44:11 “Because of this, the Lord God of Israel who rules over all says, ‘I am determined to bring disaster on you, 5 even to the point of destroying all the Judeans here. 6
46:14 “Make an announcement throughout Egypt.
Proclaim it in Migdol, Memphis, and Tahpanhes. 7
‘Take your positions and prepare to do battle.
For the enemy army is destroying all the nations around you.’ 8
1 tn Or “children along with their parents”; Heb “fathers and children together.”
2 tn Heb “I will not show…so as not to destroy them.”
3 tn Heb “Make good your ways and your actions.” For the same expression see 7:3, 5; 18:11.
4 tn For the idiom and translation of terms involved here see 18:8 and the translator’s note there.
sn The
5 tn Heb “Behold I am setting my face against you for evil/disaster.” For the meaning of the idiom “to set the face to/against” see the translator’s note on 42:15 and compare the references listed there.
6 tn Heb “and to destroy all Judah.” However, this statement must be understood within the rhetoric of the passage (see vv. 7-8 and the study note on v. 8) and within the broader context of the
7 tn Heb “Declare in Egypt and announce in Migdol and announce in Noph [= Memphis] and in Tahpanhes.” The sentence has been restructured to reflect the fact that the first command is a general one, followed by announcements in specific (representative?) cities.
sn For the location of the cities of Migdol, Memphis, and Tahpanhes see the note on Jer 44:1. These were all cities in Lower or northern Egypt that would have been the first affected by an invasion.
8 tn Heb “For the sword devours those who surround you.” The “sword” is again figurative of destructive forces. Here it is a reference to the forces of Nebuchadnezzar which have already destroyed the Egyptian forces at Carchemish and have made victorious forays into the Philistine plain.