¹ tn Heb “you will lift up this taunt over the king of Babylon, saying.”

³ tc One medieval Hebrew manuscript has “to Babylon.” Cf. Ezra 2:1.

² tn Heb “he”; the referent (the king of Babylon) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

³ sn Erech (ancient Uruk, modern Warka), one of the most ancient civilizations, was located southeast of Babylon.

⁴ sn Akkad, or ancient Agade, was associated with Sargon and located north of Babylon.

¹ tn Heb “are filled.” The translation assumes the verbal form is a perfect of certitude, emphasizing the certainty of Babylon’s coming judgment, which will reduce the majestic empire to shame and humiliation.

¹ tn Heb “Chaldea.” The name of the tribal group ruling Babylon (“Chaldeans”) and the territory from which they originated (“Chaldea”) are used as metonymy for the whole empire of Babylon.

¹ tn Heb “Go out from her [Babylon’s] midst, my people. Save each man his life from the fierce anger of the Lord.” The verb has been paraphrased to prevent gender specific terms.

¹ tn Heb “and he deported Jehoiachin to Babylon; the mother of the king and the wives of the king and his eunuchs and the mighty of the land he led into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.”

¹ tn Heb “Shinar,” a reference to Babylon (cf. Gen 10:10; 11:2; 14:1). Many modern translations retain the Hebrew name “Shinar” (cf. NEB, NRSV) but some use the more familiar “Babylon” (cf. NIV, NLT).

⁵ tn Verse 14 is set in parentheses because in it the city, Babylon, is addressed directly in second person.

⁶ sn The fall of Babylon the great city is described in detail in Rev 18:2-24.

² tn Heb “The sea has risen up over Babylon. She has been covered by the multitude of its waves.”

² sn Cf. Jer 49:18 and 50:40, where the same thing is said about Edom and Babylon.

¹ tn Heb “For he has sent to us in Babylon, saying….” The quote, however, is part of the earlier letter.

¹ tn Heb “I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from upon the necks of all the nations.”

¹ sn Lair was a city located in northeastern Babylon. See M. Cogan and H. Tadmor, II Kings (AB), 235.

³ tn Or perhaps, “land” (so KJV, NAB, NASB, NLT). Even though the heading and subsequent context (see v. 17) indicate Babylon’s judgment is in view, the chapter has a cosmic flavor suggesting that the coming judgment is universal in scope. Perhaps Babylon’s downfall occurs in conjunction with a wider judgment, or the cosmic style is poetic hyperbole used to emphasize the magnitude and importance of the coming event.

¹ tn Heb “prisoner.” Jehoiachin was carried off to Babylon as a prisoner. See 2 Chr 36:10.

¹ sn Lair is a city located in northeastern Babylon. See M. Cogan and H. Tadmor, II Kings (AB), 235.