Chapter Overview
Summary
Oracle against Babylon (part 2) and the sinking of the scroll. MT ch. 51 = LXX ch. 28. LXX significantly shorter.
Notable Variants
LXX is shorter throughout. The 'Sheshach' cipher for Babylon (v. 41) is present in both. The symbolic act of sinking the scroll (vv. 59-64) is in both but shorter in LXX. MT v. 64b ('Thus far the words of Jeremiah') is present in both traditions, marking the end of Jeremiah's oracles proper before the historical appendix of ch. 52.
Structural Notes
MT ch. 51 = LXX ch. 28. The concluding colophon (v. 64b) appears in both traditions.
This is what the LORD says: I am stirring up against Babylon and against those who dwell in Leb-qamai a destroying wind.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
I will send winnowers to Babylon, and they will winnow her and empty her land, for they will come against her from every side on the day of disaster.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
Let no archer string his bow, let no one stand tall in his armor. Do not spare her young men — devote her entire army to destruction.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
The slain will fall in the land of the Chaldeans, the pierced through in her streets.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
For Israel and Judah have not been widowed by their God, by the LORD of Hosts — though their land was filled with guilt before the Holy One of Israel.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
Flee from the midst of Babylon! Each of you, save your own life! Do not be destroyed for her iniquity, for this is the time of the LORD's vengeance — he is repaying her what she deserves.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
Babylon was a golden cup in the LORD's hand, making the whole earth drunk. The nations drank her wine — that is why the nations have gone mad.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
Suddenly Babylon has fallen and is shattered! Wail over her! Bring balm for her wound — perhaps she can be healed.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
We tried to heal Babylon, but she could not be healed. Leave her, and let each of us go to his own land, for her judgment reaches to the heavens and rises to the clouds.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
The LORD has brought forth our vindication! Come, let us declare in Zion the work of the LORD our God.
LXX shorter — expanded MT phrases absent.
Sharpen the arrows! Fill the quivers! The LORD has stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes, for his purpose against Babylon is to destroy her — for this is the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance for his temple.
LXX shorter — expanded MT phrases absent.
Raise the signal against the walls of Babylon! Strengthen the guard, post the watchmen, prepare the ambushes — for the LORD has both planned and carried out what he spoke against the inhabitants of Babylon.
LXX shorter — expanded MT phrases absent.
You who dwell by many waters, rich in treasures — your end has come, the measure of your profit-taking is cut off.
LXX shorter — expanded MT phrases absent.
The LORD of Hosts has sworn by himself: I will surely fill you with attackers like a swarm of locusts, and they will raise a war cry against you.
LXX shorter — expanded MT phrases absent.
He made the earth by his power, established the world by his wisdom, and stretched out the heavens by his understanding.
LXX shorter — expanded MT phrases absent.
When he thunders, there is a roar of waters in the heavens. He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth, creates lightning for the rain, and brings wind out from his storehouses.
LXX shorter — expanded MT phrases absent.
Every person is too stupid to understand; every metalworker is put to shame by his idol, for his cast image is a lie and there is no breath in them.
LXX shorter — expanded MT phrases absent.
They are worthless, a work of mockery. In the time of their reckoning, they will perish.
LXX shorter — expanded MT phrases absent.
The portion of Jacob is not like these, for the one who formed all things is he, and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance — the LORD of Hosts is his name.
LXX shorter — expanded MT phrases absent.
You are my war-hammer, my weapon of battle. With you I shattered nations, with you I destroyed kingdoms.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
With you I shattered horse and rider; with you I shattered chariot and driver.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
With you I shattered man and woman; with you I shattered old and young.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
With you I shattered shepherd and flock; with you I shattered farmer and team of oxen; with you I shattered governors and officials.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
I will repay Babylon and all the inhabitants of Chaldea for all the evil they did in Zion before your eyes, declares the LORD.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
I am against you, destroying mountain, declares the LORD — you who destroy the whole earth. I will stretch out my hand against you and roll you down from the crags and make you a scorched mountain.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
No one will take from you a stone for a cornerstone or a stone for foundations, for you will be an everlasting ruin, declares the LORD.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
Raise a signal in the land! Blow the ram's horn among the nations! Consecrate nations against her, summon against her the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz. Appoint a commander against her; bring up horses like bristling locusts.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
Consecrate nations against her — the kings of the Medes, all their governors, all their officials, and every land under their rule.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
The earth trembles and writhes, for the purposes of the LORD against Babylon stand firm — to make the land of Babylon a desolation with no one living in it.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
The warriors of Babylon have stopped fighting; they sit in their fortresses. Their strength has dried up; they have become like women. Her dwellings are set on fire; her gate-bars are broken.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
Runner meets runner, messenger meets messenger, to report to the king of Babylon that his city is captured from end to end,
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
the river crossings are seized, the marshes are burned with fire, and the soldiers are in a panic.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
For this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: Daughter Babylon is like a threshing floor at the time it is trampled — just a little longer, and the time of harvest will come for her.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has devoured us, he has crushed us, he has set us down like an empty vessel. He has swallowed us like a sea-serpent, filled his belly with our delicacies, and vomited us out.
LXX shorter in the battle descriptions.
The violence done to me and my flesh — let it fall on Babylon, says the inhabitant of Zion. My blood — let it fall on the inhabitants of Chaldea, says Jerusalem.
LXX shorter in the battle descriptions.
Therefore this is what the LORD says: I am taking up your case and exacting your vengeance. I will dry up her sea and make her springs run dry.
LXX shorter in the battle descriptions.
Babylon will become a heap of ruins, a haunt of jackals, an object of horror and hissing, with no one living in it.
LXX shorter in the battle descriptions.
Together they roar like young lions; they growl like lion cubs.
LXX shorter in the battle descriptions.
When they are heated, I will prepare their feast and make them drunk so that they revel — then they will sleep an everlasting sleep and never wake, declares the LORD.
LXX shorter in the battle descriptions.
I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams together with he-goats.
LXX shorter in the battle descriptions.
How Sheshach is captured — the praise of all the earth seized! How Babylon has become an object of horror among the nations!
LXX shorter in the battle descriptions.
The sea has risen over Babylon; she is covered by the roar of its waves.
LXX shorter in the battle descriptions.
Her cities have become a desolation, a dry and barren land, a land where no one dwells and no human being passes through.
LXX shorter in the battle descriptions.
I will punish Bel in Babylon and force out of his mouth what he has swallowed. The nations will no longer stream to him — even the wall of Babylon has fallen.
LXX shorter in the battle descriptions.
Come out from her, my people! Each of you, save your own life from the fierce anger of the LORD!
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
Do not lose heart or be afraid when rumors are heard in the land — one year a rumor comes, and the next year another rumor, with violence in the land and ruler against ruler.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
Therefore the days are coming when I will punish the idols of Babylon. Her whole land will be put to shame, and all her slain will fall in her midst.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
Then the heavens and the earth and everything in them will shout for joy over Babylon, for the destroyers will come against her from the north, declares the LORD.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
Just as Babylon caused the slain of Israel to fall, so at Babylon the slain of all the earth have fallen.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
You who have escaped the sword — go! Do not stand still! Remember the LORD from far away, and let Jerusalem rise in your hearts.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
We are ashamed, for we have heard insults; disgrace has covered our faces because foreigners have entered the holy places of the house of the LORD.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
Therefore the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will punish her idols, and throughout her entire land the wounded will groan.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
Even if Babylon were to ascend to the heavens, even if she were to fortify her lofty stronghold, destroyers will come against her from me, declares the LORD.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
A sound of outcry from Babylon — great shattering from the land of the Chaldeans!
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
For the LORD is destroying Babylon and silencing her great voice. Their waves roar like mighty waters; the thunder of their voice is unleashed.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
For a destroyer has come against her — against Babylon. Her warriors are captured; their bows are shattered, for the LORD is a God of recompense; he will surely repay in full.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
I will make her officials and sages drunk, her governors, commanders, and warriors, and they will sleep an everlasting sleep and never wake, declares the King — the LORD of Hosts is his name.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
This is what the LORD of Hosts says: The broad walls of Babylon will be completely torn down, and her high gates will be set on fire. The peoples labor for nothing, and the nations exhaust themselves for what the flames consume.
The scroll-sinking narrative — present in both traditions.
The instruction that Jeremiah the prophet gave to Seraiah son of Neriah, son of Mahseiah, when Seraiah went with Zedekiah king of Judah to Babylon in the fourth year of his reign. Seraiah was the quartermaster.
The scroll-sinking narrative — present in both traditions.
Jeremiah wrote on a single scroll all the disaster that would come upon Babylon — all these words that are written against Babylon.
The scroll-sinking narrative — present in both traditions.
Jeremiah said to Seraiah, "When you arrive in Babylon, make sure you read aloud all these words.
The scroll-sinking narrative — present in both traditions.
Then say: LORD, you yourself have spoken against this place, declaring that it will be cut off so that no one will dwell in it — neither human nor animal — for it will be an everlasting desolation.
The scroll-sinking narrative — present in both traditions.
When you finish reading this scroll, tie a stone to it and throw it into the middle of the Euphrates.
The scroll-sinking narrative — present in both traditions.
Then say: So shall Babylon sink, never to rise again, because of the disaster I am bringing upon her. And they will collapse in exhaustion." Thus far are the words of Jeremiah.
'Thus far the words of Jeremiah' — present in both MT and LXX, marking the end of the prophetic collection before the historical appendix.