Jeremias 49
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Jeremias 49
JEREMIAH 49 CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS This chapter deals with the prophecies against Ammon, Jer. 49:1-6 Edom, Jer. 49:7-22 Syria, Jer. 49:23-27 Kedar and Hazor, Jer. 49:28-33 Elam, Jer. 49:34-39 Many cities are listed, as in chapter 48 (judgment on Moab). Ammon, Jer. 49:1-6 Rabbah, Jer. 49:2,3 Heshbon, Jer. 49:3 Ai, Jer. 49:3 Edom, Jer. 49:7-22 Teman, Jer. 49:7 Dedan, Jer. 49:8 Bozrah, Jer. 49:13,22 Syria, Jer. 49:23-27 Damascus, Jer. 49:23,34,27 Hamath, Jer. 49:23 Arpad, Jer. 49:23 "the city of praise, "the town of My joy," Jer. 49:25 (i.e. Damascus) As there was a ray of hope and restoration related to Moab in Jer. 48:47 (cf. Jer. 12:14-17), so now there is also a ray of hope and restoration for Ammon, Jer. 49:6 Elam, Jer. 49:39 There is a recurrent emphasis on YHWH speaking. thus says the Lord, Jer. 49:1a, 2g, 12a, 18, 28 declares the Lord, Jer. 49:2a, 6c, 13b, 16h, 31b, 32d, 38c, 39c declares the Lord God of hosts, Jer. 49:5b thus says the Lord of hosts, Jer. 49:7b, 26c, 35a a message from the Lord, Jer. 49:14 It is possible that Jer. 49:25 is also a word from YHWH, but not probable; see note.
Jeremias 49:1-6
49:1 "Ammon" These people (like Moab) were descendants of Lot by his own daughter (cf. Gen. 19:38). Therefore, they were relatives of Abraham's family. Their territory was northeast of Moab on the eastern side of Jordan. A group known as "Amorites" lived next to the Jordan River and the Ammonites to the east, closer to the desert. Their capital was Rabbath. They were a potent rival to King Saul, but a vassal to Kings David and Solomon. The Jerome Biblical Commentary (p. 334) reminds us that Ammon rejoiced at the fall of Jerusalem (cf. Ezek. 25:1-7) their king, Baalis, encouraged Ishmael to assassinate the new Babylonian governor, Gedaliah (cf. Jer. 40:11-16) SPECIAL TOPIC: AMMON 49:1,3 NASB, MT "Malcam" "Milcham" NRSV, NJB, JPSOA, REB "Milcom" "Molech" Peshitta (JPSOA footnote) "Malcom" "Melchol" The MT has "their king." All of these names are a word play on the Hebrew word for "king," מלך (BDB 572). In 1 Kgs. 11:5,33, this Ammonite national deity is called "Milcom," but in Jer. 49:7 "Molech" (cf. 1 Kgs. 11:7), which is the more common name of this fertility god. The UBS Text Project (p. 304) gives "Milcom" a "B" rating. SPECIAL TOPIC: MOLECH ▣ "Gad" This refers to the tribal allocation of Gad (cf. Num. 32:33-37; Josh. 13:24-28). It included the territory of the Amorites and part of the territory of Ammon. The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh asked for and received their tribal inheritance on the eastern side of the Jordan River (cf. Josh. 13:8). The exact reference to Ammon expanding into the territory once held by the tribe of Gad is during the period of Assyrian power (i.e. Tiglath-pileser III in 734-732 B.C., cf. 2 Kgs. 15:29). SPECIAL TOPIC: KINGS OF ASSYRIA 49:2 "a trumpet" The word is not in the MT, only the CONSTRUCT "cry of battle" (BDB 929 CONSTRUCT BDB 536). It may refer to a particular battle cry (Josh. 6:5-6; Jdgs. 7:16-18; Ezek. 21:22) the blast of a trumpet (cf. Jer. 4:19; 20:16; see SPECIAL TOPIC: HORNS USED BY ISRAEL) ▣ "towns" This term (BDB 123 I) is literally "daughters," but is often used in an idiomatic way (i.e. BDB 123 I, #4) for "surrounding villages" (cf. Num. 21:25,32; Jdg. 1:27; Neh. 11:25-31). In Jer. 49:3 it is difficult to know if the word means inhabitants of Rabbah villages around Rabbah 49:3 This series of IMPERATIVES calls on the Ammonites to grieve over their defeat and exile. wail ‒ BDB 410, KB 413, Hiphil IMPERATIVE cry out ‒ BDB 858, KB 1042, Qal IMPERATIVE gird. . .sackcloth ‒ BDB 291, KB 291, Qal IMPERATIVE lament ‒ BDB 704, KB 763, Qal IMPERATIVE rush back and forth ‒ BDB 1001, KB 1439, Hithpolel IMPERATIVE or possibly "gash yourselves," REB, cf. Jer. 48:37; this line is missing in the LXX) SPECIAL TOPIC: GRIEVING RITES ▣ "Ai" A city by this name is unknown in Ammon. NJB changes it to "Ar." The LXX has "Gai." The best explanation comes from R. K. Harrison (Tyndale OT Commentary, "Jeremiah," p. 179). He notes that when "Ai" is used for a city it always has the ARTICLE, but there is no ARTICLE here. The word itself (BDB 743) means "ruins" and, therefore, is a reference to Heshbon's destruction. The UBS Text Project, p. 304, gives "Ai" a "B" rating. ▣ "sackcloth" See SPECIAL TOPIC: GRIEVING RITES. ▣ "rush back and forth inside the walls" "run to and fro by the walls" "slash yourselves with whips" "run about in confusion" "score your bodies with gashes" NJB, JPSOA "run to and fro among the sheep-pens" "be disquieted" "run about covered with gashes" The VERB (BDB 1001, KB 1439, Hithpoel IMPERATIVE implies a quick movement. The next word in the MT is walls or hedges (BDB 155 I). Therefore, this would represent the frightened movement of the soldiers guarding the fortified cities. As you can see from the variety in the translations, there is a popular emendation from "walls" to "gashes." This would refer either to signs of grief and fear idolatry practices to attack their deities The only difference in the words is the common "r" ‒ "d" confusion. within the walls #8210; בגדרות with gashes ‒ בגדדות 49:4 Ammon had some knowledge of YHWH. Instead of trusting in Him they trusted in their geography (i.e. fertile valleys, lit. "flowing," BDB 264, KB 206) their treasures (i.e. possibly revenue from trading routes, cf. Jer. 48:7) The JPSOA translates the first two lines as: "Why do you glory in strength, Your strength is drained" They interpret the Hebrew root (BDB 770) "valley" as coming from an Akkadian root for "strength" (cf. NRSV, TEV, REB, NET). 49:5 Josephus (Antiq. 10.9.7) mentions that Ammon was devastated by Nebuchadnezzar II in his twenty-third year (i.e. 582 B.C.). ▣ "Lord of Hosts" See SPECIAL TOPIC: LORD OF HOSTS 49:6 This is another promise of restoration like Jer. 48:47 (cf. Jer. 12:14-17). The same terminology is also used of Elam in Jer. 49:39. These promises have an eschatological orientation, not limited to these specific nationalities, but to the promised inclusion of "the nations" through Israel's God and His Messiah (i.e. Ps. 22:27; 66:1-4; 86:8-10; Isa. 2:2-4; 12:4-5; 25:6-9; 42:6-12; 45:22-23; 49:5-6; 51:4-5; 56:6-8; 60:1-3; 66:23; Micah 4:1-4; Mal. 1:11; John 3:16; 4:42; 1 Tim. 2:4; Titus 2:11; 2 Pet. 3:9; 1 John 2:1; 4:14)! Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah! SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN
Jeremias 49:7-13
49:7 "Edom" There is no hope given to Edom, as there is to the other nations. Edom was a perennial enemy of Judah. SPECIAL TOPIC: EDOM AND ISRAEL ▣ "wisdom. . .good counsel" There are several words used to describe Edom's reputation of having "wise men" (use of three questions). Job was probably from Edom (i.e. "the land of Uz," and one of his friends from Teman, a city in Edom). wisdom (BDB 315) counsel (BDB 420) the prudent (BDB 106, KB 122, Qal ACTIVE PARTICIPLE) Jeremiah 9:23-24 is very clear that true wisdom is inseparably linked to a knowledge of YHWH. ▣ "Teman" This NOUN (BDB 412) means "south" (cf. Josh. 12:3; 13:4) or "south wind" (cf. Ps. 78:26). It is used as a designation for a descendant of Esau, Gen. 36:11; 1 Chr. 1:36 an Arabian clan, Gen. 36:15; 1 Chr. 1:53 a territory or country, Gen. 36:34; Obadiah Jer. 49:9 a city, Jer. 49:7,20; Ezek 25:13; Amos 1:12 ▣ "decayed" NKJV, NRSV, NJB "vanished" "disappeared" JPSOA, AB "gone stale" "dispersed abroad" "taken away" "turned bad" This VERB (BDB 710, KB 769) in Qal means "to be loosed." This is the only occurrence of the VERB in Niphal. The root has several senses and different lexicons list them differently. BDB 710 VERB (1) Qal ‒ go free, be unrestrained (2) Niphal ‒ let loose in the sense of dismissed NOUN ‒ excess (cf. Exod. 26:12) KB 769 ‒ VERB to stink (Syrian) to stop obstinance falsehood hanging down projecting lounge around KB #a. seems to fit the VERB form and context best (KB 769 II), but it is found only here, which makes certainty impossible. 49:8 This is another series of IMPERATIVES, like Jer. 49:3, related to Edom's judgment. flee away ‒ BDB 630, KB 681, Qal IMPERATIVE, cf. Jer. 49:24; 46:21 turn back ‒ BDB 815, KB 937, Hophal IMPERATIVE, cf. Jer. 49:24; 46:21 dwell in the depths IMPERATIVE BDB 770, KB 847, Hiphil IMPERATIVE (i.e. an attempt to hide, cf. Jer. 49:10, or possibly to leave the trans-Jordan plateau and return to their original homeland, cf. NET Bible, p. 1432, #5) ▣ "Dedan" This was an Arabian tribe connected with Sheba (cf. Gen. 25:3; 1 Chr. 1:32). They are somehow related to Edom in Jer. 25:23 and Ezek. 25:13. The best guess is that a group/city/clan of them had settled in the territory of Edom; not that Edom's influence had spread that far south and east. 49:9-10 This is very similar to Obadiah 5-6. 49:9 "gleanings" This term (BDB 760) is from Lev. 19:9-10; 23:22; Deut. 24:20-22, where it describes YHWH's provision for the poor as it relates to harvesting a field. The grain which was not gathered the first time through and the grain in the corners was left for the poor to harvest enough to eat but not to gather in quantities to sell. 49:10 There is a play on the word "offspring" (lit. "seed," BDB 282) connected to "gleaning." Edom will be completely and utterly destroyed, nothing left. ▣ "and he is no more" This represents the MT. Some versions of the LXX change this to "and there is none to say," which gives a context to Jer. 49:11, thereby making specific who the speaker is (i.e. the invaders). 49:11 Is Jer. 49:11 (1) another ray of hope linked to Jer. 49:12 or (2) an affirmation of complete destruction of even the most vulnerable? The context fits #2 best (cf. Jer. 49:20). 49:12 "the cup" The word "cup" (BDB 468) is often an idiom for judgment. As one drinks and becomes drunk with its physical and emotional consequences (see SPECIAL TOPIC: ALCOHOL AND ALCOHOLISM), the idiom of "cup" became a way to describe poor choices and their consequences. Some examples of this idiom: Job 21:20 Psalm 60:3; 75:8 Isa. 29:9; 51:17; 63:6 Jer. 25:15-16,28; 49:12 Lamentations 4:21 Ezek. 23:32-34 It is used in the NT of Jesus ‒ Matt. 20:22; 26:38-42; Mark 14:36; Luke 22:47; John 18:11 the beast ‒ Rev. 14:10; 16:19; 19:15 ▣ "certainly drink" There are three INFINITIVE ABSOLUTES and IMPERFECT VERBS of the same roots used for emphasis in this verse. certainly drunk ‒ BDB 1059, KB 1667 (three INFINITIVES and two IMPERFECTS) same as #1 completely acquitted ‒ BDB 667, KB 720 (one INFINITIVE and two IMPERFECTS) 49:13 "I have sworn by Myself" There is no one greater to swear by than YHWH Himself (i.e. "as I live," cf. Jer. 22:5; 44:26; 51:14; Gen. 22:16; Isa. 45:23; Amos 6:8; Heb. 6:13,18). Oath taking was a cultural way of affirming the absolute trustworthiness/truthfulness of a statement or promise. ▣ "Bozrah" This was a major city (possibly the capital in the seventh century) in Edom. The "Bozrah" mentioned in Jer. 48:24 is an unknown site in Moab. The root for the city's name (BDB 131 II) is related to the VERB for "grape-gathering" (lit. "those who cut off") in Jer. 49:9 (BDB 130, KB 148, Qal ACTIVE PARTICIPLE). ▣ "an object of horror, a reproach, a ruin and a curse" This is a series of terms used to describe people's reaction to God's judgment. "a curse" ‒ BDB 46, #4, "execration" ‒ Num. 5:27; Deut. 29:21; Jer. 29:18; 42:18; 44:12 "a horror" ‒ BDB 1031 I, "appallment," "horror" ‒ Deut. 28:37; 2 Kgs. 22:19; 2 Chr. 29:8; 30:7; Jer. 5:30; 25:9,11,28,38; 29:18; 42:18; 44:12,22; 49:13,17; 50:23; 51:37,41; Micah 6:16; Zeph.2:15 "a reproach" ‒ BDB 357, #3 ‒ "a Taunt" ‒ Ps. 31:11; 44:13; 69:10; 79:4; 89:41; 109:25; Isa. 30:5; Jer. 6:10; 20:8; 24:9; 29:18; 42:18; 44:8,12; 49:13; Ezek. 5:14,15; Dan. 9:16; 12:2 "an imprecation (i.e. curse)" ‒ BDB 887 ‒ Deut. 11:26,28; 21:23; 23:5; 28:15,45; 2 Kgs. 22:19; Ps. 109:17,18; Jer. 24:9; 25:18; 29:22; Zech. 8:13 "a ruin" ‒ BDB 351 II, cf. Ezek. 29:10; 38:8; Zeph. 2:4
Jeremias 49:14-16
49:14 There is a literary relationship between this verse and the opening verses of Obadiah. I assume that Jeremiah has influenced Obadiah and, thereby makes Obadiah an early post-exilic prophet (which goes against the order of the book in the scroll of the Minor Prophets; see SPECIAL TOPIC: POST EXILIC CHART). YHWH's prophet is calling on a foreign invader to decimate Edom. gather yourselves ‒ BDB 867, KB 1062, Hithpael IMPERATIVE come against her ‒ BDB 97, KB 112, Qal IMPERATIVE rise up for battle ‒ BDB 877, KB 1086, Qal IMPERATIVE, cf. Obad. 1:1 49:16 "As for the terror of you" "Your fierceness" "the terror you inspire" "your pride" "your reputation for ferocity" "your horrible nature" (footnote says "meaning of Hebrew uncertain") "your overbearing arrogance" This word (BDB 814) occurs only here. Most lexicons relate it to the VERB listed just above it in BDB "shuddering" (i.e. in fear, cf. Job 21:6; Ps. 55:5; Isa. 21:4; Ezek. 7:18). The AB (p. 331) speculates that it may relate to the name of an idol (BDB 814), possibly mentioned in 1 Kgs. 15:13 (twice), because the NOUN is FEMININE but the VERB ("deceive," BDB 674 II, KB 728, Hiphil PERFECT) is MASCULINE. ▣ "arrogance" Edom thought her topography (i.e. a high table land or plateau) would make her immune to invasion but she was mistaken. Just as Moab was mistaken.
Jeremias 49:17-19
49:17 "an object of horror. . .hiss" See note at Jer. 49:13 for other words used to describe ANE shame and reproach. Here everyone who passes by it will be horrified ‒ BDB 1030, KB 1563, Qal IMPERFECT, cf. Lev. 26:32; Jer. 18:16; 19:8; 50:13 everyone who passes by it will hiss ‒ BDB 1056, KB 1656, Qal IMPERFECT, cf. 1 Kgs. 9:8; Jer. 19:8; 50:13; Lam. 2:15 SPECIAL TOPIC: HORROR, REPROACH, RUIN, CURSE 49:18 "like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah with its neighbors" Sodom and Gomorrah were the wicked cities destroyed by God in Genesis 19. Their destruction and lack of habitation became a cultural idiom (cf. Deut. 29:23; Isa. 1:9-10; 13:19; Jer. 23:14; 50:40; Lam. 4:6; Ezek. 16:46,48,49,53,55,56; Amos 4:11; Zeph. 2:9; Matt. 10:15; 11:23-24; Rom. 9:29; 2 Pet. 2:6; Jude Jer. 49:7; Rev. 11:8). ▣ "a son of man" This is the Hebrew CONSTRUCT ben-adam (i.e. Ezek. 2:1), which meant human person (i.e. Job 25:6; Ps. 8:4; Ezek. 2:1; Dan. 8:17). In this verse it is parallel to "no one." SPECIAL TOPIC: THE SON OF MAN, I. 49:19-21 This is very similar to Jer. 50:44-46, obviously common cultural idioms. 49:19 "like a lion from the thickets of the Jordan" At one time the Jordan River valley was heavily forested and had many wild lions. SPECIAL TOPIC: LIONS IN THE OT ▣ "whoever is chosen I shall appoint over it" This phrase is uncertain in the MT. Nebuchadnezzar II was YHWH's choice for judgment and Cyrus II was HIs choice for restoration (cf. Isa. 44:28; 45:1-7). Some commentators change this phrase so as to refer to the imagery of a shepherd trying to protect the sheep from the lion (AB footnote e, p. 329). ▣ "For who is like Me" See SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM ▣ "who will summon Me into court?" NKJV, REB "who will arraign Me?" NRSV, JPSOA "who can summon Me?" "who would dare challenge me?" "who can haul me into court?" "who can testify against me?" "there is no one who can call me to account" The UBS Text Project, p. 308, makes two suggestions. and who will summon me ‒ ומי יעידני and who will be my equal ‒ ומי יעודני The VERB in the MT (BDB 416, KB 419) is in the Hiphil stem that means to appoint someone to a certain place. The second option is in the Hophal stem and means to set before. Both fit the context. The UBS Text Project cannot decide which is original and gives option #1 a "C" rating (considerable doubt).
Jeremias 49:20-22
49:20 "the plan of the Lord" History and nations are in YHWH's control! He establishes and destroys (cf. Jer. 1:10). His ultimate plan is the redemption of all human beings. SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN ▣ "Teman" This was a city in the southern region of Edom. The imagery denotes the complete exile of this city and region (cf. vv. 7,20; Amos 1:12). See full note at v. 7. 49:21 "at the Red Sea" This geographical location is uncertain. Please see the Special Topic below. SPECIAL TOPIC: THE RED SEA 49:22 "He will mount up and swoop like an eagle" Nebuchadnezzar's army is depicted in this imagery in Jer. 4:13; 48:40; and Lam. 4:19. It denoted a swift, powerful, deadly attack. ▣ "Bozrah" This was an ancient capital of Edom, mentioned several times in judgment oracles (cf. Isa. 34:6; 63:1; Jer. 49:13,22; Amos 1:12). SPECIAL TOPIC: EDOM AND ISRAEL ▣ "a woman in labor" This was a recurrent idiom of fear and anguish (cf. Jer. 4:31; 30:6; 48:41; Isa. 13:8; 26:17; Micah 4:9-10). At that moment they were helpless! SPECIAL TOPIC: BIRTH PAINS
Jeremias 49:23-27
49:23 "Damascus" This was the capital of the Syrian kingdom (i.e. Aramean kingdom, cf. Gen. 14:15; 15:2; 1 Kings 11:24; 15:18; 19:15; 20:34; 2 Kings 8:7,9; 14:28; 16:10-12; Isa. 7:8). It was north/northeast of Israel. It was part of the land bridge between Mesopotamia and Egypt. Caravans and armies took this route because of the desert to the east of Palestine. It was conquered by the Assyrian king, Tiglath-pileser in 733 B.C. SPECIAL TOPIC: KINGS OF ASSYRIA ▣ "put to shame" See SPECIAL TOPIC: SHAME 49:23-24 "they have heard bad news" This refers to the invasion of the Neo-Babylonian army. Notice the series of words used to describe their fear. put to shame heard bad news disheartened anxiety (this line of poetry is uncertain) cannot be calmed helpless turned away to flee panic has gripped her distress pangs 49:24 "like a woman in childbirth" This is a recurrent image (BDB 408) for fear and pain (cf. Jer. 6:24; 13:21; 22:23; 49:22; 50:43; Ps. 48:6; Isa. 13:8; 21:3; 42:14; Hosea 13:13; Micah 4:9,10). SPECIAL TOPIC: BIRTH PAINS 49:25 It is hard to know who is speaking these words. YHWH people of Syria There is no reason why Damascus should be called "the city of praise" or "the town of My joy" by YHWH. Poetry is so condensed and figurative that it is often difficult to follow who is speaking. In the judgment of the nations poems of those who are being judged are often quoted as hypothetical of what they would/might have said. ▣ "has not been deserted" This goes against the rest of the context of judgment. Many scholars see the "not" (Hebrew לא, BDB 518) as a grammatical feature called "an emphatic lamedh" (Hebrew L) and, therefore, meaning, "has been completely deserted." 49:26 This is very similar to Jer. 50:30, obviously cultural idioms and war imagery (cf. Jer. 49:27; Amos 1:4) is/are repeated often in ANE poetry. ▣ "the Lord of hosts" See SPECIAL TOPIC: The Lord of Hosts 49:27 "Ben-hadad" This means "son of Hadad." Hadad was one of the fertility gods of the Ancient Near East (i.e. a storm/rain god, like Ba'al). Many of the kings of Syria were called by this name. 1 Kings 15:18,20; 2 Chr. 16:2,4 1 Kings 20 (mentioned by name 13 times) 2 Kings 6:24; 8:7,9 2 Kings 13:3,24,25; Amos 1:4
Jeremias 49:28-33
49:28 "Kedar" This name (BDB 871) originally referred to the second son of Ishmael (cf. Gen. 25:13; 1 Chr. 1:29). The family became a desert, nomadic clan (Bedouin) that lived in tents in northern Arabia (cf. Jer. 49:29; Ps. 120:5; Song of Songs 1:5; Isa. 60:7). Joesphus (Apion I.19) quotes a Babylonian historian, Berossus, saying that Nebuchadnezzar II took over the area where they lived and controlled the caravan routes (International Dictionary of the Bible, vol. 3, pp. 3-4). ▣ "the kingdoms of Hazor" This does not refer to the Canaanite city that was defeated by both Joshua (cf. Josh. 11:1-15) and later Deborah/Barak (cf. Judges 4-5). The Hebrew word (BDB 347) could also be understood as "unwalled villages" (BDB 347, cf. Gen. 25:16; Isa. 42:11). This refers to Arabian desert dwellers to the east of Ammon who were conquered by Nebuchadnezzar II in about 598 B.C. This event is also recorded by Josephus. Nebuchadnezzar II is commanded by YHWH to conquer. rise ‒ BDB 877, KB 1086, Qal IMPERATIVE go up ‒ BDB 748, KB 828, Qal IMPERATIVE devastate ‒ BDB 994, KB 1418, Qal IMPERATIVE commands #1 and #2 are repeated in Jer. 49:31 ▣ "the men of the east" This descriptive phrase can refer to different people groups on the eastern side of the Jordan (cf. Gen. 29:1; Jdg. 6:3,33; 7:12; 8:10; 1 Kgs. 4:30; Job 1:3; Isa. 11:14; Jer. 49:28; Ezek. 25:4,10). 49:29 "Terror on every side" This phrase is used several times in Jeremiah (cf. Jer. 6:25; 20:3,10; 46:5; 49:29; Lam. 2:22). This would be similar imagery to "the four winds" of Jer. 49:36. 49:30 This is another series of three IMPERATIVES directed to Kedar and Hazor. run ‒ BDB 630; KB 681, Qal IMPERATIVE flee ‒ BDB 626, KB 678, Qal IMPERATIVE dwell in the depths ‒ BDB 770, KB 847, Hiphil IMPERATIVE This was common imagery; see Jer. 49:8. ▣ "a plan" Nebuchadnezzar's plan is really YHWH's plan (i.e. Jer. 49:20; 51:10,11; Isa. 14:24). Nebuchadnezzar II is His instrument of judgment, as Cyrus II will later be His instrument of restoration. 49:32 "who cut the corners of their hair" This was a practice of several desert tribes (cf. Jer. 9:26; 25:23). It is uncertain if it was idolatrous (cf. Lev. 19:27) or societal i.e. a ritual or a standard of appearance). 49:33 "a haunt of jackals" It is possible that the references to the destruction and lack of human habitation was an idiom of complete and continuing devastation (cf. Isa. 34:10) the presence of the demonic (i.e. cursed place, cf. Jer. 9:11; 10:22; Isa. 34:11-15 The NEB, based on new archaeological finds, was the first English translation to see these animals as possibly the demonic behind pagan idols. SPECIAL TOPIC: DEMONIC (OT) ▣ "a son of man" See note at Jer. 49:18. SPECIAL TOPIC: SON OF MAN
Jeremias 49:34
49:34 "Elam" This represents the highland area east of the Tigris River. Over the centuries its territory expanded and contracted. Both Susa/Shushan and Persepolis were in its territory. Today it would be in Iran. The Jerome Biblical Commentary (p. 335) mentions an account found in the "Babylonian Chronicles" that tells of Nebuchadnezzar II defeating an Elamite king in about 597 B.C. The exiles in Babylon may have been hoping that Nebuchadnezzar II would be defeated by Elam. This hope was dashed! ▣ This prophecy is dated in the same time frame as Jer. 28:1. Zedekiah reigned from 597 B.C. to the fall and destruction of Jerusalem in 586 B.C.
Jeremias 49:35-39
49:35 "break the bow" This was an idiom for the destruction of a nation's military power (cf. Jer. 51:56; Psa. 46:9; Isa. 22:6). Apparently Elam was famous for its archers. 49:36 "the four winds of heaven" The number "four" is often used to represent the whole world. The inhabitants of Elam will be scattered out of existence but notice God's promise in Jer. 49:39. See note at Jer. 49:6, where the same terminology and promise is given to Ammon (but not to Edom). SPECIAL TOPIC: SYMBOLIC NUMBERS IN SCRIPTURE, #2 49:37 Again common imagery is used as before in Jer. 9:16. 49:38 "I will set My throne in Elam" This seems to be a reference to Nebuchandezzar's control of the area, functioning as YHWH's chosen vessel of judgment. 49:39 This is a repeated promise and hope (cf. Jer. 30:3,18; 31:23; 32:44; 33:7,11,26; 48:47; 49:6,39). See full note at Jer. 48:47 and 49:6. This seems to be an eschatological reference (cf. Deut. 30:3-5). SPECIAL TOPIC: THE LAST DAYS ▣ NASB, NRSV "I shall restore" "I will bring back" The MT has "return" (BDB 996, KB 1477, Qal IMPERFECT but the Qere form is Hiphil IMPERFECT of the same VERB).