Bible Commentaries
Jeremiah 49

Verse 1

The Forty-Fifth Prophecy of Jeremiah (see book comments for Jeremiah).

Concerning, &c. Supply the Ellipsis, from Jeremiah 47:1 .

Ammonites = sons of Ammon, north of Moab. When the tribes east of Jordan were carried away by Tiglath-pileser (2 Kings 15:29 ), Ammon supplanted Gad. This is the sin dealt with here.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

Verse 2

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos.

Rabbah. Now 'Amman, on the highlands of Gilead. A large Roman city was built there four centuries later, called "Philadelphia". Its ruins yet remain.

heap = tel.

daughters: i.e. villages, or smaller dependent towns.

Verse 3

Heshbon. Compare Jeremiah 48:2 .

Ai. An Ammonite town, not yet identified.

cry = cry sadly.

hedges = fences.

Verse 4

Wherefore . . . ? Who . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis.

thy flowing valley = thy valley flowing [with blood].

trusted = confided. Hebrew. bat a h . App-69 .

saying. Some codices, with three early printed editions, read "she who is saying in her heart".

Verse 6

bring again, &c. See note on Jeremiah 48:47 .

children = sons. Not the same word as Jeremiah 49:11 .

Verse 7

The Forty-Sixth Prophecy of Jeremiah (see book comments for Jeremiah).

Edom. From Esau. Judgment for his unbrotherly conduct to Israel. Compare Psalms 137:7 . Isaiah 63:1 .Ezekiel 25:12-14 ; and Obadiah.

the LORD of hosts. See note on Jeremiah 6:6 .

Is . . . ? is . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis.

wisdom . . . Teman? A grandson of Esau. See notes on p. 666.

Teman. A town in Edom. Not yet identified. Compare Job 2:11 .Amos 1:12 .Obadiah 1:9 . Habakkuk 3:3 .

Verse 8

dwell deep: i.e. in out of the way recesses.

Dedan. Not identified. He was a grandson of Abraham (Genesis 25:1-3 ). Compare Isaiah 21:13 .Ezekiel 25:13 . A tribe descended from Abraham by Keturah (Genesis 25:3 ).

Verse 9

grapegatherers. Compare Obadiah 1:5 .

Verse 10

But. Supply the Ellipsis thus: But [not so I], for I have laid Esau bare, &c.

Verse 11

children = young children. Not the same word as in Jeremiah 49:6 .

trust = confide. Hebrew. batah . App-69 .

Verse 12

the cup. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), for its contents. See Jeremiah 25:15 .

Verse 13

I have sworn. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 22:16 ). App-92 .

Bozrah. Now el Buseirah, south-east of the Dead Sea. Not the Bozrah of Jeremiah 48:24 .

Verse 14

heathen = nations.

ye together =. yourselves out [to war].

Verse 15

men. Hebrew. 'adam (with Art.) App-14 .

Verse 16

terribleness = monstrous thing: i.e. an Edomite Asherah. App-42 .

pride = insolence.

the rock. Probably Sela.

nest. Compare Obadiah 1:4 .

eagle = vulture.

Verse 17

a desolation = an astonishment.

Verse 18

the overthrow, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 19:25 .Deuteronomy 29:23; Deuteronomy 29:23 ). App-92 . A word almost restricted to that event.

Verse 19

he. Nebuchadnezzar. See note on Jeremiah 48:40 .

like a lion. Figure of speech Simile. Contrast Jeremiah 4:7 , where the assault is against Zion and the feelings are more deeply stirred.

swelling. Hebrew pride. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), for the proud beasts in the undergrowth of its banks. See Jeremiah 12:5 ; Jeremiah 50:44 . Compare Job 41:0 .

the strong = a strong one.

but = for.

him: i.e. Edom.

from her: i.e. from Idumea.

a chosen man: i.e. Nebuchadnezzar.

over her = over the pasturage.

who is like Me? Compare note on Exodus 15:11 .

appoint Me the time? i.e. who will summon or arraign Me?

shepherd = ruler.

Verse 20

counsel. Referring to Teman's wisdom. Compare Jeremiah 49:7 .

taken = counselled. Figure of speech Polyptoton.

draw them out. As a dog drags away and tears a dead body.

habitations: or, folds.

Verse 21

the noise thereof. Hebrew = its sound. Some codices, with eight early printed editions and Aramaean, read "at their noise" (plural)

in = at.

Verse 22

fly as the eagle. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 28:49 ). App-92 . Compare Jeremiah 48:40 .

mighty men. Hebrew. geber. App-14 .

Verse 23

The Forty-Seventh Prophecy of Jeremiah (see book comments for Jeremiah).

Damascus. The prophecy concerns Syria generally, of which Damascus was the principal city.

Hamath. Now Hama, in the valley of the Greekntes, north of Damascus.

Arpad. Now Tell Erfad, thirteen miles north of Aleppo. Compare 2 Kings 18:34 ; 2 Kings 19:13 .Isaiah 10:9 ; Isaiah 36:19 ; Isaiah 37:13 .

evil tidings = calamitous report. Hebrew. ra'a' . App-44 .

sorrow = anxiety, or trouble. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44 . Not the same word as in Jeremiah 49:24 . be quiet = rest.

Verse 24

sorrows = pangs. Hebrew. hebel, as in Jeremiah 13:21 .

Verse 25

not left = not restored, strengthened, or fortified. A Homonym. Here the meaning is as in Nehemiah 3:8 . See notes on Exodus 23:5 . Deu 32:36 . 1 Kings 14:10 . 2 Kings 14:26 . 2Ki 49:25 . Not its other meaning, to leave or forsake, as in Genesis 2:24 ; Genesis 39:6 . Nehemiah 5:10 . Psalms 49:10 . Mai. Jeremiah 4:1 (Hebrew = Ch. Jeremiah 3:19 ).

Verse 26

men. Hebrew, plural of' 'enosh . App-14 .

Verse 27

Ben-hadad. Three kings of Damascus bore this official name. See 1Ki 15:18 . 2 Kings 13:3 , 2 Kings 13:25 .

Verse 28

The Forty-Eighth Prophecy of Jeremiah (see book comments for Jeremiah).

Kedar. Name of the Bedouin dwelling in tents (Jeremiah 2:10 ), east of Palestine.

Hazor. Near the Euphrates and the Persian Gulf.

men = sons.

Verse 29

Fear is on every side. Hebrew. magor missabib. Compare Jeremiah 6:25 ; Jeremiah 20:3 , Jeremiah 20:10 ; Jeremiah 46:5 .Lamentations 2:22 .

Verse 30

conceived a purpose = devised a device. Figure of speech Polyptoton.

Verse 31

which dwell alone. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 23:9 . Deuteronomy 33:28 ).

Verse 32

all winds = all quarters. winds. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 .

in the utmost corners = have the corners of their hair or beards polled. Compare Jeremiah 9:26 .

Verse 33

dragons = jackals.

Verse 34

The Forty-Ninth Prophecy of Jeremiah (see book comments for Jeremiah).

Elam. The country east of the Tigris. Compare Daniel 8:1 , Daniel 8:2 . Its subjugation by Nebuchadnezzar (Jeremiah 25:25 ). Compare Habakkuk 2:8 .

Verse 36

four. The number connected with the earth ( App-10 ).

Verse 37

life = soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

Verse 39

the latter days. The end or after part of the days.

bring again, &c. See note on Jeremiah 48:47 . Compare Deuteronomy 30:3 .