50:33-46 It is Israel's comfort in distress, that, though they are weak, their Redeemer is strong. This may be applied to believers, who complain of the dominion of sin and corruption, and of their own weakness and manifold infirmities. Their Redeemer is able to keep what they commit to him; and sin shall not have dominion over them. He will give them that rest which remains for the people of God. Also here is Babylon's sin, and their punishment. The sins are, idolatry and persecution. He that will not save his people in their sins, never will countenance the wickedness of his open enemies. The judgments of God for these sins will lay them waste. In the judgments denounced against prosperous Babylon, and the mercies promised to afflicted Israel, we learn to choose to suffer affliction with the people of God, rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.
Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan,.... What is said of Nebuchadnezzar coming up against Edom is here said of Cyrus coming up against Babylon; for of a king it is to be understood; as the Targum,
"behold, a king with his army shall come up against them, as a lion from the height of Jordan;''
unto the habitation of the strong; to Babylon; where dwelt the king, his nobles, and his mighty men:
but I will make them suddenly run away from her; as they did from her king Belshazzar, when Gobrias and Gadates entered the royal palace, and seized upon him (a);
and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? or, "a young man" (b)? such an one Cyrus was, who, by divine appointment, became master and governor of Babylon:
and who will appoint me the time? to enter the lists with me, and litigate the point with me in a court of judicature, or contend with me in battle:
and who is that shepherd that will stand before me? or king? not Belshazzar, he could not stand before the Lord: so the Targum,
"there is no king that hath strength before me;''
that is, to withstand him, or hinder what he has appointed and ordered to be done; See Gill on Jeremiah 49:19.
"behold, a king with his army shall come up against them, as a lion from the height of Jordan;''
see Jeremiah 49:19;
unto the habitation of the strong; to Babylon; where dwelt the king, his nobles, and his mighty men:
but I will make them suddenly run away from her; as they did from her king Belshazzar, when Gobrias and Gadates entered the royal palace, and seized upon him (a);
and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? or, "a young man" (b)? such an one Cyrus was, who, by divine appointment, became master and governor of Babylon:
and who will appoint me the time? to enter the lists with me, and litigate the point with me in a court of judicature, or contend with me in battle:
and who is that shepherd that will stand before me? or king? not Belshazzar, he could not stand before the Lord: so the Targum,
"there is no king that hath strength before me;''
that is, to withstand him, or hinder what he has appointed and ordered to be done; See Gill on Jeremiah 49:19.
(a) lbid. (b) "quis juvenis?" Cocceius, Schmidt.