This chapter contains prophecies concerning the judgments of God on several nations and kingdoms, chiefly bordering on the land of Israel; on the Ammonites, Jer. 49:1–6; on the Edomites, Jer. 49:7–22; on the kingdom of Damascus, or the Syrians, Jer. 49:23–27; on the Kedarenes or Arabians, Jer.

Concerning the Ammonites, thus saith the Lord Or, “to the Ammonites” [[19]]; or, “against” them [[21]]; it will bear to be rendered either way, and all is true; for what is said by the Lord, as follows, is concerning them, their sins, and their punishment, and is directed to them, and is a…

Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord Or, “are coming” [[23]]; as they did, in a very little time after this prophecy: that I will cause an alarm of war to be heard in Rabbah of the Ammonites; the metropolis of the Ammonites; it was their royal city in the times of David, ; called by…

Howl, O Heshbon Which was a city of Moab, though it formerly belonged to the Amorites; see ; it was upon the border of Ammon, and near to Ai, now destroyed; and therefore is called upon to howl and lament, because its destruction also was near at hand, and might be expected; hence Kimchi gathers,…

Behold, I will bring a fear upon thee, saith the Lord God of hosts The terrible army of the Chaldeans, which should strike them with a panic; who thought themselves so secure in their fortresses, trusting in their riches: from all those that be about thee; meaning either from the Chaldeans, and the…

And afterwards I will bring again the captivity of the children of Ammon, saith the Lord. ] Perhaps by Cyrus; for, in the times of Judas Maccabeus, the children of Ammon were again a large and mighty people, “Afterward he passed over to the children of Ammon, where he found a mighty power, and much…

Concerning Edom, thus saith the Lord of hosts Or, “unto Edom” [[8]], thus saith the Lord; or, “against Edom” [[9]]; all which is true, as observed on ; meaning the Idumeans, the posterity of Esau, who was called Edom.

Flee ye, turn back, dwell deep, O inhabitants of Dedan Another city in Idumea; though some take it to be a country in Arabia, bordering on Edom, and subdued by the Edomites: the inhabitants of this place are advised to “flee” for their lives, since the enemy was just upon them; and “turn back”,…

If grape gatherers come to thee, would they not leave some gleaning grapes? &c.] If gatherers of grapes, at the time of the vintage, should come into thy fields to gather the grapes, being ripe, would not they leave some for the poor to glean? certainly they would, and not take every cluster.

But I have made Esau bare By the hand of the Chaldeans; stripped him of everything that is valuable; of his cities, castles, villages, people, wealth, and treasure: I have uncovered his secret places; where either his substance was hid, or his people; these were made known to their enemies, who…

Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive, &c.] Leave them with me; commit them to my care; I will provide for them; they shall have food and raiment, and want nothing to make them comfortable: to have such a friend or friends, promising such things to a man, when he is obliged to…

For thus saith the Lord This that follows shows that what goes before is not said by way of promise and comfort, but threatening: behold, they whose judgment was not to drink of the cup have assuredly drunken; meaning either some of the other nations, who had not dealt so ill with the Jews as the…

For I have sworn by myself, saith the Lord This he did, because he could swear by no greater, and to show the certain and infallible accomplishment of the event, and the importance of it; and which was so extraordinary, that it was scarce thought credible, and therefore an oath is used to confirm…

I have heard a rumour from the Lord “A hearing” [[10]]; or a report concerning the destruction of Edom, made to him in a dream or vision, by the spirit of God, as a spirit of prophecy: and an ambassador is sent to the Heathen; or a messenger; Jeremiah the prophet, as some; or an angel, as Kimchi…

For, lo, I will make thee small among the Heathen Or, “I have given thee”, or “made thee” [[11]]; as if it respected what Edom was at first, a people few in number, and their country not large, as Aben Ezra and Kimchi, and after them Abarbinel: but it rather intends what Edom should be [[12]]; and…

Thy terribleness hath deceived thee, and the pride of thine heart Some render it, “thine idol” [[13]]; see ; which, being terrible to them, they thought it might be so to others, and protect them.

As in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah Which was so sudden and general, that nothing was left, or any spared; so should it be with Edom: and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the Lord; the cities that were in the plain, Admah and Zeboim: no man shall abide there, neither shall a son of man…

Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan The Targum rightly interprets it of a king and his army, paraphrasing the words thus, “behold, a king with his army shall come up against them, as a lion comes up from the height of Jordan;” not the king of Edom that should come up…

Therefore hear the counsel of the Lord that he hath taken against Edom The decree of the Lord; the purpose and resolution he had taken up in his heart against the Idumeans, which was wisely formed, and upon just and good grounds: and his purposes that he hath purposed against the inhabitants of…

The earth is moved at the noise of their fall Of the Edomites; whose fall was from the height of greatness and glory to a very low condition indeed; and as things, the higher they are from whence they fall, the greater noise they make, so it was with the Edomites; perhaps there may be some allusion…

Behold, he shall come up, and fly as the eagle The Targum is, “behold, as an eagle comes up and flies, so shall a king come up with his army;” the king of Babylon with his army, compared to an eagle for his swiftness and voraciousness, as before to a lion for his strength and fierceness: and spread…

Concerning Damascus Or, “unto Damascus” [[3]]; or, “against Damascus” [[4]]; that is, “thus saith the Lord”; which is to be repeated from the foregoing instances, (Jer. 49:1, Jer. 49:7) .

Damascus is waxed feeble Or, “is become remiss” [[6]]; her hands hang down, not being able through fear and fright to lift them up against the enemy; that is, the inhabitants of Damascus, as the Targum: and turneth herself to flee; instead of going out to meet the enemy, the inhabitants of this…

How is the city of praise not left The city of Damascus, famous for its antiquity, its wealth and riches, strength and power; and with the Heathens for its devotion and superstition.

Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets Or “verily” [[13]] so Jarchi interprets it as an oath; Jehovah swearing that so it should be; that her young men, her choice ones such who were the flower of the city, and on whom its future prosperity depended; these should fall by the sword of the…

And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus Signifying either that, a breach being made there the destruction of the city should begin, and be carried on until it was completed; or it may be understood literally, that first the houses built upon the wall should beset on fire by the Chaldeans,…

Concerning Kedar, and concerning the kingdoms of Hazor A new prophecy concerning the Arabians; for Kedar was a son of Ishmael, ; whose posterity inhabited Arabia Petraea.

Their tents and their flocks shall they take away The Kedarenes were a people whose business chiefly lay in feeding flocks, and of which their substance consisted; and they mostly dwelt in tents, which they removed from place to place, for the sake of pasturage for their flocks; hence they were…

Flee, get you far off, dwell deep, O ye inhabitants of Hazor, saith the Lord The same is said to the inhabitants of Dedan, (See Gill on Jer. 49:8); for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath taken counsel against you, and hath conceived a purpose against you: had determined upon their destruction, and…

Arise, get you up unto the wealthy nation Or, “to the nation that is at ease” [[17]]; the people that live quietly and in peace; have no wars with their neighbours, nor any among themselves; which seems to be the better sense of the word, for these Kedarenes were not a very wealthy people: these…

And their camels shall be a booty To the Chaldean army, as before, ; and the multitude of their cattle a spoil; to the same; the Kedarenes had large flocks of sheep, as well as a multitude of camels, on which they lived, and in which their substance lay; see (Isa. 60:6, Isa.

And Hazor shall be a dwelling for dragons, and a desolation for ever The city of Hazor, as well as the kingdoms of it; the royal city, where their king and principal men dwelt; even this should be no more inhabited by men, but by dragons, and the wild beasts of the field, and so remain for ever, at…

The word of the Lord that came unto Jeremiah the prophet against Elam The Persians, as it is commonly understood, who descended from Elam the son of Shem, ; according to Josephus [[21]]; but rather the country of Elymais is here designed; which, though in the times of Cyrus, was added to, and made…

Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I will break the bow of Elam, &c.] The inhabitants of this country were famous for their skill in archery; (See Gill on Isa. 22:6); this the Lord threatens to break, so that it, should be useless, and of no more service to them to defend themselves, or annoy others.

And upon Elam will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven The Targum interprets it the four kingdoms; see . Some think this had its accomplishment in the times of Alexander; or else after his death, in the times of his four successors; but rather in the times of Nebuchadnezzar, who…

For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies, &c.] Frightened; thrown into the utmost consternation, so that they shall have no heart nor spirit to go out against them, and meet them, and defend themselves; but make all haste imaginable to flee from them, such a panic would seize them:…

And I will set my throne in Elam Either when Alexander subdued it, or Cyrus, or rather Nebuchadnezzar, whose palace probably was, as it is certain his successors was, in Shushan in Elam, as before observed from .

But it shall come to pass in the latter days Not in the times of Cyrus, when these people enjoyed their liberty, as the Jews and other nations did, freed by him from the Babylonian yoke; which cannot with propriety be called the latter days, being but seventy or eighty years at most after this…