Jeremiah 51:30

“The mighty men of Babylon have forborne to fight, etc.] Or, “ceased from fighting”f1041 for it seems, upon Cyrus’s first coming, the king of Babylon and his army gave him battle; but being overthrown, they retired to the cityf1042, and dared never fight more: they have remained in [their] holds; in the towers and fortresses of Babylon, never daring to sally out of the city, or appear in the field of battle any more; even though Cyrus sent the king of Babylon a personal challenge, to end the quarrel by a single combatf1043: their might hath failed; their courage sunk and was gone; they had no heart to face their enemy: they became as women; as weak as they, as the Targum; timorous and…”

“forborne to fight--for the city was not taken by force of arms, but by stratagem, according to the counsel given to Cyrus by two eunuchs of Belshazzar who deserted. remained in . . . holds--not daring to go forth to fight; many, with Nabonidus, withdrew to the fortified city Borsippa.”

“Have forborn to fight - Or, have ceased to fight: in despair when they saw that the conflict was hopeless. Holds - The word properly means an acropolis, and so any inaccessible place of refuge. They have burned - i. e., the enemy have burned. Bars - i. e., fortifications (compare Amos 1:5). return to 'Top of Page'”

“The mighty: Accordingly, the Babylonians, after the loss of a battle or two, never recovered their courage to the face the enemy in the field, they retired within their walls; and the first time that Cyrus came with his army before the place he could not provoke them to venture forth, though he challenged the king to fight a duel with him; and the last time he came he consulted with his officers respecting the best mode of carrying on the siege "since," said he, "they do not come out to fight." Jer 51:32, Jer 51:57, Jer 48:41, Jer 50:36, Jer 50:37; Psa 76:5; Isa 13:7, Isa 13:8, Isa 19:16; Nah 3:13; Rev 18:10 her bars: Jer 50:36 \*marg. Psa 107:16, Psa 147:13; Isa 45:1, Isa 45:2; Lam 2:9; Amo…”