Jeremiah 5:15

“Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from far, etc.] From Babylon, as in (<240416>Jeremiah 4:16): O house of Israel, saith the Lord; though the house of Israel is generally taken for the ten tribes, especially when distinguished from the house of Judah; yet here it seems to design the Jews, the posterity of Jacob, or Israel in the land of Judea; for Israel, or the ten tribes, were carried captive into Assyria before this time: it is a mighty nation; strong and powerful; so mighty that they would not be able to oppose them, and stand before them: “it is an ancient nation”; the Babylonish monarchy was the most ancient; it began in the times of Nimrod, (<011010>Genesis 10:10) and therefore must…”

“(Jer 1:15; Jer 6:22). Alluding to Deu 28:49, &c. Israel--that is, Judah. mighty--from an Arabic root, "enduring." The fourfold repetition of "nation" heightens the force. ancient--The Chaldeans came originally from the Carduchian and Armenian mountains north of Mesopotamia, whence they immigrated into Babylonia; like all mountaineers, they were brave and hardy (see on Isa 23:13). language . . . knowest not-- Isa 36:11 shows that Aramaic was not understood by the "multitude," but only by the educated classes [MAURER]. HENDERSON refers it to the original language of the Babylonians, which, he thinks, they brought with them from their native hills, akin to the Persic, not to the Aramaic, or any…”

“Israel is not put here for the ten tribes, but for the whole house of Jacob, of which Judah was now the representative. Mighty - “permanent, enduring.” The word is the usual epithet of the rocks Numbers 24:21, and of ever-flowing streams Deuteronomy 21:4, Hebrew). It describes therefore a nation, whose empire is firm as a rock, and ever rolling onward like a mighty river. The epithet “ancient” refers simply to time. Whose laguage thou knowest not - This would render them more pitiless, as they would not understand their cries for mercy. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Israel - By these are meant Judah; for Israel were in captivity before: called the house of Israel, not only because they descended from Jacob, but because they were the chief of that stock. Jeremiah 5:18”

“5:15 The Babylonian language was a Semitic language like Hebrew, but the Israelites did not understand it.”

“I will: Jer 1:15, Jer 4:16, Jer 6:22, Jer 25:9; Deu 28:49; Isa 5:26, Isa 29:3, Isa 29:6 O house: Jer 5:11, Jer 2:26, Jer 9:26; Isa 5:7; Eze 18:31; Mat 3:9, Mat 3:10 a mighty: Dan 2:37, Dan 2:38, Dan 7:7; Hab 1:5-10 a nation: Isa 28:11, Isa 33:19; Co1 14:21 Jeremiah 5:16”