Jeremiah 47

6G5 tudcs, and because they make a general consumption. (Sec Judg. vi. 5. vii. 12. Joel ii. 4, 5.) Vcr. 25. J will punish the multitude of No.* The Hebrewreads, Amnion Minnb, which may be literally rendered, Amnion of No: the same place is expressed in Ezekiel by Human No, (xxx. 15.) and in Nahuni it is called No Anion, (iii.8.) The name is generally thought to be derived from Jupiter Hammon, whose temple was there; and is supposed to be the same city which is called Thebes by the heathen writers, famous for its hundred gates in Homer’s time. It is rendered Ai6<nrokig by the Septuagint, which is the Greek name for Thebes. “Which city was famous for the worship of Jupiter Hammon, as appears by a passage in Plato’s Phaedrus. (Sec Dr. Cudworth’s Intellectual System, p. 339.) [Plutarch informs us, that Hammon, in the Egyptian language, signifies the same with Ztvg, or Jupiter, lib. dc Isid. ct Osir. p. 354. edit. Francofurt.] The Vulgar Latin interprets it Alexandria; but that was a city of later date, and a place of no note in the times the prophets speak of. And Egypt, tuith their gods.) As the judgment threatened upon No was an instance of the Divine vengeance upon the idol’ Hammon, and his worshippers: so the same vengeance shall reach the rest of Egypt with their respective idols: (Sec xliii. 12,13.) And their kings.] The governors of the several nomi, or provinces, called ki?igdomsby Isaiah, xix. 2. Vcr. 26. And aftenvard it shall be inhabited.] After the space of forty years. (See Ezck. xxix. 13.) “Vcr. 27, 28. But fear not thou, O my servant Jacob, &c] Sec xxx. 10, 11. from whence these two verses arc taken, containing a comfortable promise to the Jews, that God will not make an utter destruction of them, as he hath done of several other nations, against whom the prophets have denounced his judgments: but will still preserve a remnant of “them, to whom he will perform the promises made to their fathers. Jeremiah had foretold that the Philistines should be conquered by Nebuchadnezzar, together with the rest of their neighbours. (Sec xxv. 20.) This probably came to pass during the time of the siege of Tyre, which lasted thirteen years, as Josephus shews out of Philostratus, and the Phoenician Annals, Antiq. lib. x. cap. 11. and lib. contra App. p. 104G. Accordingly we find Tyre and Zidon here mentioned, (vcr. 4.) as sharers in the common calamity.

Jeremiah 47:1

J3eFOUE that Pharaoh smote Gaza. When the Philistines’ country was in seeming quiet and security. The destruction of Gaza might probably happen, after Pharaoh’s victories at Mcgiddo and Carchemish, when Judca became tributary to him. (Sec 2 Chron. xxxv. 20. xxxvi. 3.) Amos foretells the destruction of Gaza, i. 6. but it is not certain, that the same event is foretold by both prophets.'

Jeremiah 47:2

Waters shall rise.vp out of the north, and there shall be an overflowing flood. The usual metaphor to describe the march of an army that overruns a country.- (See xlvi. 8.) Bythe north is meant in this prophecy the land * of the Chaldeans.- (Sec i. 13, 14.)

Jeremiah 47:3

At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his * strong horses, &c. Compare Nahum iii. 2. Abbiratdi pro-? perly signifies horses, and should be so translated, viii. 16. (See the note there.) TJie fathers shall not look back to their children, Sec] Shall not regard them; so the phrase is taken, Numb. xvi. 15. Our translation renders the word there, respect not, 1 or shew any concern for their safety. They shall be so dismayed and dispirited, that they shall scarce be able to save themselves.’ Vcr. 4. To cut off from Tyrus and Zidon every helper that remaineth.] The siege of Tyre by Nebuchadnezzar was an action famous in the histories of that age, which lasted thirteen years. (Sec the Argument to the chapter, arid compare Ezek. chap, xxvii. xxviii.) Zidon was partaker of the same fate with Tyre, both in prosperity and adversity: (see Isa. xxiii. 2. 4.) and her destruction is joined with that of Tyre by Ezekiel, chap, xxviii. The remnant of the country of Caphtor.] Or, the isle of Caphtor; sec ver. 7. and the note on Isa. xx. 6. called the remnant of the Philistines* Amos. i. 8. and the remnant of the sea-coast, Ezck. xxv. 1G. The expression denotes either, a colony transplanted from Caphtor, or else that small remainder of the Philistines, after they had been in a manner all destroyed in former times, according to the judgments denounced against them by Amos, i. 8. and Isaiah, xiv. 19, &c. and we may perhaps add those in Zephaniab, ii. 5, &c. (Compare xxv. 20.) Caphtor, or the Caphtorim, were, the ancient inhabitants of Palestine. (SccDcut. ii. 23.). The Caphtorim and Caslubim were two neighbouring nations, and nearly related to each other, being both descended from JVIizraim the father of the Egyptians: (sec Gen. x. 13,. 14.) which may be the reason why Moses there derives the. pcdigTce of the Philistines from the latter of these two. The ancients generally suppose Caphtor to be the same with Cappadocia. These two nations might go out of Egypt, their native soil, and settle themselves in Cappadocia, where they passed under the general appellation of Caphtorim, and afterward return back towards their own native country, andsettle, in Palestine., (See Amos ix. 7.) But others think it more probable, that Caphtor is the same with Crete, which we know isap island properly so called. The chief ground of this opinion is, that the Chcrethims or. Chercthites arc the same with the Philistines, as appears from Ezck. xxv. 16. Zeph. ii. 5. 1 Sam. xxx. 14. compared with ver. 1G. Now the Chcrethims arc generally supposed to be the Cretians, and the sound of the word, confirms the conjecture. (See Vitringa’s commentary on Isa. xiv. 29.) Vcr. 5. Baldness is come upon Gaza — how long wilt thou cut thyself?] Under great calamities, it was usual for men to express their grief by shaving their heads, and cutting their flesh. (See xli. 5. xlviii. 37.) Ver. G. O sword of the Lord.] When God devotes a nation to be destroyed, he is said to give commission to a sword to pass through the land. (Sec Ezck. xiv. 17. xxi. 3.) How long will it be ere thou be quiet?] The prophet speaks in the words or complaints the Philistines made, who saw themselves devoted to destruction;.or else as sympathizing with their calamities. (Sec xlviii. 31, 32.) Vcr. 7. How can it be quiet, seeing the Lord hath given 4Q