1Über die Kinder Ammon. So spricht Jehova: Hat denn Israel keine Söhne, oder hat es keinen Erben? Warum hat ihr König Gad in Besitz genommen, und warum wohnt sein Volk in dessen Städten? 2Darum siehe, Tage kommen, spricht Jehova, da ich wider Rabba der Kinder Ammon Kriegsgeschrei werde erschallen lassen; und es soll zum Schutthaufen werden, und seine Tochterstädte sollen mit Feuer verbrannt werden. Und Israel wird seine Erben beerben, spricht Jehova. 3Heule, Hesbon, denn Ai ist verwüstet! Schreiet, ihr Töchter von Rabba, gürtet euch Sacktuch um; klaget und laufet hin und her in den Einzäunungen ! denn ihr König wird in die Gefangenschaft gehen, seine Priester und seine Fürsten allzumal. 4Was rühmst du dich der Täler? Dein Tal zerfließt, du abtrünnige Tochter, die auf ihre Schätze vertraut: "Wer sollte an mich kommen?" 5Siehe, ich lasse Schrecken über dich kommen von allen deinen Umwohnern, spricht der Herr, Jehova der Heerscharen; und ihr sollt weggetrieben werden, ein jeder vor sich hin, und niemand wird die Flüchtigen sammeln. - 6Aber nachher werde ich die Gefangenschaft der Kinder Ammon wenden, spricht Jehova. 7Über Edom. So spricht Jehova der Heerscharen: Ist keine Weisheit mehr in Teman? ist den Verständigen der Rat entschwunden, ist ihre Weisheit ausgeschüttet? 8Fliehet, wendet um, verkriechet euch, Bewohner von Dedan! Denn Esaus Verderben habe ich über ihn gebracht, die Zeit, da ich ihn heimsuche. 9Wenn Winzer über dich kommen, so werden sie keine Nachlese übriglassen; wenn Diebe in der Nacht, so verderben sie nach ihrem Genüge. 10Denn ich, ich habe Esau entblößt, ich habe seine Verstecke aufgedeckt; und will er sich verbergen, so kann er es nicht. Zerstört sind seine Nachkommen und seine Brüder und seine Nachbarn, und sie sind nicht mehr. 11Verlasse deine Waisen, ich werde sie am Leben erhalten; und deine Witwen sollen auf mich vertrauen. 12Denn so spricht Jehova: Siehe, deren Urteil es nicht war, den Becher zu trinken, die müssen ihn trinken; und du solltest der sein, welcher ungestraft bliebe? Du wirst nicht ungestraft bleiben, sondern sicherlich sollst du ihn trinken. 13Denn ich habe bei mir geschworen, spricht Jehova, daß Bozra zum Entsetzen, zum Hohne, zur Verwüstung und zum Fluche werden soll, und alle seine Städte zu ewigen Einöden. 14Eine Kunde habe ich vernommen von Jehova, und ein Bote ist unter die Nationen gesandt: Versammelt euch und kommet über dasselbe , und machet euch auf zum Kriege! 15Denn siehe, ich habe dich klein gemacht unter den Nationen, verachtet unter den Menschen. 16Deine Furchtbarkeit und der Übermut deines Herzens haben dich verführt, der du in Felsenklüften wohnst, den Gipfel des Hügels inne hast. Wenn du dein Nest hoch baust wie der Adler, ich werde dich von dort hinabstürzen, spricht Jehova. 17Und Edom soll zum Entsetzen werden; ein jeder, der an demselben vorüberzieht, wird sich entsetzen und zischen über alle seine Plagen . 18Gleich der Umkehrung von Sodom und Gomorra und ihrer Nachbarn, spricht Jehova, wird niemand daselbst wohnen und kein Menschenkind darin weilen. 19Siehe, er steigt herauf, wie ein Löwe von der Pracht des Jordan, wider die feste Wohnstätte; denn ich werde es plötzlich von ihr hinwegtreiben, und den, der auserkoren ist, über sie bestellen. Denn wer ist mir gleich, und wer will mich vorladen ? und wer ist der Hirt, der vor mir bestehen könnte? 20Darum höret den Ratschluß Jehovas, welchen er beschlossen hat über Edom, und seine Gedanken, die er denkt über die Bewohner von Teman: Wahrlich, man wird sie fortschleppen, die Geringen der Herde ; wahrlich, ihre Trift wird sich über sie entsetzen! 21Von dem Getöse ihres Falles erbebt die Erde; Geschrei - am Schilfmeere wird sein Schall vernommen. 22Siehe, wie der Adler zieht er herauf und fliegt und breitet seine Flügel aus über Bozra; und das Herz der Helden Edoms wird an selbigem Tage sein wie das Herz eines Weibes in Kindesnöten. 23Über Damaskus. Beschämt sind Hamath und Arpad; denn sie haben eine böse Kunde vernommen, sie verzagen. Am Meere ist Bangigkeit, ruhen kann man nicht . 24Damaskus ist schlaff geworden; es hat sich umgewandt, um zu fliehen, und Schrecken hat es ergriffen; Angst und Wehen haben es erfaßt, der Gebärenden gleich. 25Wie ist es, daß sie nicht verlassen ist, die Stadt des Ruhmes, die Stadt meiner Freude? 26Darum werden ihre Jünglinge auf ihren Straßen fallen und alle Kriegsmänner umkommen an selbigem Tage, spricht Jehova der Heerscharen. 27Und ich werde ein Feuer anzünden in den Mauern von Damaskus, und es wird die Paläste Ben-Hadads verzehren. 28Über Kedar und über die Königreiche Hazors, welche Nebukadrezar, der König von Babel, schlug. So spricht Jehova: Machet euch auf, ziehet hinauf wider Kedar und zerstöret die Kinder des Ostens. 29Ihre Zelte und ihr Kleinvieh werden sie nehmen, ihre Zeltbehänge und alle ihre Geräte und ihre Kamele sich wegführen, und werden über sie ausrufen: Schrecken ringsum! 30Fliehet, flüchtet schnell, verkriechet euch, Bewohner von Hazor! spricht Jehova; denn Nebukadrezar, der König von Babel, hat einen Ratschluß wider euch beschlossen und einen Anschlag wider euch ersonnen. 31Machet euch auf, ziehet hinauf wider eine sorglose Nation, die in Sicherheit wohnt! spricht Jehova: Sie hat weder Tore noch Riegel, sie wohnen allein. 32Und ihre Kamele sollen zum Raube und die Menge ihrer Herden zur Beute werden; und ich werde sie, die mit geschorenen Haarrändern, nach allen Winden hin zerstreuen, und werde ihr Verderben bringen von allen Seiten her, spricht Jehova. 33Und Hazor wird zur Wohnung der Schakale werden, zur Wüste in Ewigkeit; niemand wird daselbst wohnen und kein Menschenkind darin weilen. 34Das Wort Jehovas, welches zu Jeremia, dem Propheten, geschah über Elam , im Anfang der Regierung Zedekias, des Königs von Juda, indem er sprach: 35So spricht Jehova der Heerscharen: Siehe, ich zerbreche den Bogen Elams, seine vornehmste Stärke. 36Und ich werde die vier Winde von den vier Enden des Himmels her über Elam bringen und es nach allen diesen Winden hin zerstreuen; und es soll keine Nation geben, wohin nicht Vertriebene Elams kommen werden. 37Und ich werde Elam verzagt machen vor ihren Feinden und vor denen, welche nach ihrem Leben trachten, und werde Unglück über sie bringen, die Glut meines Zornes, spricht Jehova; und ich werde das Schwert hinter ihnen her senden, bis ich sie vernichtet habe. 38Und ich werde meinen Thron in Elam aufstellen und werde König und Fürsten daraus vertilgen, spricht Jehova. - 39Aber es wird geschehen am Ende der Tage, da werde ich die Gefangenschaft Elams wenden, spricht Jehova.
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.