Jeremiah 25:18-26
I went to Jerusalem and the other towns of Judah, and their kings and officials drank from the cup. From that day until this, they have been a desolate ruin, an object of horror, contempt, and cursing.I gave the cup to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, his attendants, his officials, and all his people,along with all the foreigners living in that land. I also gave it to all the kings of the land of Uz and the kings of the Philistine cities of Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and what remains of Ashdod.Then I gave the cup to the nations of Edom, Moab, and Ammon,and the kings of Tyre and Sidon, and the kings of the regions across the sea.I gave it to Dedan, Tema, and Buz, and to the people who live in distant places.I gave it to the kings of Arabia, the kings of the nomadic tribes of the desert,and to the kings of Zimri, Elam, and Media.And I gave it to the kings of the northern countries, far and near, one after the other— all the kingdoms of the world. And finally, the king of Babylon himself drank from the cup of the Lord’s anger.
Ezekiel 32:18-32
“ Son of man, weep for the hordes of Egypt and for the other mighty nations. For I will send them down to the world below in company with those who descend to the pit.Say to them,‘ O Egypt, are you lovelier than the other nations? No! So go down to the pit and lie there among the outcasts.’The Egyptians will fall with the many who have died by the sword, for the sword is drawn against them. Egypt and its hordes will be dragged away to their judgment.Down in the grave mighty leaders will mockingly welcome Egypt and its allies, saying,‘ They have come down; they lie among the outcasts, hordes slaughtered by the sword.’“ Assyria lies there surrounded by the graves of its army, those who were slaughtered by the sword.Their graves are in the depths of the pit, and they are surrounded by their allies. They struck terror in the hearts of people everywhere, but now they have been slaughtered by the sword.“ Elam lies there surrounded by the graves of all its hordes, those who were slaughtered by the sword. They struck terror in the hearts of people everywhere, but now they have descended as outcasts to the world below. Now they lie in the pit and share the shame of those who have gone before them.They have a resting place among the slaughtered, surrounded by the graves of all their hordes. Yes, they terrorized the nations while they lived, but now they lie in shame with others in the pit, all of them outcasts, slaughtered by the sword.“ Meshech and Tubal are there, surrounded by the graves of all their hordes. They once struck terror in the hearts of people everywhere. But now they are outcasts, all slaughtered by the sword.They are not buried in honor like their fallen heroes, who went down to the grave with their weapons— their shields covering their bodies and their swords beneath their heads. Their guilt rests upon them because they brought terror to everyone while they were still alive.“ You too, Egypt, will lie crushed and broken among the outcasts, all slaughtered by the sword.“ Edom is there with its kings and princes. Mighty as they were, they also lie among those slaughtered by the sword, with the outcasts who have gone down to the pit.“ All the princes of the north and the Sidonians are there with others who have died. Once a terror, they have been put to shame. They lie there as outcasts with others who were slaughtered by the sword. They share the shame of all who have descended to the pit.“ When Pharaoh and his entire army arrive, he will take comfort that he is not alone in having his hordes killed, says the Sovereign Lord.Although I have caused his terror to fall upon all the living, Pharaoh and his hordes will lie there among the outcasts who were slaughtered by the sword. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!”
Jeremiah 46:1-28
The following messages were given to Jeremiah the prophet from the Lord concerning foreign nations.This message concerning Egypt was given in the fourth year of the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, the king of Judah, on the occasion of the battle of Carchemish when Pharaoh Neco, king of Egypt, and his army were defeated beside the Euphrates River by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.“ Prepare your shields, and advance into battle!Harness the horses, and mount the stallions. Take your positions. Put on your helmets. Sharpen your spears, and prepare your armor.But what do I see? The Egyptian army flees in terror. The bravest of its fighting men run without a backward glance. They are terrorized at every turn,” says the Lord.“ The swiftest runners cannot flee; the mightiest warriors cannot escape. By the Euphrates River to the north, they stumble and fall.“ Who is this, rising like the Nile at floodtime, overflowing all the land?It is the Egyptian army, overflowing all the land, boasting that it will cover the earth like a flood, destroying cities and their people.Charge, you horses and chariots; attack, you mighty warriors of Egypt! Come, all you allies from Ethiopia, Libya, and Lydia who are skilled with the shield and bow!For this is the day of the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, a day of vengeance on his enemies. The sword will devour until it is satisfied, yes, until it is drunk with your blood! The Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, will receive a sacrifice today in the north country beside the Euphrates River.“ Go up to Gilead to get medicine, O virgin daughter of Egypt! But your many treatments will bring you no healing.The nations have heard of your shame. The earth is filled with your cries of despair. Your mightiest warriors will run into each other and fall down together.”Then the Lord gave the prophet Jeremiah this message about King Nebuchadnezzar’s plans to attack Egypt.“ Shout it out in Egypt! Publish it in the cities of Migdol, Memphis, and Tahpanhes! Mobilize for battle, for the sword will devour everyone around you.Why have your warriors fallen? They cannot stand, for the Lord has knocked them down.They stumble and fall over each other and say among themselves,‘ Come, let’s go back to our people, to the land of our birth. Let’s get away from the sword of the enemy!’There they will say,‘ Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, is a loudmouth who missed his opportunity!’“ As surely as I live,” says the King, whose name is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies,“ one is coming against Egypt who is as tall as Mount Tabor, or as Mount Carmel by the sea!Pack up! Get ready to leave for exile, you citizens of Egypt! The city of Memphis will be destroyed, without a single inhabitant.Egypt is as sleek as a beautiful heifer, but a horsefly from the north is on its way!Egypt’s mercenaries have become like fattened calves. They, too, will turn and run, for it is a day of great disaster for Egypt, a time of great punishment.Egypt flees, silent as a serpent gliding away. The invading army marches in; they come against her with axes like woodsmen.They will cut down her people like trees,” says the Lord,“ for they are more numerous than locusts.Egypt will be humiliated; she will be handed over to people from the north.”The Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says:“ I will punish Amon, the god of Thebes, and all the other gods of Egypt. I will punish its rulers and Pharaoh, too, and all who trust in him.I will hand them over to those who want them killed— to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and his army. But afterward the land will recover from the ravages of war. I, the Lord, have spoken!“ But do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant; do not be dismayed, Israel. For I will bring you home again from distant lands, and your children will return from their exile. Israel will return to a life of peace and quiet, and no one will terrorize them.Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant, for I am with you,” says the Lord.“ I will completely destroy the nations to which I have exiled you, but I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you, but with justice; I cannot let you go unpunished.”
