Jeremiah 49

1 their king. For “their king,” read “Milcom” (R.V., “Malcam”), or Molech, the chief deity of the Ammonites: see 1 Kings xi. 7, 33.

2. Rabbah. “Rabbah” (which means the great) was the capital of the Ammonites: see 2 Sam. xii. 26.

3. Al. An Ammonite town not mentioned elsewhere. The Al in Canaan (Joeh. vii. 2) was a different place.

by the hedges. i.e., the fences of the vineyards: see R.V. The remainder of the verse is nearly identical with Amos i. 15.

VERS. 7-22. The Edomites, notwithstanding their acuteness, and the strength of their position, shall be utterly destroyed, and made a byword among the nations. The phraseology of certain parts of this prophecy so closely resembles that of Obadiah, as to make it evident that one of these prophets had read the work of the other (cp. 9, 10, 14-16 with Obad. 2-6). The more probable opinion is, that Obadiah was the earlier of the two, and that Jeremiah borrowed from him, as he has done from the books of Numbers and Isaiah.

7. Teman. A city and district in the east of Edom; so called from Teman, a grandson of Esau: see Gen. xxxvi. 11. Its inhabitants were celebrated for wisdom: see Job ii. 11; Obad. 8, 9.

8. Dwell deep. Hide yourselves from the enemy, either by retiring into caverns, or by fleeing into the depths of the desert.

Dedan. The Dedanites were probably descendants of Abraham, dwelling among the Edomites: cp. xxv. 23, and see Gen. xxv. 2.

9. Would they not leave, etc.? Rather, as R.V. marg., “they will leave no gleaning grapes; if thieves by night, they will destroy till they have enough” (“their fill”).

11. Leave thy fatherless children, etc. If these words are to be taken as they stand, they appear like mingled threatening and promise; implying that there shall be no one left to protect the widows and orphans; for the land shall be stripped of men, as it had been before (1 Kings xi. 16). Only God, therefore, can protect them.

13. Burrah. See note on Isa. xxxiv. 6.

14. I have heard a rumour (“tidings,” R.V.) from the Lord. The words correspond with the beginning of Obadiah.

unto the heathen. Better, “among the nations,” as R.V. So next verse.

16 thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock. Or, “in the fastnesses of Sela” (Petra), the rock-city. See note on “Sela,” 2 Kings xiv. 7. The position of the city in an almost inaccessible chasm shows how appropriately it is compared to an eagle’s nest; and its complete desolation, after it had been rebuilt, is a clear fulfilment of this and other predictions: see Mal. i. 4.

19. Behold, he shall come up like a lion, etc. Or, “Behold, one (i.e., the invader) cometh up as a lion from the pride of Jordan (see note on xii. 5) to the sheepfold of the strong; for I will suddenly make him (i.e., the strong) run away from it. And who is the chosen one? I will appoint [him] against it; for who is like me? and who will meet me? and who is the shepherd that will stand before me?” God compares the rock-hewn city to a sheepfold (see 1 Sam. xxiv. 3, and note), and sends an enemy against it, like a lion, whom the strongest shepherd cannot resist; for he is chosen and appointed by God.

20. Surely the least of the flock, etc. Or, “Surely they shall drag them away, like the little ones of the flock; surely one shall make their sheepfold desolate (or, dismayed) over them”: a continuation of the figure of the preceding verse.

21 at the cry, etc. Rather, as R.V., “There is a cry, the noise whereof is heard,” etc.

23. Hamath. See note on 2 Sam. viii. 9. “Arpad,” now called Tell Arfad, an uninhabited ruin, north of Aleppo.

23 sorrow on the sea. The best commentators regard “the sea” here as figurative, either meaning “like the unrest of the waves,” or “in the sea of human hearts.”

25. How is the city of praise not left, etc.! Or, “How is it that the city of praise is not forsaken, the city of my joy?” An exclamation of surprise that the population had not saved themselves by flight. They remain only to be massacred.

VERS. 28-33. The Chaldeans, in their conquering progress, will also harass the Arabian tribes, and chase them from their haunts. On “Kedar,” see note on Isa. xxi. 17. Of “Hazor” we know nothing. Kedar denotes the nomad tribes, and Hazor those who had fixed abodes (from Heb., hazer, a village).

31. Arise. i.e., “Arise, O ye Chaldeans”: see 28.

the wealthy nation. Lit., as R.V., “a nation that is at ease.”

which dwell alone. Separate from others, and therefore fancying themselves secure from attack: see Numb. xxiii. 9.

32 [that are] in the utmost corners. See note on ix. 26.

VERS. 34-39. This prophecy “concerning Elam” appears from the date assigned to have been given some years later than the preceding. No particular historical fulfilment of the predictions can be assigned. Elam was once subject to Assyria (Ezra iv. 9). It was now doubtless to be engulfed in the destruction which the victorious progress of Nebuchadrezzar brought upon the peoples of the East.

34. Elam. See notes on “Elam,” in Gen. xiv. 1, and Isa. xxii. 6.

36 the four winds, i.e., enemies from every quarter.

38 set My throne. A throne of judgement.