Westminster Annotations, Jeremiah · Chapter 49
CHAP. XLIX.
Vers. 1. COncerning] Or, Against, &c.
the Ammonites] Heb. Sons of Ammon. Chap. 41. 10. Who bordered upon the Moabites; and both banded with the Chaldeans against Gods people, 2 King 24. 2. and are therefore joyned together, Zeph. 2. 8. See more of Gods denunciation against this people▪ Ezek. 21. 28. & 25. 2. Amos 1. 13.
Hath Israel no sonnes? hath he no heir?] Why should the Ammonites or their King seise on the land, that I have given to my people, as if for want of heir, it were escheated unto them? Judg. 11. 23, 24.
why then doth their king, &c.] Or, Melchom. The King of the Ammonites: or their idols; whom they set up in place of the true God, in the cities of Israel, which they seise on, 1 King. 11. 5. See vers. 3.
inherit Gad, and his people dwell in his cities] In the land of Gilead, Amos 1. 13. that lay neer unto them, Josh. 13. 24, 25.
V. 2. an alarm of warre] Chap. 4. 19. & 20. 16.
to be heard in Rabbah] Their chief citie, 2 Sam. 11. 1. & 12. 26. Amos 1. 14.
of the Ammonites] Heb. sonnes of Ammon. vers. 1.
it shall be a desolate heap] Deut. 13. 16.
her daughters] The towns and villages belonging to her, Num. 21. 26, 33. Lam. 3. 51.
then shall Israel be heir unto them that were his heirs] That had seised, a… lawfull heir, upon his inheritance, vers. 1.
V. 3. O Heshbon] A citie belonging to Gad: but seised upon by the Moabites and Ammonites, Josh. 13. 8, 10. & 21. 38, 39.
Ai] A citie neer to Heshbon.
cry ye daughters of Rabbah] Ye women of Rabbah: as 2 Sam. 1. 24. Luk. 23. 28.
gird ye with sackcloth] Heb. sacks. Chap. 4. 8.
runne to and fro by the hedges] To hide your selves behind them; for fear.
their king] Or Melchom. vers. 1.
shall go into captivitie] Or, among the captives. Chap. 29. 1. and 30. 3.
his priests and his princes] Chap. 48. 7.
V. 4. gloriest thou in the valleys] Thy rich and fertile soil: the wealth whereof shal not avail thee in the day of Gods vengeance, Prov. 11. 4. Ezek. 7. 19.
thy flowing valley] Or, thy valley floweth away. Lam. 4. 9. The inhabitants of thy valleys; and all their wealth with them, shall be washed away, as with a floud, or land water; shall be wasted and consumed, Chap. 48. 8.
O backsliding daughter] Or, that turnest away from God, Isa. 57. 17. Chap. 31. 22.
that trusted in her treasures] Psal. 49. 6. & 52. 7. Mark. 10. 24. 1 Tim. 6. 17.
Who shall come unto me] Chap. 21. 13.
V. 5. from all those that be about thee] Vers. 32.
ye shall be driven out every man right forth] Not daring to stay, or look back, Gen. 19. 17. Matth. 24. 16,—18. Luk. 7. 31, 32. and 21. 21.
none shall gather him up that wandereth] None shall entertain them, Psal. 27. 10. Mic. 4. 6. Or, none shall bring them together again, to make head against the enemie, Judg. 3. 13. Or, none shall look after any other to succour them, or to take them along with them in their flight; but each one seek to shift for himself, Chap. 47. 3.
V. 6. I will bring again] A promise of restitution: as Chap. 48. 47.
the captivitie] Or, captives. Chap. 31. 23.
V. 7. Concerning Edom] See Isa. 21. 11. Ezek. 25. 12. Amos 1. 11. Obad. 1.
Is wisdome no more] Obad. 8.
in Teman] A citie of Edom; so called from one of Esaus posteritie, Gen. 36. 15.
V. 8. Flee ye] Vers. 30.
turn back] Or, they are turned back.
dwell deep] Heb. make deep to dwell. as Hos. 9. 9. Get as deep as ye can into caves and vaults: where ye may lye hid, and be most out of sight. Judg. 6. 2. 1 Sam 13. 6. & 14. 11.
inhabitants of Dedan] A citie of Arabia, neer to Idumea, Gen. 25. 3. Chap. 25. 23.
the calamitie of Esau] Or, Edom. vers. 7. 10. Esau and Edom; Gen. 36. 8, 9. as Jacob and Israel, the same, Gen. 32. 28.
V. 9. If grape-gatherers come to thee, &c.] Obad. 5.
would they not leave some gleaning-grapes] Implying that God would make an utter riddance of them.
they will destroy] Or, would have destroyed.
till they have enough] Heb. for their sufficiencie. till they had so much as would serve their turn; but would not have taken all.
V. 10. I have made Esau bare] Or, stript Esau. Joel 1. 7. that is, the Edomites; that came of Esau, Gen. 36. 1. as vers. 8. I have caused them to be clean stript of all.
I have uncovered his secret places] His places of covert his sorts and strong holds, Isa. 4. 6. and his hiding holes. vers. 8. Or, the secret places of his hidden treasures; Isa. 45. 3. or both.
his seed is spoiled] His children, Chap. 36. 31.
his brethren] The Moabites, Gen. 19. 37, 38.
his neighbours] The Amalekites and the Philistines, Psal. 83. 7.
he is not] Edom is no more a Kingdome or a State, Psal. 37. 36. Or, there is not any, to say, Leave, commit thine orphans and widows to me, and I will take charge of them. Though some take that vers. 11. as spoken by God, intimating, that there was none besides himself, to undertake the charge of them, Psal. 27. 10.
V. 11. Leave thy fatherlesse children] See the note on vers. 10.
I will preserve them alive] Heb. quicken. Num. 31. 15, 18.
trust in me] Or, trust to me. Relie upon me, as undertaking the charge of them.
V. 12. they whose judgement was not to drink▪ &c.] I have not spared mine own, that have not deserved so much as you: and should I spare you? Chap. 25. 29. Obad. 16.
have assuredly drunken] Heb. drinking drunken. Chap. 25. 28.
that shalt altogether go unpunished] Heb. acquiting be acquited. Chap. 46. 28.
thou shalt surely drinke of it] Heb. drinking drink.
V. 13. I have sworn by my self] Chap. 22. 5.
Bozrah] A citie of Edom, Isa. 63. 1.
shall become a desolation, &c.] Chap. 42. 18. Vers. 17.
perpetuall wastes] Heb. wasts of perpetuitie. Isa. 61. 4.
V. 14. I have heard a rumour, &c.] In a spirituall rapture, or propheticall vision. See Obad. 1.
an ambassadour is sent unto the heathen] Either from God to the Chaldeans, by a secret instinct inciting them to warre upon Edom: (as Chap. 34. 22.) Or, from the Chaldeans, calling upon their confederates to assist them in that expedition. vers. 28.
come against her] Against Edom.
V. 16. the pride of thine heart, &c.] Obad. 3.
that dwellest in the clefts of the rock] In the tops of the high rocks and mountains, that seem inaccessible and impregnable, Gen. 36. 8, 9. Chap. 48. 28.
though thou shouldest make thy nest, &c.] Obad. 4.
as high as the eagle] Job 39. 27, 28.
V. 17. Edom shall be a desolation] Or, utterly desolate. vers. 13.
every one that goeth by it, &c.] Chap. 50. 13.
V. 18. As in the overthrow of Sodome and Gomorrah] Or, According to the overthrow (Amos 4. 11.) of Sodome and Gomorrah. Gen. 19. 25. Chap. 50. 40.
the neighbour cities] Adma and Zeboim, Deut. 29. 23. Hos. 11. 8.
V. 19. he shall come up like a lion, &c.] The Edomites shall come in fiercely upon my people, like the swellings of Jordan; Josh. 3. 15. 1 Chron. 12. 15. but they shall be driven back again, Isa. 59. 19. Or, Nebuchadnezzar, like a lion, Chap. 4. 7. from the fertile soil that Jordan watereth, Zech. 11. 3. having first subdued those parts; or, more violently then the risings of Jordan; Chap. 12. 5. & 51. 42. Or, like a lion, or the lions, that make up to the higher grounds from the plain, upon Jordans overflowing; Zech. 11. 3. Jer. 25. 38. shall break in upon the strong places of Edom: for I will cause him suddenly to overrunne her; Or, the Edomites to flie hastily out of their own countrey. Compare Chap. 50. 44.
from the swelling of Jordan] Or, more violently then the swelling, as Isa. 2. 6. Or, from the rich soil (Heb. excellencie. Isa. 2. 10. Or, pride. Zeph. 2. 10.) of Jordan.
against the habitation of the strong] Or, habitation of strength. Gen. 49. 24. Psal. 74. 15. Or, strong habitation.
but] Or, for. Psal. 116. 13.
I will suddenly make him run away from her] Or, overrunne her. or, runne upon her. as Isa. 23. 7.
who is a chosen man that I may appoint over her] Or, what choice souldiers are there (as Rev. 17. 14.) that I may muster against her? Or, one that is a choice man, or, whom I have made chioce of, (to wit, Nebuchadnezzar) will I appoint (and set on work, to fight) against her.
who will appoint me the time] Or, convent me in judgement. or, challenge me. Job 41. 10.
who is that shepherd] Prince, or Potentate. Chap. 6. 3. & 12. 10. Isa. 31. 4. but alluding to a shepherd, whose flock the lion hath made some spoile of, Isa. 31. 4. Joel 2. 11. Mic. 5. 8.
that will stand before me] Or, can stand before me. Psal. 76. 7. Nahum 1. 7. So Pro. 27. 4.
V 20. the inhabitants of Teman] Vers. 7.
the least of the flock shall draw them out] They shall not be able to resist his petty Captains; or to make head against the meanest of his souldiers, Isa. 36. 9.
he shall make their habitations desolate] The enemie; and God by him. Or, their habitation shall be made desolate: as Chap. 51. 30.
V. 21. The earth is moved at the noise of their fall] Ezek. 32. 10. Chap. 50. 46.
the noise thereof was heard in the Red sea] Or, unto (Isa. 8. 8.) the Red sea. So called at first in likelihood from the land of Edom, which bordereth upon it, as the Idumean sea, because Edom signifieth red, Gen. 25. 30. but by the Hebrews tearmed the reitie, or weedie sea, Exod. 13. 18. in regard of the plenty of reits, or sea-weeds growing in it, being but sh…alie, and especially about its banks. Implying, that the out-cry should passe through the whole countrey, even to the sea-side.
V. 22. flie as the eagle, &c.] Chap. 48. 40.
as the heart of a woman in her pangs] Chap. 48. 41.
V. 23. Concerning Damascus] The head citie of Syria, Isa. 7. 8. put here for the whole countrey, Isa. 17. 1. Amos 1. 3.
Hamath is confounded, and Arpad] Hamath, Num. 13. 21. and Arpad; Isa. 37. 13. two other cities, giving denomination to two other parts of the countrey.
they have heard evill tidings] Of the coming of the Chaldeans.
they are faint-hearted] Heb. melted. Isa. 14. 31. Ezek. 21. 15.
sorrow on the sea] Or, as on the sea. Psal. 107. 25,—27. Or, on those that dwell upon the sea-coast, Isa. 23. 4. yet alluding withall to the unquietnesse and restlesnesse of the neighbouring sea, Isa. 57. 20.
anguish and sorrows have taken her as a woman in travail] Psal. 48. 6. Chap. 31. 21.
V. 25. How is the citie of praise] Or, the most renowned citie. Chap. 51. 41.
not left] But destroyed. The speech of the King or people of Syria; wondring to see so strong and so fair cities so ruined.
the city of my joy] That I so much rejoyced in.
V. 26. Therefore] Or, For. or, Because. Isa. 26. 14. or, Surely, Jer. 5. 2.
her young men shall fall in her streets] Chap. 50. 30.
V. 27. I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus] Amos 1. 4.
it shall consume the palaces] Chap. 17. 27.
of Benhadad] The King of Syria, of whom 1 King. 20. 1. by whom at first built. Or, of the King simply: their Kings being commonly called by that name: as those of Egypt by the name of Pharaoh.
V. 28. Concerning Kedar] People of Arabia; that lived most in tents, Gen. 25. 13. Psal. 120. 5. See Isa. 21. 13.
of Hazor] Of which, Josh. 11. 10, 11. Judg. 4. 2.
Arise ye] Vers. 14.
spoil the men of the east] Isa. 11. 14. Heb. sonnes of the East. Job 1. 3.
V. 29. their curtains] Such as they used about their tents; or, whereof they consisted. Isa. 54. 2. Chap. 10. 20.
their camels] Job 1. 3. Isa. 60. 6.
Fear is on every side] Chap. 6. 25. & 46. 5.
V. 30. Flee] Vers. 8.
get you farre off] Heb. flie greatly.
dwell deep] See vers. 8.
V. 31. Arise] Vers. 28.
get you up unto the wealthy nation] Or, that is at ease; or, rest. Chap. 22. 21.
that dwelleth without care] Or, securely; confidently. Isa. 47. 8.
have neither gates nor barres] But live scattered in tents, Cant. 1. 5.
dwell alone] In the wildernesse: or, apart from other, by themselves, Mic. 7. 14.
V. 32. their camels] Vers. 29.
the multitude of their cattel] For they lived upon feeding of cattel, Isa. 60. 7.
I will scatter into all winds] Into all parts of the wide world, vers. 36. Ezek. 5. 10.
that are in the utmost corners] Heb. cut off into corners. or, that have the corners of their hair polled. Chap. 9. 26. & 25. 23.
bring their calamitie from all sides] Vers. 5.
V. 33. Hazor shall be a dwelling for dragons, &c.] Chap. 9. 11. & 10. 22. & 51. 37.
V. 34. The word of the LORD that came, &c.] See Chap. 1. 2, 4.
against Elam] Or, touching, (as Jer. 22. 11.) or, concerning (as Jer. 22. 18.) Elam, that is, the Persians; so called of Elam, the sonne of Shem, Gen. 10. 22. See Chap. 25. 25.
in the beginning of the reigne of Zedekiah] About the time that the Prophet was by God commanded, to make those yokes, and send them to the neighbouring Kings, implying their subjection to the King of Babylon, Chap. 27. 1, 3. and when the false Prophet Hananiah had broken the yoke, that the Prophet himself by Gods appointment wore; withall promising a dissolution of the Babylonian dominion, and a return of the Jews abiding in captivitie at Babylon, Chap. 28. 1, - 3.
V. 35. I will break the bow of Elam] In stead of that yoke, which Hananiah brake, implying a dissolution of the Chaldean power, Chap. 28. 2. God threatneth to break the bow, that is, the main might, Psal. 37. 15. Hos. 1. 5. of Elam, by that Chaldean power; that so Zedekiah, by ruine of that people thus foretold, might conceive small hope of having that made good, which that false Prophet endevoured to make him beleeve, Chap. 29. 3, 4.
the bow] Which they trusted most unto; as being expert archers, Psal. 18. 34. & 46. 9. Chap. 51. 56. See Isa. 22. 6.
V. 36. upon Elam will I bring the foure winds from the foure quarters of heaven] People from all parts of the world: (as Dan. 7. 2.) either serving under Nebuchadnezzar; vers. 38. or, at least, that shall joyn together in a warre against them.
will scatter them towards all those winds] Vers. 32.
V. 37. that seek their life] Heb. soul. Chap. 46. 26.
my fierce anger] Heb. the fervour of my nose; or, wrath. Chap. 25. 37, 38.
I will send the sword after them] Chap. 48. 2.
V. 38. I will set my throne in Elam] I will place Nebuchadnezzar there: as Chap. 43. 10. Or, I will execute judgement upon them; as having erected a tribunall, or seat of judicature, among them: as Dan. 7. 9,—11. Or, as others, I will afterward settle the throne of Cyrus there, Isa. 45. 1.
V. 39. in the latter dayes] Heb. in posteritie of dayes. Chap. 48. 47. Either when the tearm of the Chaldean Monarchie shall be near an end: or principally under the kingdome of Christ.
I will bring again the captivitie of Elam] As vers. 6.