be the sole capital of the settled country, it is evident from the nature of things, as well as from history, that it must long have remained the great metropolitan city of Egypt. Memphis seems to have been the earliest, or one of the earliest, of those settlements below the Thebais which became the seat of an independent kingdom. It is said to have been founded by Menes, the first Egyptian king; and the tradition, that he gained its site by changing the course of the Nile, which previously ran under the Libyan mountains, opening for it a new channel about halfway between the Arabian and Libyan chain, is, in the opinion of Mr. Wilkinson and others. strongly corroborated by the actual appearance of the river at the spot where, according to Herodotus, the dyked off," which he fixes at one hundred stades above Memphis. This city gradually grew into importance as the metropolis of a distinct state, and by the consolidation of the several states into a single monarchy, ultimately became the sole metropolis of Egypt. When it became the paramount metropolis, it may be difficult to determine precisely; but we feel quite safe in saying, that as the capital of middle Egypt, as the paramount metropolis of the country, and as still an important metropolitan city after the residence of the court had been removed to Dais, it appears that Noph or Memphis was that great city of the Pharaohs with which the Old Testament Hebrews were best acquainted, and to which there are the most frequent references in Scripture, by name or allusion, from the time that the Hebrew family went down into Egypt to that of Jeremiah. At the former date it was probably the capital of that part of Egypt with which the Hebrews were the most familiar; and at the latter, it remained in effect th metropolis of Egypt; for although, since the reign of Psammetichus, the kings had usually resided at Sais, the Memphis continued to be regarded as the capital of Egypt down to the conquest of the country by the Persians, and indeed, still later, till it was superseded by Alexandria, and even this was not at once, for it seems from inscripbecome, instead of Sais, the royal residence. tions that, under the earlier Ptolemics, Memphis was still considered the proper metropolis, although Alexandria aud stream was " Most of terms of the wealth and glory of Memphis, but enter little into details, and Noph is so utterly waste, that we are not able to supply the deficiency from the evidence of existing remains as at Thebes. They speak much however of its magnificent temples, particularly those of Apis and Vulcan; and, in connection with the former, it will be recollected that Memphis was the principal seat of the worship of the ox of that name. Diodorus describes the city as about 150 stades in circumference, or between seventeen and eighteen miles, which may give some idea of its extent and importance even after allowance is made for the loose manner in which the Oriental towns were and are usually built. And although there are no such existing monuments on the site of Memphis as Thebes still offers, it would be perhaps right to name those remains of a different and not less striking kindthe pyramids as the monuments of its desolation. For the situation of Memphis (regarded as near Metrahenny) is centrical with respect to the pyramids, being as it were in the midst of them, and the ancient historians usually considered the pyramids as pertaining to Memphis. Other monuments, more properly marking the city itself, there are scarcely any, so literally has the prophetic denunciation been accomplished. Besides the mounds, or as Scripture describes them, "heaps," which mark desolate sites in Egypt and Western Asia, there are only a few fragments of granite, some substructions, and a colossal statue of Rameses II. This complete desolation, extending even to the absence of ruins, as compared with the grand remains of temples, palaces, and tombs at the more ancient Thebes, is the more observable, when we know that the glory of Memphis was only impaired, not destroyed, by the devastations and burnings of the Persians; and that, when eclipsed by Alexandria, it continued to be the second city of Egypt, as described by Strabo, so late as about the time of our Saviour. And even so lately as the fourteenth century the Arabian geographer, Abulfeda, notices the extensive remains of Menf, as still evincing the ancient importance of the renowned city of the Pharaohs. The more entire desolation of Memphis than of the cities of Upper Egypt may however be accounted for by the fact, that in the latter region, no great cities comparatively modern arose, as in Lower Egypt, to tempt their founders to render desolation more desolate by employing, according to general practice, the materials which the old sites offered for their new constructions; while also, the remains in Middle and Lower Egypt are more exposed than in the Upper to be gradually covered by the encroaching sands of the desert, or the alluvions of the Nile. In conclusion, it claims to be noticed that the Oriental writers furnish a corroboration of Scripture, by stating that the first great blow to the prosperity of Memphis was given by Nebuchadnezzar, in that great expedition which Scripture foretold, but which the Greek historians omit to notice. (See Heeren's Egyptians,' passim; Rennel's Geog. of Herodotus,' sect. xviii; Descript. de l'Egypte,' tome v.; Wilkinson's 'Topography of Thebes,' &c.) 6 25. "No."-This name occurs several times in the prophets as that of a great and populous Egyptian city; and is sometimes distinguished by the addition of " Ammon" (No-Ammon). This addition would naturally suggest that the city denoted was the chief seat of the worship of Jupiter Ammon; and this was Thebes. The Septuagint renders it by "Diospolis," which was a name of Thebes, on account of its devotion to the worship of Jupiter. It is true that there were two other cities in Egypt which bore the same name; but as Thebes was the principal, and other circumstances concur in its favour, we have little hesitation in acquiescing in the general conclusion that this famous city is intended by the No of Scripture. In the preceding note we have incidentally introduced Thebes to our readers as the most ancient capital and renowned city of Egypt, the origin of which is lost in the remote infancy of human settlements and institutions. Long the metropolis of the country; and continuing, as the independent capital of Upper Egypt, to eclipse the metropolitan cities which arose in Middle and Lower Egypt-enriched by commerce, devotion, and the spoils of conquered kingsand always looked to with veneration as the parent city, and the prime seat of the sacred mysteries, and of learning and the arts,-Thebes survived in splendour and magnificence, long after Memphis had become the political metropolis of the united kingdom, and, from its more advantageous situation for trade, had diverted from it the wealth it derived from commerce. This, however, doubtless gave the first impulse to its decline; but, from the reports of ancient writers, it may well be questioned whether, at any point of time which the Old Testament history embraces, the subtraction which the rivalry of Memphis made from the wealth and population of Thebes, enabled her to eclipse, or even equal, the remaining glory of that most renowned city. And even at this day, while Noph. and Zoan, and On, have scarcely left a trace of their existence, the desolate temples of Thebes, which remain fresh, fair, and strong, promise to carry down to remote future ages, the record of her glory and desolation. Thebes has the distinction of being mentioned by Homer, who speaks of its great wealth, and mentions its hundred gates, from each of which issued two hundred men, with horses and chariots. This passage has occasioned more discussion than a poetical allusion appears to require. Diodorus seems to intimate that this force was not raised in the immediate vicinity of Thebes; and as to the hundred gates, he states the conjecture of some persons, that the city derived its title of Hecatompylos from the numerous propyla, or gateways of temples and public buildings. Some understand it to denote so many palaces of princes, each of whom, on pressing occasions, furnished the stated number of men, horses, and chariots. A strong objection to the notion that city gates can be intended arises from the fact, as noticed by Pococke, Wilkinson, and others, that not the least indication can be discovered that Thebes was ever enclosed by a wall. We have no detailed descriptions of the city from ancient sources, but only of the conspicuous public monuments; and it is very possible that, in this and other ancient cities of Egypt, while the temples seem adapted, from their massive character and durable materials, to resist the utmost power of time, the mass of the private dwellings were of a very humble character-probably of mud or brick; some suppose they were of wood, but this would be hardly possible in Egypt, where timber is and ever has been scarce and costly. But it is now well apprehended that, in speaking of the splendour of ancient cities, we understand exclusively its public buildings and monuments, and nothing of handsome streets and comfortable abodes, in which our modern cities as far exceed the ancient, as the ancient probably exceeded ours in temples, theatres, palaces, and tombs. However, the very complete information obtained from the painted walls and tombs at Thebes, concerning the usages in peace and war, the arts, the costumes, and the manner of life and action of the ancient inhabitants, furnishes a very satisfactory and most authentic corroboration of the ancient accounts of their luxury and wealth. In Nahum iii. 8, 10, there is a striking passage in which there is an implied comparison between No and Nineveh (which was then in its glory), with an apparent preference to the former, and which could be true of no other city then known to exist except Thebes. Nineveh is asked, “Art thou better than populous No?" of which we are afterwards told, "Ethiopia and Egypt were her strength, and it was infinite." How strong and great No was, history and existing monuments of stone testify; and its population may be inferred from its being called "populous" even in comparison with Nineveh-" that great city," as it is called in Jonah-as well as from the accounts of its extent. These accounts indeed differ considerably, but from a comparison and analysis of the varying statements, D Anville deduces that its circuit was equal to twenty-seven Roman miles, or about nine French leagues-being an extent which few modern capitals approach, and which even London does not much exceed. Of its wealth, some idea may be formed from the accounts of the spoil obtained by the Persians, under Cambyses, and the quantity of precious metal collected after the burning of the city, which last, according to Diodorus, amounted to upwards of 300 talents (about 26.020 pounds troy) of gold; and 2300 talents (or 199,518 pounds) of silver-the former worth 1,248,960 pounds sterling, and the latter 598,544/. This great destruction is said not only to have destroyed the private houses but the greater part of the numerous temples by which Thebes was adorned. This is however not the first time that Thebes had suffered from the desolations of war. Nahum, in the text already referred to, mentions a devastation of No, prior to the ruin of Nineveh, and which appears to correspond to the first direct blow which the splendour of Thebes received on the invasion of Egypt by the Ethiopians, B.c. 769. Between this and the invasion of Cambyses, it probably again suffered in the incursion of Nebuchadnezzar; and after it was burnt by the Persian king, we cease to hear of its great importance as a city, though it still survived and was held in high consideration, and something seems to have been done towards its restoration; and, B.C. 86, it was still of such strength and consequence as to dare to rebel against Ptolemy Lathyrus, and stood a three years siege before it was taken and plundered. Perhaps this fact may be set in opposition to the opinions already stated, that Thebes was never walled; for if it was not, it is difficult to understand how it could hold out so long. Under the Romans, some small buildings seem to have been erected for the convenience of their local establishments; but it was again punished for rebellion by Gallus, in the reign of Augustus; and from that time we hear no more of it as a living town. Strabo describes it in his time as ruined, the only inhabitants being collected (as at present) in a few hamlets constructed on its site. The zeal of the early Christians against the forms of outrageous idolatry there displayed, led them to do their best to deface and destroy its remaining monuments. Thus was Thebes at last reduced to a desolation-but perhaps the grandest desolation in the world-by a succession of destructions and spoliations which were foretold by the inspired prophets whose predictions were, in their day, derided and laughed to scorn. And here we may pause. The temples, obelisks, statues, and tombs of Thebes, offer a wide field for description. But as these do not directly tend to Scriptural illustration, and could not be satisfactorily examined within the limits of a note, it seems best to avoid the subject altogether. There is, however, one point in which we feel too much interest not to allude to it. Theles has again in our own day risen to an importance peculiarly its own, and which has drawn towards it the strong attention of all Europe. This arises not only from the peculiar character of its monuments, and the facility of access to them, but from the fact that the paintings and sculptures which decorate the walls of its temples and the interior of its long hidden tombs, furnish a vast mine of information, of the most authentic and intelligible kind concerning the manners, usages, and habits of remotely ancient times, which might elsewhere be sought in vain, and which had long been vainly desired. On comme..cing the present undertaking, we were not slow to perceive that from the many allusions in Scripture to Egyptian customs, as well as from the proximity of Palestine to Egypt, and the connection which subsisted between the Hebrew and Egyptian nations—this source might furnish, for our purposes, much valuable illustration which had not previously been sought or obtained. We have therefore to some extent acted on this impression, and, as we have reason to hope, with a satisfactory result. To ourselves, it has been an interesting employment to assist in drawing forth from the desolations of Thebes elucidations of that divine Book which foretold its ruin. VOL. III. M 81 CHAPTER XLVII. The destruction of the Philistines. THE word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before that Pharaoh smote 'Gaza. 2 Thus saith the LORD; Behold, 'waters rise up out of the north, and shall be an overflowing flood, and shall overflow the land, and all that is therein; the city, and them that dwell therein: then the men shall cry, and all the inhabitants of the land shall howl. wheels, the fathers shall not look back to their children for feebleness of hands; 4 Because of the day that cometh to spoil all the Philistines, and to cut off from Tyrus and Zidon every helper that remaineth: for the LORD will spoil the Philistines, the remnant of the country of Caphtor. 5 Baldness is come upon Gaza; Ashkelon is cut off with the remnant of their valley: how long wilt thou cut thyself? 6 O thou sword of the LORD, how long will it be ere thou be quiet? 'put up thyself into thy scabbard, rest, and be still. 7 "How can it be quiet, seeing the LORD hath given it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the sea shore? there hath he appointed it. 3 At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong horses, at the rushing of his chariots, and at the rumbling of his 1 Heb. Azzah. * Isa. 8. 7. Heb. the fulness thereof. 4 Heb. the isle. 5 Heb. gather thyself. 6 Heb. How canst thou. Verse 1. "Before that Pharaoh smote Gaza."-When this was is uncertain. We have scarcely any information concerning the Philistines but that which we obtain from the sacred books, and they do not notice the smiting of Gaza by Pharaoh. The most probable conjecture seems to be that the destruction of Gaza followed the victories of Pharaohnecho at Megiddo and Carchemish, when Judea became subject to him. The Jews, however, followed by many Christian interpreters, suppose that this prophecy was fulfilled by Pharaoh-hophra, who having marched to Egypt with the intention, or affectation of an intention, to release Jerusalem, then besieged by the Chaldeans, retired again when the latter raised the siege and marched against him. It is supposed that, to prevent his expedition from appearing altogether fruitless, he smote Gaza on his return, to do which, if he could, he had a strong inducement, as this strong city, from its proximity to the Egyptian frontier, must, in the hands of an enemy, have proved a great annoyance to the Egyptians. 5. “Their valley."-The country occupied by the Philistines was part of the valley, which extends from the Mediterranean coast to the base of the central hills of Judea. That part of this valley to which the prophet refers is doubtless what extends from Gaza to Ascalon, and the following description of this very tract, as given by Sandys, will therefore be interesting::-"Wee past this day through the most pregnant and pleasant valley that ever eye beheld. On the right hand a ridge of high mountaines (whereon stands Hebron): on the left hand the Mediterranean Sea, bordered with continued hills, beset with varietie of fruits; as they are for the most part of this dayes iourney. The champaine, betweene about twentie miles over, full of flowry hils ascending leasurely, and not much surmounting their ranker valleys, with groves of olives and other fruits dispersedly adorned. Yet is this wealthy bottome (as are all the rest) for the most part uninhabited, but only for a few small and contemptible villages, possessed by barbarous Moores (Arabs); who till no more than will serve to feed them:-the grasse waste-high, unmowed, uneaten, and use lessly withering." CHAPTER XLVIII. 1 The judgment of Moab, 7 for their pride, 11 for their security, 14 for their carnal confidence, 26 and for their contempt of God and his people. 47 The restoration of Moab. AGAINST Moab thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Woe unto Nebo! for it is spoiled: Kiriathaim is confounded and taken Misgab is confounded and dismayed. 2 There shall be no more praise of Moab: in Heshbon they have devised evil against it; come, and let us cut it off from being a nation. Also thou shalt be cut down, O Madmen; the sword shall pursue thee. 3 A voice of crying shall be from Horonaim, spoiling and great destruction. 4 Moab is destroyed: her little ones have caused a cry to be heard. 5 For in the going up of Luhith continual weeping shall go up; for in the going down of Horonaim the enemies have heard a cry of destruction. 6 Flee, save your lives, and be like the heath in the wilderness. 7 For because thou hast trusted in thy. works and in thy treasures, thou shalt also be taken: and Chemosh shall go forth into captivity with his priests and his princes together. 8 And the spoiler shall come upon every city, and no city shall escape: the valley also shall perish, and the plain shall be de stroyed, as the LORD hath spoken. 9 Give wings unto Moab, that it may flee and get away for the cities thereof shall be desolate, without any to dwell therein. 10 Cursed be he that doeth the work of 3 Heb. go after thee. the LORD 'deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood. 11 Moab hath been at ease from his youth, and he hath settled on his lees, and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither hath he gone into captivity: therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent is not changed. 12 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will send unto him wanderers, that shall cause him to wander, and shall empty his vessels, and break their bottles. 13 And Moab shall be ashamed of Chemosh, as the house of Israel was ashamed of "Beth-el their confidence. 14 How say ye, We are mighty and strong men for the war? 15 Moab is spoiled, and gone up out of her cities, and his chosen young men are gone down to the slaughter, saith the king, whose name is the LORD of hosts. 16 The calamity of Moab is near to come, and his affliction hasteth fast. 17 All ye that are about him, bemoan him; and all ye that know his name, say, How is the strong staff broken, and the beautiful rod! 18 Thou daughter that dost inhabit Dibon, come down from thy glory, and sit in thirst; for the spoiler of Moab shall come upon thee, and he shall destroy thy strong holds. 19 0 inhabitant of Aroer, stand by the way, and espy; ask him that fleeth, and her that escapeth, and say, What is done? 20 Moab is confounded; for it is broken down: howl and cry; tell ye it in Arnon, that Moab is spoiled, 21 And judgment is come upon the plain country; upon Holon, and upon Jahazah, and upon Mephaath, 22 And upon Dibon, and upon Nebo, and upon Beth-diblathaim, 23 And upon Kiriathaim, and upon Bethgamul, and upon Beth-meon. 24 And upon Kerioth, and upon Bozrah, and upon all the cities of the land of Moab, far or near. 25 The horn of Moab is cut off, and his arm is broken, saith the LORD. 26 Make ye him drunken: for he magnified himself against the LORD: Moab also shall wallow in his vomit, and he also shall be in derision. • Or, negligently. 15 Or, movedst thyself. 27 For was not Israel a derision unto thee? was he found among thieves? for since thou spakest of him, thou "skippedst for joy. 28 O ye that dwell in Moab, leave the cities, and dwell in the rock, and be like the dove that maketh her nest in the sides of the hole's mouth. 29 We have heard the "pride of Moab, (he is exceeding proud) his loftiness, and his arrogancy, and his pride, and the haughtiness of his heart. 30 I know his wrath, saith the LORD; but it shall not be so; "his lies shall not so effect it. 31 Therefore will I howl for Moab, and I will cry out for all Moab; mine heart shall mourn for the men of Kir-heres. 32 O vine of Sibmah, I will weep for thee with the weeping of Jazer: thy plants are gone over the sea, they reach even to the sea of Jazer: the spoiler is fallen upon thy summer fruits and upon thy vintage. 33 And joy and gladness is taken from the plentiful field, and from the land of Moab; and I have caused wine to fail from the winepresses: none shall tread with shouting; their shouting shall be no shouting. 34 From the cry of Heshbon even unto Elealeh, and even unto Jahaz, have they uttered their voice, "from Zoar even unto Horonaim, as an heifer of three years old: for the waters also of Nimrim shall be "desolate. 35 Moreover I will cause to cease in Moab, saith the LORD, him that offereth in the high places, and him that burneth incense to his gods. 36 Therefore mine heart shall sound for Moab like pipes, and mine heart shall sound like pipes for the men of Kir-heres: because the riches that he hath gotten are perished. 37 For "every head shall be bald, and every beard "clipped: upon all the hands shall be cuttings, and upon the loins sackcloth. 38 There shall be lamentation generally upon all the housetops of Moab, and in the streets thereof: for I have broken Moab like a vessel wherein is no pleasure, saith the LORD. 39 They shall howl, saying, How is it broken down! how hath Moab turned the 23back with shame! so shall Moab be a de12 Heb. the choice of. 10 Heb. stood. 14 Isa. 16. 7. 19 Isa. 15. 5, 6, |