Chapter XLIX
Ver. 1-39. Predictions as to Ammon, Iditmea, Damascus, Kedar, H.\zor, and Elam. The event of the prophecy as to Amnion preceded that as to Moab {Note, v.
. . . no shotitlng—a shouting shall be heard, but not the Joyous shouting of labourers treading the grapes, but tlie terrible battle-cry of the foe. 34. From theory ofHeshboM. Ac-Those who fly from Heshbon on its capture
3); and in Ezekiel 21. 26-28, the destruction of Ammon is subjoined to the deposition of Zedekiah. Kath Isiitel
, . . no heir 1 viz., to occupy tlie land of Gad, after itself has been carried away captive by Slialmaneser. Ammon, like Moab, descended from Lot, lay north of Moab, from which it was separated by the river Anion, and east of Reuben and Gad (Joshua 13. 24, 2.5) on the same side of Jordan. It seized on Gad when Israel was carried captive. Judali was b.y the right of kindred the heir, not Ammon; but Ammon joined with Nebuchadnezzar against Judah and Jerusalem (2 Kings 24. 2), and exulted over it.i fall (Psalm 83. 4-7, 8; Zephaniah 2. 8, 9). It had already, >n the days of Jeroboam, in Israel's affliction, tried to "enlarge its border" (2 Kings 14.26; Amos 1. 1,
sliall continue the cry even as far as Elealeh, &c. There will be continued cries in all quarters, from one end to the other, everywhere slaughter and wasting, as an heifer of three years old—Moab heretofore not having known foreign yoke, and iu its full strength, as compared to an heifer of three years old, never yet yoked, nor as yet worn out with many birth-givings (cf. Note, Isaiali 15. 5). waters . . . of Niinrlm i.e., the well-watered Bind therefore luxuriant pastures of Nimrim. desolate—the Hebrew
is stronger: not merely shall be "desolate," but desolation itself multiplied: plural, desolations. The most fertile tracts shall be dried up. 33, him that oflfereth—I'tz., whole burnt offerings, as the Hebrew requires. [Grotius.] Vt the awfu'. burnt ofl'ering of the king of Moab (2 Kings
13). their king—(Amos 1. 15) ; referring to Melchom, their tutelary idol (Zephaniah 1.5); and so the LXX. read It here as a proper name ' • Kings 11. 5. 33 ; 2 Kings 23. 18). 553
The Judgment of Edom, JEREMIAH XLIX. Damascus, Kedar, Hazor, and Elam
The Ammonite god is said to do what ihey do, viz., occupy the Israelite land of Gad. To Jehovah, the theocratic "King" of Isra.'l, tlie land belonged of right; so that their Molecli or Melchom was a usurper-kinff. lils people —the people of Melchom, "their king." Cf. "people of Chemosh," eh. -IS. 46. 3. Ratobali—tfte sr>-eat, metropolis of Amnion (2 Samuel 12. 26-30). Its destruction Is foretold also in Ezekiel, 25. 5; Amos 1. 14, 15. Uer dangUters—the towns and villages, dependencies of the metropolis (Joshua 15. 45). sUall . . . be Ueir—shall possess those who possessed hiiii. The full accomplishment of this is still future; partialljfulfilled under the Maccabees (1 Maccabees 5. 6). 3. Heslibon . . . Al—Nebuchadnezzar, coming from the north, first attacked Ammon, then its brother and neighbour, Moab. As Ai of Ammon had already
God ; it is just and natural ("judgment") that God should pardon His .sons sooner than aliens. [Calvin.] 13. BozTaU—(Note, ch. 48.24.) 14. (Obadiah 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 (2 Samuel 8. 14). 16. terribleneM —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 city of Idumea, was cut in tlie rocks ; its ruins are very remarkable. The whole south of Idumea abounds in cave-dwellings and rocks, though . . . nest . . . eagle —(Job 39. 27 ; Obadiah 3, 4.) The eagle builds its nest in the highest craggy eyry. 17. (Cf. 1 Kings 9. 8.) 18. (Ch. 50. 40; Deuteronomy 29. 23; Amos 4. 11.) no man shall abide there—i. e., of the Idumeaus. The Romans had a garrison there. 19. he — Nebuchadnezzar, or Nebuzaradan ; the name would at once suggest Itself to the minds of the hearers (ch. 48. 40; 46. IS), swelling—as a lion which the overflow of the Jordan forced out of his lair on the banks, to ascend the neighbouring heights. [Calvin.] See as to the translation, "jiride of the Jordan." jVote, ch. 12. 5. habitation of . . . strong—the fastnesses of Idumea (cf. Numbers 24. 21). Mavrer translates, "An ever-verdant
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 en-
closures of their villages, tlielr king—il/eic^iowi, the idol, as the mention of "his priests" shows (cf. ch. 4S. 7). 4. thy flowing valley—rather, "thy valley shall flow,"
viz., witli the blood of the slain; in sad contrast to their "valleys" in which they had heretofore "gloried," and flowing with milk and honey. [Grotius.] Or else, as Margin, ".shall flow away." backsliding—apostate from Jehovah, tlie God of their lather Lot, to Molech. treasures—her resources for resisting the foe. Who shall, Ac. Who can come, &c. (,ch. 21. 13). 5. every man right forth —whithersoever chance may lead him(ch. 46. 5; Genesis
(lit., pcremiial) pasturage," i. e., Idumea heretofore liaviug enjoyed uninterrupted tranquillity; so in d. 20 the image
is retained, the Idunieans being compared to "a flock," and their king to "a shepherd," in tliis ver.se, and the enemy to "a lion" (cf. ch. 50. 17-19). Knglish »)-SiO« accords more with the Hebrew, suddenly—in Ihe twinkling of an eye, as the Hebrew implies, him . . . her—I will make Nebuzaradan enter Idumea, and then, having in the twinkling of an eye effected the conquest, go aicay 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" (i. e., from his own land); the similar change of reference of the pronouns (ch.
19. 17) ; straight before him, onwards at random (Amos 4. 3). none . . . gather up him, <S:c.—there shall be none to gather together the wandering fugitives, so as to entertain them and restore them to tlieir own homes. 6. (Cf. ch.48.
47.) For the sake of "righteous" Lot their progenitor. Partially fulfilled under Cyrus; in gospel times loore
fully. 7. conceniing Edom—A distinct prophecy, copied in part from Obadiali, but with the freedom of one in-
50.44) favours this, who is a chosen man, SiC.—God callg the choicest warriors to him, to set "over" the work of de« vastaling Idumea. God will surely execute His purpose,
spire<l himself, and foretelling a later calamity. Obadiah's was fulfilled prohably in Sennacherib's time (cf. Isaiah 34.
6; Amos 1.11); Jeremiah's about the same time as his preceding prophecies {v. 12; Ezekiel 25. 12). wisdom—for which the Arabs and the people of Teman (a city of Edom)
for He can call forth from all sides what agents He chooses, wlio is like me ^—(Exodus 15. 11.) who will aj^point me
tlie time 1—viz., for entering into a trial in judgment with me (see Margin). Image from law courts (Job 9. 19). shepherd—leader of the Idunieans; following up the previous image, "a lion:" no Idumean shepherd shall withstand
in particular, were famed (Genesis 36. 15; 1 Kings 4.30; see Job, everj'wliere ; Obadiah 8). vanished lit., poured
out, i.e., exhausted (cf. Isaiah 19. S, Margin). [Mauker.] Or, as the kindred Ethiopic word means, worn-out. [LuBOVicus DE DiEU.] 8. turn—V12., your backs in flight, dwell deep—in deep defiles and caves [Grotius], which abound in Idumca. Otliers refer it to the Arab custom of retiring into the depth of the desert when avoiding an offended foe (v. 30). Dedan—a tribe bordering on and made subject by Idumea; descended from Jokshan, son of Abraham and Keturah (Genesis Zi. 1-3). Esau—tlie naming of Edom's progenitor, reprobated by God, recalls the remembrance of the old curse on him for his profanity, both liissin and its i)unishment being perpetuated in his descendants (llel)rews 12. 16, 17). 9. (Obadiah 5.) Grapegalherer.i, yea even //lieves, leave something behind them; but the Chaldeans will sweep Idumeaclean of everything. 10. ICdom became politically extinct after the time of tlie Romans, uncovered Isis secret places—where he hid himself (r. 8) and his treasures (Isaiah 45.3). I have caused Hint nothing should be so hidden as that the con(iueror should not find it. brethren — Ammon. neighbours—tlie 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 adiiirs of Edom. The verse also, besides this threat, iinplies a promise of mercy to Esau In God's good time, as there was to Moab and Ammon (r. 6; ch. 4S. 17); the extinction of the adult males Is the prominent Idea
tlie lion sent by Jeliovah (Job 41. 10), or save the Idumean flock. 30. least of the flock—the weakest and humblest of the Chaldean host. Cf. ch.6. 3, where the hostile leaders and their hosts are called "shepherds and tlieir flocks." draw . . . out—"shall drag them away captive" [Grotius]; shall drag them to and fro, as a Hon {v. 19) does feeble
s!ieep. [Maurer.] with them—i.e., the habitation which they possess. 21. was heard in i. e., shall be heard aU Red Sea—a considerable distance from Idumea; though the district at theElantlc bay of the Red Sea originally belonged to Idumea, and the se.a itself was called from Edom, t. e., red (Genesis 25. 30, Margin). Others translate, "the weedy sea" (Margin), and derive the name, "Red Sea," from its red weeds; the former view is preferable.
'ZZ. (Cf. ch. 48. 40, 41.) Boirah—(A'o^c, ch. 48. 24.) 'Z3. Prophecy as to Damascus, Ac. (Isaiah 17.1; 10.9). The kingdom of Damascus was destroyed by Assyria, but the city revived, and it is as to the latter Jeremiah now proph-
esies. The luiniment was probably about five years after the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar (JoSK-
I'lIUS, 10. 9, 7). Ilamutli is confoundeil—at the tidings of
tlie overthrow of tlu^ neighbouring Damascus, on the sen— I. e., at the sea ; the dwellers at it are alarmed. Other MSS. read, "like thesea." "There is anxiety (restless) as
is the sea: they cannot quiet it," i. e.. It cannot be quieted (Isaiah 57. 20). it-whatever dwellers are there "cannot be <iulet." as. city of praise-Th<? prophet, in the person of a cltlz<>n of Dumascus deploring Its I'alamit.v, calls It "the cil,v of praise," i. e., celebrated with praises everywlun-e for Its beauty (eh. 33. 9; 51.41). "How is It pos-
(cf. V. 12). li. (Vh. 25. 15, 10, 29.) they wliose Judgment wnt not to ilrinl< tljc cup—the Jews to whom, by virtue of lh(t covenant n laliou, It <lld not belong to drink the cup, who, it miglit have been expected, would be spared.
He regards not the merits of the Jews, for they were as bad or worse than others: but tlie grace and adoptlou of
sible that such u city Acu iwt been liij'l, whole—has not been
77ie Restoration of Elam, JEREMIAH L. Babylon^ Coining Down/all.
spared by the foe?" Cf. "left," Luke 17. .S.">, M. So Isi-aol
obligation to the king of Babylon, he owed a higher one to God, who directed him to prophesy against Baljylon. 1. Cf. Isaiah io. \ 16.; 47. But as tlie time of fulfilment drew nearer, the prophecies are now proportionally more distinct than then. 3. Declare . . . among . . . nations who would rejoice at the fall of Babylon their oppressor, standard—to indicate the place of meeting to the nations' where they were to hear the good news of Baliylon's fall [RosENMULLEK]; Or, the signal to summon the nations together against Babylon (ch. 51. 12, 27). [Maukek.] Eel— the tutelary god of Babylon ; the same idol as the Pluienician Baal, i. e., lord, the sun (Isaiah 46. 1). confounded —because unalile to defend the city under their protection. Merodach—another Babylonian idol; meaning in Syria little lord; from which Merodach-baladan took his name. 3. a nation—the Medes, north of Babylon (cii. 51.
t^rt standing some of the Canaaiiite cities (Joshua II. la), of my Joy i.e., in which I deliglited. 30. Tliertfore—
t. e.. Since Dama.scus i.s doomed to fall, lliere/ore, &c. 37. palaces of Beii-hadad— that palace whence so manyevils and such cruelty to Israel emanated ; thus implying the cause of Damascus' overthrow. Not the Ben-hadad of 2 Kings 13. 3; Amos 1. t ; it was a common name of the Syrian kings (cf. 1 Kings lo. 18; meaning son of JJaclad the idol). 88. Keclar—son of Ishmael (Genesis 2o. 13). The Kedarenes led a wandering predatory life in Arabia Petrsea, as the Bedouin Arabs (2 Chronicles 21. 16, 17; Psalm
120. 5). Kedar means blackncis (Song of Solo-non 1. 5). Hazor—not the city in Palestine, but a district in Arabia Petrsea. " Kingdoms" refer to tlie several combinations of clans, each under its own sheikh, men of tlie East Kedar and Hazor were east of Judea (Judges 6. 3; Job 1. 3), 39. tents—in which tlie.y dwelt, from which they are called Scenites, i. p., tent-dwellers, cnrtalns — riz., witli which the 'tents were covered (ch. i. 20 ; ID. 20 ; Psalm 101. 2). they shall cry unto them, Pear, &c.— The foe, on crying Fear, Ac, shall discomfit them (the Kedarenes) by their mere cry. 30. {Note,v.fi.) No conqueror would venture to follow them into the desert. 31. wealthy—rather, tranquil (1 Chronicles -1. tO). neltlier gates nor bars—The Arabs, lying out of tlie track of tlie contending powers of Asia and Africa, took no measures of defence, and had neither walled cities nor gates (Ezekiel 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 (Numbers 23. !) ; Deuteronomy ,33. a'*; Micah 7. U). 33. camels—their chief possessions ; not fields or vine.vards. In utmost . . . comers —who seemed least likely to be dispersed. Or else, " having the hair shaven (or clipped) in angles" (ch. 9. 26; 25.
48). The devastation of Babylon here foretold includes not only that by Cyrus, but also that more utter one by Darius, who took Baljylon byartitice when it liad revolted from Persia, and mercilessly slaughtered the inhalii lants, hanging 4000 of the nobles; also the final desertion of Babylon, owing to Seleucia having been built close by under Seleucus Nicanor. 4. Fulfilled only in part when some few of the ten tribes of " Israel" joined Judah in a "covenant'' with God, at the restoration of Judah toils land (Nehemiah 9. 38; 10. 29). The full event is yet to come
(ch. 31. 9; Hosea 1.11; Zecliariah 12. 10). weeping—with joy at their restoration beyond all hope; and with sorrow at the remembrance of their sins and sutt'erings (Ezra 3.
12, 13; Psalm 126. 5, 6). seek . . . Lord—(Hosea 3.5.) 5. thitherward—r.ather, hitherward, Jeremiah's prophetical stand-point being at Zion. "Faces hitherward'' implies their steadfastness of purpose not to be turned aside by any difliculties on the way. perpetual covenant—in contrast to the old covenant "which they brake" (ch. 31.
31, &c. ; 32. 40). They shall return to their God first, then to their own land. 6. (Isaiah 53. 6.) on tl>e mountains —whereon they sacrificed to idols (ch. 2. 20; 3. 6, T)). resting-place—for the "sheep ;" continuing the image ; Jehovah is the resting-plaoe of His sheep (Matthew 11. 28), They rest in His "bosom" (Isaiah 40. 11). Also His temple at Zion, their "rest," because it is His (Psalm 132. 8, 14). 7. devoured—(Psalm 79.7.) "Found them" implies that they were exposed to the attacks of those whoever happened to meet them, adversaries said—for instance, Nebuzaradan (ch. 40. 2,3; cf. Zechariah 11. 5.) The Gen-
23). [GUOTIUS.] calamity from all sides — which will force even those in "corners" to "scatter" themselves. 33. (Malachl 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 monotheistic mainly. 35. bow — Elam was famed for its bowmen (Isaiah 22.6). chief of their might— in opposition to "bow," i. e., bowmen, who constituted their main strength. 36. four -tvinds, <£c.—Nebuchadnezzar's army containing soldiers from the four quarters. 37. congiimed—as a distinct nation (Daniel 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 (ch. 43. 10). Then the restoration of Elam (d. 39) will veter partly to that which took place on the reduction of Babylon by Cj'rus, prince of Persia and Media. 39. latter days—The/«H restoration belongs to gospel times. Elamites were among the first who heard and accepted
tiles acknowledged some supreme divinity. The Jews' guilt was so palpable that they were condemned even in the judgment of heathens. Some knowledge of God's peculiar relation to Judea reached its heathen invaders from the propliets (ch. 2. 3; Daniel 9. 16); hence the strong language they use of Jehovah here, not as worshippers of Him themselves, but as believing Him to be the tutelary God of Judah ("the hope of their fatheis," Psalm 22.
4; they do not say our hope), as each country was t'nought to have its local god, whose power extended no farther, habitation—(Psalm 90.1; 91. 1). Alluding to the tabernacle, or, as in Ezekiel 34. 14, /o^d, which carries out the image in v. 6, " resting-place" of the " sheep." But it can only mean habitation (ch. 31. 23), which confirms English Version here, hope of their fathers—This especially condemned the Jews that their apostasy was from that God whose faithfulness their fathers had experienced. At the same time these " adversaries" unconsciously use language which corrects their own notions. Tlie covenant with the Jews' "fathers" is not utterly set aside by their
It (Acts 2. 9).