Jeremiah 49

COncerning the Ammonites The Ammonites were the posterity of Ben-Ammi, Lots incestuous child, by his younger daughter Gen. 19.38. Their country was near the Iews country, the Iews in their journey from Egypt to Canaan to possess it, passed by their Country, but were by God forbidden to meddle with it because he had given it to the children of Lot, Deut. 2.19. but they proved bad neighbours to the Israelites when in Canaan. They assisted the King of Moab against them, Iud. 3.13. and made War against them Iudg. 10.9. and 11.4. Nahash their King made an inroad upon them, 1 Sam. 12.12. David fought with them in his time, 2 Sam. 8.12. and destroyed them, 2 Sam. 11.1. Iehosaphat also, and Iotham fought with them, 2 Chron. 20.1. and 27.5. During the long tract of time that there were Wars betwixt the Iews and Ammonites, the land of Gad and Reuben which lay beyond Iordan, fell into the hands of the Syrians, Moabites and Ammonites (whence it is that in the former Chapter we read of many Cities of Moab, which were upon the division of Canaan, in the Lot of Gad and Reuben.) This Prophesie cannot be well understood without a previous understanding this., thus says the LORD, Has Israel no sons? has he no heir Hence it is that the Prophet says, Has Israel no Sons? God had given that country of Gilead to Manasses and Reuben and Gad, Num. 32.39. Ios. 13.29, 30.? why then does their king inherit Gad and as mens Estates ought to descend to their Heirs, so this land should have continued and descended to the Posterity of these Tribes, but the Ammonites had by force taken away a part, and Melcom possessed it. Melcom is their King, or the name of their Idol to whom they gave the name of King, as other Heathens called their idol Baal, that is Lord., and his people dwell in their cities And the people of the King of the Ammonites, or of Melcom the idol of the Ammonites dwelt in the Cities belonging to Gad, which was one of the Tribes of Israel..

Therefore behold, the days come, says the LORD, that I will cause an alarum of war to be heard in Rabbah Because the Ammonites had violently seized upon some part of the Iews land, and (as we have it Amos 1.13, 14.) cruelly ript up the women with child in Gilead, that they might enlarge their border. God threatens a War to Rabbah, Amos 1.14. calls it a fire which should make Rabbah an he p. Of this Rabbah, as the head City of the Ammonites, we read, Deut. 3.11. Ios. 13.25. and 15.60. It was there, where in Davids time, Vriah was slain, 2 Sam. 11.1, 17. chap. 12.26. It is threatned by Ieremiah in this Chapter, and Ezek. 25.5. and Amos 1.13, 14. we read not, how or when this Prophesie was fulfilled, whether by the Maccabees, 1 Mac. 5.6. or rather after the coming of Christ, when most of these Nations were destroyed. of the Ammonites, and it shall be a desolate heap, and her daughters shall be burnt with fire: then shall Israel be heirs unto them tha were his heirs, says the LORD God threatens not only their metropolis which was Rabbah their Mother City, but all the other Cities belonging to the Ammonites which were as it were daughters to Rabbah. But how the last clause of this Prophesie was ever fulfilled if it were not in the time of the Macchabees I cannot understand, for though they were swallowed up afterward by the Roman Empire, yet Israel being also subdued by them, and scattered into all parts, it is not likely that many of them were suffered to abide in any considerable numbers in a Countrey so near their own..

Howl, O Heshbon, for Ai is spoiled Heshbon was formerly a City of the Amorites of whom Si on was King who resided here (but it appears by ver. 26. that it was taken from Moab) it is probable that was at this time a City of Moab, the Prophet calls to them to howle for Ai a City of the Ammonites not the same mentioned Ios. 7.2. for that was on the other side of Iordan., cry ye daughters of Rabbah It is incertain whether by the daughters of Rabbah be to be understood other lesser cities, or the younger women that inhabited Rabbah, he calls to them all to mourn., gird ye with sackcloth: lament, and run to and fro by the hedges And for all the indications or signs of mourning, such as girding with sackcloth, running up and down like persons distracted, by the hedges, where they might be hidden and not so easily seen., for their king shall go into captivity, and his priests and his princes together For they shall all go together in captivity, their Malcom which may signifie their Idol to whom they gave that name or their King, or else their supream Magistrate, with their Priests and Nobles, all orders of persons..

Wherefore gloriest thou in the vallies, thy flowing valley It should seem that this Countrey was full of very fruitful vallyes, which we know are always the most fertile places, lying lower and at greater distance from the Sun then Mountains, and also receiving at second hand the moisture that falls upon the Hills, and being usually watered with Rivers, from whence they may be called flowing Vallies either as flowing with receptacles of Water, or plenty of Corn, and Grass, though some read it (and it seems rather more agreeable to the Hebrew) thy Valley floweth, either with the blood of men slain, or floweth away, the fertility of it ceaseth or decayeth. Or, Floods of waters shall destroy the fruit of thy rich Vallies, &c., O backsliding daughter Ammon having never been in Covenant with God, the word in the Heb. (though it comes from which signifies to return) seemeth ill translated back sliding thou that hast turned thy self away from God. Thou that trustedst in thy riches, or in thy Vallies full of riches, and promisedst thy self security from the scituation of thy rich Countrey thinking none could come at thee.? that trusted in her treasures, saying, Who shall come unto me u?

Behold, I will bring a fear upon thee, says the Lord GOD of hosts, from all those that be about thee As secure as you think your selves I will cause you to be afraid, and your Enemies shall be all those tbat are round about you., and ye shall be driven out every man right forth And you shall be driven out every man, either right forth into some Countrey opposite to you, or apart one from another, or so that you shall be glad to flee right forth, and never look back, but only forward, for any place of safety that appeareth next before you., and none shall gather up him that wandereth And when you are wandering, being driven by your Enemies you shall find none who will be willing to receive or intertain you..

And afterward I will bring again the captivity of the children of Ammon, says the LORD Such a promise we read of chap. 48.47. concerning Moab, but when this was fulfilled the Scripture says not, Iosephus tells us something, but it is rather thought to refer to the conversion of some of the Ammonites as well as other heathens unto Christ..

¶ Concernihg Edom, thus says the LORD of hosts The Edomites were the posterity of Esau the eldest son of Isaac, but disinherited, the blessing being given to his younger brother Iacob who was the head of the twelve Tribes of the Israelites, Gen. 27.29. God there ver. 39. promised him that he should have a fa, and plentiful Country, though his Brother should be his Lord, and foretold, that he should break his brothers yoke from off his neck, the Land of Seir was his Countrey, Gen. 32.3. they coasted southward upon Canaan, the Israelites passed by their Coasts to go into Canaan, their way lay through Edom, but their King refusing to suffer them to go through, God ordered them to go another way. Balaam prophesied their ruine, Num. 24.18. they were Enemies to the Israelites in Sauls time, 1 Sam. 14.47. and in Davids time, 2 Sam. 8.14. and in Amaziahs time, 2 Kings 14.7. who lew of them ten thousand, and took Selah calling it Iokteel, many of the Prophets foretold their ruine, Ieremiah in this place, Ezek. 25.12, 13, 14. Io l 3.13. Amos 9.12. Obadiah 1.8. Mal. 1.4., s wisdom no more in Teman Teman was a City of Edom mentioned also Ezek. 25.13. Amos 1.12. Obad. 9. Eliphaz, Iobs Friend was of this place, Iob 2.11. It was a place famous for wise, and prudent men of which Eliphaz was not the meanest.? is counsel perished from the prudent? is their wisdom vanished? The Prophet askes what was become of all their counsel and wisdom for which the Arabians, the Temanites in particular were so famous? Now they were at their wits end.

Flee ye, turn back, dwell deep, O inhabitants of Dedan, for I will bring the calamity of Esau upon him, the time that I will visit him e. Dedan was the son of Iokshan, 1 Chron. 1.32. from which it is probable that the City Dedan had its name, it is reckoned chapter 25.23. with Tema and Buz and is mentioned Ezekiel 27.15.20. and 38.13. It was a City of Arabia joyning on Idumaea, Isa. 21.13. they being neighbours to the Edomites are called to flee, and to get into caves and holes of the Earth, where they might dwell deep in the Earth and be in some security, which they would not be in their own City so near to the Edomites Countrey, for God was resolved to bring misery upon the Edomites a time of calamity in which he would visit them with his judgments. There are other critical readings of these words, but this seemeth to be the plain sense of them.

If grape-gatherers come to thee, would they not leave some gleaning grapes? if theeves by night, they will destroy till they have enough We have much the same Obadiah 5. the scope of the Prophet in this place is only to show that Edom should be totally destroyed, their destruction should not be like the gleaning of Grapes, where the gatherers content themselves with taking the principal clusters, but for single; grapes, or small clusters they leave them: nor yet like the robbings of theeves, who take for their hunger, and when they have got enough leave the rest..

But I have made Esau bare But the Edomites should be left bare., I have uncovered his secret places And though they sought to hide themselves in secret places, yet God would there find them out., and he shall not be able to hide himself And there should be no places sufficient to hide them.: his seed is spoiled All their children should be destroyed, and his brethren and his neighbours, and he is not and the Moabites their Kinsmen, and the Philistines their Neighbours should be ruined as well as they..

Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive; and let thy widowes trust in me The only question upon this verse is whether in the whole of it, it be a promise, or a threatning; if it be a promise the sense is that though this great destruction should come upon the body of the Edomites, yet God would take care of some of their fatherless children, whose Parents being carried into captivity they had none to provide for them: if it be taken as an ironical threatning it soundeth ruine to those as well as the rest, and I will is as much as I will not, but others think that these are rather to be understood with the supply of some other words. There is not, or there shall be none to say, leave thy fatherless Children, &c. and whoso considereth those words in the 10th. verse, his seed shall be spoiled, will see reason to judge it rather a threatning (whether by way of Irony or no) then a promise..

For thus says the LORD, Behold, they whose judgment was not to drink of the cup That by the cup is meant the Wine cup of the Lords wrath, and that by those whose judgment was not to drink of it, are meant the Jews is not to be doubted, but the question is how the Prophet says, that it was not the judgment of the Jews to drink of this cup? the word here used is of so various significations as makes the fixing the sense of it here difficult, it cannot here signifie Iustice, for in that sense it was the Jews Iudgment to drink of it, nor can it here (as it often does) signifie the effect of justice, Gods judicial dispensation; for they had drank of it, so it was their judgment. It must be taken in the favourablest sense imaginable. Either they who in regard of their relation to God, and Gods relation to them might have looked upon it as none of their portion, yet have drank of it. Or they who in comparison with others did not deserve to drink of the cup, yet have drank of it, and can you think to escape, no thou shalt not escape, but most surely drink of it, 1 Pet. 4.17. The time is come, that judgment is begun at the house of God, and if it first begin with that where shall the end of others be? When an Israelite has not escaped the justice of God, an Edomite must not expect it., have assuredly drunken, and art thou he that shalt altogether go unpunished, thou shalt not go unpunished, but thou shalt surely drink of it.

For I have sworn by my self, says the LORD, that Bozrah shall become a desolation, a reproach, a wast, and a curse, and all the cities thereof shall be perpetual wastes As men when they would confirm their promise or threatning to do any thing, add an Oath to it, so does God, who, having no greater to swear by, sweares by himself, chap. 44.26. that which God would here confirm was his threatning against Edom, exprest under the notion of Bozrah, (a part for the whole) Bozrah being its principal City, Isaiah 63.1. as well as a City of Moa, (as we found in the foregoing chapter) and that which he threatens it with was not being a reproach, a wast, and a curse for a time, but for ever..

I have heard a rumour from the LORD Obadiah beginneth his prophesie much with such words. God has revealed his will to me in a vision, or a dream., and an embassador is sent unto the heathen He speaks after the manner of earthly Princes, who use to send their Embassadors to other Princes to declare their minds to them. The meaning is God has made such impressions upon other Nations, he has inclined them, or set them on work, to get together in Armies to come against Edom in Battel., saying, Gather ye together, and come against her, and rise to the battel r.

For lo, I will make thee small amongst the heathen, and despised among men Obadiah in his prophesie against Edom, ver. 2. has much the same words importing that God would bring the Edomites very low, and make them very contemptible..

Thy terribleness has deceived thee, and the pride of thy heart Obadiah in his Prophesie against Edom useth much the same expressions, ver. 3, 4. the word that is here used being of the number of those which are but once found in Scripture has given Interpreters liberty to abound in their senses of it; some translating it Arrogance, some, thine Idol, but the best Interpreters understand by it their terribleness to others, their being so potent that others were all afraid of them, this deceived them, making them to conclude themselves secure, and out of danger. To which is also added the pride of the heart., O thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock The Countrey of Edom being mountainous they are said to dwell in the clefts of the Rocks, that is in places impregnable, and inaccessible as they thought in the heights of the hill., that holdest the height of the hill; though thou shouldest make thy nest as high as the eagle, I will bring thee down from thence, says the LORD But the Lord lets them know no place was to his power inaccessible or impregnable, for if they dwell as high as the Eagle which the Scripture tells us Iob 39.27, 28. Maketh her nest on high, and dwelleth and abideth upon the rock, upon the crag of the rock, yet he would bring them down..

Also Edom shall be a desolation: every one that goeth by it, shall be astonished, and shall hiss at all the plagues thereof The like is said of Babylon, chap. 50.13. it appears from 1 Kings 9.8. that it was a kind of Proverbial expression, when they would express a great desolation, or great plagues, that those who passed by such a place, should be astonished, and hiss at it..

As in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, says the LORD: no man shall abide there, neither shall a son of man dwell in it Sodom and Gomorrah, and the Neighbour Cities were utterly destroyed, and therefore are set down both here and chap. 50.40. as patterns of an utter ruine and desolation..

Behold, he shall come up like a lion from thee swelling of Jordan, against the habitation of the strong This verse is very variously interpreted, some by he understand the Iews, some understand Nebuchadnezzar, some understand the Edomites, I think the last is most probable to be here meant, because of the next words. The Edomites shall come out against the Caldeans, like a Lion, as Lions lurking about Iordan when it overfloweth, come out to take their prey.: but I will suddenly make him run away from her These words are variously understood, those who by he in the former part of the verse understand Nebuchadnezzar, interpret the running here mentioned, of his running over the whole Countrey of Edom, to me it appeareth a much more probable sense to interpret it of the Edomites running away from Nebuchadnezzar out of their own Country, which seems to be understood by her, all that makes a difficulty is the particle from, which yet makes the sense good enough, if by her we understand the Edomites own Land. In the Hebrew it is I will break them, or I will quiet them, and make them to run., and who is a chosen man that I may appoint over her Whom shall I set over Edom? into whose hands shall I give that Countrey that he may rule over it?? for who is like me For I can do whatsoever I please.? and who will appoint me the time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before me What is that King or Potentate of the Earth that will stand before me?? And who will appoint me a time to plead with men, so Iob 9.19. or a time to fight.

Therefore hear the counsel of the LORD, that he has taken against Edom, and his purposes that he has purposed against the inhabitants of Teman Edom and Teman in this verse signifie both the same thing, God calls to men to hear the resolutions he had taken up against the Edomites, resolutions as wise and steady as if they had been taken upon the wisest counsels, and deliberation.: Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out God is resolved to drive out the Edomites, and the least of Nebuchadnezzar's Forces shall drag them out of their lurking places, and God will make the place where they dwell a desolation., surely, he shall make their habitations desolate with them g.

The earth is moved at the noise of their fall: at the cry, the noise thereof was heard in the Red-sea That is, the ruine of the Edomites shall be so great, that all nations round about it shall be affected at the noise of their fall and though the Red-Sea, or the weedy Sea be at a great distance from them, yet their noise shall reach thither..

Behold, he shall come up and flie as the eagle, and spread his wings over Bozrah: and at that day shall the heart of the mighty men of Edom be as the heart of a woman in her pangs See the Notes on chap. 48.40, 41. where the very same thing, and under the same phrases, was spoken against Moab. That which is threatned is the Enemies coming swiftly upon the Edomites and preying upon them, and the fear that should surprize them which should make their hearts faint as the heart of a woman that has an hard labour.:

¶ Concerning Damascus The Prophet comes to denounce the judgments of God against Syria, another nation of the Gentiles, Damascus was the head City of Syria, Isa. 7.8. and 17.3. or Aram (as in the Heb.) because it was a Country inhabited by the posterity of Aram one of the sons of Sem, part of it lay betwixt Babylon and Arabia, and was called Mesopotamia, lying betwixt the two Rivers of Tigris and Euphrates. Laban and Naaman were of this Countrey, David had War with them 2 Sam. 8.5. and 10.18. So had Ahab 1 King. 20.20. and Ioram 2 Kings 8.28. And Aha Isai. 7.2. after Gods long patience with them he threatens them with ruine, as by Ieremiah in this place, so by Amos 1.5. Damascus being the head City of this Country is sometimes put (as here) for the whole Countrey.. Hamath is confounded, and Arpad Hamath and Arpad were two Cities also of Syria, 2 Kings 18.34.: for they have heard evil tidings, they are faint-hearted, there is sorrow on the sea, it cannot be quiet The Prophet foretels that they also should hear of ill news, an Enemy that is coming against them, and that they should be melted through fear, and their courage should fail them, they should be as troubled as the Sea is in a storm, or their inhabitants that lived near to the Sea should be troubled..

Syria whose head is Damascus has lost her old courage and valour; it was wont to be a formidable Country to its Neighbours. Damascus is waxed feeble, and turneth her self to flee But now they flee before their Enemies., and fear has seized on her They are seized, and overpowred by their own fears.: anguish and sorrowes have taken her, as a woman in travail Great sorrows are ordinarily in Scripture expressed by the similitude of the pains of a woman in travail, we have met with it often in this Prophesie, chap. 6.24. and 22.23. so Psal. 48.6. Micah 4.9..

How is the city of praise not left, the city of my joy It is called the City of praise, because it was a City so much praised, a City of great renown, which the Prophet seeing like to be destroyed, lamenteth either in the person of the King of Syria, or of the Syrian Inhabitants, wondering that the conquerours should not spare so famous and renowned a Ci y in which so many did rejoyce.?

Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets, and all the men of war shall be cut off in that day, says the LORD of hosts The Hebrew particles are not always well rendred in our Translation, and our Learned English Annotator has rightly observed this place, as one instance, for cannot be here an illative, but is much better translated surely as a note of assertion. God threatneth the Syrians with a certain ruine, and desolation..

And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus I will bring a judgment that shall burn in Damascus like a consuming Fire, and it shall reach to the Royal seat of Benhadad, either that which was the Royal seat of Benhadad, 2 Kings 8.7. or else Ben-hadad, (signifying the son of Hadad) (which was their Idol) was the common name of all the Kings of Syria, as Pharaoh was to the Kings of Egypt, Amos 1.4., and it shall consume the palaces of Benhadad u.

¶ Concerning Kedar Kedar, Gen. 25.13. was one of the Sons of Ishmael whose posterity inhabited part of Arabia Petraea, See Isa. 21.13, 17. we read of it Psal. 120.5. Cant. 1.5. Ezek. 27.21., and concerning the kingdoms of Hazor We read of Hazor, Iosh. 11.1. verse. 10. it was the head City to several Kingdoms in Ioshua's time, Ia in was King of it in the times of Deborah, Iudg. 4.2., which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon shall smite, thus says the LORD The Prophet foretels that Nebuchadnezzar should also conquer these Kingdoms., Arise ye, go up to Kedar, and spoil the men of the east And says he heard the Lord call to Nebuchadnezzar to go up against them..

Their tents and their flocks shall they take away That is, the Chaldeans shall take away the Kedarens Tents, for they being a people whose Cattel, had no fixed houses but Tents which were moveable habitations, covered with skins of Beasts., they shall take to themselves their curtains and all their vessels, and their camels And the curtains which they used to draw before those Tents, and served them as sides, as gable ends of houses serve us, and all the furniture of their Tents or Tabernacles, and their Cattel, and either their Enemies should fright them with terrible noises and outcryes, or they should themselves cry out that they were surrounded with objects of fear., and they shall cry unto them, Fear is, on every side c.

¶ Flee, get you far off, dwell deep, O ye inhabitants of Hazor, says the LORD The words seem to be the Prophets words of advice to this people, to make all the hast they could away, and to secure themselves as well as they could because the King of Babylon had certainly been taking counsel against them, and was resolved to disturb them. See ver. 8. where the like counsel is given to the Edomites. for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon has taken counsel against you, and has conceived a purpose against you e.

Arise, get you up to the wealthy nation that dwelleth without care, says the LORD, which have neither gates nor bars, which dwell alone The supposed result of Nebuchadnezzars counsels, giving charge to his Armies to march against the Kedarens, which lived at ease and quiet, and took no care. That had no Cities, nor Gates, nor Barrs to keep their Enemies out, nor were near any Neighbours that could assist them, nor very near to one another living in Tents, so might easily be overrun, and conquered, and made a prey to Enemies..

And their Camels shall be a booty, and the multitude of their cattel a spoil These words sound like a part of the King of Babylons supposed speech incouraging his Souldiers from the booty they should get, which should be a great multitude of Camels and other Cattel., and I will scatter into all winds them that are in the utmost corners, and I will bring their calamity, from all sides thereof, says the LORD The latter words are the words of the Prophet in the name of the Lord threatning ruine to these Kedarens and Hazorites, though they lived in corners and might upon that account think themselves secure, God says, he would fetch them out of their utmost corners, and bring calamity from all parts upon them..

And Hazor shall be a dwelling for dragons, and a desolation for ever; there shall no man abide there, nor any son of man dwell in it That is, the whole Countrey subject to the King of Hazor, shall be desolate, see Isa. 34.13. chap. 9.11..

¶ The word of the LORD, that came to Jeremiah the prophet against Elam, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah saying Elam was the son of Sem, Gen. 10.22. his posterity were called Ela ites, these were the Persians as is most probable, though some judge that the Persians were at too great a distance from the Jews to be the people meant here, but we read of no other Elam in Scripture but in Persia, Dan. 8.2. and though they were indeed at a great distance, yet it is probable that Nebuchadnezzar having conquered the Assyrians might also make some inroads in Persia, the Emperour of which afterward conquered Babylon. This Prophesie being in the first year of Zedekiah must needs be long before the thing was done, for it was ten years before the King of Babylon took Hierusalem..

Thus says the LORD of hosts, Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the chief of their might All those Eastern people were famous for the use of the ow, the Elamites in special, Isaiah 22.6. those bows were the their offensive armour, though by the chief of their mi may also be meant their most mighty and strong Warriours. This Prophesie is probably judged to be fulfilled when the Persians made a defection from the King of the Medes who was son in Law to Nebuchadnezzar. Others think that this Prophesie was accomplished by Alexander the Emperour of Greece, or rather by his Successors..

And upon Elam will I bring the four winds, from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them towards all those winds; and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of Elam shall not come The Prophet threatneth the destruction of the Persians, by a Confederacy of Enemies, suppose Babylonians, Medes, &c. which should assault them on all sides, as when the wind blows at the same time from all quarters, which causeth a whirlwind which driveth the dust every way hither and thither, so he says the Persians should be scattered into all nations..

For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies, and before them that seek their life: and I will bring evil upon them, even my fierce anger, says the LORD, and I will send the sword after them, till I have consumed them We met with the like threatnings, ver. 5, 24, 29. as to fear, and as to their destruction we have often met with the like threatnings..

And I will set my throne in Elam God here calls the throne of Nebuchadnezzar, or Cyrus, or Alexander (who ever he was that conquered the Persians) his throne. 1. Because God gave it the Conquerour. 2. Or, because God showed himself the Lord of hosts, or the Lord of the whole Earth, by disposing the Kingdom of Persia at his pleasure., and will destroy from thence the king and the princes, says the LORD He does not threaten the destruction of the whole Nation, but the making of it all Tributary, so as it should have no Kings nor Princes of its own..

¶ But it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring again the captivity of Elam, says the LORD We had the like promise as to Moah, chap. 48.47. and as to Ammon ver. 6. the same latter days either signifie after many days, or in the time of the Messias. In the former sense it may refer to Cyrus, who conquered Persia. In the latter sense it is referred to the spiritual liberty which some of these poor heathens were brought into by the Gospel, we read Act. 2.9. that some of these Elamites were at Hierusalem at Pentecost, and were some of those converted to Christ..