Jeremiah 50:17-18
“Israel is a hunted sheep driven away by lions. First the king of Assyria devoured him, and now at last Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has gnawed his bones. Therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing punishment on the king of Babylon and his land, as I punished the king of Assyria.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The chilling imagery of lions devouring Israel is intensified by the specific actions described: first the king of Assyria devoured the nation, consuming its flesh, while Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, later gnawed its bones. This isn't just defeat; it's a complete, brutal dismantling, suggesting that by the time Babylon arrived, Israel was already so weakened and broken that only the essential structure remained to be destroyed.
This verse comes amid Jeremiah's pronouncements against Babylon, portraying God's judgment on the oppressor. It describes Israel's long history of suffering, first under the Assyrians who decimated the northern kingdom and then under Nebuchadnezzar, who finished the devastation by conquering Judah. The imagery of lions reflects the fierce and relentless nature of these empires that preyed upon God's people.
Imagine a lone sheep, terrified and driven away, not just by one predator, but by multiple powerful ones. This verse paints a stark picture of Israel's condition.
Jeremiah uses the powerful image of a "scattered sheep" driven away by "lions" to describe Israel's state. This wasn't just a momentary fright; it was a prolonged and brutal experience.
The Predators
The "lions" here represent powerful, conquering empires – specifically, the king of Assyria and then the king of Babylon. These empires acted with savage cruelty, like predatory animals, against God's chosen people.
The Sheep's Plight
Israel, once God's flock, had become scattered and vulnerable. This scattering was a direct consequence of their disobedience, leading them to be preyed upon by nations that God used as instruments of judgment.
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The verse speaks of two distinct waves of destruction. What does this sequence reveal about God's judgment and His people's enduring struggle?
Jeremiah highlights two specific empires that inflicted immense suffering on Israel: first Assyria, and then Babylon.
The Assyrian Devourment
"First the king of Assyria devoured him." This refers to the Assyrian conquest that led to the exile of the northern kingdom of Israel. They were significantly weakened and dispersed, like a sheep consumed by a predator.
The Babylonian Gnawing
"And now at last Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has gnawed his bones." After the Assyrian devastation, what remained of God's people (primarily Judah) was like mere "bones." Babylon's conquest, culminating in the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, was a final, crushing blow that seemed to leave nothing but the bare framework of the nation.
While the imagery is brutal, the commentary suggests these judgments weren't fatal but medicinal. How can we see God's mercy even in severe discipline?
Despite the harsh language of devouring and bone-gnawing, the underlying message is one of God's persistent, albeit severe, care for His people.
Not the End
Commentators emphasize that these punishments, though devastating, were not intended to be final or to lead to utter annihilation. God's paternal regard remained, even as He disciplined them.
Remedies for Sin
The punishments are described as "remedies to prevent them from perishing in their vices." God's judgments are like a bitter medicine – unpleasant, but intended to heal and restore, not to destroy. The goal was to turn His people back to Him.
Hope for Restoration
Even when reduced to "bones," the people of God were not entirely lost. This imagery was meant to convey the depth of their misery, yes, but also to open a path for God's future mercy and restoration. The "medicinal" aspect of judgment offers hope that even after severe wounds, healing and renewed favor are possible.
Understand the original words
Tseba'ot · Hebrew Noun
A term used for the sovereign Lord of the universe, specifically emphasizing His role as the Commander of the heavenly armies. It highlights God's absolute power and authority over all created forces, both spiritual and physical.
paqad · Hebrew Verb
An action taken by a judge to impose a penalty for wrongdoing. In a biblical context, it refers to God's righteous reaction to sin, aimed at upholding His justice and holiness, and often intended for correction or removal of wickedness.
This verse uses powerful imagery of predators to describe the devastating historical conquests of Israel and Judah by Assyria and then Babylon. It highlights that God's chosen people were seen as prey, suffering catastrophic losses that left them scattered and broken.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Assyrian Captivity
The Northern Kingdom of Israel (ten tribes) is conquered by the Neo-Assyrian Empire. Many Israelites are deported and scattered, marking the first major 'devouring' of God's people.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar I of Babylon defeats Egypt and Judah. He deports some Judean nobility and treasures to Babylon, including young men like Daniel.
597 BC
Second Babylonian Deportation
Following a Judean rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar deports more people from Jerusalem, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel. This further weakens Judah.
587/586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Nebuchadnezzar's army destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, 'breaking the bones' of Judah. The remaining population is exiled to Babylon, fulfilling Jeremiah's prophecies.
This passage describes shepherds who failed to care for their sheep, leading them to be scattered and preyed upon by wild animals, which echoes Jeremiah's imagery of Israel as a scattered sheep.
Jeremiah 4:7Here, Jeremiah explicitly compares the enemy that invades Judah to a lion from the thicket, directly linking the 'lions' in 50:17 to the destructive invading forces.
Psalm 22:12-13This psalm vividly describes the psalmist being surrounded by enemies likened to bulls and lions, mirroring the helplessness and danger faced by Israel as depicted in Jeremiah's prophecy.
Hosea 11:10-11This passage speaks of God's people being like a lion that roars and then returns, assuring them that God will gather them from exile, offering a promise of restoration after periods of being preyed upon.
calvinJeremiah 50:17: "Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones."
- Grex dispersus (vel, agnus dispersus aut haedus; sh significat interdum gregem, interdum etiam significat singulos agnos, vel singulas oves; grex ergo dispersus fuit) Israel; leones expulerunt eun; primus voravit eum rex Assyriae, et hic postremus contrivit ossa ejus Nebuchadrezer rex Babylonis.
Here…
pooleJeremiah 50:17: "Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones."
By Israel is here meant the whole twelve tribes (though sometimes it signifieth the ten tribes in opposition to Judah); they were all wandering sheep, they became penally scattered sheep . Enemies as fierce and cruel as lions had seized them, and carried them into captivity. First the king of Assyria devou…
The chilling imagery of lions devouring Israel is intensified by the specific actions described: first the king of Assyria devoured the nation, consuming its flesh, while Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, later gnawed its bones. This isn't just defeat; it's a complete, brutal dismantling, suggesting that by the time Babylon arrived, Israel was already so weakened and broken that only the essential structure remained to be destroyed.
This verse comes amid Jeremiah's pronouncements against Babylon, portraying God's judgment on the oppressor. It describes Israel's long history of suffering, first under the Assyrians who decimated the northern kingdom and then under Nebuchadnezzar, who finished the devastation by conquering Judah. The imagery of lions reflects the fierce and relentless nature of these empires that preyed upon God's people.
This verse comes amid Jeremiah's pronouncements against Babylon, portraying God's judgment on the oppressor. It describes Israel's long history of suffering, first under the Assyrians who decimated the northern kingdom and then under Nebuchadnezzar, who finished the devastation by conquering Judah. The imagery of lions reflects the fierce and relentless nature of these empires that preyed upon God's people.
"“Israel is a hunted sheep driven away by lions. First the king of Assyria devoured him, and now at last Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has gnawed his bones. Therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing p…" — The chilling imagery of lions devouring Israel is intensified by the specific actions described: first the king of Assyria devoured the nation, consuming its flesh, while Nebuchadnezzar, the king o…
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