CHAPTER XLIX _This chapter is a collection of prophecies relating to several_ _nations in the neighbourhood of Judea; and, like those_ _preceding, are supposed to have been fulfilled by the ministry_ _of Nebuchadnezzar during the thirteen years' siege of Tyre. The_ _chapter opens with a prophec... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 49:3. _RUN TO AND FRO BY THE HEDGES_] It is supposed that this may refer to the women making lamentations for the dead, that were in general buried by the walls of their _gardens_; but others think that it refers to the _smaller cities_ or _villages_, called here the _daughters of Rab... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 49:4. _WHEREFORE GLORIEST THOU_] Though thy valleys be fruitful, yet glory not in them. Though thou have much political and military power, do not trust in them, nor in the multitude of thy cities; a stronger than thou is coming against thee.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 49:6. _AFTERWARD I WILL BRING AGAIN_] The _Ammonites_ are supposed to have returned with the Moabites and Israelites, on permission given by the edict of Cyrus.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 49:7. _CONCERNING EDOM_] This is a new and separate discourse. _TEMAN_] A part of Idumea, put here for the whole country.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 49:8. _DWELL DEEP_] An allusion to the custom of the Arabs, who, when about to be attacked by a powerful foe, strike their tents, pack up their utensils, lade their camels, which they can do in _a couple of hours_, and set off to the great desert, and so _bury themselves in it_ that n... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 49:9. _IF GRAPE-GATHERERS_] Both in vintage and harvest every grape and every stalk are not gathered; hence the gleaners get something for their pains: but your enemies shall not leave one of you behind; all shall be carried into captivity.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 49:10. _I HAVE MADE ESAU BARE_] I have stripped him of all defence, and have discovered his hiding-places to his enemies.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 49:11. _LEAVE THY FATHERLESS CHILDREN_] The connexion of this with the context is not easy to be discerned; but, as a general maxim, it is of great importance. _Widows_ and _orphans_ are the peculiar care of God. He is as the best of fathers to the one, and the most loving of husbands... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 49:12. _ART THOU HE_ THAT _SHALL ALTOGETHER GO UNPUNISHED?_] A similar form of speech appears, Jeremiah 25:29. Others, less wicked than thou, have been punished and canst _thou_ expect to escape? Thou shalt not escape.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 49:13. _BOZRAH SHALL BECOME A DESOLATION_] _Bozrah_, a city of Idumea, is here put for the whole country.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 49:14. _I HAVE HEARD A RUMOUR_] The Lord has revealed to me what he is about to do to the Edomites. _AN AMBASSADOR IS SENT_] I believe this means only that God has given _permission_, and has _stirred up_ the hearts of these nations to go against those whom he has doomed to destructi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 49:16. _O THOU THAT DWELLEST_] All _Idumea_ is full of _mountains_ and _rocks_, and these rocks and mountains full of caves, where, in time of great heats, and in time of war, the people take shelter.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 49:18. _AS IN THE OVERTHROW OF SODOM_] The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbouring cities was so terrible, that, when God denounces judgments against incorrigible sinners, he tells them they shall be like Sodom and Gomorrah. _NO MAN SHALL ABIDE THERE_] It shall be so d... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 49:19. _BEHOLD, HE SHALL COME UP LIKE A LION_] See the note on Jeremiah 12:5. The similitude used here is well illustrated by Dr. _Blayney_: "When I shall occasion a like commotion in her (Idumea) as a fierce and strong lion may be supposed to do in the sheep-folds, then I will cause... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 49:20. _THE INHABITANTS OF TEMAN_] Taken here for the whole of Idumea. These are a kind of synonyms which prevent monotony, and give variety to the poet's versification. _SURELY THE LEAST OF THE FLOCK SHALL DRAW THEM OUT_] They shall be like timid sheep; the weakest foe shall overcom... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 49:21. _THE EARTH IS MOVED_] The whole state is represented here as a _vast building_ suddenly thrown down, so as to cause the earth to tremble, and the noise to be heard at a great distance.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 49:22. _HE SHALL COME UP AND FLY AS THE EAGLE_] Nebuchadnezzar. See Jeremiah 48:40.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 49:23. _CONCERNING DAMASCUS._] This is the _head_ or _title_ of another prophecy. _Damascus_ was one of the principal cities of Syria. It was taken by David, 2 Samuel 8:6, was retaken in the reign of Solomon, 1 Kings 11:24, c., and regained its independence. Its kings were often at w... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 49:25. _HOW IS THE CITY OF PRAISE NOT LEFT_] Damascus is so ruined that she can no more be called a _praiseworthy_ or _happy_ _city_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 49:27. _THE PALACES OF BEN-HADAD._] Damascus was a seat of the Syrian kings, and _Ben-hadad_ was a name common to several of its kings.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 49:28. _CONCERNING KEDAR, AND CONCERNING THE KINGDOMS OF_ _HAZOR_] This is the _title_ of another new prophecy. _Kedar_ was the name of one of the sons of Ishmael (Genesis 25:13) who settled in Arabia, and who gave name to a powerful tribe of Arabs who used to traffic with the Tyrian... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 49:29. _THEIR TENTS AND THEIR FLOCKS_] This description of _property_ shows that they were _Scenite_ or _Nomad Arabs_; persons who dwell in _tents_, and whose principal property was _cattle_, especially _camels_, of the whole of which they were plundered by the Chaldeans.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 49:30. _DWELL DEEP_] Retire into the depths of the _desert_. See on Jeremiah 49:8. _INHABITANTS OF HAZOR_] I cannot find this place. It was no doubt in Arabia, and a place of considerable importance; but it is now no more.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 49:31. _THE WEALTHY NATION_] גוי שליו _goi sheleiv_, "the peaceable nation"- _HAVE NEITHER GATES NOR BARS_] The Arabs, who had nothing but their tents; no cities, nor even _permanent villages_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 49:32. _THE UTMOST CORNERS_] Even in these utmost inaccessible recesses the sword and pillage shall reach them. "'The utmost corners;' insulated coasts; the peninsula of Arabia." - _Blayney_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 49:33. _HAZOR SHALL BE A DWELLING FOR DRAGONS_] Shall be turned into a _wilderness_. _A DESOLATION FOR EVER_] Never to be re-peopled. _THERE SHALT NO MAN ABIDE THERE_] It may occasionally be _visited_, but never made a permanent abode.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 49:34. _THE WORD - AGAINST ELAM_] Another new head of prophecy. As this was delivered in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah, it can have no natural nor historical connexion with the other prophecies in this various chapter. Some think that by _Elam_ Persia is always meant; but thi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 49:35. _I WILL BREAK THE BOW OF ELAM_] They were eminent archers; and had acquired their power and eminence by their dexterity in the use of the bow. See Isaiah 22:6. _Strabo, Livy_, and others speak of their eminence in archery.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 49:36. _WILL I BRING THE FOUR WINDS_] Nebuchadnezzar and his armies, gathered out of different provinces, and attacking this people at all points in the same time. _THERE SHALL BE NO NATION, C._] They shall be scattered through the _one hundred_ and _twenty-seven_ provinces of which... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 49:38. _I WILL SET MY THRONE IN ELAM_] This is spoken either of _Nebuchadnezzar_ or _Cyrus_. It is certain that Cyrus did render himself master of _Elymais_ and _Media_, which are in the land of Elam.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 49:39. _I WILL BRING AGAIN THE CAPTIVITY OF ELAM_] As this is to be in _the latter days_, probably it may mean the _spiritual_ _freedom_ which these people would receive under the Gospel dispensation. Under Cyrus, the _Elamites_, collected out of all quarters, were united with the _P... [ Continue Reading ]