Jeremiah 49:1-6

Ammon. The Ammonite territory lay eastward of part of that assigned to Gad, between Heshbon and the river Jabbok; the Ammonites appear to have occupied the territory of Gad after the deportation of its inhabitants in 734 (2 Kings 15:29). Why has Milcom seized the land of Gad as his inheritance (1 mg. 2) ? As a penalty, there shall be war against Rabbah (the chief city of Ammon, at the upper sources of the Jabbok), and it shall become a desolate mound, its dependent cities (daughters, Numbers 21:25) being burnt. Let there be mourning for the coming exile of the Ammonites (Jeremiah 49:3). Rabbah's pride in her site and in her wealth is rebuked (Jeremiah 49:4). The Ammonites shall be driven forth by their (unnamed) foe, but afterwards restored (Jeremiah 49:5 f.; but LXX omits Jeremiah 49:6).

Jeremiah 49:1. Malcam: read Milcom, here and in Jeremiah 49:3, with VSS; see 1 Kings 11:5; 1 Kings 11:33, for this Ammonite god, whose relation to Ammon is the same as that of Chemosh to Moab, or that of Yahweh to (early) Israel.

Jeremiah 49:2. The last clause is perhaps a later addition (cf. Zephaniah 2:9) since Israel, as well as Ammon, was helpless before the foe.

Jeremiah 49:3. Heshbon: must be corrupt, as this is a Moabite city; Ai is unknown. The last clause of the verse is taken from Amos 1:15. The first clause should be emended with Duhm into Howl, O palace, for the city is spoiled. fences: folds, e.g. for sheep; the women are supposed to be fugitives from the cities, but the word folds is probably corrupt.

Jeremiah 49:4. Read Wherefore gloriest thou in thy valley? (omitting thy flowing valley, with Syr.), i.e. in the lofty valley-plain facing NE, and drained by the Jabbok, in which Rabbah lies. backsliding: cf. Jeremiah 31:22; we should perhaps emend to arrogant, with Duhm, as the term hardly suits non-Israelites.