John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 49:39

"But it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring back the captivity of Elam, saith Jehovah." — Jeremiah 49:39 (ASV)

Here God mitigates the severity of the prediction, because He would eventually gather some of the Elamites and restore them, so that they might again obtain some place or honor. He does not say in the end of days, but after many days, It shall be in course of time that I will restore the captivity of Elam.

If it is asked when this was fulfilled, undoubtedly there has not been a restoration of that nation recorded in history.

But the Prophet undoubtedly gives a hope here to the Elamites, which he gave before to other nations: that they should be united again under Christ as their head. Although the Elamites were not well-known afterwards, they have discovered that this was not said in vain. Indeed, the Holy Spirit does not mention them without reason through Luke among others who were converted to Christ (Acts 2:9).

For although the Elamites were almost unknown, Luke connects them with the Medes and Parthians: “Parthians and Medes and Elamites.” This, then, was the time of which Jeremiah had prophesied, when he said that the Elamites would again be gathered together, so that they might not be perpetually captives.

And although they might not have returned to their own country at that time, yet it was a far better and more desirable condition when they obtained a name and a place in the Church than if they had enjoyed every other blessing in the world. And we know that it is said of Christ, that God would gather under His hand all things scattered both in heaven and earth (Colossians 1:20).

A part of this scattering was God’s vengeance on the Elamites. Thus, Elamites have been gathered with others; and so God at that time, in a way, stretched forth His hand to them through Christ the Mediator, and opened to them the door of hope for eternal life.

Prayer:

Grant, Almighty God, that as You favored despairing men with some consolation when justly and extremely indignant with them—O grant that whenever we today provoke Your wrath, we may at the same time taste Your paternal mercy, and learn to flee to You, and to put our hope in Your only-begotten Son, so that we may never despond, but always look forward to that gathering, whose beginning is now seen, and whose final and complete accomplishment awaits us in heaven, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.