1 The word H1697 of the LORD H3068 that came to Jeremiah H3414 the prophet H5030 against the Philistines, H6430 before that Pharaoh H6547 smote H5221 Gaza. H5804
2 Thus saith H559 the LORD; H3068 Behold, waters H4325 rise up H5927 out of the north, H6828 and shall be an overflowing H7857 flood, H5158 and shall overflow H7857 the land, H776 and all that is therein; H4393 the city, H5892 and them that dwell H3427 therein: then the men H120 shall cry, H2199 and all the inhabitants H3427 of the land H776 shall howl. H3213
3 At the noise H6963 of the stamping H8161 of the hoofs H6541 of his strong H47 horses, at the rushing H7494 of his chariots, H7393 and at the rumbling H1995 of his wheels, H1534 the fathers H1 shall not look back H6437 to their children H1121 for feebleness H7510 of hands; H3027
4 Because of the day H3117 that cometh H935 to spoil H7703 all the Philistines, H6430 and to cut off H3772 from Tyrus H6865 and Zidon H6721 every helper H5826 that remaineth: H8300 for the LORD H3068 will spoil H7703 the Philistines, H6430 the remnant H7611 of the country H339 of Caphtor. H3731
5 Baldness H7144 is come H935 upon Gaza; H5804 Ashkelon H831 is cut off H1820 with the remnant H7611 of their valley: H6010 how long wilt thou cut H1413 thyself?
6 O H1945 thou sword H2719 of the LORD, H3068 how long will it be ere H3808 thou be quiet? H8252 put up H622 thyself into thy scabbard, H8593 rest, H7280 and be still. H1826
7 How can it be quiet, H8252 seeing the LORD H3068 hath given it a charge H6680 against Ashkelon, H831 and against the sea H3220 shore? H2348 there hath he appointed H3259 it.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Jeremiah 47
Commentary on Jeremiah 47 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 47
Jer 47:1-7. Prophecy against the Philistines.
1. Pharaoh-necho probably smote Gaza on his return after defeating Josiah at Megiddo (2Ch 35:20) [Grotius]. Or, Pharaoh-hophra (Jer 37:5, 7) is intended: probably on his return from his fruitless attempt to save Jerusalem from the Chaldeans, he smote Gaza in order that his expedition might not be thought altogether in vain [Calvin] (Am 1:6, 7).
2. waters—(Isa 8:7). The Chaldeans from the north are compared to the overwhelming waters of their own Euphrates. The smiting of Gaza was to be only the prelude of a greater disaster to the Philistines. Nebuzara-dan was left by Nebuchadnezzar, after he had taken Jerusalem, to subdue the rest of the adjoining cities and country.
3. (Compare Jer 4:29).
fathers … not look back to … children—Each shall think only of his own safety, not even the fathers regarding their own children. So desperate shall be the calamity that men shall divest themselves of the natural affections.
for feebleness of hands—The hands, the principal instruments of action, shall have lost all power; their whole hope shall be in their feet.
4. every helper—The Philistines, being neighbors to the Phœnicians of Tyre and Sidon, would naturally make common cause with them in the case of invasion. These cities would have no helper left when the Philistines should be destroyed.
Caphtor—the Caphtorim and Philistines both came from Mizraim (Ge 10:13, 14). The Philistines are said to have been delivered by God from Caphtor (Am 9:7). Perhaps before the time of Moses they dwelt near and were subjugated by the Caphtorim (De 2:23) and subsequently delivered. "The remnant" means here those still left after the Egyptians had attacked Gaza and Palestine; or rather, those left of the Caphtorim after the Chaldeans had attacked them previous to their attack on the Philistines. Some identify Caphtor with Cappadocia; Gesenius, with Crete (Eze 25:16, Cherethims); Kitto, Cyprus. Between Palestine and Idumea there was a city Caparorsa; and their close connection with Palestine on the one hand, and Egypt (Mizraim, Ge 10:13, 14) on the other hand, makes this locality the most likely.
5. Baldness … cut thyself—Palestine is represented as a female who has torn off her hair and cut her flesh, the heathenish (Le 19:28) token of mourning (Jer 48:37).
their valley—the long strip of low plain occupied by the Philistines along the Mediterranean, west of the mountains of Judea. The Septuagint reads Anakim, the remains of whom were settled in those regions (Nu 13:28). Joshua dislodged them so that none were left but in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod (Jos 11:21, 22). But the parallel (Jer 47:7), "Ashkelon … the sea-shore," established English Version here, "Ashkelon … their valley."
6. Jeremiah, in the person of the Philistines afflicting themselves (Jer 47:5), apostrophizes the "sword of the Lord," entreating mercy (compare De 32:41; Eze 21:3-5, 9, 10).
up thyself—Hebrew, "Gather thyself," that is, retire or return.
7. Jeremiah, from addressing the sword in the second person, turns to his hearers and speaks of it in the third person.
Lord … given it a charge—(Eze 14:17).
the sea-shore—the strip of land between the mountains and Mediterranean, held by the Philistines: "their valley" (see on Jer 47:5).
there hath he appointed it—(Mic 6:9). There hath He ordered it to rage.