Jeremiah 46:21

“All her hired men [are] in the midst of her like fatted bullocks, etc.] Or, “bullocks of the stall”f851; soldiers of other countries, that were hired into the service of Egypt, and lived so deliciously there, that they were unfit for war, and were like fatted beasts prepared for the slaughter. The Targum and Jarchi interpret it, her princesf852; who had the care of this heifer, and of the feeding of it; these themselves were like that, nourished for the day of slaughter: for they also are turned back, [and] are fled away together; they turned their backs upon the enemy in battle, and fled in great confusion and precipitancy; (see <244615>Jeremiah 46:15,16); they did not stand; and face the…”

“Translate, "Also her hired men (mercenary soldiers, Jer 46:9, Jer 46:16), who are in the midst of her like fatted bullocks, even they also are turned back," that is, shall turn their backs to flee. The same image, "heifer . . . bullocks" (Jer 46:20-21), is applied to Egypt's foreign mercenaries, as to herself. Pampered with the luxuries of Egypt, they become as enervated for battle as the natives themselves.”

“Rather, “Also her hirelings in the midst of her are like calves of the stall.” The mercenaries of Egypt - Nubians, Moors, and Lydians Jeremiah 46:9 - were destroyed at the battle of Carchemish, and their place was taken by hirelings from Asia Minor, Carians, and Ionians, whom Hophra took into his pay to the number of 30,000 men. These he settled in the midst of Egypt, in the fertile lands above Bubastis, in the Delta, where, well paid and fed and with great privileges, they became as calves of the stall. Their mutiny cost Hophra his crown. For they also are turned back ... - literally, “for they also have lurched the back, they flee together, they stand not: for the day of their destruction…”

“46:21 Egypt depended on hired mercenaries from other countries who had no interest in dying for Egypt. Under threat, they would turn and run.”

“her hired: Jer 46:9, Jer 46:16; Sa2 10:6; Kg2 7:6; Eze 27:10, Eze 27:11, Eze 30:4-6 like: Jer 50:11, Jer 50:27; Isa 34:7 fatted bullocks: Heb. bullocks of the stall, Pro 15:17; Amo 6:4 they did: Jer 46:5, Jer 46:15, Jer 46:16 the day: Jer 18:17; Deu 32:15; Psa 37:13; Isa 10:3; Eze 35:5; Hos 9:7; Oba 1:13; Mic 7:4 Jeremiah 46:22”