Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
And lest—Compare, for the same ellipsis, Genesis 3:22; Exodus 13:17; Deuteronomy 8:12. "And in order that your heart may not faint at the (first) rumor" (of war), I will give you some intimation of the time. In the first "year" there shall "come a rumor" that Cyrus is preparing for war against Babylon. "After that, in another year, shall come a rumor," namely, that Cyrus is approaching, and has already entered Assyria. Then is your time to "go out" (Jeremiah 51:45). Babylon was taken the following or third year of Belshazzar's reign [GROTIUS].
violence in the land—of Babylon (Psalms 7:16).
ruler against ruler—or, "ruler upon ruler," a continual change of rulers in a short space. Belshazzar and Nabonidus, supplanted by Darius or Cyaxares, who is succeeded by Cyrus.
(See on Jeremiah 51:6).
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