Jeremiah 46:16
“He made many to stumble. Yes, they fell on one another. They said, ‘Arise, and let us go again to our own people, and to the land of our birth, from the oppressing sword.’”
What does Jeremiah 46:16 mean?
This verse describes soldiers fleeing in panic and confusion during Babylon's invasion of Egypt, each man falling over the other in his desperate rush to escape. The "oppressing sword" refers to the overwhelming military force that has shattered their confidence and left them unable to stand firm. In their terror, these warriors realize their only hope is to abandon the battlefield entirely and return home, hoping to find safety there. It's a vivid picture of how completely their defense has collapsed, showing that physical might means nothing when fear takes over and people lose the will to fight together.