Jeremiah 2:18
And now what do you gain by going to Egypt to drink the waters of the Nile? Or what do you gain by going to Assyria to drink the waters of the Euphrates?
English Standard Version (ESV)
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God uses the imagery of powerful, distant rivers to highlight Israel's misplaced trust; they sought help from Egypt (the Nile) and Assyria (the Euphrates) instead of the One who provides living water. This wasn't just a political choice but implied an adoption of their ways and idolatry.
Jeremiah confronts Judah for their persistent, foolish pattern of seeking help from powerful foreign nations instead of trusting God. These verses highlight the specific historical tendency to turn to Egypt, symbolized by the Nile River, or to Assyria, represented by the Euphrates River, for alliances and security. The prophet argues that these foreign powers are unreliable, comparing them to broken cisterns, and that Judah's reliance on them is a betrayal of their covenant relationship with the Lord.
Why do ancient prophets talk about rivers when they mean nations and empires? It's a powerful metaphor that speaks volumes about where we place our trust.
In this verse, the Nile (Sihor) and the Euphrates rivers aren't just bodies of water; they're poetic symbols for the great empires of Egypt and Assyria. These empires were the superpowers of Jeremiah's day, offering political alliances and military might.
Jeremiah uses this imagery to confront Judah's dangerous habit of relying on these foreign powers for security and help. Instead of trusting in God, they were looking to the 'waters' of these mighty, yet ultimately unreliable, nations. This was like trying to quench your thirst from a muddy, foreign stream when a pure, life-giving fountain was available.
Jerusalem was constantly caught between Egypt and Assyria, playing a dangerous game of political chess. What did this 'diplomacy' cost them?
Jeremiah challenges Judah: 'What do you gain?' This question cuts to the heart of their misguided foreign policy. These alliances weren't just about political maneuvering; they often meant compromising their faithfulness to God, adopting foreign gods, and turning away from their covenant relationship with Him.
These empires were not reliable allies. Egypt was often weak or self-serving, and Assyria was a brutal conqueror. Looking to them for help was a 'broken reed' – something that would snap and pierce the hand that leaned on it. The prophet highlights the inherent instability and ultimate futility of seeking security in human power rather than divine faithfulness.
The prophet Jeremiah uses the imagery of rivers to expose Judah's misguided reliance on foreign powers like Egypt and Assyria for security, contrasting these 'broken cisterns' with God as the true 'fountain of living waters'.
Late 8th Century BC
Assyrian and Egyptian Alliances
Israel and Judah increasingly sought alliances with either the declining Assyrian Empire or the rising Egyptian kingdom for protection and support, a policy repeatedly condemned by prophets like Hosea and Isaiah.
c. 628 BC
Josiah's Reforms and Neutrality
King Josiah of Judah initiated significant religious reforms and maintained a period of relative independence and neutrality, avoiding entanglements with the major powers.
609 BC
Battle of Megiddo
Pharaoh Necho II of Egypt marched through Judah to aid the weakening Assyrians against Babylon. King Josiah attempted to intervene and was killed in the battle.
609-605 BC— this verse
Jehoiakim's Egyptian Vassalage
Following Josiah's death, Egypt installed Jehoiakim as king of Judah, making the kingdom a vassal of Egypt. This period saw a resurgence of Egyptian influence and potentially a return to prior alliances.
This passage directly parallels Jeremiah's warning by condemning alliances with Egypt, calling them a 'shame and utter rubbish' and a 'broken reed'.
Hosea 7:11Hosea also criticizes reliance on foreign powers, comparing Israel's actions to a 'stupid dove' calling to Egypt, highlighting the foolishness of seeking help from earthly kingdoms.
Jeremiah 2:13This verse is the direct preceding reference, contrasting God as the 'fountain of living waters' with the 'broken cisterns' Israel tries to use, which are represented by Egypt and Assyria's rivers.
Isaiah 8:6-7Isaiah uses a similar metaphor, warning against trusting the 'sluggish waters of the Shiloah' (representing the gentle flow near Jerusalem) and instead relying on the powerful but destructive 'great river,' the Euphrates (representing Assyria).
clarkeJeremiah 2:18: "And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? or what hast thou to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river?"
What hast thou to do in the way of Egypt - Why dost thou make alliances with Egypt? To drink the waters of Sihor? - This means the Nile. See on Isaiah 23:3 (note). The way of Assyria - Why make alliances with the Assyrians? All such connections will only expedite thy ruin. To drink the waters of the river? - The Euphrat…
pulpitJeremiah 2:18: "And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? or what hast thou to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river?"
Verse 18. - What hast thou to do in the way of Egypt? rather, with the way to Egypt. Isaiah (Isaiah 30:2-5; Isaiah 31:1) and Hosea (Hosea 7:11, 16) had already inveighed against an Egyptian alliance. The name given by Manasseh to his sen and successor (Amen) suggests that at one period in his reign an Egyptian policy wa…
God uses the imagery of powerful, distant rivers to highlight Israel's misplaced trust; they sought help from Egypt (the Nile) and Assyria (the Euphrates) instead of the One who provides living water. This wasn't just a political choice but implied an adoption of their ways and idolatry.
Jeremiah confronts Judah for their persistent, foolish pattern of seeking help from powerful foreign nations instead of trusting God. These verses highlight the specific historical tendency to turn to Egypt, symbolized by the Nile River, or to Assyria, represented by the Euphrates River, for alliances and security. The prophet argues that these foreign powers are unreliable, comparing them to broken cisterns, and that Judah's reliance on them is a betrayal of their covenant relationship with the Lord.
Jeremiah confronts Judah for their persistent, foolish pattern of seeking help from powerful foreign nations instead of trusting God. These verses highlight the specific historical tendency to turn to Egypt, symbolized by the Nile River, or to Assyria, represented by the Euphrates River, for alliances and security. The prophet argues that these foreign powers are unreliable, comparing them to broken cisterns, and that Judah's reliance on them is a betrayal of their covenant relationship with the Lord.
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605 BC
Babylonian Victory at Carchemish
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon decisively defeated the Egyptians and Assyrians at Carchemish, establishing Babylonian dominance over the region and ending Egypt's immediate regional power.
605-598 BC
Babylonian Hegemony
After Carchemish, Judah fell under Babylonian influence. Jeremiah urged submission to Babylon as God's instrument, a stark contrast to the allure of Egyptian alliances.
"And now what do you gain by going to Egypt to drink the waters of the Nile? Or what do you gain by going to Assyria to drink the waters of the Euphrates?" — God uses the imagery of powerful, distant rivers to highlight Israel's misplaced trust; they sought help from Egypt (the Nile) and Assyria (the Euphrates) instead of the One who provides living water…
