Jer 48-49 | JFB | STEP | It had taken part with the Chaldeans against Judea ( ). Fulfilled by Nebuchadnezzar five years after the destruction of Jerusalem, when also he attacked Egypt ( ) and Ammon ( ). [Josephus, Antiquities, 10:9,7]. Jeremiah in this prophecy uses that of , amplifying and adapting it to his purpose under inspiration, at the same time confirming its divine authority. Isaiah, however, in his prophecy refers to the devastation of Moab by the Assyrian king, Shalmaneser; Jeremiah refers to that by Nebuchadnezzar. 1. Nebo-- a mountain and town of Moab; its meaning is "that which fructifies." Kiriathaim-- a city of Moab, consisting of two cities, as the word signifies; originally held by the Emim ( ). Misgab-- meaning "elevation." It lay on an elevation.

‏ Jeremiah 48

CHAPTER 48 Jr 48:1-47. Prophecy against Moab.

It had taken part with the Chaldeans against Judea (2Ki 24:2). Fulfilled by Nebuchadnezzar five years after the destruction of Jerusalem, when also he attacked Egypt (Jr 43:8-13) and Ammon (Jr 49:1-6). [Josephus, Antiquities, 10:9,7]. Jeremiah in this prophecy uses that of Is 15:1-16:14, amplifying and adapting it to his purpose under inspiration, at the same time confirming its divine authority. Isaiah, however, in his prophecy refers to the devastation of Moab by the Assyrian king, Shalmaneser; Jeremiah refers to that by Nebuchadnezzar.

1. Nebo--a mountain and town of Moab; its meaning is "that which fructifies."

Kiriathaim--a city of Moab, consisting of two cities, as the word signifies; originally held by the Emim (Ge 14:5).

Misgab--meaning "elevation." It lay on an elevation.

2. no more praise--(Is 16:14).

in Heshbon--The foe having taken Heshbon, the chief city of Moab (Jr 48:45), in it devise evil against Moab ("it") saying, Come, &c. Heshbon was midway between the rivers Arnon and Jabbok; it was the residence of Sihon, king of the Amorites, and afterwards a Levitical city in Gad (Nu 21:26). There is a play on words in the Hebrew, "Heshbon, Hashbu." Heshbon means a place of devising or counsel. The city, heretofore called the seat of counsel, shall find other counsellors, namely, those who devise its destruction.

thou shall be cut down ... Madmen--rather, by a play on words on the meaning of madmen ("silence"), Thou shalt be brought to silence, so as well to deserve thy name (Is 15:1). Thou shalt not dare to utter a sound.

3. Horonaim--the same as the city Avara, mentioned by Ptolemy. The word means "double caves" (Ne 2:10; Is 15:5).

4. little ones ... cry--heightening the distress of the scene. The foe does not spare even infants.

5. going up of Luhith ... going down of Horonaim--Horonaim lay in a plain, Luhith on a height. To the latter, therefore, the Moabites would flee with "continual weeping," as a place of safety from the Chaldeans. Literally, "Weeping shall go up upon weeping."

6. They exhort one another to flee.

heath--or the juniper (see on Jr 17:6). Maurer translates, "Be like one naked in the wilderness." But the sense is, Live in the wilderness like the heath, or juniper; do not "trust in" walls (Jr 48:7) [Grotius]. (Compare Mt 24:16-18).

7. thy works--namely, fortifications built by thy work. Moab was famous for its fortresses (Jr 48:18). The antithesis is to Jr 48:6, "Be ... in the wilderness," where there are no fortified cities.

thou ... also--like the rest of the surrounding peoples, Judah, &c.

Chemosh--the tutelary god of Moab (Nu 21:29; Jud 11:24; 1Ki 11:7; 2Ki 23:13). When a people were vanquished, their gods also were taken away by the victors (Jr 43:12).

8. the valley ... shall perish--that is, those dwelling in the valley.

9. Give wings, &c.--(Psa 55:6). Unless it get wings, it cannot escape the foe. "Wings," the Hebrew root meaning is a "flower" (Job 14:2); so the flower-like plumage of a bird.

10. work of ... Lord--the divinely appointed utter devastation of Moab. To represent how entirely this is God's will, a curse is pronounced on the Chaldeans, the instrument, if they do it negligently (Margin) or by halves (Jud 5:23); compare Saul's sin as to Amalek (1Sa 15:3, 9), and Ahab's as to Syria (1Ki 20:42).

11. settled on ... lees--(See on Is 25:6; Zep 1:12). As wine left to settle on its own lees retains its flavor and strength (which it would lose by being poured from one vessel into another), so Moab, owing to its never having been dislodged from its settlements, retains its pride of strength unimpaired.

emptied from vessel, &c.--To make it fit for use, it used to be filtered from vessel to vessel.

scent--retaining the image: the bouquet or perfume of the wine.

12. wanderers--rather, "pourers out," retaining the image of Jr 48:11, that is, the Chaldeans who shall remove Moab from his settlements, as men pour wine from off the lees into other vessels. "His vessels" are the cities of Moab; the broken "bottles" the men slain [Grotius]. The Hebrew and the kindred Arabic word means, "to turn on one side," so as to empty a vessel [Maurer].

13. ashamed--have the shame of disappointment as to the hopes they entertained of aid from Chemosh, their idol.

Beth-el--(1Ki 12:27, 29)--that is, the golden calf set up there by Jeroboam.

15. gone up ... gone down--in antithesis.

out of her cities--Rather, "Moab ... and her cities are gone up," namely, pass away in the ascending smoke of their conflagration (Jos 8:20, 21; Jud 20:40). When this took place, the young warriors would go down from the burning citadels only to meet their own slaughter [Grotius]. English Version is somewhat favored by the fact that "gone out" is singular, and "cities" plural. The antithesis favors Grotius.

16. near--to the prophet's eye, though probably twenty-three years elapsed between the utterance of the prophecy in the fourth year of Jehoiakim (2Ki 24:2) and its fulfilment in the fifth year of Nebuchadnezzar.

17. bemoan--Not that Moab deserves pity, but this mode of expression pictures more vividly the grievousness of Moab's calamities.

all ye that know his name--those at a greater distance whom the fame of Moab's "name" had reached, as distinguished from those "about him," that is, near.

strong staff ... rod--Moab is so called as striking terror into and oppressing other peoples (Is 9:4; 14:4, 5); also because of its dignity and power (Psa 110:2; Zec 11:7).

18. (Is 47:1).

dost inhabit--now so securely settled as if in a lasting habitation.

thirst--Dibon, being situated on the Arnon, abounded in water (Is 15:9). In sad contrast with this, and with her "glory" in general, she shall be reduced not only to shame, but to the want of the commonest necessaries ("thirst") in the arid wilderness (Jr 48:6).

19. Aroer--on the north bank of the Arnon, a city of Ammon (De 2:36; 3:12). As it was on "the way" of the Moabites who fled into the desert, its inhabitants "ask" what is the occasion of Moab's flight, and so learn the lot that awaits themselves (compare 1Sa 4:13, 16).

20. Answer of the fleeing Moabites to the Ammonite inquirers (Jr 48:19; Is 16:2). He enumerates the Moabite cities at length, as it seemed so incredible that all should be so utterly ruined. Many of them were assigned to the Levites, while Israel stood.

in Arnon--the north boundary between Moab and Ammon (Jr 48:19; Nu 21:13).

21. plain--(Jr 48:8). Not only the mountainous regions, but also the plain, shall be wasted.

Holon--(Compare Jos 15:51).

Jahazah--(Nu 21:23; Is 15:4).

Mephaath--(Jos 13:18; 21:37).

22. Beth-diblathaim--"the house of Diblathaim": Almon-diblathaim (Nu 33:46); "Diblath" (Eze 6:13); not far from Mount Nebo (Nu 33:46, 47).

23. Beth-gamul--meaning "the city of camels."

Beth-meon--"the house of habitation": Beth-baalmeon (Jos 13:17). Now its ruins are called Miun.

24. Kerioth--(Jos 15:25; Am 2:2).

Bozrah--(See on Is 34:6); at one time under the dominion of Edom, though belonging originally to Moab (Ge 36:33; Is 63:1). Others think the Bozrah in Edom distinct from that of Moab. "Bezer" (Jos 21:36).

25. horn--the emblem of strength and sovereignty: it is the horned animal's means of offense and defense (Psa 75:5, 10; La 2:3).

26. drunken--(see on Jr 13:12; Jr 25:17). Intoxicated with the cup of divine wrath, so as to be in helpless distraction.

magnified ... against ... Lord--boasted arrogantly against God's people, that whereas Israel was fallen, Moab remained flourishing.

wallow in ... vomit--following up the image of a drunken man, that is, shall be so afflicted by God's wrath as to disgorge all his past pride, riches, and vainglory, and fall in his shameful abasement.

he also ... derision--He in his disaster shall be an object of derision to us, as we in ours have been to him (Jr 48:27). Retribution in kind.

27. (Zep 2:8).

a derision--The Hebrew has the article: referring to Jr 48:26, "Was not Israel (the whole nation) the object of derision to thee?" Therefore, Moab is to suffer as formerly for its exultation over the calamity (2Ki 17:6) of the ten tribes under the Assyrian Shalmaneser (Is 15:1-16:14), so now for its exultation over the fall of Judah, under the Chaldean Nebuchadnezzar. God takes up His people's cause as His own (Ob 10-13).

was he ... among thieves--(Jr 2:26). Proverbial. What did Israel do to deserve such derision? Was he detected in theft, that thou didst so exult over him in speaking of him? Though guilty before God, Israel was guiltless towards thee.

since--"since ever" thou didst begin speaking of him.

skippedst for joy--at Israel's calamity [Calvin]; or, "thou didst shake thy head" in "derision" [Maurer].

28. Doves often have their nests in the "sides" of caverns. No longer shalt thou have cities to shelter thee: thou shalt have to flee for shelter to caves and deserts (Psa 55:6, 8; So 2:14).

29. pride--(Is 16:6, 7). Moab was the trumpeter of his own fame. Jeremiah adds "loftiness and arrogancy" to Isaiah's picture, so that Moab had not only not been bettered by the chastisement previously endured as foretold by Isaiah, but had even become worse; so that his guilt, and therefore his sentence of punishment, are increased now. Six times Moab's pride (or the synonyms) are mentioned, to show the exceeding hatefulness of his sin.

30. I know--Moab's "proud arrogancy" (Jr 48:29) or "wrath," against My people, is not unknown to Me.

it shall not be so--The result shall not be so as he thinks: his lies shall not so effect what he aims at by them. Calvin translates, "his lies are not right (that is, his vauntings are vain because God will not give them effect); they shall not do so" as they project in their minds, for God will set at naught their plans.

31. I will cry ... for ... Moab--Not that it deserves pity, but the prophet's "crying" for it vividly represents the greatness of the calamity.

Kir-heres--Kir-hareseth, in Is 16:7; see on Is 16:7. It means "the city of potters," or else "the city of the sun" [Grotius]. Here "the men of Kir-heres" are substituted for "the foundations of Kir-hareseth," in Is 16:7. The change answers probably to the different bearing of the disaster under Nebuchadnezzar, as compared with that former one under Shalmaneser.

32. with the weeping--with the same weeping as Jazer, now vanquished, wept with for the destruction of its vines. The same calamity shall befall thee, Sibmah, as befell Jazer. The Hebrew preposition here is different from that in Is 16:9, for which reason Maurer translates, "with more than the weeping of Jazer." English Version understands it of the continuation of the weeping; after they have wept for Jazer, fresh subject of lamentation will present itself for the wasting of the vine-abounding Sibmah.

plants ... gone over ... sea of Jazer--As the Septuagint reads "cities of Jazer," and as no traces of a lake near Jazer are found, the reading of English Version is doubtful. Retaining the present reading, we avoid the difficulty by translating [Grotius], "Thy plants (that is, citizens: alluding to the 'vine') are gone over the sea (that is, shall be transported beyond the sea to Cyprus, and such distant lands subject to Babylon; and this, too, in summertime), whereas Jazer (that is, the men of Jazer) reached the sea" (shore only, but are not transported beyond the sea); so that worse shall befall thee than befalls Jazer.

spoiler--Nebuzara-dan.

33. the plentiful field--rather, "Carmel": as the parallel "land of Moab" requires, though in Is 16:10, it is "the plentiful field." Joy is taken away as from the nearer regions (Canaan and Palestine), so from the farther "land of Moab"; what has happened to Judah shall befall Moab, too (Jr 48:26, 27) [Maurer]. However, Moab alone seems to be spoken of here; nor does the parallelism forbid "plentiful field" answering to "Moab." English Version is therefore better.

shouting--repeated; as at the conclusion of the vintage, men sing over and over again the same cry of joy. A shouting shall be heard, but not the joyous shouting of laborers treading the grapes, but the terrible battle cry of the foe.

34. From the cry of Heshbon, &c.--Those who fly from Heshbon on its capture shall continue the cry even as far as Elealeh ... . 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 in its full strength, is compared to an heifer of three years old, never yet yoked, nor as yet worn out with many birth-givings (compare Note, see on Is 15:5).

waters ... of Nimrim--that is, the well-watered and 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.

35. him that offereth--namely, whole burnt offerings as the Hebrew requires [Grotius]. Compare the awful burnt offering of the king of Moab (2Ki 3:27).

high places--(Is 16:12).

36. (See on Is 15:7; Is 16:11).

like pipes--a plaintive instrument, therefore used at funerals and in general mourning.

riches ... gotten--literally, the abundance ... that which is over and above the necessaries of life. Grotius translates, "They who have been left remaining shall perish"; they who have not been slain by the enemy shall perish by disease and famine.

37. (See on Jr 47:5; Is 15:2, 3).

upon all ... hands--that is, arms, in which such cuttings used to be made in token of grief (compare Zec 13:6).

38. vessel ... no pleasure--(See on Jr 22:28); a vessel cast aside by the potter as refuse, not answering his design.

39. it--Moab.

How ... how--prodigious, yet sure to happen.

turned the back--not daring to show her face.

derision ... dismaying to all--a derision to some; a dismaying to others in beholding such a judgment of God, fearing a like fate for themselves.

40. he--Nebuzara-dan, the captain of Nebuchadnezzar.

as ... eagle--not to bear them "on eagles' wings" (Ex 19:4; De 32:11, 12), as God does His people, but to pounce on them as a prey (Jr 49:22; De 28:49; Ha 1:8).

41. as ... woman in ... pangs--(Is 13:8).

42. (See on Jr 48:26).

43-44. (See on Is 24:17, 18).

45. under ... shadow of Heshbon--They thought that they would be safe in Heshbon.

because of the force--that is, "they that fled because of the force" of the enemy: they that fled from it. Glassius translates, "through want of strength." So the Hebrew particle is translated (Psa 109:24), "faileth of fatness," that is, "faileth through want of fatness"; also La 4:9.

but a fire, &c.--copied in part from Sihon's hymn of victory (Nu 21:27, 28). The old "proverb" shall hold good again. As in ancient times Sihon, king of the Amorites, issued forth from his city, Heshbon, as a devouring "flame" and consumed Moab, so now the Chaldeans, making Heshbon their starting-point, shall advance to the destruction of Moab.

midst of Sihon--that is, the city of Sihon.

corner of Moab--that is, Moab from one corner to the other.

crown of ... head--the most elevated points of Moab. Making some alterations, he here copies Balaam's prophecy (Nu 24:17). Margin there translates "princes" for corners; if so, "crown of ... head" here refers to the nobles.

tumultuous ones--sons of tumult; those who have tumultuously revolted from Babylon. Heshbon passed from the Amorite to the Israelite sway. Moab had wrested it from Israel and helped the Chaldeans against the Jews; but revolting from Babylon, they brought ruin on themselves in turn.

46. Copied from Nu 21:29.

47. Restoration promised to Moab, for the sake of righteous Lot, their progenitor (Ge 19:37; Ex 20:6; Psa 89:30-33). Compare as to Egypt, Jr 46:26; Ammon, Jr 49:6; Elam, Jr 49:39. Gospel blessings, temporal and spiritual, to the Gentiles in the last days, are intended.

‏ Jeremiah 49

CHAPTER 49 Jr 49:1-39. Predictions as to Ammon, Idumea, Damascus, Kedar, Hazor, and Elam.

The event of the prophecy as to Ammon preceded that as to Moab (see on Jr 49:3); and in Eze 21:26-28, the destruction of Ammon is subjoined to the deposition of Zedekiah.

1. 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 (Jos 13:24, 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 (2Ki 24:2) and exulted over its fall (Psa 83:4-7, 8; Zep 2:8, 9). It had already, in the days of Jeroboam, in Israel's affliction, tried to "enlarge its border" (2Ki 14:26; Am 1:1, 13).

their king--(Am 1:15); referring to Melchom, their tutelary idol (Zep 1:5); and so the Septuagint reads it here as a proper name (1Ki 11:5, 33; 2Ki 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," Jr 48:46.

2. Rabbah--"the great," metropolis of Ammon (2Sa 12:26-30). Its destruction is foretold also in Eze 25:5; Am 1:14, 15.

her daughters--the towns and villages, dependencies of the metropolis (Jos 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 Jr 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 ... (Jr 21:13).

5. every man right forth--whithersoever chance may lead him (Jr 46:5; Ge 19:17); straight before him, onwards at random (Am 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 Jr 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 Is 34:5; Am 1:11); Jeremiah's about the same time as his preceding prophecies (Jr 49:12; Eze 25:12).

wisdom--for which the Arabs and the people of Teman (a city of Edom) in particular, were famed (Ge 36:15; 1Ki 4:30; see Job, everywhere; Ob 8).

vanished--literally, "poured out," that is, exhausted (compare Is 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 (Jr 49:30).

Dedan--a tribe bordering on and made subject by Idumea; descended from Jokshan, son of Abraham and Keturah (Ge 25:1-3).

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 (He 12:16, 17).

9. (Ob 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 (Jr 49:8) and his treasures (Is 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 (Jr 49:6; Jr 48:47); the extinction of the adult males is the prominent idea (compare Jr 49:12).

12. (Compare Jr 25:15, 16, 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 Jr 48:24).

14. (Ob 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 (2Sa 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; Ob 3, 4). The eagle builds its nest in the highest craggy eyry.

17. (Compare 1Ki 9:8).

18. (Jr 50:40; De 29:23; Am 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 (Jr 48:40; 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 Jr 12:5.

habitation of ... strong--the fastnesses of Idumea (compare Nu 24:21). Maurer translates, "An ever verdant (literally, 'perennial') pasturage," that is, Idumea heretofore having enjoyed uninterrupted tranquillity; so in Jr 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 Jr 50:17-19). 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 (Jr 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?--(Ex 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 Jr 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 (Jr 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" (Ge 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 Jr 48:40, 41).

Bozrah--(See on Jr 48:24).

23. Prophecy as to Damascus, &c. (Is 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 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 (Is 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 (Jr 33:9; 51:41). "How is it possible that such a city has not been left whole--has not been spared by the foe?" Compare left, Lu 17:35, 36. So Israel "left" standing some of the Canaanite cities (Jos 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 2Ki 13:3; Am 1:4; it was a common name of the Syrian kings (compare 1Ki 15:18; meaning "son of Hadad," the idol).

28. Kedar--son of Ishmael (Ge 25:13). The Kedarenes led a wandering predatory life in Arabia-Petræa, as the Bedouin Arabs (2Ch 21:16, 17; Psa 120:5). Kedar means "blackness" (So 1:5).

Hazor--not the city in Palestine, but a district in Arabia-Petræa. "Kingdoms" refer to the several combinations of clans, each under its own sheik.

men of the east--Kedar and Hazor were east of Judea (Jud 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 (Jr 4:20; 10:20; Psa 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 Jr 49:8). No conqueror would venture to follow them into the desert.

31. wealthy--rather, "tranquil" (1Ch 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 (Eze 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 (Nu 23:9; De 33:28; Mi 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" (Jr 9:26; 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 (Is 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 (Da 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 (Jr 43:10). Then the restoration of Elam (Jr 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 (Ac 2:9).