Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on Jeremiah 51:25
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
Behold, I [am] against thee, O destroying mountain, saith the Lord, which destroyest all the earth, etc.] Babylon is called a mountain, though situated in a plain, because of its high walls, lofty towers, and hanging gardens, which made it look at a distance like a high mountain, as Lebanon, and others: or because it was a strong fortified city; so the Targum renders it, O destroying city: or because of its power and grandeur as a monarchy, it being usual to compare monarchies to mountains; (see <230202> Isaiah 2:2 <380407>Zechariah 4:7); here called a “destroying” one for a reason given, because it destroyed all the earth, all the nations and kingdoms of it: the same character is given of mystical Babylon and its inhabitants, (<661118>Revelation 11:18): and I will stretch out mine hand upon thee: in a way of vindictive wrath, pouring it out upon her, and inflicting his judgments on her; laying hold on and seizing her in a furious manner, as a man does his enemy, when he has found him: and roll them down from the rocks; towers and fortresses in Babylon, which looked like rocks, but should be now demolished: and will make thee a burnt mountain: reduced to cinders and ashes by the conflagration of it: or, “a burning mountain”: like Etna and Vesuvius; we never read of the burning of literal Babylon, but we do of mystical Babylon: (see <661808>Revelation 18:8); and with this compare (<660808>Revelation 8:8). The Targum renders it, a burnt city.
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