Take the millstones, and grind meal: uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers. God commands personified Babylon to assume the posture of abject slavery and humiliation. Grinding grain with hand-mills was the lowest slave labor (Exodus 11:5, Judges 16:21), typically assigned to captured women. The verb tachan (grind) sometimes carries sexual connotation in Hebrew, suggesting forced prostitution alongside forced labor.
"Uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh" describes progressive stripping of garments, exposing what modesty demands remain covered. Ancient Near Eastern captives were often marched naked through victorious cities (2 Samuel 10:4, Nahum 3:5). This reversal is profound - Babylon, the empire that stripped nations bare, will herself be exposed. The command "pass over the rivers" indicates exile - precisely what Babylon inflicted on Israel - will befall the oppressor.
From a Reformed perspective, this verse demonstrates God's lex talionis (law of retaliation) operating at cosmic scale. Babylon's pride, exploitation, and violence boomerang back upon her. God's justice ensures oppressors receive the treatment they inflicted. Yet this principle also magnifies grace - in Christ, believers escape the just punishment our sins deserve because Christ bore our shame and exposure on the cross.
Historical Context
This prophecy depicts Babylon's fall to Cyrus the Persian (539 BC). Historical records describe how Cyrus's forces diverted the Euphrates River and entered Babylon through the dry riverbed, capturing the city virtually without battle. The Cyrus Cylinder confirms that Babylonian aristocracy was deposed and the empire's wealth plundered. The imagery of 'passing over the rivers' may reference Babylonian captives being deported across the Tigris and Euphrates into Persian territory, mirroring Israel's deportation decades earlier.
Questions for Reflection
How does Babylon's reversal of fortune demonstrate God's commitment to justice for the oppressed?
In what ways have you witnessed or experienced the principle that 'whatever a man sows, that he will also reap' (Galatians 6:7)?
How should awareness of divine justice's certainty shape both your pursuit of holiness and your gratitude for Christ bearing our deserved judgment?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Take the millstones, and grind meal: uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers. God commands personified Babylon to assume the posture of abject slavery and humiliation. Grinding grain with hand-mills was the lowest slave labor (Exodus 11:5, Judges 16:21), typically assigned to captured women. The verb tachan (grind) sometimes carries sexual connotation in Hebrew, suggesting forced prostitution alongside forced labor.
"Uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh" describes progressive stripping of garments, exposing what modesty demands remain covered. Ancient Near Eastern captives were often marched naked through victorious cities (2 Samuel 10:4, Nahum 3:5). This reversal is profound - Babylon, the empire that stripped nations bare, will herself be exposed. The command "pass over the rivers" indicates exile - precisely what Babylon inflicted on Israel - will befall the oppressor.
From a Reformed perspective, this verse demonstrates God's lex talionis (law of retaliation) operating at cosmic scale. Babylon's pride, exploitation, and violence boomerang back upon her. God's justice ensures oppressors receive the treatment they inflicted. Yet this principle also magnifies grace - in Christ, believers escape the just punishment our sins deserve because Christ bore our shame and exposure on the cross.