Jeremiah 47:1-7
1 The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before that Pharaoh smote Gaza.a
2 Thus saith the LORD; Behold, waters rise up out of the north, and shall be an overflowing flood, and shall overflow the land, and all that is therein; the city, and them that dwell therein: then the men shall cry, and all the inhabitants of the land shall howl.
3 At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong horses, at the rushing of his chariots, and at the rumbling of his wheels, the fathers shall not look back to their children for feebleness of hands;
4 Because of the day that cometh to spoil all the Philistines, and to cut off from Tyrus and Zidon every helper that remaineth: for the LORD will spoil the Philistines, the remnant of the countryb of Caphtor.
5 Baldness is come upon Gaza; Ashkelon is cut off with the remnant of their valley: how long wilt thou cut thyself?
6 O thou sword of the LORD, how long will it be ere thou be quiet? put up thyself into thy scabbard, rest, and be still.
7 How can it be quiet, seeing the LORD hath given it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the sea shore? there hath he appointed it.
Jeremiah 47. Philistia. Instead of Jeremiah 47:1, LXX has simply On the Philistines, which is probably original. The waters rising from the north (Jeremiah 47:2) would suggest Babylon, not Egypt, as the foe; the editorial reference to Egypt in 1 might be suggested (wrongly) by Jeremiah 47:5. Pharaoh is supposed to have smitten Gaza (Cadytis, Herod. ii. 159) in 608. The devastating waters (Isaiah 8:7 f.) of an overflowing wady flood the land (Jeremiah 47:2); the terror of the enemy's approach breaks even the closest bonds of affection (Jeremiah 47:3). The Philistines, being destroyed, will not be able to help the Phœ nicians (Jeremiah 47:4). The cities of Philistia mourn (Jeremiah 47:5), and the Philistines appeal to Yahweh's sword for mercy (Jeremiah 47:6); the prophet answers them (Jeremiah 47:7) with the question How can it be quiet? (so read, with VSS, and note mg.).
Jeremiah 47:4. Tyre and Sidon: chief cities of Phœ nicia; the text is dubious, every helper that remaineth being really every helping survivor, an improbable phrase. Caphtor: the original home of the Philistines, i.e. Crete (pp. 56f., Amos 9:7 *).
Jeremiah 47:5. Baldness. cut thyself: see on Jeremiah 16:5 f. For their valley, read of the Anakim (Joshua 11:22), with LXX, taking the phrase as a vocative, O remnant of the Anakim!