1Concerning the AmmonitesH1121 H5983, thus saithH559 the LORDH3068; Hath IsraelH3478 no sonsH1121? hath he no heirH3423? why then doth their kingH4428 inheritH3423 GadH1410, and his peopleH5971 dwellH3427 in his citiesH5892? 2Therefore, behold, the daysH3117 comeH935, saithH559 the LORDH3068, that I will cause an alarmH8643 of warH4421 to be heardH8085 in RabbahH7237 of the AmmonitesH1121 H5983; and it shall be a desolateH8077 heapH8510, and her daughtersH1323 shall be burnedH3341 with fireH784: then shall IsraelH3478 be heirH3423 to them that were his heirsH3423, saithH5002 the LORDH3068. 3WailH3213, O HeshbonH2809, for AiH5857 is laid wasteH7703: cryH6817, ye daughtersH1323 of RabbahH7237, girdH2296 yourselves with sackclothH8242; lamentH5594, and run to and froH7751 by the hedgesH1448; for their kingH4428 shall goH3212 into captivityH1473, and his priestsH3548 and his princesH8269 togetherH3162. 4Why gloriestH1984 thou in the valleysH6010, thy flowingH2100 valleyH6010, O backslidingH7728 daughterH1323? that trustedH982 in her treasuresH214, saying, Who shall comeH935 to me? 5Behold, I will bringH935 a fearH6343 upon thee, saithH5002 the LordH136 GODH3069 of hostsH6635, from all those that are aboutH5439 thee; and ye shall be driven outH5080 every manH376 right forthH6440; and none shall gather upH6908 him that wanderethH5074. 6And afterwardH310 I will bring againH7725 the captivesH7622 of the childrenH1121 of AmmonH5983, saithH5002 the LORDH3068. 7Concerning EdomH123, thus saithH559 the LORDH3068 of hostsH6635; Is wisdomH2451 no more in TemanH8487? hath counselH6098 perishedH6 from the prudentH995? hath their wisdomH2451 vanishedH5628? 8FleeH5127 ye, turn backH6437, dwellH3427 deepH6009, O inhabitantsH3427 of DedanH1719; for I will bringH935 the calamityH343 of EsauH6215 upon him, the timeH6256 that I will punishH6485 him. 9If grapegatherersH1219 comeH935 to thee, would they not leaveH7604 some gleaning grapesH5955? if thievesH1590 by nightH3915, they will destroyH7843 till they have enoughH1767. 10But I have made EsauH6215 bareH2834, I have uncoveredH1540 his secret placesH4565, and he shall not be ableH3201 to hideH2247 himself: his seedH2233 is laid wasteH7703, and his brethrenH251, and his neighboursH7934, and he is not. 11LeaveH5800 thy fatherless childrenH3490, I will preserve them aliveH2421; and let thy widowsH490 trustH982 in me. 12For thus saithH559 the LORDH3068; Behold, they whose judgmentH4941 was not to drinkH8354 of the cupH3563 have assuredlyH8354 drunkH8354; and art thou he that shall altogetherH5352 go unpunishedH5352? thou shalt not go unpunishedH5352, but thou shalt surelyH8354 drinkH8354 of it. 13For I have swornH7650 by myself, saithH5002 the LORDH3068, that BozrahH1224 shall become a desolationH8047, a reproachH2781, a wasteH2721, and a curseH7045; and all its citiesH5892 shall be perpetualH5769 wastesH2723. 14I have heardH8085 a rumourH8052 from the LORDH3068, and an ambassadorH6735 is sentH7971 to the heathenH1471, saying, Gather ye togetherH6908, and comeH935 against her, and rise upH6965 to the battleH4421. 15For, lo, I will makeH5414 thee smallH6996 among the heathenH1471, and despisedH959 among menH120. 16Thy terriblenessH8606 hath deceivedH5377 thee, and the prideH2087 of thy heartH3820, O thou that dwellestH7931 in the cleftsH2288 of the rockH5553, that holdestH8610 the heightH4791 of the hillH1389: though thou shouldest make thy nestH7064 as highH1361 as the eagleH5404, I will bring thee downH3381 from there, saithH5002 the LORDH3068. 17Also EdomH123 shall be a desolationH8047: every one that goethH5674 by it shall be astonishedH8074, and shall hissH8319 at all its plaguesH4347. 18As in the overthrowH4114 of SodomH5467 and GomorrahH6017 and its neighbourH7934 cities, saithH559 the LORDH3068, no manH376 shall abideH3427 there, neither shall a sonH1121 of manH120 dwellH1481 in it. 19Behold, he shall come upH5927 like a lionH738 from the swellingH1347 of JordanH3383 against the habitationH5116 of the strongH386: but I will suddenlyH7280 make him run awayH7323 from her: and who is a chosenH977 man, that I may appointH6485 over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the timeH3259? and who is that shepherdH7462 that will standH5975 beforeH6440 me? 20Therefore hearH8085 the counselH6098 of the LORDH3068, that he hath takenH3289 against EdomH123; and his purposesH4284, that he hath purposedH2803 against the inhabitantsH3427 of TemanH8487: Surely the leastH6810 of the flockH6629 shall draw them outH5498: surely he shall make their habitationsH5116 desolateH8074 with them. 21The earthH776 is movedH7493 at the noiseH6963 of their fallH5307, at the cryH6818 the noiseH6963 of it was heardH8085 in the RedH5488 seaH3220. 22Behold, he shall come upH5927 and flyH1675 as the eagleH5404, and spreadH6566 his wingsH3671 over BozrahH1224: and at that dayH3117 shall the heartH3820 of the mighty menH1368 of EdomH123 be as the heartH3820 of a womanH802 in her pangsH6887. 23Concerning DamascusH1834. HamathH2574 is confoundedH954, and ArpadH774: for they have heardH8085 evilH7451 tidingsH8052: they are faintheartedH4127; there is sorrowH1674 on the seaH3220; it cannotH3201 be quietH8252. 24DamascusH1834 hath become feebleH7503, and turnethH6437 herself to fleeH5127, and fearH7374 hath seizedH2388 on her: anguishH6869 and sorrowsH2256 have takenH270 her, as a woman in travailH3205. 25How is the cityH5892 of praiseH8416 not leftH5800, the cityH7151 of my joyH4885! 26Therefore her young menH970 shall fallH5307 in her streetsH7339, and all the menH582 of warH4421 shall be cut offH1826 in that dayH3117, saithH5002 the LORDH3068 of hostsH6635. 27And I will kindleH3341 a fireH784 in the wallH2346 of DamascusH1834, and it shall consumeH398 the palacesH759 of BenhadadH1130. 28Concerning KedarH6938, and concerning the kingdomsH4467 of HazorH2674, which NebuchadnezzarH5019 kingH4428 of BabylonH894 shall smiteH5221, thus saithH559 the LORDH3068; AriseH6965 ye, go upH5927 to KedarH6938, and lay wasteH7703 the menH1121 of the eastH6924. 29Their tentsH168 and their flocksH6629 shall they take awayH3947: they shall takeH5375 to themselves their curtainsH3407, and all their vesselsH3627, and their camelsH1581; and they shall cryH7121 to them, FearH4032 is on every sideH5439. 30FleeH5127, goH5110 far offH3966, dwellH3427 deepH6009, O ye inhabitantsH3427 of HazorH2674, saithH5002 the LORDH3068; for NebuchadnezzarH5019 kingH4428 of BabylonH894 hath taken counselH6098 H3289 against you, and hath conceivedH2803 a purposeH4284 against you. 31AriseH6965, go upH5927 to the wealthyH7961 nationH1471, that dwellethH3427 without careH983, saithH5002 the LORDH3068, which have neither gatesH1817 nor barsH1280, which dwellH7931 aloneH910. 32And their camelsH1581 shall be a bootyH957, and the multitudeH1995 of their cattleH4735 a spoilH7998: and I will scatterH2219 into all windsH7307 them that are in the utmostH7112 cornersH6285; and I will bringH935 their calamityH343 from all sidesH5676 of it, saithH5002 the LORDH3068. 33And HazorH2674 shall be a dwellingH4583 for dragonsH8577, and a desolationH8077 forH5704 everH5769: there shall no manH376 abideH3427 there, nor any sonH1121 of manH120 dwellH1481 in it. 34The wordH1697 of the LORDH3068 that came to JeremiahH3414 the prophetH5030 against ElamH5867 in the beginningH7225 of the reignH4438 of ZedekiahH6667 kingH4428 of JudahH3063, sayingH559, 35Thus saithH559 the LORDH3068 of hostsH6635; Behold, I will breakH7665 the bowH7198 of ElamH5867, the chiefH7225 of their mightH1369. 36And upon ElamH5867 will I bringH935 the fourH702 windsH7307 from the fourH702 quartersH7098 of heavenH8064, and will scatterH2219 them toward all those windsH7307; and there shall be no nationH1471 where the outcastsH5080 of ElamH5867 H5769 shall not comeH935. 37For I will cause ElamH5867 to be dismayedH2865 beforeH6440 their enemiesH341, and beforeH6440 them that seekH1245 their lifeH5315: and I will bringH935 evilH7451 upon them, even my fierceH2740 angerH639, saithH5002 the LORDH3068; and I will sendH7971 the swordH2719 afterH310 them, till I have consumedH3615 them: 38And I will setH7760 my throneH3678 in ElamH5867, and will destroyH6 from there the kingH4428 and the princesH8269, saithH5002 the LORDH3068. 39But it shall come to pass in the latterH319 daysH3117, that I will bring againH7725 the captivesH7622 H7622 of ElamH5867, saithH5002 the LORDH3068.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 PREDICTIONS AS TO AMMON, IDUMEA, DAMASCUS, KEDAR, HAZOR, AND ELAM. (Jer. 49:1-39)
Hath Israel . . . no heir?--namely, to occupy the land of Gad, after it itself has been carried away captive by Shalmaneser. Ammon, like Moab, descended from Lot, lay north of Moab, from which it was separated by the river Arnon, and east of Reuben and Gad (
Josh 13:24-
Josh 13:25) on the same side of Jordan. It seized on Gad when Israel was carried captive. Judah was by the right of kindred the heir, not Ammon; but Ammon joined with Nebuchadnezzar against Judah and Jerusalem (
2Kgs 24:2) and exulted over its fall (
Ps 83:4-7-8;
Zeph 2:8-
Zeph 2:9). It had already, in the days of Jeroboam, in Israel's affliction, tried to "enlarge its border" (
2Kgs 14:26;
Amos 1:1,
Amos 1:13).
their king-- (
Amos 1:15); referring to Melchom, their tutelary idol (
Zeph 1:5); and so the Septuagint reads it here as a proper name (
1Kgs 11:5,
1Kgs 11:33;
2Kgs 23:13). The Ammonite god is said to do what they do, namely, occupy the Israelite land of Gad. To Jehovah, the theocratic "King" of Israel, the land belonged of right; so that their Molech or Melchom was a usurper-king.
his people--the people of Melchom, "their king." Compare "people of Chemosh,"
Jer 48:46.
2 Rabbah--"the great," metropolis of Ammon (
2Sam 12:26-30). Its destruction is foretold also in
Ezek 25:5;
Amos 1:14-
Amos 1:15.
her daughters--the towns and villages, dependencies of the metropolis (
Josh 15:45).
shall . . . be heir--shall possess those who possessed him. The full accomplishment of this is still future; partially fulfilled under the Maccabees (1 Maccabees 5:6).
3 Heshbon . . . Ai--Nebuchadnezzar, coming from the north, first attacked Ammon, then its brother and neighbor, Moab. As Ai of Ammon had already suffered destruction, Heshbon of Moab being near it might well fear the same fate.
hedges--Their cities being destroyed, the outcasts have no place of shelter save behind the "hedges" of vineyards and gardens; or else the enclosures of their villages.
their king--Melchom, the idol, as the mention of "his priests" shows (compare
Jer 48:7).
4 thy flowing valley--rather, "thy valley shall flow," namely with the blood of the slain; in sad contrast to their "valleys" in which they had heretofore "gloried," as flowing with milk and honey [GROTIUS]. Or else, as Margin, "shall flow away."
backsliding--apostate from Jehovah, the God of their father Lot, to Molech.
treasures--her resources for resisting the foe.
Who shall, &c.--Who can come . . . (
Jer 21:13).
5 every man right forth--whithersoever chance may lead him (
Jer 46:5;
Gen 19:17); straight before him, onwards at random (
Amos 4:3).
none . . . gather up him, &c.--There shall be none to gather together the wandering fugitives, so as to care for them and restore them to their own homes.
6 (Compare
Jer 48:47). For the sake of "righteous" Lot their progenitor. Partially fulfilled under Cyrus; in gospel times more fully.
7 Concerning Edom--a distinct prophecy, copied in part from Obadiah, but with the freedom of one himself inspired and foretelling a later calamity. Obadiah's was fulfilled probably in Sennacherib's time (compare
Isa 34:5;
Amos 1:11); Jeremiah's about the same time as his preceding prophecies (
Jer 49:12;
Ezek 25:12).
wisdom--for which the Arabs and the people of Teman (a city of Edom) in particular, were famed (
Gen 36:15;
1Kgs 4:30; see Job, everywhere;
Obad 1:8).
vanished--literally "poured out," that is, exhausted (compare
Isa 19:3, Margin) [MAURER]. Or, as the kindred Ethiopic word means, "worn out" [LUDOVICUS DE DIEU].
8 turn--namely, your backs in flight.
dwell deep--in deep defiles and caves [GROTIUS], which abound in Idumea. Others refer it to the Arab custom of retiring into the depth of the desert when avoiding an offended foe (
Jer 49:30).
Dedan--a tribe bordering on and made subject by Idumea; descended from Jokshan, son of Abraham and Keturah (
Gen 25:1-
Gen 25:3).
Esau--The naming of Edom's progenitor, reprobated by God, recalls the remembrance of the old curse on him for his profanity, both his sin and its punishment being perpetuated in his descendants (
Heb 12:16-
Heb 12:17).
9 (
Obad 1:5). Grape gatherers, yea even thieves, leave something behind them; but the Chaldeans will sweep Idumea clean of everything.
10 Edom became politically extinct after the time of the Romans.
uncovered his secret places--where he hid himself (
Jer 49:8) and his treasures (
Isa 45:3). I have caused that nothing should be so hidden as that the conqueror should not find it.
brethren--Ammon.
neighbours--the Philistines.
11 Thy fatherless and widows must rest their hope in God alone, as none of the adult males shall be left alive, so desperate will be the affairs of Edom. The verse also, besides this threat, implies a promise of mercy to Esau in God's good time, as there was to Moab and Ammon (
Jer 49:6;
Jer 48:47); the extinction of the adult males is the prominent idea (compare
Jer 49:12).
12 (Compare
Jer 25:15-
Jer 25:16,
Jer 25:29).
they whose judgment was not to drink of the cup--the Jews to whom, by virtue of the covenant relation, it did not belong to drink the cup. It might have been expected that they would be spared. He regards not the merits of the Jews, for they were as bad or worse than others: but the grace and adoption of God; it is just and natural ("judgment") that God should pardon His sons sooner than aliens [CALVIN].
13 Bozrah--(See on
Jer 48:24).
14 (
Obad 1:1-
Obad 1:3).
ambassador . . . unto the heathen--a messenger from God to stir up the Chaldeans against Edom.
15 David and Joab had already humbled Edom (
2Sam 8:14).
16 terribleness--the terror which thou didst inspire into others.
deceived thee--rendered thee proudly confident, as if none would dare to assail thee.
dwellest in . . . rock--Petra, the chief of Idumea, was cut in the rocks; its ruins are very remarkable. The whole south of Idumea abounds in cave dwellings and rocks.
though . . . nest . . . eagle-- (
Job 39:27;
Obad 1:3-
Obad 1:4). The eagle builds its nest in the highest craggy eyry.
17 (Compare
1Kgs 9:8).
18 (
Jer 50:40;
Deut 29:23;
Amos 4:11).
no man shall abide there--that is, of the Idumeans. The Romans had a garrison there.
19 he--Nebuchadnezzar, or Nebuzara-dan; the name would at once suggest itself to the minds of the hearers (
Jer 48:40;
Jer 46:18).
swelling--as a lion which the overflow of the Jordan forced out of his lair on the banks, to ascend the neighboring heights [CALVIN]. See as to the translation, "pride of the Jordan," see on
Jer 12:5.
habitation of . . . strong--the fastnesses of Idumea (compare
Num 24:21). MAURER translates, "An ever verdant (literally, 'perennial') pasturage," that is, Idumea heretofore having enjoyed uninterrupted tranquillity; so in
Jer 49:20 the image is retained, the Idumeans being compared to "a flock," and their king to "a shepherd," in this verse, and the enemy to "a lion" (compare
Jer 50:17-
Jer 50:19). English Version accords more with the Hebrew.
suddenly--"in the twinkling of an eye," as the Hebrew implies.
him . . . her--I will make Nebuzara-dan enter Idumea, and then, having in the twinkling of an eye effected the conquest, go away speedily: elsewhere. Instead of "but," translate, "for." GROTIUS translates, "run upon her," or "to her," instead of "run away from her." MAURER understands it, "I will make him (the Idumean) run away from her" (that is, from his own land); the similar change of reference of the pronouns (
Jer 50:44) favors this.
who is a chosen man, &c.--God calls the choicest warriors to Him, to set "over" the work of devastating Idumea. God will surely execute His purpose, for He can call forth from all sides the agents He chooses.
who is like me?-- (
Exod 15:11).
who will appoint me the time?--namely, for entering into a trial in judgment with Me (see Margin). Image from law courts (
Job 9:19).
shepherd--leader of the Idumeans; following up the previous image, "a lion"; no Idumean shepherd shall withstand the lion sent by Jehovah (
Job 41:10), or save the Idumean flock.
20 least of the flock--the weakest and humblest of the Chaldean host. Compare
Jer 6:3, where the hostile leaders and their hosts are called "shepherds and their flocks."
draw . . . out--"shall drag them away captive" [GROTIUS]; shall drag them to and fro, as a lion (
Jer 49:19) does feeble sheep [MAURER].
with them--that is, the habitation which they possess.
21 was heard in--that is, shall be heard at.
Red Sea--a considerable distance from Idumea; though the district at the Elantic bay of the Red Sea originally belonged to Idumea, and the sea itself was called from Edom, that is, "red" (
Gen 25:30, Margin). Others translate, "the weedy sea" (Margin), and derive the name, "Red Sea," from its red weeds; the former view is preferable.
22 (Compare
Jer 48:40-
Jer 48:41).
Bozrah--(See on
Jer 48:24).
23 Prophecy as to Damascus, &c. (
Isa 17:1;
Isa 10:9). The kingdom of Damascus was destroyed by Assyria, but the city revived, and it is as to the latter Jeremiah now prophesies. The fulfilment was probably about five years after the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar [JOSEPHUS, Antiquities, 10.9,7].
Hamath is confounded--at the tidings of the overthrow of the neighboring Damascus.
on the sea--that is, at the sea; the dwellers there are alarmed. Other manuscripts read, "like the sea." "There is anxiety (restless) as is the sea: they cannot quiet it," that is, it cannot be quieted (
Isa 57:20).
it--Whatever dwellers are there "cannot be quiet."
25 city of praise--The prophet, in the person of a citizen of Damascus deploring its calamity, calls it "the city of praise," that is, celebrated with praises everywhere for its beauty (
Jer 33:9;
Jer 51:41). "How is it possible that such a city has not been left whole--has not been spared by the foe?" Compare left,
Luke 17:35-
Luke 17:36. So Israel "left" standing some of the Canaanite cities (
Josh 11:13).
of my joy--that is, in which I delighted.
26 Therefore--that is, Since Damascus is doomed to fall, therefore, &c.
27 palaces of Ben-hadad--that palace from which so many evils and such cruelty to Israel emanated; thus implying the cause of Damascus' overthrow. Not the Ben-hadad of
2Kgs 13:3;
Amos 1:4; it was a common name of the Syrian kings (compare
1Kgs 15:18; meaning "son of Hadad," the idol).
28 Kedar--son of Ishmael (
Gen 25:13). The Kedarenes led a wandering predatory life in Arabia-Petrća, as the Bedouin Arabs (
2Chr 21:16-17;
Ps 120:5). Kedar means "blackness" (
Song 1:5).
Hazor--not the city in Palestine, but a district in Arabia-Petrća. "Kingdoms" refer to the several combinations of clans, each under its own sheik.
men of the east--Kedar and Hazor were east of Judea (
Judg 6:3;
Job 1:3).
29 tents--in which they dwelt, from which they are called Scenites, that is, tent dwellers.
curtains--namely, with which the tents were covered (
Jer 4:20;
Jer 10:20;
Ps 104:2).
they shall cry unto them, Fear, &c.--The foe, on crying, Fear . . ., shall discomfit them (the Kedarenes) by their mere cry.
30 (See on
Jer 49:8). No conqueror would venture to follow them into the desert.
31 wealthy--rather, "tranquil" (
1Chr 4:40).
neither gates nor bars--The Arabs, lying out of the track of the contending powers of Asia and Africa, took no measures of defense and had neither walled cities nor gates (
Ezek 38:11). They thought their scanty resources and wilderness position would tempt no foe.
alone--separated from other nations, without allies; and from one another scattered asunder. So as to Israel's isolation (
Num 23:9;
Deut 33:28;
Mic 7:14).
32 camels--their chief possessions; not fields or vineyards.
in utmost . . . corners--who seemed least likely to be dispersed. Or else, "having the hair shaven (or clipped) in angles" (
Jer 9:26;
Jer 25:23) [GROTIUS].
calamity from all sides--which will force even those in "corners" to "scatter" themselves.
33 (
Mal 1:3).
34 Elam--part of Susiana, west of Persia proper, but used to designate Persia in general. Elam proper, or Elymais, nearer Judea than Persia, is probably here meant; it had helped Nebuchadnezzar against Judea; hence its punishment. It may have been idolatrous, whereas Persia proper was mainly monotheistic.
35 bow--Elam was famed for its bowmen (
Isa 22:6).
chief of their might--in opposition to "bow," that is, bowmen, who constituted their main strength.
36 four winds, &c.--Nebuchadnezzar's army containing soldiers from the four quarters.
37 consumed--as a distinct nation (Dan. 8:2-27). Fulfilled under Alexander and his successors.
38 I will show Myself King by My judgments there, as though My tribunal were erected there. The throne of Cyrus, God's instrument, set up over Media, of which Elam was a part, may be meant [GROTIUS]; or rather, that of Nebuchadnezzar (
Jer 43:10). Then the restoration of Elam (
Jer 49:39) will refer partly to that which took place on the reduction of Babylon by Cyrus, prince of Persia and Media.
39 latter days--The full restoration belongs to gospel times. Elamites were among the first who heard and accepted it (
Acts 2:9).
After the predictions of judgment to be inflicted on other nations by Babylon, follows this one against Babylon itself, the longest prophecy, consisting of one hundred verses. The date of utterance was the fourth year of Zedekiah, when Seraiah, to whom it was committed, was sent to Babylon (
Jer 51:59-
Jer 51:60). The repetitions in it make it likely that it consists of prophecies uttered at different times, now collected by Jeremiah to console the Jews in exile and to vindicate God's ways by exhibiting the final doom of Babylon, the enemy of the people of God, after her long prosperity. The style, imagery, and dialogues prove its genuineness in opposition to those who deny this. It shows his faithfulness; though under obligation to the king of Babylon, he owed a higher one to God, who directed him to prophesy against Babylon.
