[Jeremiah 16:14] THEREFORE, BEHOLD, THE DAYS COME, …



COMMENTARY ON THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH

By Yair Davidiy

[Jeremiah 1:1] THE WORDS OF JEREMIAH THE SON OF HILKIAH, OF THE PRIESTS THAT WERE IN ANATHOTH IN THE LAND OF BENJAMIN:

Jeremiah was a “Cohen” meaning a Priest descended from Aaron and belonging to the Tribe of Levi. Anathoth was just north of Jerusalem.

[Jeremiah 1:2] TO WHOM THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME IN THE DAYS OF JOSIAH THE SON OF AMON KING OF JUDAH, IN THE THIRTEENTH YEAR OF HIS REIGN.

King Josiah son of Amon (628-609) ruled AFTER the Lost Ten Tribes had been exiled in the period ca.730-720 BCE. [We are using conventionally accepted dating even though we do not really accept it]. King Josiah instituted a religious reform and began to bring the people of Judah back to Torah. He also established contact with the Lost Ten Tribes in their places of Exile. In his reign a few of the exiled Israelites returned temporarily. They made some attempt to re-establish settlements in their former lands. The Lost Ten Tribes are identifiable as Scythians. Under King Josiah Beth-Shean in northern Israel became a Scythian center. Colonies of Judaeans and Israelites were also established in the coastal areas of the south and east. The Philistines had contested these regions. During the reign of King Josiah (or shortly before it) the Scythians took effective control over much of the Assyrian Empire. It will be remembered that The Northern Israelites had been exiled. They had become identified with part of the Cimmerian, Scythian, and Gothic forces. Most of The Cimmerians moved into Europe while the Scythians and Gothics remained together for a period in the Middle East. They rebelled against Assyria who came to terms with them. From allies of Assyria the Scythians proceeded to take partial control of the Assyrian Empire. Towards the end of the reign of King Josiah the Scythian hold on the Empire began to weaken. The Medes and Babylonians formed an alliance against Assyria. The Scythians (“Umman-Manda”: = People of Menasseh) moved to assist the Assyrians but were persuaded to change sides. Nineveh was conquered in 612 BCE with the Scythians playing the major role in the destruction of the city. Remnants of the Assyrian military retreated westward to Haran. Harran was captured and destroyed by the Scythians in 610 BCE. The Assyrians retreated further to Carchemish where they attempted to recoup. They formed an alliance with Pharaoh Necho of Egypt who agreed to come to their aid at Carchemish. Carchemish was in northwest Syria near the coast. King Josiah of Judah attempted to stop Pharoah Neco from advancing northward. He was killed in the attempt in ca. 605 BCE. Pharoah Neco continued northward where a mainly Babylonian force under Nebuchadnezzar defeated him. King Josiah had met the Egyptian forces at Megiddo where he was slain. He was killed fighting on behalf of his Scythian Israelite allies. After his death the small incipient Israelite-Scythian settlements were abandoned and their inhabitants mostly returned to their places of exile.

It says in the Book of Kings:

it is also used as a symbol by Germany and other nations.

[Jeremiah 49:23] CONCERNING DAMASCUS. HAMATH IS CONFOUNDED, AND ARPAD: FOR THEY HAVE HEARD EVIL TIDINGS: THEY ARE FAINTHEARTED; THERE IS SORROW ON THE SEA; IT CANNOT BE QUIET.

[Jeremiah 49:24] DAMASCUS IS WAXED FEEBLE, AND TURNETH HERSELF TO FLEE, AND FEAR HATH SEIZED ON HER: ANGUISH AND SORROWS HAVE TAKEN HER, AS A WOMAN IN TRAVAIL.

[Jeremiah 49:25] HOW IS THE CITY OF PRAISE NOT LEFT, THE CITY OF MY JOY!

[Jeremiah 49:26] THEREFORE HER YOUNG MEN SHALL FALL IN HER STREETS, AND ALL THE MEN OF WAR SHALL BE CUT OFF IN THAT DAY, SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS.

[Jeremiah 49:27] AND I WILL KINDLE A FIRE IN THE WALL OF DAMASCUS, AND IT SHALL CONSUME THE PALACES OF BENHADAD.

[Jeremiah 49:28] CONCERNING KEDAR, AND CONCERNING THE KINGDOMS OF HAZOR, WHICH NEBUCHADREZZAR KING OF BABYLON SHALL SMITE, THUS SAITH THE LORD; ARISE YE, GO UP TO KEDAR, AND SPOIL THE MEN OF THE EAST.

[Jeremiah 49:29] THEIR TENTS AND THEIR FLOCKS SHALL THEY TAKE AWAY: THEY SHALL TAKE TO THEMSELVES THEIR CURTAINS, AND ALL THEIR VESSELS, AND THEIR CAMELS; AND THEY SHALL CRY UNTO THEM, FEAR IS ON EVERY SIDE.

[Jeremiah 49:30] FLEE, GET YOU FAR OFF, DWELL DEEP, O YE INHABITANTS OF HAZOR, SAITH THE LORD; FOR NEBUCHADREZZAR KING OF BABYLON HATH TAKEN COUNSEL AGAINST YOU, AND HATH CONCEIVED A PURPOSE AGAINST YOU.

[Jeremiah 49:31] ARISE, GET YOU UP UNTO THE WEALTHY NATION, THAT DWELLETH WITHOUT CARE, SAITH THE LORD, WHICH HAVE NEITHER GATES NOR BARS, WHICH DWELL ALONE.

[Jeremiah 49:32] AND THEIR CAMELS SHALL BE A BOOTY, AND THE MULTITUDE OF THEIR CATTLE A SPOIL: AND I WILL SCATTER INTO ALL WINDS THEM THAT ARE IN THE UTMOST CORNERS; AND I WILL BRING THEIR CALAMITY FROM ALL SIDES THEREOF, SAITH THE LORD.

[Jeremiah 49:33] AND HAZOR SHALL BE A DWELLING FOR DRAGONS, AND A DESOLATION FOR EVER: THERE SHALL NO MAN ABIDE THERE, NOR ANY SON OF MAN DWELL IN IT.

[Jeremiah 49:34] THE WORD OF THE LORD THAT CAME TO JEREMIAH THE PROPHET AGAINST ELAM IN THE BEGINNING OF THE REIGN OF ZEDEKIAH KING OF JUDAH, SAYING,

[Jeremiah 49:35] THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS; BEHOLD, I WILL BREAK THE BOW OF ELAM, THE CHIEF OF THEIR MIGHT.

[Jeremiah 49:36] AND UPON ELAM WILL I BRING THE FOUR WINDS FROM THE FOUR QUARTERS OF HEAVEN, AND WILL SCATTER THEM TOWARD ALL THOSE WINDS; AND THERE SHALL BE NO NATION WHITHER THE OUTCASTS OF ELAM SHALL NOT COME.

Craig White seems to believe (based on his very interesting and informative historical researches) that the Poles and Serbs are descended from Elam. Concerning the Serbs he may be right. In many ways the Serbs were quite admirable and heroic. Some of the Wends of Germany were of Serb origin.

[Jeremiah 49:37] FOR I WILL CAUSE ELAM TO BE DISMAYED BEFORE THEIR ENEMIES, AND BEFORE THEM THAT SEEK THEIR LIFE: AND I WILL BRING EVIL UPON THEM, EVEN MY FIERCE ANGER, SAITH THE LORD; AND I WILL SEND THE SWORD AFTER THEM, TILL I HAVE CONSUMED THEM:

[Jeremiah 49:38] AND I WILL SET MY THRONE IN ELAM, AND WILL DESTROY FROM THENCE THE KING AND THE PRINCES, SAITH THE LORD.

[Jeremiah 49:39] BUT IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THE LATTER DAYS, THAT I WILL BRING AGAIN THE CAPTIVITY OF ELAM, SAITH THE LORD.

Jeremiah 50 part one

[Jeremiah 50:1] THE WORD THAT THE LORD SPAKE AGAINST BABYLON AND AGAINST THE LAND OF THE CHALDEANS BY JEREMIAH THE PROPHET.

Until now Jeremiah has more or less presented a favorable image of Babylon. Babylon was the adversary besieging Jerusalem that they should have surrendered to. If Judah and the other nations had have just given into Babylon then their fates would have been better.

Ultimately Babylon conquered Jerusalem, killed the sons of King Zedekiah, and exiled nearly all the inhabitants.

Now Jeremiah is predicting the destiny of Babylon.

Jeremiah however in these prophecies is not necessarily so much referring to the physical Babylon of his time but rather to another more distant entity.

Our last prophecy referred to the future fate of Edom and to a decree Babylon and Edom overlapped:

[Psalms 137:7-9].

[Jeremiah 50:2] DECLARE YE AMONG THE NATIONS, AND PUBLISH, AND SET UP A STANDARD; PUBLISH, AND CONCEAL NOT: SAY, BABYLON IS TAKEN, BEL IS CONFOUNDED, MERODACH IS BROKEN IN PIECES; HER IDOLS ARE CONFOUNDED, HER IMAGES ARE BROKEN IN PIECES.

Bel and Merodach were Babylonian idols.

[Jeremiah 50:3] FOR OUT OF THE NORTH THERE COMETH UP A NATION AGAINST HER, WHICH SHALL MAKE HER LAND DESOLATE, AND NONE SHALL DWELL THEREIN: THEY SHALL REMOVE, THEY SHALL DEPART, BOTH MAN AND BEAST.

[Jeremiah 50:4] IN THOSE DAYS, AND IN THAT TIME, SAITH THE LORD, THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL SHALL COME, THEY AND THE CHILDREN OF JUDAH TOGETHER, GOING AND WEEPING: THEY SHALL GO, AND SEEK THE LORD THEIR GOD.

Israel and Judah shall return together.

It is worth referring back to an earlier verse:

[Jeremiah 3:18] IN THOSE DAYS THE HOUSE OF JUDAH SHALL WALK WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL, AND THEY SHALL COME TOGETHER OUT OF THE LAND OF THE NORTH TO THE LAND THAT I HAVE GIVEN FOR AN INHERITANCE UNTO YOUR FATHERS.

The Midrash says:

“Behold thou art fair, my love, yea pleasant, also our bed is green” (Song of Solomon 1;16).

“Israel says: Behold thou art fair, my love When you will take retribution from the worshippers of idols. Yea pleasant when you pay the reward of those who fear you. Also our bed…: These are the “Ten Tribes.” [In Hebrew bed is “eres” while ten is “eser” and uses the same letters, and “our bed” (erseynu) sounds like “our ten” (esereynu).] They are those who were exiled beyond the Sambation River. The exiles of Judah and Benyamin [i.e. the present-day “Jews”] are destined to go unto them and bring them back in order to merit with them the Messianic Era and life in the World-To-Come. This is as it says, “In those days the house of Judah shall go unto the house of Israel and they shall come together out of the land of the north unto the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers” (Jeremiah 3;18).

-Yalkut Shimeoni, Song of Solomon 905.

OK. The verse should be read according to the above as:

“THE HOUSE OF JUDAH SHALL GO UNTO [rather than “WALK WITH”] THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL”. People from Judah and Benjamin (i.e. legal Jews) shall go unto the Lost Ten Tribes who are beyond the Sambation River. In our works (“Ephraim” and “The Tribes”) we explained that the Sambation River means Israelite Exiles who migrated to the west. The simple meaning is that Jews from Judah will go unto the Lost Tribes to bring them back. It could be said that the Jewish members of Brit-Am Israel is doing this to some degree.

There is an additional explanation.

Captive Jews

Since beginning this project and making contact with numerous people who are interested in the subject and studying it we have noticed an interesting phenomenon. Many non-Jews (“Genitles”) who agree with us that the Lost Ten Tribes are in the West and feel an inner urge to learn this message and in some cases help spread it also believe they have Jewish origins. Sometimes this belief of Jewish origins is based on known facts concerning one or other of their ancestors. In other cases the feeling of Jewish origins is based on flimsy evidence but nevertheless the feeling exists. Such feelings do not appear from nowhere and probably derive from an inner awareness of their true ancestry. The people in question are often those who are now helping spread knowledge and attitudes that will lead to the Return of the Lost Ten Tribes. The role of these people in future will increase. These “Lost Jews” are also fulfilling the Prophecy of Jeremiah (3:18). Their forefathers went out from Judah to Lost Israel and they are beginning to bring Israel back from the Land of the North. We refer to these people as “Captive Jews” though “Lost Jews” may be more appropriate. We used the term “Captive Jews” (rather than “Assimilated Jews or something similar) since in many cases Jews in the past were forced or heavily pressured to change their religion and cease being Jewish against their will. Descendants of these “Lost Jews” or “Captive Jews” are often the leaders of Brit-Am branches or strong sympathizers and supporters of Brit-Am and they are bringing their fellow Captive Jews as well as the Lost Tribes back to their source.

Another Midrash says:

(Tanchuma, Nizavim, 4).

Before re-uniting Israel (the Ten Tribes) and Judah will be separate bodies each headed by a “Messiah” of their own.

In addition there are a few related sources that really refer to Isaiah 11;13 but we have just come across them and they are also relevant here. These sources are from Midrash and are part of the Oral tradition and worth considering:

[Isaiah 11:13] THE ENVY ALSO OF EPHRAIM SHALL DEPART, AND THE ADVERSARIES OF JUDAH SHALL BE CUT OFF: EPHRAIM SHALL NOT ENVY JUDAH, AND JUDAH SHALL NOT VEX EPHRAIM.

(Midrash Tanchuma, VaYigash, 4).

(Midrash Brayshit Rabati page 147).

(Midrash Agadat Brayshit 63).

Jeremiah 50 part two

[Jeremiah 50:5] THEY SHALL ASK THE WAY TO ZION WITH THEIR FACES THITHERWARD, SAYING, COME, AND LET US JOIN OURSELVES TO THE LORD IN A PERPETUAL COVENANT THAT SHALL NOT BE FORGOTTEN.

Zion is in Jerusalem. The Temple will be rebuilt and instruction go forth to all the earth.

[Jeremiah 50:6] MY PEOPLE HATH BEEN LOST SHEEP: THEIR SHEPHERDS HAVE CAUSED THEM TO GO ASTRAY, THEY HAVE TURNED THEM AWAY ON THE MOUNTAINS: THEY HAVE GONE FROM MOUNTAIN TO HILL, THEY HAVE FORGOTTEN THEIR RESTING PLACE.

[Jeremiah 50:7] ALL THAT FOUND THEM HAVE DEVOURED THEM: AND THEIR ADVERSARIES SAID, WE OFFEND NOT, BECAUSE THEY HAVE SINNED AGAINST THE LORD, THE HABITATION OF JUSTICE, EVEN THE LORD, THE HOPE OF THEIR FATHERS.

[Jeremiah 50:8] REMOVE OUT OF THE MIDST OF BABYLON, AND GO FORTH OUT OF THE LAND OF THE CHALDEANS, AND BE AS THE HE GOATS BEFORE THE FLOCKS.

[Jeremiah 50:9] FOR, LO, I WILL RAISE AND CAUSE TO COME UP AGAINST BABYLON AN ASSEMBLY OF GREAT NATIONS FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY: AND THEY SHALL SET THEMSELVES IN ARRAY AGAINST HER; FROM THENCE SHE SHALL BE TAKEN: THEIR ARROWS SHALL BE AS OF A MIGHTY EXPERT MAN; NONE SHALL RETURN IN VAIN.

[Jeremiah 50:10] AND CHALDEA SHALL BE A SPOIL: ALL THAT SPOIL HER SHALL BE SATISFIED, SAITH THE LORD.

[Jeremiah 50:11] BECAUSE YE WERE GLAD, BECAUSE YE REJOICED, O YE DESTROYERS OF MINE HERITAGE, BECAUSE YE ARE GROWN FAT AS THE HEIFER AT GRASS, AND BELLOW AS BULLS;

[Jeremiah 50:12] YOUR MOTHER SHALL BE SORE CONFOUNDED; SHE THAT BARE YOU SHALL BE ASHAMED: BEHOLD, THE HINDERMOST OF THE NATIONS SHALL BE A WILDERNESS, A DRY LAND, AND A DESERT.

[Jeremiah 50:13] BECAUSE OF THE WRATH OF THE LORD IT SHALL NOT BE INHABITED, BUT IT SHALL BE WHOLLY DESOLATE: EVERY ONE THAT GOETH BY BABYLON SHALL BE ASTONISHED, AND HISS AT ALL HER PLAGUES.

[Jeremiah 50:14] PUT YOURSELVES IN ARRAY AGAINST BABYLON ROUND ABOUT: ALL YE THAT BEND THE BOW, SHOOT AT HER, SPARE NO ARROWS: FOR SHE HATH SINNED AGAINST THE LORD.

[Jeremiah 50:15] SHOUT AGAINST HER ROUND ABOUT: SHE HATH GIVEN HER HAND: HER FOUNDATIONS ARE FALLEN, HER WALLS ARE THROWN DOWN: FOR IT IS THE VENGEANCE OF THE LORD: TAKE VENGEANCE UPON HER; AS SHE HATH DONE, DO UNTO HER.

[Jeremiah 50:16] CUT OFF THE SOWER FROM BABYLON, AND HIM THAT HANDLETH THE SICKLE IN THE TIME OF HARVEST: FOR FEAR OF THE OPPRESSING SWORD THEY SHALL TURN EVERY ONE TO HIS PEOPLE, AND THEY SHALL FLEE EVERY ONE TO HIS OWN LAND.

[Jeremiah 50:17] ISRAEL IS A SCATTERED SHEEP; THE LIONS HAVE DRIVEN HIM AWAY: FIRST THE KING OF ASSYRIA HATH DEVOURED HIM; AND LAST THIS NEBUCHADREZZAR KING OF BABYLON HATH BROKEN HIS BONES.

Here “Israel” is referring to both the Ten Tribes of Israel (whom the Assyrians exiled) and to Judah.

[Jeremiah 50:18] THEREFORE THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS, THE GOD OF ISRAEL; BEHOLD, I WILL PUNISH THE KING OF BABYLON AND HIS LAND, AS I HAVE PUNISHED THE KING OF ASSYRIA.

[Jeremiah 50:19] AND I WILL BRING ISRAEL AGAIN TO HIS HABITATION, AND HE SHALL FEED ON CARMEL AND BASHAN, AND HIS SOUL SHALL BE SATISFIED UPON MOUNT EPHRAIM AND GILEAD.

This is speaking of the End Times.

[Jeremiah 50:20] IN THOSE DAYS, AND IN THAT TIME, SAITH THE LORD, THE INIQUITY OF ISRAEL SHALL BE SOUGHT FOR, AND THERE SHALL BE NONE; AND THE SINS OF JUDAH, AND THEY SHALL NOT BE FOUND: FOR I WILL PARDON THEM WHOM I RESERVE.

Both “Israel” and “Judah” will be forgiven their transgressions.

[Jeremiah 50:21] GO UP AGAINST THE LAND OF MERATHAIM, EVEN AGAINST IT, AND AGAINST THE INHABITANTS OF PEKOD: WASTE AND UTTERLY DESTROY AFTER THEM, SAITH THE LORD, AND DO ACCORDING TO ALL THAT I HAVE COMMANDED THEE.

“MERATHAIM” an area of southern Babylon also know as Bit-Yakin.

“PEKOD” a people attached to Babylon who dwelt east of the Euphrates on the Persian border.

[Jeremiah 50:22] A SOUND OF BATTLE IS IN THE LAND, AND OF GREAT DESTRUCTION.

[Jeremiah 50:23] HOW IS THE HAMMER OF THE WHOLE EARTH CUT ASUNDER AND BROKEN! HOW IS BABYLON BECOME A DESOLATION AMONG THE NATIONS!

[Jeremiah 50:24] I HAVE LAID A SNARE FOR THEE, AND THOU ART ALSO TAKEN, O BABYLON, AND THOU WAST NOT AWARE: THOU ART FOUND, AND ALSO CAUGHT, BECAUSE THOU HAST STRIVEN AGAINST THE LORD.

[Jeremiah 50:25] THE LORD HATH OPENED HIS ARMOURY, AND HATH BROUGHT FORTH THE WEAPONS OF HIS INDIGNATION: FOR THIS IS THE WORK OF THE LORD GOD OF HOSTS IN THE LAND OF THE CHALDEANS.

[Jeremiah 50:26] COME AGAINST HER FROM THE UTMOST BORDER, OPEN HER STOREHOUSES: CAST HER UP AS HEAPS, AND DESTROY HER UTTERLY: LET NOTHING OF HER BE LEFT.

[Jeremiah 50:27] SLAY ALL HER BULLOCKS; LET THEM GO DOWN TO THE SLAUGHTER: WOE UNTO THEM! FOR THEIR DAY IS COME, THE TIME OF THEIR VISITATION.

[Jeremiah 50:28] THE VOICE OF THEM THAT FLEE AND ESCAPE OUT OF THE LAND OF BABYLON, TO DECLARE IN ZION THE VENGEANCE OF THE LORD OUR GOD, THE VENGEANCE OF HIS TEMPLE.

God willl take vengeance against those who destroyed His temple.

The Arab Nazis who at present are destroying parts of the Temple Mount will be punished along with their European backers and protectors.

Europe and the Arabs together are represented by Babylon.

[Jeremiah 50:29] CALL TOGETHER THE ARCHERS AGAINST BABYLON: ALL YE THAT BEND THE BOW, CAMP AGAINST IT ROUND ABOUT; LET NONE THEREOF ESCAPE: RECOMPENSE HER ACCORDING TO HER WORK; ACCORDING TO ALL THAT SHE HATH DONE, DO UNTO HER: FOR SHE HATH BEEN PROUD AGAINST THE LORD, AGAINST THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL.

[Jeremiah 50:30] THEREFORE SHALL HER YOUNG MEN FALL IN THE STREETS, AND ALL HER MEN OF WAR SHALL BE CUT OFF IN THAT DAY, SAITH THE LORD.

[Jeremiah 50:31] BEHOLD, I AM AGAINST THEE, O THOU MOST PROUD, SAITH THE LORD GOD OF HOSTS: FOR THY DAY IS COME, THE TIME THAT I WILL VISIT THEE.

[Jeremiah 50:32] AND THE MOST PROUD SHALL STUMBLE AND FALL, AND NONE SHALL RAISE HIM UP: AND I WILL KINDLE A FIRE IN HIS CITIES, AND IT SHALL DEVOUR ALL ROUND ABOUT HIM.

[Jeremiah 50:33] THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS; THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL AND THE CHILDREN OF JUDAH WERE OPPRESSED TOGETHER: AND ALL THAT TOOK THEM CAPTIVES HELD THEM FAST; THEY REFUSED TO LET THEM GO.

This present Prophecy reminds us of Isaiah and the other prophets who flit around from one time period to another from verse to verse and even within the verse. Up until now Jeremiah has kept his messages more categorizable, either historic or futuristic.

[Jeremiah 50:34] THEIR REDEEMER IS STRONG; THE LORD OF HOSTS IS HIS NAME: HE SHALL THROUGHLY PLEAD THEIR CAUSE, THAT HE MAY GIVE REST TO THE LAND, AND DISQUIET THE INHABITANTS OF BABYLON.

[Jeremiah 50:35] A SWORD IS UPON THE CHALDEANS, SAITH THE LORD, AND UPON THE INHABITANTS OF BABYLON, AND UPON HER PRINCES, AND UPON HER WISE MEN.

[Jeremiah 50:36] A SWORD IS UPON THE LIARS; AND THEY SHALL DOTE: A SWORD IS UPON HER MIGHTY MEN; AND THEY SHALL BE DISMAYED.

[Jeremiah 50:37] A SWORD IS UPON THEIR HORSES, AND UPON THEIR CHARIOTS, AND UPON ALL THE MINGLED PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE MIDST OF HER; AND THEY SHALL BECOME AS WOMEN: A SWORD IS UPON HER TREASURES; AND THEY SHALL BE ROBBED.

[Jeremiah 50:38] A DROUGHT IS UPON HER WATERS; AND THEY SHALL BE DRIED UP: FOR IT IS THE LAND OF GRAVEN IMAGES, AND THEY ARE MAD UPON THEIR IDOLS.

[Jeremiah 50:39] THEREFORE THE WILD BEASTS OF THE DESERT WITH THE WILD BEASTS OF THE ISLANDS SHALL DWELL THERE, AND THE OWLS SHALL DWELL THEREIN: AND IT SHALL BE NO MORE INHABITED FOR EVER; NEITHER SHALL IT BE DWELT IN FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION.

[Jeremiah 50:40] AS GOD OVERTHREW SODOM AND GOMORRAH AND THE NEIGHBOUR CITIES THEREOF, SAITH THE LORD; SO SHALL NO MAN ABIDE THERE, NEITHER SHALL ANY SON OF MAN DWELL THEREIN.

[Jeremiah 50:41] BEHOLD, A PEOPLE SHALL COME FROM THE NORTH, AND A GREAT NATION, AND MANY KINGS SHALL BE RAISED UP FROM THE COASTS OF THE EARTH.

[Jeremiah 50:42] THEY SHALL HOLD THE BOW AND THE LANCE: THEY ARE CRUEL, AND WILL NOT SHEW MERCY: THEIR VOICE SHALL ROAR LIKE THE SEA, AND THEY SHALL RIDE UPON HORSES, EVERY ONE PUT IN ARRAY, LIKE A MAN TO THE BATTLE, AGAINST THEE, O DAUGHTER OF BABYLON.

[Jeremiah 50:43] THE KING OF BABYLON HATH HEARD THE REPORT OF THEM, AND HIS HANDS WAXED FEEBLE: ANGUISH TOOK HOLD OF HIM, AND PANGS AS OF A WOMAN IN TRAVAIL.

[Jeremiah 50:44] BEHOLD, HE SHALL COME UP LIKE A LION FROM THE SWELLING OF JORDAN UNTO THE HABITATION OF THE STRONG: BUT I WILL MAKE THEM SUDDENLY RUN AWAY FROM HER: AND WHO IS A CHOSEN MAN, THAT I MAY APPOINT OVER HER? FOR WHO IS LIKE ME? AND WHO WILL APPOINT ME THE TIME? AND WHO IS THAT SHEPHERD THAT WILL STAND BEFORE ME?

[Jeremiah 50:45] THEREFORE HEAR YE THE COUNSEL OF THE LORD, THAT HE HATH TAKEN AGAINST BABYLON; AND HIS PURPOSES, THAT HE HATH PURPOSED AGAINST THE LAND OF THE CHALDEANS: SURELY THE LEAST OF THE FLOCK SHALL DRAW THEM OUT: SURELY HE SHALL MAKE THEIR HABITATION DESOLATE WITH THEM.

Who do the Chaldees and Babylonians represent today? Prophecy can be understood at several levels.

At one level present-day Iraq and the Gulf States (Kuwait, etc) occupy the region of ancient Babylon and to some degree may be physical descendants of Babylonians. Osama bin Laden the evil beast represents Babylon and Babylon could be taken to include Saudi Arabia and even represent Islam in its entirety

On the other hand we have seen that Babylon and Edom tended to overlap. In Christian sources (that may be based on Jewish ones) and also in at least one Talmudic source Babylon was associated with Rome. Babylon could therefore represent the powers of Catholicism or the European Union or the like.

Babylon and Edom were linked together.

There are interesting Midrashim (Rabbinical Oral traditions) on the above theme.

The expression "THE LEAST [youngest] OF THE FLOCK SHALL DRAW THEM OUT" occurred previously where it was linked with Edom:

[Jeremiah 49:20] THEREFORE HEAR THE COUNSEL OF THE LORD, THAT HE HATH TAKEN AGAINST EDOM; AND HIS PURPOSES, THAT HE HATH PURPOSED AGAINST THE INHABITANTS OF TEMAN: SURELY THE LEAST OF THE FLOCK SHALL DRAW THEM OUT: SURELY HE SHALL MAKE THEIR HABITATIONS DESOLATE WITH THEM.

On the expression “SURELY THE LEAST OF THE FLOCK SHALL DRAW THEM OUT” one opinion says it is referring to the Persians who would conquer Babylon. The word translated as “THE LEAST” can also mean the “youngest”. Another opinion says it refers to the distant future and “Babylon” represents the European forces of Esau-Edom. “THE LEAST OF THE FLOCK” refers to Israelites from the Tribes of Joseph and Benjamin, i.e. the two sons of Rachel wife of Jacob.

(Breishit Raba 73;5).

Historically most of Benjamin went with Judah but there was a portion that became attached to the other Ten Tribes. These became prominent amongst the Normans who conquered England and became the upper class. The Norman William the Conqueror used the wolf as his symbol and a wolf was the symbol of Benjamin.

The combination of Benjamin with Joseph is indicated in Psalms:

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