Jeremiah Chapter 49
1 Of the children of Ammon. The LORD says: "Has Israel no sons? Has he no heir? Why then does Malcam possess Gad, and his people dwell in its cities?
2 Therefore behold, the days come," says the LORD, "that I will cause an alarm of war to be heard against Rabbah of the children of Ammon; and it will become a desolate heap, and her daughters will be burnt with fire: then Israel will possess those who possessed him," says the LORD.
3 "Wail, Heshbon, for Ai is laid waste! Cry, you daughters of Rabbah! Clothe yourself in sackcloth. Lament, and run back and forth amongst the fences; for Malcam will go into captivity, his priests and his princes together.
4 Why do you boast in the valleys, your flowing valley, backsliding daughter? You trusted in her treasures, saying, 'Who will come to me?'
5 Behold, I will bring a terror on you," says the Lord, the LORD of Armies, "from all who are around you. All of you will be driven completely out, and there will be no one to gather together the fugitives.
6 "But afterward I will reverse the captivity of the children of Ammon," says the LORD.
7 Of Edom, the LORD of Armies says: "Is wisdom no more in Teman? Has counsel perished from the prudent? Has their wisdom vanished?
8 Flee! Turn back! Dwell in the depths, inhabitants of Dedan; for I will bring the calamity of Esau on him when I visit him.
9 If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave some gleaning grapes? If thieves came by night, wouldn't they steal until they had enough?
10 But I have made Esau bare, I have uncovered his secret places, and he will not be able to hide himself. His offspring is destroyed, with his brothers and his neighbours; and he is no more.
11 Leave your fatherless children. I will preserve them alive. Let your widows trust in me."
12 For the LORD says: "Behold, they to whom it didn't pertain to drink of the cup will certainly drink; and are you he who will altogether go unpunished? You won't go unpunished, but you will surely drink.
13 For I have sworn by myself," says the LORD, "that Bozrah will become an astonishment, a reproach, a waste, and a curse. All its cities will be perpetual wastes."
14 I have heard news from the LORD, and an ambassador is sent amongst the nations, saying, "Gather yourselves together! Come against her! Rise up to the battle!"
15 "For, behold, I have made you small amongst the nations, and despised amongst men.
16 As for your terror, the pride of your heart has deceived you, O you who dwell in the clefts of the rock, who hold the height of the hill, though you should make your nest as high as the eagle, I will bring you down from there," says the LORD.
17 "Edom will become an astonishment. Everyone who passes by it will be astonished, and will hiss at all its plagues.
18 As in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah and its neighbour cities," says the LORD, "no man will dwell there, neither will any son of man live therein.
19 "Behold, he will come up like a lion from the pride of the Jordan against the strong habitation: for I will suddenly make them run away from it; and whoever is chosen, I will appoint him over it. For who is like me? Who will appoint me a time? Who is the shepherd who will stand before me?"
20 Therefore hear the counsel of the LORD, that he has taken against Edom; and his purposes, that he has purposed against the inhabitants of Teman: Surely they will drag them away, the little ones of the flock. Surely he will make their habitation desolate over them.
21 The earth trembles at the noise of their fall; there is a cry, the noise which is heard in the Red Sea.
22 Behold, he will come up and fly as the eagle, and spread out his wings against Bozrah. The heart of the mighty men of Edom at that day will be as the heart of a woman in her pangs.
23 Of Damascus: "Hamath is confounded, and Arpad; for they have heard evil news. They have melted away. There is sorrow on the sea. It can't be quiet.
24 Damascus has grown feeble, she turns herself to flee, and trembling has seized her. Anguish and sorrows have taken hold of her, as of a woman in travail.
25 How is the city of praise not forsaken, the city of my joy?
26 Therefore her young men will fall in her streets, and all the men of war will be brought to silence in that day," says the LORD of Armies.
27 "I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it will devour the palaces of Ben Hadad."
28 Of Kedar, and of the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon struck. The LORD says: "Arise, go up to Kedar, and destroy the children of the east.
29 They will take their tents and their flocks. they will carry away for themselves their curtains, all their vessels, and their camels; and they will cry to them, 'Terror on every side!'
30 Flee! Wander far off! Dwell in the depths, you inhabitants of Hazor," says the LORD; "for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has taken counsel against you, and has conceived a purpose against you.
31 Arise! Go up to a nation that is at ease, that dwells without care," says the LORD; "that has neither gates nor bars, that dwells alone.
32 Their camels will be a booty, and the multitude of their livestock a plunder. I will scatter to all winds those who have the corners of their beards cut off; and I will bring their calamity from every side of them," says the LORD.
33 Hazor will be a dwelling place of jackals, a desolation forever. No man will dwell there, neither will any son of man live therein."
34 The LORD's word that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning Elam, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying,
35 "The LORD of Armies says: 'Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the chief of their might.
36 I will bring on Elam the four winds from the four quarters of the sky, and will scatter them towards all those winds. There will be no nation where the outcasts of Elam will not come.
37 I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies, and before those who seek their life. I will bring evil on them, even my fierce anger,' says the LORD; 'and I will send the sword after them, until I have consumed them.
38 I will set my throne in Elam, and will destroy from there king and princes,' says the LORD.
39 'But it will happen in the latter days that I will reverse the captivity of Elam,' says the LORD."
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Jeremiah Chapter 49 Guide
Against the children of Ammon Jeremiah raised a protest because their king was in possession of Gad. He declared that by the fierce judgment of war, they were to be dispossessed and driven forth. The message ends with a gleam of hope, in which the prophet foretold that again the children of Ammon would be made captive.
Concerning Edom, destruction is foretold, in spite of her wisdom. The reference to wisdom in Teman may be a satirical literary allusion to the fact that it was the birtbplace of Eliphaz, the counselor of Job. The destruction is described in figurative language, and the prophet declared that notwithstanding the arrogance and security of the people, Jehovah would bring them down into the dust. The destruction of Edom is intended to be a warning to the whole earth.
Damascus is described in her decay, and in the destruction determined against her by the Lord of hosts. This reference to Damascus is brief, for it does not seem that in Jeremiah's time there was anything like intimate relationship of any sort between her and the chosen people. It is evident, however, that as his vision swept the horizon, Jeremiah saw that she also was within the circle of the divine government, and that judgment was determined against her.
Kedar and Hazor represent the Arab peoples, the former such as were nomadic, the latter those who dwelt in settled centres, and yet not in walled cities. Against both of these Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, was to be the instrument of judgment.
The prophecy against Elam is of a judgment, ending once more with a gleam of hope. Of Elam nothing can be said with any certainty. Again, it is evident in the far-reaching vision of Jeremiah she was seen as under divine displeasure, and consequently to be visited by divine judgment.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
Jeremiah Chapter 49 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- Prophecies relative to the Ammonites. -- (1-6)
- The Edomites. -- (7-22)
- The Syrians. -- (23-27)
- The Kedarenes. -- (28-33)
- The Elamites. -- (34-39)
Verses 1-6
Might often prevails against right among men, yet that might shall be controlled by the Almighty, who judges aright; and those will find themselves mistaken, who, like the Ammonites, think every thing their own on which they can lay their hands. The Lord will call men to account for every instance of dishonesty, especially to the destitute.
Verses 7-22
The Edomites were old enemies to the Israel of God. But their day is now at hand; it is foretold, not only to warn them, but for the sake of the Israel of God, whose afflictions were aggravated by them. Thus Divine judgments go round from nation to nation; the earth is full of commotion, and nothing can escape the ministers of Divine vengeance. The righteousness of God is to be observed amidst the violence of men.
Verses 23-27
How easily God can dispirit those nations that have been most celebrated for valour! Damascus waxes feeble. It was a city of joy, having all the delights of the sons of men. But those deceive themselves who place their happiness in carnal joys.
Verses 28-33
Nebuchadnezzar would make desolation among the people of Kedar, who dwelt in the deserts of Arabia. He who conquered many strong cities, will not leave those unconquered that dwell in tents. He will do this to gratify his own covetousness and ambition; but God orders it for correcting an unthankful people, and for warning a careless world to expect trouble when they seem most safe. They shall flee, get far off, and dwell deep in the deserts; they shall be dispersed. But privacy and obscurity are not always protection and security.
Verses 34-39
The Elamites were the Persians; they acted against God's Israel, and must be reckoned with. Evil pursues sinners. God will make them know that he reigns. Yet the destruction of Elam shall not be for ever. But this promise was to have its full accomplishment in the days of the Messiah. In reading the Divine assurance of the destruction of all the enemies of the church, the believer sees that the issue of the holy war is not doubtful. It is blessed to recollect, that He who is for us, is more than all against us. And he will subdue the enemies of our souls.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.