Albert Barnes Commentary Jeremiah 47
Albert Barnes Commentary
Jeremiah 47
Albert Barnes Commentary
Jeremiah 47
"The word of Jehovah that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines, before that Pharaoh smote Gaza." — Jeremiah 47:1 (ASV)
that Pharaoh - Pharaoh-Necho, though defeated at Carchemish, was probably able to seize Gaza upon his retreat, when obviously the possession of so strong a fortress would be most useful to him to prevent the entrance of the victorious Chaldeans into Egypt.
"Thus saith Jehovah: Behold, waters rise up out of the north, and shall become an overflowing stream, and shall overflow the land and all that is therein, the city and them that dwell therein; and the men shall cry, and all the inhabitants of the land shall wail." — Jeremiah 47:2 (ASV)
Waters rise up - A metaphor for the assembling of an army (compare to the marginal references).
Out of the north - The Chaldaean army must cross the Euphrates at Carchemish.
An overflowing flood - Or, “torrent.” To understand the metaphors of the Bible we must keep the natural phenomena of the country in mind. In Palestine rivers are torrents, dashing furiously along in the rainy seasons, and dry, or nearly so, in the summer.
All that is therein - The marginal rendering contrasts the wealth of Egypt, which forms its fullness, and the inhabitants.
"At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong ones, at the rushing of his chariots, at the rumbling of his wheels, the fathers look not back to their children for feebleness of hands;" — Jeremiah 47:3 (ASV)
His strong horses - War-horses, chargers.
The rushing of his chariots - Rather, the rattling, the crashing noise which they make as they advance.
For feebleness of hands - The Philistines flee in such panic that a father would not even turn round to see whether his sons were effecting their escape or not.
"because of the day that cometh to destroy all the Philistines, to cut off from Tyre and Sidon every helper that remaineth: for Jehovah will destroy the Philistines, the remnant of the isle of Caphtor." — Jeremiah 47:4 (ASV)
Because of the day that comes to spoil – “Because” the day has come “to devastate.”
The Philistines are called Tyre’s remaining (that is, last) helper, because all others who could have assisted her have already succumbed to the Chaldean power. The judgment upon Philistia was in connection with that upon Tyre, and it was fulfilled by expeditions sent out by Nebuchadnezzar under his lieutenants to ravage the country and supply his main army with provisions.
The country of Caphtor – The coastland of Caphtor. The Philistines came from the coast of the Egyptian Delta, and are called a remnant because they had been greatly reduced in numbers, partly by the long war of Psammetichus against Ashdod, partly by the capture of Gaza (Jeremiah 47:1), and partly by Assyrian invasions.
"Baldness is come upon Gaza; Ashkelon is brought to nought, the remnant of their valley: how long wilt thou cut thyself?" — Jeremiah 47:5 (ASV)
Baldness – Extreme mourning .
Is cut off – Others render, is speechless through grief.
With the remnant of their valley – Others, O remnant of their valley, how long will you cut yourself? Their valley is that of Gaza and Ashkelon, the low-lying plain, usually called the Shefelah, which formed the territory of the Philistines. The reading of the Septuagint is remarkable: “the remnant of the Anakim,” which probably would mean Gath, the home of giants (1 Samuel 17:4).
Jeremiah 47:6. Or, Alas, Sword of Yahweh, how long wilt thou not rest? For the answer, see Jeremiah 47:7.
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