CHAP. XLVII.
A prophecy against the Philistines, 1-7.
THE
HE word of the Lord, that came to Jeremiah the prophet a against the Philistines, before that Pharaoh smote * Gaza.
2 Thus saith the LORD; Behold, waters rise up out of the north, and shall be an overflowing flood, and shall overflow the land, and tall that is therein, the city, and them that dwell therein: then the men shall cry, and all the inhabitants of the land shall howl.
3 At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong horses , at the rushing of his chariots, and at the rumbling of his wheels, the fathers shall not look back to their children, for feebleness of hands;
4 Because of the day that cometh to spoil all the Philistines, and to cut off from
a Ez. 25:15-17. Am. 1:6-8. | d 46:12. 48:3-5,39. Is. 15:2 Zeph. 2:4-7. Zech. 9:5-7. -5,8. 22:1,4,5. Zeph. 1:10, Heb. Azzah. 25:20.-Gen. 11. Jam. 5:1. 10:19. marg. 1 Kings 4:24.
b 46:7,8. Is. 8:7,8. 28:17. 59:19. Dan. 11:22. Am. 9:5,6. Nah. 1:8. Rev. 12:15,16, 17:1,15. c See on 1:14. 46:6,20.
† Heb. the fulness thereof. 8:16. marg. Ps. 24:1. 50:12. 96: 11. 98:7. 1 Cor. 10:26,28.
e 8:16. 46:9. Judg. 5:22. Job 39:19-25. Ez. 26:10,11. Nah. 2:4. 3:2,3.
f Deut. 28:54,55. Lam. 4:3,4. g See on 46:10. Ps. 37:13. Is. 10:3. Ez. 7:5-7,12. 21:25,
29. Hos. 9:7. Luke 21:22.
furnished with patience and hope against every event; for we know not what captivity, poverty, or tribulation may await us: and therefore habitual self-denial, and mortification to the world, constitute our highest wisdom, as well as our bounden duty. But nothing should dismay the servants of the Lord: he will save them from every place, where they have been scattered, and bring them to enjoy his rest and peace: he will be with them, and only correct them in measure; and will not punish any of them with that "everlasting destruction from his presence," which awaits all impenitent transgressors.
NOTES.
CHAP. XLVII. V.1. 'Jeremiah had fore'told, that the Philistines should be conquered 'by Nebuchadnezzar.... (25:20.) 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 Phœnician 'annals. (4)' Lowth . - The Philistines had repeatedly been subjected by the kings of Judah; but they had again recovered strength.-The prophecy was delivered "before Pharaoh took Gaza." This might probably happen, after 'Pharaoh's victories at Megiddo and Carche'mish, when Judea became tributary to him. Lowth. (Notes, 46:2. 2 Chr . 35:20-24.) The Philistines seem to have been at that time in prosperity, and at peace with the Chaldeans. ( Marg . Ref .)- Azzah . ( Marg .) The original word is the same, when rendered Azzah , as when rendered Gaza : beginning with the same letter (y.)
hTyrus and Zidon every helper that remaineth; for the LORD will spoil the Philistines the remnant of the country of 1 Caphtor.
5 Baldness is come upon Gaza; Ashkelon is cut off with the remnant of their valley: how long wilt thou cut thyself?
6 Othou sword of the LORD, how long will it be ere thou be quiet? put up thyself into thy scabbard, rest, and be still.
7 How can it be quiet, seeing the LORD hath given it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the sea-shore? there hath he appointed it. h 25:20-22. Is. 23: Ez. 26:
28: Joel 3:4-8. Am. 1:9,10. Zech. 9:2-5.
i Job 9:13. Is. 20:6. 31:3. Ez. 30:8.
Deut. 14:1.
Mark 5:5.
1 Kings 18:28.
q 12:12. 15:3. 25:27. 51:2023. Deut. 32:42. Ps. 17:13. Is. 10:5,15. Ez. 14:17. 21:35. r See on 4:21. 12:4.-2 Sam. 2:26.
Heb. gather thyself. s 1 Chr. 21:27. Ez. 21:30. John 18:11.
|| Heb. canst thou?
m 48:37. Is. 15:2. Ez. 7:18. t 1 Sam. 15:3. Is. 10:6. 13:3. Mic. 1:16.
n See on 1. Am. 1:6,8. Zeph. 2:4-7. Zech. 9:5-7.
ο 4. 25:20. Ez. 25:16.
p 16:6. 41:5. Lev. 19:28. 21:5.
37:26. 45:1-3. 46:10,11. Ez.
14:17. Am. 3:6.
u Ez. 25:16. Zeph. 2:6,7. x Mic. 6:9.
Stamping, &c.] "At the noise of the gallop'ing of the hoofs of his steeds." שיטת occurs no 'where else in the Hebrew.' Blayney.
V. 4. Every helper , &c.] The destruction of the Philistines would tend to weaken the power of their confederates, the Tyrians and Zidonians; and to prepare the way for their subjection by Nebuchadnezzar. But some understand the words to signify, that the ruin of Tyre and Zidon, the helpers of the Philistines, would leave them without resource in their abject condition. (Notes, Ez. 25:12-17.) Caphtor .] Marg . and Marg . Ref .
V. 5. This represents the total desolations of Gaza, which, with those of Ashkelon, would cause inconsolable grief to the inhabitants: this they would express, by tearing or shaving off their hair, and cutting their flesh. ( Marg . Ref . m--o. -Notes , 16:5-7.41:4-8.)
Cut off .] "Put to silence." Blayney . ( Note , Job 2:12,13.)-- Valley .] Between Gaza and Ashkelon was one of the most beautiful and fruitful valleys in the world.
V. 6. Some understand this verse as the words of the Philistines: but it is not likely, that they should consider Nebuchadnezzar, or the Chaldeans, as "The sword of JEHOVAH." It is rather a most animated and pathetic lamentation of the prophet, over the miseries, which the just vengeance of God was inflicting on the nations for their sins. ( Marg . Ref. Notes , 4:19-27. 12:10--13. 51:20--24.)
V. 7. The prophet here returns an answer 'to the foregoing verse, importing that the 'havoc, made by the sword among the Philis
V.2. Marg . and Marg . Ref. Notes , 46:7,8. 'tines, was the effect of God's irreversible pur
Gen. 7:20-23. Ps . 32:6,7. Is . 8:6-8. 14:28-32. Am . 1:6-10. Zeph . 2:4-7. Zech . 9:2-4.
V.3. ( Marg . Ref . Notes , 8:14-16. Nah . 2: 3-6.) The terrifying circumstances of this invasion would so dismay the Philistines, that they would not dare to look back, even to see what became of their own children. ( Note , Lam . 4 : 3-5 .)
'pose and decree.' Lowth .--The original continues the animated apostrophe of the question, "How canst thou be quiet? &c." ( Marg . and Marg . Ref .-- Notes , Ez . 14:13--21, ν . 17. 21:2-5.)--"The sea-shore," (included in this commission,) would take in Tyre and Zidon, which generally shared the fortunes of the Philistines: and this confirms the opinion, that the proph