Jeremiah 46:13-26
Expanded Bible
13 This is the message the Lord spoke to Jeremiah the prophet about Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon’s coming to ·attack [L strike] Egypt:
14 “·Announce this message [Declare] in Egypt, and ·preach it [L make it heard] in Migdol.
·Preach it [L Make it heard] also in the cities of Memphis and Tahpanhes [44:1]:
‘·Get ready for war [Take your stations and be ready],
because the ·battle is [L sword devours] all around you.’
15 Egypt, why ·were your warriors killed [was it swept away; or has Apis fled; C the sacred bull of Egypt]?
They could not stand because the Lord pushed them down.
16 They stumbled again and again
and fell over each other.
They said, ‘Get up. Let’s go back
to our own people and our homeland.
·We must get away from our enemy’s sword [L …because of the destroyer’s/oppressor’s sword]!’
17 ·In their homelands those soldiers [L There they] called out,
‘The king of Egypt is only a lot of noise.
He missed his chance [C for glory]!’”
18 The King’s name is the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts].
He says, “As surely as I live,
one [C a powerful leader] will come.
He will be like Mount Tabor among the mountains,
like Mount Carmel by the sea [C distinctive and majestic mountains].
19 ·People [L Daughter] of Egypt, pack your things
to be taken away as ·captives [exiles],
because Memphis will be ·destroyed [a desolation].
It will be a ruin, and no one will live there.
20 “Egypt is like a beautiful ·young cow [heifer],
but a ·horsefly [gadfly] is coming
from the north [C Babylon] to attack her [C though small, gadflies are annoying].
21 ·The hired soldiers in Egypt’s army [L Its mercenaries]
are like fat calves,
because even they all turn and ·run away [flee] together;
they do not stand [C strong against the attack].
Their ·time of destruction [L day of their devastation/calamity] is coming;
·they will soon be punished [L the time of their punishment].
22 Egypt is like a hissing snake that is trying to escape.
The ·enemy [L army] comes closer and closer.
They come against it [C Egypt] with axes
like men who cut down trees.
23 They will ·chop [cut] down her forest [C Egypt’s army]
·as if it were a great forest [or for they cannot be numbered; C could refer either to the Babylonians or the Egyptians],” says the Lord.
“There are more [C enemy soldiers] than locusts;
there are too many to count.
24 The people of Egypt will be ·ashamed [humiliated].
They will be handed over to the enemy from the north [C Babylon].”
25 The Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts], the God of Israel, says: “Very soon I will punish Amon, the god of the city of Thebes [C a sun god]. And I will punish Egypt, her ·kings [L Pharaohs], her gods, and the people who ·depend on [have confidence in] the king. 26 I will hand those people over to ·their enemies, who want to kill them [L those who seek their life]. I will give them to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and his ·officers [L servants]. But in the future, Egypt will live as it once did of old [C in peace],” says the Lord.
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