Jer. 47 The destruction of the Philistines, Tyrians, Zidonians, and others by the sea-side.

In the former chapter the prophet foretold the judgments of God upon the Egyptians, who were the Jews’ seeming friends, but their real enemies, as they were occasions to them of idolatry, and of a sinful confidence in them.

Calamities and afflictions are often in Scripture set out under the notion of waters; and as the miseries of Egypt were set out by the overflowings of their great river Nilus, so the calamities of the Philistines are expressed by the overflowings of the great river Euphrates; these miseries coming…

This is all but a description of the march of an army, so terrible as should make parents forget their natural affection, and flee away to save themselves, looking upon themselves as lost, and unable to protect their children.

Because of the day that cometh to spoil all the Philistines; the day which God hath set and appointed for the ruin of the Philistines. Tyre and Zidon were neighbouring to the Philistines, as appears from Gen. 10:14–15, Joel 3:4, and so were often called to their help.

Both Gaza and Ashkelon were two principal cities belonging to the Philistines taken by Judah, Judg. 1:18; we read of them 1 Sam. 6:17; both Amos, Zephaniah, and Zechariah prophesied their ruin, Amos 1:8, Zeph. 2:4, Zeph. 2:7, Zech. 9:5, as well as this prophet.

Some make the words of the 6th verse to be the words of the Philistines in their mourning and cutting themselves, crying to God to stop the sword drawn against them, and to return it again into its scabbard: others make them the words of the prophet, lamenting the havoc which he by the eye of the…