Jeremiah 4:6

Standard. Or, “banner” (see on Ps. 60:4). A signal was to be placed upon a lofty pole, to direct refugees to Zion.

Retire. Rather, “bring into safety.” The Heb. ‘uz means “to take refuge.” Families and goods were to be brought within the city walls.

Stay not. Compare Matt. 24:16-18.

I will bring. Literally, “I am bringing.”

From the north. An obvious reference to the Babylonians (see on ch. 1:14). That the evil would come from the north is repeatedly stated in Jeremiah (see chs. 1:13, 14; 6:1, 22; 13:20; 25:9).

In more recent times the view has been advocated that these northern invaders were the Scythians. The Greek historian Herodotus (i. 103-107) declares that in the reign of Cyaxares I (c. 625-c. 585 B.C.) these wild barbarians briefly became masters of Asia. He further relates how they came down from the Caucasus, defeated Media, subdued (western) Asia, and intended to invade Egypt. The Egyptian king, Psamtik I, bought them off with rich gifts when they reached Palestine (see Vol. II, p. 90).

Though certain features of this Scythian invasion would fit Jeremiah’s description, such as the direction from which they came (their swift movements, their strange tongue, and the desolation they left behind), other features would not. The Scythians possessed neither the skill nor the patience to carry on a long siege, nor did they carry vanquished peoples into exile.

Moreover, there is no historical evidence that the Scythians made any full-scale invasion of Palestine at all. They probably merely passed through on the way to Egypt, possibly taking the road via the Valley of Esdraelon (see on Judges 1:27) and the coastal road on to the south. There is no reference to any invasion of Judah by the Scythians or any other northern people during the time of Jeremiah. Nor does Herodotus say that such an invasion of Judah took place.

On the other hand, Jeremiah’s description of this enemy approaching from the north fits the Chaldeans exactly. Nebuchadnezzar is specifically named as the invader from the north (ch. 25:9).