Jer. 49:1 ¶ Concerning the Ammonites, thus saith the LORD; Hath Israel no sons? hath he no heir? why then doth their king inherit Gad, and his people dwell in his cities?
Jer. 49:2 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will cause an alarm of war to be heard in Rabbah of the Ammonites; and it shall be a desolate heap, and her daughters shall be burned with fire: then shall Israel be heir unto them that were his heirs, saith the LORD.
This chapter opens with a message from God to the Ammonites. This nation also descended from Lot through incest with his daughter and is part of current day Jordan. The prophet is making reference to the fact that Ammon had taken over control of the land allotted to Gad after they had been taken captive by Assyria. This, of course, was acting with pride and insolence against the God of Israel. Who should have been the rightful heirs of the land? The Jews in the Kingdom of Judah.
In consequence of their actions, the LORD declares that Ammon will be destroyed and her towns and villages burned with fire. Rabbah is identified in scripture as a royal city and is today known as Amman, Jordan.
He also declares that Israel will once again take possession of her land from those that had robbed her.
Jer. 49:3 Howl, O Heshbon, for Ai is spoiled: cry, ye daughters of Rabbah, gird you with sackcloth; lament, and run to and fro by the hedges; for their king shall go into captivity, and his priests and his princes together.
Jer. 49:4 Wherefore gloriest thou in the valleys, thy flowing valley, O backsliding daughter? that trusted in her treasures, saying, Who shall come unto me?
Heshbon and Ai both reference cities in Moab, cousins to the Ammonites. This indicates that both Ammon and Moab would fall to Babylon as part of the same campaign. Several translations identify the “king” as making reference to Molech, the false god of both nations, known as Chemosh to the Moabites. The main point being that the false god would go into captivity with the people that worship him, because it is only through the misguided faith of the people that he has status to begin with.
The people of Ammon took pride in their wealth and the abundance produced by her lands, as did their cousins in Moab. They thought they were invincible, but they would soon realize that their confidence was totally misplaced. They were both “backsliding daughters” in that they descended from a “just” man, a man described in scripture as righteous, a man who believed in Almighty God.
2 Peter 2:6–8 “And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)”
Jer. 49:5 Behold, I will bring a fear upon thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts, from all those that be about thee; and ye shall be driven out every man right forth; and none shall gather up him that wandereth.
Jer. 49:6 And afterward I will bring again the captivity of the children of Ammon, saith the LORD.
The LORD is declaring that His judgment against the Ammonites as carried out by the Babylonians will cause great terror. In their attempt to flee from the danger, they will find that no one is willing to take them in. In other words—you cannot escape God’s judgment. According to Josephus, Ammon experienced God’s judgment at the hands of the Babylonians five years after the destruction of Jerusalem.
In light of such an alarming message, the LORD provides a ray of hope for the people of Ammon; He will one day bring them back to possess their land once again along with Moab.
Jeremiah 48:47 “Yet will I bring again the captivity of Moab in the latter days, saith the LORD.”
According to the book of 1Maccabees, Ammon once again existed as a mighty people after falling to the Babylonians: “5:6 Afterward he passed over to the children of Ammon, where he found a mighty power, and much people, with Timotheus their captain.”
The wording of verse 6, however, indicates that the true fulfillment of this prophecy will occur “in the latter days,” which I believe is a reference to the coming Messianic Kingdom.
Jer. 49:7 ¶ Concerning Edom, thus saith the LORD of hosts; Is wisdom no more in Teman? is counsel perished from the prudent? is their wisdom vanished?
The LORD now directs the prophet’s message to the people of Edom. They too were cousins of the people of Israel since they descended from Jacob’s brother Esau. God poses a question, “Does wisdom still exist in Edom?” Evidently, Teman in Edom was recognized as the home of men of wisdom. Obadiah seems to support this same conclusion.
Obadiah 1:8 “Shall I not in that day, saith the LORD, even destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau?”
I am reminded that one of Job’s “wise” friends and presumptuous counselors was identified as coming from Teman. I like the wording of the CJB for verse 7: “Is there no wisdom left in Teman? Have her wise men forgotten how to counsel? Has their wisdom vanished?”
Jer. 49:8 Flee ye, turn back, dwell deep, O inhabitants of Dedan; for I will bring the calamity of Esau upon him, the time that I will visit him.
Jer. 49:9 If grapegatherers come to thee, would they not leave some gleaning grapes? if thieves by night, they will destroy till they have enough.
Jer. 49:10 But I have made Esau bare, I have uncovered his secret places, and he shall not be able to hide himself: his seed is spoiled, and his brethren, and his neighbours, and he is not.
The people of Dedan were descendants of Abraham through Keturah and lived near the territory of Edom. The message is for the people of Dedan to hide themselves so that they don’t suffer the fate of the Edomites. Point is made that the destruction of Edom is to be thorough. The prophet paints a word picture. Those that gather grapes usually leave some grapes on the vine. Thieves who come in the night are usually satisfied before taking everything. Again, the message connects with that of Obadiah’s message to Edom.
Obadiah 1:5 “If thieves came to thee, if robbers by night, (how art thou cut off!) would they not have stolen till they had enough? if the grapegatherers came to thee, would they not leave some grapes?”
The LORD declares that this will not be the case with the destruction of Esau; Esau will be made bare. In other words, nothing will be left. No hiding place will remain undiscovered. The conqueror will be so thorough in destroying the people that even their neighbors will be in danger; thus, the warning to the people of Dedan.
Jer. 49:11 Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive; and let thy widows trust in me.
As always, the LORD declares His compassion and concern for the helpless—the orphans and the widows. He promises to take care of the orphans and of the widows who will trust in Him. This also seems to imply that God’s judgment will result in their being many more orphans and widows.
Jer. 49:12 For thus saith the LORD; Behold, they whose judgment was not to drink of the cup have assuredly drunken; and art thou he that shall altogether go unpunished? thou shalt not go unpunished, but thou shalt surely drink of it.
The CJB for verse 12 is a bit clearer: “Those who do not deserve to drink from this cup will have to drink it anyway, so should you go unpunished? No, you will not go unpunished; you will certainly drink it.”
It is sad but true that usually the innocent are made to suffer with the wicked just as surely as the wicked benefit from God’s blessings.
Matthew 5:45 “…for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”
Jer. 49:13 For I have sworn by myself, saith the LORD, that Bozrah shall become a desolation, a reproach, a waste, and a curse; and all the cities thereof shall be perpetual wastes.
Bozrah was one of the capital cities of Edom and was located in the mountain district of Petra. The LORD is declaring that Bozrah and all the cities of Edom will become desolate and exist in a state of ruin for a long time (one of the choices from the Hebrew). It obviously could not mean forever since some of these places exist in Jordan today.
Bozrah and Petra are significant in the study of prophecy. We are told that Messiah will actually come to Jerusalem from Bozrah when He returns as King.
Isaiah 63:1 “Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.”
This would seem to support the belief that the territory of biblical Edom will be the land of refuge for the Israelites during the last 3.5 years of the tribulation. (See journal notes on Revelation 12:6)
Jer. 49:14 I have heard a rumour from the LORD, and an ambassador is sent unto the heathen, saying, Gather ye together, and come against her, and rise up to the battle.
Jer. 49:15 For, lo, I will make thee small among the heathen, and despised among men.
When Jeremiah hears a rumor from the LORD, it is a reference to a prophetic message—not a speculation as to what might be. Verse 14 seems to be a call to the heathen nation of Babylon to conquer Edom. It is God’s purpose to humble the proud Edomites and make them contemptible before the other heathen nations.
Obadiah utters very similar words in his prophecy against Edom, and isn’t that to be expected since the Holy Spirit inspired the words of both.
Obadiah 1:1–2 “The vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning Edom; We have heard a rumour from the LORD, and an ambassador is sent among the heathen, Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle. Behold, I have made thee small among the heathen: thou art greatly despised.”
Jer. 49:16 Thy terribleness hath deceived thee, and the pride of thine heart, O thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, that holdest the height of the hill: though thou shouldest make thy nest as high as the eagle, I will bring thee down from thence, saith the LORD.
Jer. 49:17 Also Edom shall be a desolation: every one that goeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss at all the plagues thereof.
Jer. 49:18 As in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the LORD, no man shall abide there, neither shall a son of man dwell in it.
These verses are basically saying that Edom had become overconfident in its pride which was rooted in its skill and accomplishments as evidenced in the building of the great rock city of Petra. According to Eerdman’s Dictionary, “Guarded on the east and west by mountain ranges, with a defensible cleft as an entry and ample springs, and adjacent to the major trade routes of the day, Petra provided both security and potential for commercial enterprise.”
Verse 16 again finds a mirror in the words of Obadiah.
Obadiah 1:3–4 “The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground? Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD.”
God has determined that Edom be totally ruined and that everyone that passes by respond with astonishment at the destruction of the once great nation. God has determined that it will suffer destruction as devastating as that experienced by Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring cities. Man does not dwell in Petra to this day, but this is not true of all the cities of Edom. I think the main point is that Edom would never again emerge as a distinct nation. I think this is supported by the words of Obadiah.
Obadiah 1:10 “For thy violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever.”
There is no hope for the future in the message to Edom.
Principle: No matter how strong and fortified you may think you are, you are never beyond the reach of God—whether for judgment or for blessing.
Jer. 49:19 Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan against the habitation of the strong: but I will suddenly make him run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who islike me? and who will appoint me the time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before me?
I like the wording from the NLT for this verse: “I will come like a lion from the thickets of the Jordan, leaping on the sheep in the pasture. I will chase Edom from its land, and I will appoint the leader of my choice. For who is like me, and who can challenge me? What ruler can oppose my will?”
The LORD is comparing His attack on Edom through the Babylonians to that of a lion attacking sheep in the pasture. He is going to chase the Edomites out of their land and give it to His chosen leader—Nebuchadnezzar. As LORD and Creator, there is no other being like Him; and He can do as He pleases with His creation. There is no power in creation that can thwart His purposes.
Jer. 49:20 Therefore hear the counsel of the LORD, that he hath taken against Edom; and his purposes, that he hath purposed against the inhabitants of Teman: Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out: surely he shall make their habitations desolate with them.
Jer. 49:21 The earth is moved at the noise of their fall, at the cry the noise thereof was heard in the Red sea.
Jer. 49:22 Behold, he shall come up and fly as the eagle, and spread his wings over Bozrah: and at that day shall the heart of the mighty men of Edom be as the heart of a woman in her pangs.
The prophet goes on to emphasize the message of judgment against Edom. God has purposed to destroy Edom, so it doesn’t even require a lion to attack them; His purpose would be accomplished had He chosen to use a much weaker nation.
The fall of the high and mighty Edomites is described as causing such a noise that the earth moves, and it can be heard as far away as the Red sea.
Verse 22 pictures the LORD as a great eagle scouting its prey and causing fear that is compared to that of a woman in childbirth. I think this comparison probably doesn’t resonate as much with us today with the wonderful advances that have been made in the medical field. I am sure that each and every birth during bible times was anticipated with a healthy dose of fear since it wasn’t uncommon for women to die in childbirth.
Jer. 49:23 ¶ Concerning Damascus. Hamath is confounded, and Arpad: for they have heard evil tidings: they are fainthearted; there is sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet.
Jer. 49:24 Damascus is waxed feeble, and turneth herself to flee, and fear hath seized on her: anguish and sorrows have taken her, as a woman in travail.
Jer. 49:25 How is the city of praise not left, the city of my joy!
The LORD now directs His attention to Damascus, representative of the nation of Syria. Arpad and Hamath are both cities north of Damascus and would, therefore, be subject to the attack of Babylon first. The news is so bad that the people are pictured in great distress that can’t be calmed, like mighty ocean waves. Again, the description compares their emotional makeup to that of a woman in childbirth.
It seems that the destruction of this city is one that is especially disturbing to the prophet…..or is it the LORD. It is described as a city of “my joy.”
Jer. 49:26 Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets, and all the men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the LORD of hosts.
Jer. 49:27 And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it shall consume the palaces of Benhadad.
Men, both young and old, will meet their death at the hands of the enemy. For God to kindle a fire means that He is the power behind their destruction. To destroy the king’s palaces indicates that He intends to take away their ruling authority.
Though no word is given regarding the future of Damascus, we know that the people were allowed to rebuild. It was in the city of Damascus that Saul was commissioned as God’s servant to the Gentiles.
I think it is clear that this judgment is different from that prophesied by Isaiah (chapter 17). In that prophecy, Damascus, known as the oldest continually inhabited city in the world, will no longer exist as a city. Even though Isaiah’s prophecy seems to be yet future, the LORD does declare that a remnant will emerge and will respect the God of Israel. Syria is a Muslim nation, so we know that to be describing a time yet future. I believe it to be a reference to the time that Jesus returns to reign as King.
Jer. 49:28 ¶ Concerning Kedar, and concerning the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon shall smite, thus saith the LORD; Arise ye, go up to Kedar, and spoil the men of the east.
Jer. 49:29 Their tents and their flocks shall they take away: they shall take to themselves their curtains, and all their vessels, and their camels; and they shall cry unto them, Fear is on every side.
Research indicates that Kedar and Hazor are referencing the peoples of Arabia. They too will be judged by God and fall prey to the Babylonians. The people of Kedar were descended from Ishmael and were a nomadic people that lived in tents in the desert. They too will experience the terror associated with the attack of the enemy who will take great spoil from their possessions.
Jer. 49:30 Flee, get you far off, dwell deep, O ye inhabitants of Hazor, saith the LORD; for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath taken counsel against you, and hath conceived a purpose against you.
Jer. 49:31 Arise, get you up unto the wealthy nation, that dwelleth without care, saith the LORD, which have neither gates nor bars, which dwell alone.
Jer. 49:32 And their camels shall be a booty, and the multitude of their cattle a spoil: and I will scatter into all winds them that are in the utmost corners; and I will bring their calamity from all sides thereof, saith the LORD.
Jer. 49:33 And Hazor shall be a dwelling for dragons, and a desolation for ever: there shall no man abide there, nor any son of man dwell in it.
It would seem that Hazor was the place where the leaders of the desert peoples lived. The wording is certainly confusing, but it seems that the LORD is telling the people of Hazor that their only hope is to find refuge in the “deep,” which would seem to be a reference to mountain caves. Nebuchadnezzar has determined to take a spoil of this desert nation that dwells confidently without concern and no perceived need for fortifications. They evidently assumed that living in the desert would serve as a deterrent to enemy armies. Verse 32 is clear in declaring that Nebuchadnezzar is serving the LORD’s purpose. He intends to destroy Hazor and make it unfit as a dwelling place for man.
Jer. 49:34 ¶ The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against Elam in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying,
Jer. 49:35 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the chief of their might.
Jer. 49:36 And upon Elam will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them toward all those winds; and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of Elam shall not come.
Jer. 49:37 For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies, and before them that seek their life: and I will bring evil upon them, even my fierce anger, saith the LORD; and I will send the sword after them, till I have consumed them:
Jer. 49:38 And I will set my throne in Elam, and will destroy from thence the king and the princes, saith the LORD.
Jer. 49:39 But it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring again the captivity of Elam, saith the LORD.
The last prophecy in this chapter is directed toward Elam, the land known as Iran today. The LORD is declaring His intention to destroy the might of Elam, a people known to be expert in the use of the bow and arrow. He has purposed to disperse the people of Elam throughout the nations of the world. He has determined to completely destroy them in His “fierce anger.”
Verse 38 declares that God intends to be the ruling authority in Elam. In other words, the judgment of Elam will declare His authority over the land and its people. It is interesting to note that Nebuchadnezzar is not referenced in this prophecy.
Elam is also given a message of hope for the future; God is going to raise them up as a nation once again in the latter days. Every time the LORD makes this statement I believe it is meant to reference being reestablished in submission to the LORD during the millennium.
Jer. 50:1 ¶ The word that the LORD spake against Babylon and against the land of the Chaldeans by Jeremiah the prophet.
This chapter begins by identifying the message as directed against Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans. It stood out to me that the word “and” has been added; this seems to emphasize this place as a place where evil thrives. This fits right in with the distant future application that is implied by much of the wording.
In reading through this chapter, it was interesting to note the continued use of familiar word pictures in describing the effects that result from the judgments being declared. I know that these prophecies made application to events to which God’s people in Babylon could make connection, but I am convinced that the wording used in parts of this prophecy indicates that complete fulfillment is yet future and will occur during the days of God’s vengeance during the last seven years on planet earth preceding the return of the LORD Jesus to establish His kingdom.
Isaiah records a companion prophecy in chapters 13-14 regarding Babylon, and the Apostle John records a prophecy concerning the destruction of Babylon in Revelation 17-18.
Jer. 50:2 Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and conceal not: say, Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, Merodach is broken in pieces; her idols are confounded, her images are broken in pieces.
Jeremiah’s message begins with a declaration in the past tense that Babylon has been conquered and Bel, their false god, put to shame. Merodach seems to be another name for Bel. The idols to this false god are pictured shattered and proven impotent on behalf of the people who worshipped them.
When God declares a prophecy, He sees it as a fait accompli. His word always accomplishes His will.
Isaiah 55:11 “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”
Jer. 50:3 For out of the north there cometh up a nation against her, which shall make her land desolate, and none shall dwell therein: they shall remove, they shall depart, both man and beast.
Babylon’s enemy is seen coming from the north. This enemy will ruin the land and make it “an object of horror” (from the NAS95). Point is made that man and beast will flee from the land.
Babylon was eventually conquered by a confederation of the Medes and Persians, but they did not inflict the type of destruction described in this verse. History records that they actually came in without a fight and just took control. An excerpt from my journal in Isaiah provides further food for thought.
Isaiah 13:17-18 Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard silver; and as for gold, they shall not delight in it. Their bows also shall dash the young men to pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye shall not spare children.
As prophets normally do, Isaiah speaks the prophetic message without knowledge of the exact how and when of its fulfillment. Sometimes the message includes portions of prophecy that will be fulfilled at different times; sometimes there are types involved in a partial fulfillment (e.g. Antiochus Epiphanes as a type of the antichrist in Daniel). History tells us that the Medes did conquer Babylon, but not with the violence described here. This makes me wonder if the destruction of Babylon referenced in Revelation will be a result of God using forces from the area of the conquering Medes of Daniel’s time.
According to International Turkey Network (itnet.org), the Kurds believe they are descendants of the biblical Medes and that they have a strong case based on geographical, linguistic and cultural factors. [end excerpt]
Jer. 50:4 In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek the LORD their God.
Jer. 50:5 They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the LORD in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten.
“In those days…time” – When the land of Babylon is ruined….
That time is described as one in which the whole nation of Israel, all 12 tribes, will seek to join themselves in covenant to the LORD with a commitment to keep that covenant forever. Though the returning captives from Babylon did establish covenant with God upon their return, it is obvious that covenant is not in force today.
Nehemiah 9:36–38 “Behold, we are servants this day, and for the land that thou gavest unto our fathers to eat the fruit thereof and the good thereof, behold, we are servants in it: And it yieldeth much increase unto the kings whom thou hast set over us because of our sins: also they have dominion over our bodies, and over our cattle, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress. And because of all this we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, Levites, and priests, seal unto it.”
The covenant referred to in verse 5 is yet in Israel’s future, and I believe makes reference to the believing remnant that will be birthed during the time of Jacob’s trouble, another reference to the last seven years on planet earth before Messiah returns to set up His kingdom. I believe these are the times also referenced by the prophets Hosea and Ezekiel.
Hosea 3:4–5 “For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim: Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days.”
Ezekiel 36:26–28 “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.”
Ezekiel provides the key to the people being able to keep covenant. God is going to put His Spirit within them to empower them.
Jer. 50:6 My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their resting place.
Jer. 50:7 All that found them have devoured them: and their adversaries said, We offend not, because they have sinned against the LORD, the habitation of justice, even the LORD, the hope of their fathers.
God compares the people to lost sheep without good shepherds to lead them according to the law of God. In fact, their spiritual overseers, their shepherds, were the ones that led them away from the truth of God’s word. They’ve wandered among the different kingdoms on earth, both large and small, and have forgotten their spiritual roots. They have forgotten that their “resting place” can only be found in covenant with God.
Leviticus 26:3–12 “If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them….ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely. And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid….For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you….And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you. And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.”
Verse 7 seems to be saying that the Jews would face hatred and enemies everywhere they went. These enemies justified their mistreatment of them based upon their sin against the LORD, the very One in whom their fathers had invested their faith and hope for the future.
It’s interesting to me that the wording is such that, though Jesus was not to come until hundreds of years later, application can be made to the abominable actions of the “church” towards the Jewish people throughout church history. Even today, many protestant denominations have determined that God has rejected the Jew and regard them with disgust or irrelevance.
Jer. 50:8 Remove out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the he goats before the flocks.
Jer. 50:9 ¶ For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country: and they shall set themselves in array against her; from thence she shall be taken: their arrows shall be as of a mighty expert man; none shall return in vain.
Jer. 50:10 And Chaldea shall be a spoil: all that spoil her shall be satisfied, saith the LORD.
This section of verses is a call to the people of God to get out of Babylon in light of the coming attack of an enemy conglomerate of nations from the north. “He goats” lead the flock. The call is to lead the way out; don’t wait to be led out. This enemy is seen as possessing arrows that sound very much like the guided missiles of today that use “smart” technology; they always hit their mark. This enemy army will then proceed to spoil the land of all its treasures.
I don’t believe the reference is to the attack of the Medes and Persians because God had already identified Cyrus as the vessel through whom the Israelites would be encouraged to return to Israel and rebuild the temple and allowed to take many of the temple treasures with them. There was no reason for them to flee because of danger.
Ezra 1:1–8 “Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem. And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem…. Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem, and had put them in the house of his gods; Even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them unto Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah.”
The call for God’s people to flee Babylon sounds very similar to the call described in Revelation 18.
Revelation 18:8–10 “Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.”
In Revelation the people of the world respond to the destruction of Babylon with mourning because of the economic impact. There is no mention of a great military attack by an alliance of nations against them; it is clear, however, that destruction will come at the hand of Almighty God. It doesn’t seem to allow for the opportunity for taking any loot.
Still thinking……
Jer. 50:11 Because ye were glad, because ye rejoiced, O ye destroyers of mine heritage, because ye are grown fat as the heifer at grass, and bellow as bulls;
Jer. 50:12 Your mother shall be sore confounded; she that bare you shall be ashamed: behold, the hindermost of the nations shall be a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert.
Jer. 50:13 Because of the wrath of the LORD it shall not be inhabited, but it shall be wholly desolate: every one that goeth by Babylon shall be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues.
It is clear that this attack on Babylon is declared as a judgment against them because of the way they had mistreated the Jews. I am reminded that prophecy is often presented as a whole, when in actuality the fulfillment may be intended to occur in phases. This was demonstrated by Jesus when He read from the scroll in Isaiah and stopped in the middle of a sentence regarding the part that He was fulfilling at that time.
Luke 4:16–21 “And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.”
Notice that the rest of the prophecy is yet to be fulfilled; this will occur at His second coming.
Isaiah 61:1–3 “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.”
This helps confirm the connection to the destruction declared for end times—a destruction foretold by the prophet Isaiah.
Isaiah 13:19–21 “And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees’ excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there. But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there.”
Jer. 50:14 Put yourselves in array against Babylon round about: all ye that bend the bow, shoot at her, spare no arrows: for she hath sinned against the LORD.
Jer. 50:15 Shout against her round about: she hath given her hand: her foundations are fallen, her walls are thrown down: for it is the vengeance of the LORD: take vengeance upon her; as she hath done, do unto her.
Jer. 50:16 Cut off the sower from Babylon, and him that handleth the sickle in the time of harvest: for fear of the oppressing sword they shall turn every one to his people, and they shall flee every one to his own land.
In these verses, the alliance of nations coming against Babylon are encouraged to surround her and spare no effort in unleashing destroying weapons against her. God is declaring this attack to be a result of His judgment against her for her sin against Him. He is determined to see that she reaps what she has sown in light of her mistreatment of His people. I doubt, however, that the enemies attacking Babylon realize that they are vessels of judgment in the hand of God. The message declares God’s intent to make the nation barren.
Again, this section is challenging my thoughts. Judah’s time in captivity in Babylon was one in which they were encouraged to settle down and live in peace with their captors. It would seem that this prophecy is in reference to actions taken against the Jews in times before and after the 70 years of captivity. It’s likely that this judgment does have application, however, to the relish with which they completely destroyed Jerusalem and God’s Temple.
Jer. 50:17 Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones.
Jer. 50:18 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, as I have punished the king of Assyria.
This section of verses starts out making reference to how Assyria had taken captives of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and Nebuchadnezzar had completed the destruction of the nation by taking those in the Southern Kingdom captive. This had resulted in the people of Israel being scattered throughout the nations. God declares that Babylon and its king would be punished for their actions against the Jews just as Assyria and its king had been punished.
The death of Sennacherib, the king that took Northern Israel captive, is recorded in 2Kings.
2 Kings 19:36–37 “So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh. And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword: and they escaped into the land of Armenia. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.”
I think the death of Belshazzar as recorded in Daniel 5 and the subjugation of Babylon by the Medo-Persians is the fulfillment of this part of Jeremiah’s prophecy.
Daniel 5:30–31 “In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.”
Interestingly enough, Assyria had been conquered by Babylon and Babylon would be conquered by the Medes and Persians. Again, though vessels of judgment in the hand of the LORD, they are acting in accordance with their own desires and choices. They are still accountable for those choices. It’s an example of God formulating His plan by incorporating the choices of men according to His amazing foreknowledge.
Jer. 50:19 And I will bring Israel again to his habitation, and he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan, and his soul shall be satisfied upon mount Ephraim and Gilead.
Jer. 50:20 In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve.
Wouldn’t it be nice if the prophets proclaimed everything in strict chronological order. These verses identify themselves as yet future since they speak of a time when the sins of the whole nation of Israel have been completely forgiven. It will be a time of prosperity and peace like never before in Israel’s history. The clear implication is that this time of redemption will be according to God’s mercy and grace. The Hebrew for those “reserved” is a direct reference to the “remnant” that God has promised to reserve and establish under the New Covenant in fellowship with Him. These prosperous times were also foretold by Isaiah and Ezekiel.
Isaiah 65:9–10 “And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there. And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me.”
Ezekiel 34:13–14 “And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel.”
Jer. 50:21 ¶ Go up against the land of Merathaim, even against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod: waste and utterly destroy after them, saith the LORD, and do according to all that I have commanded thee.
Jer. 50:22 A sound of battle is in the land, and of great destruction.
Jer. 50:23 How is the hammer of the whole earth cut asunder and broken! how is Babylon become a desolation among the nations!
According to Strong’s Concordance, Merathaim is an epithet for Babylon and Pekod is a symbolic name for Babylon. The command from the LORD is for the nations to completely destroy Babylon. Babylon had earned the reputation of hammer of the “whole earth.” It was almost unthinkable to see her destroyed.
I am sure that many thought this true of the mighty Babylonian Empire before it was conquered by the Medes and Persians. However, as noted previously, Babylon was not utterly destroyed by that conquest. I can’t help but think that the primary fulfillment of this prophecy is yet future in connection with the Kingdom of the Antichrist. I think this result is more in line with the destruction of Babylon recorded in Revelation 18.
Revelation 18:18–19 “And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city! And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.”
This makes me think of how America has been regarded by the nations. Sadly, I think our fall is going to be regarded by the nations in the same way.
Jer. 50:24 I have laid a snare for thee, and thou art also taken, O Babylon, and thou wast not aware: thou art found, and also caught, because thou hast striven against the LORD.
Jer. 50:25 The LORD hath opened his armoury, and hath brought forth the weapons of his indignation: for this is the work of the Lord GOD of hosts in the land of the Chaldeans.
God is again making clear through His prophet that He is the One directing this judgment against Babylon. This sounds more descriptive of how the Medes and Persians conquered Babylon. The snare laid is probably a reference to the false sense of security that had resulted from her long-time rule and authority. The prophet Daniel describes how the king and his lords were partying when the enemy came in and took over. Cyrus and his armies diverted the Euphrates River and marched into the city on the dry riverbed.
Verse 25 seems to have more reference to the verses in Revelation 18 that attribute the destruction of Babylon to death, famine and fire that are described as plagues of God’s judgment.
Again, as is often the case, the message is one of more than one application or of near and far fulfillment.
Jer. 50:26 Come against her from the utmost border, open her storehouses: cast her up as heaps, and destroy her utterly: let nothing of her be left.
Jer. 50:27 Slay all her bullocks; let them go down to the slaughter: woe unto them! for their day is come, the time of their visitation.
These verses make it clear that the final fulfillment of this prophecy will result in the complete destruction of Babylon, though I am sure that the people considered it to reference the defeat by Cyrus. We know that Belshazzar was killed as well as the lords that were partying with him, I assume.
The dead are pictured lying in heaps. This again seems to jump forward to the end time destruction. The fighting men were referred to as “bullocks” in chapter 46, and that comparison would make sense here as well. “The time of their visitation” is a phrase referencing the time of judgment.
Jer. 50:28 The voice of them that flee and escape out of the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God, the vengeance of his temple.
Jer. 50:29 Call together the archers against Babylon: all ye that bend the bow, camp against it round about; let none thereof escape: recompense her according to her work; according to all that she hath done, do unto her: for she hath been proud against the LORD, against the Holy One of Israel.
Jer. 50:30 Therefore shall her young men fall in the streets, and all her men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the LORD.
There is a call for those fleeing from Babylon to go to Zion and declare how God has avenged His temple. The natural assumption is to think that this is in reference to the destruction of the Temple by the forces of Nebuchadnezzar. From my perspective, it would allow for application to the time in the future that the temple is desecrated by the Antichrist whom I believe will be headquartered in Babylon until that time. The arrows being shot could well be a reference to guided nuclear missiles that will result in the final destruction of Babylon by fire. Only time will tell.
I think it is significant to note that again God’s harshest judgment is declared against those who lift themselves up in pride against Him. I pity those poor souls who today so arrogantly and defiantly declare themselves in opposition to God and those who so manipulate His word as they boldly present their false teachings.
Jer. 50:31 Behold, I am against thee, O thou most proud, saith the Lord GOD of hosts: for thy day is come, the time that I will visit thee.
Jer. 50:32 And the most proud shall stumble and fall, and none shall raise him up: and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it shall devour all round about him.
God continues to emphasize how He hates pride and is against those who choose to align themselves against Him in pride. I am reminded that pride is the first thing on the list of the seven things most hated by God.
Proverbs 6:16–17 “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look….”
Satan’s sin was a result of his pride. It’s interesting that this is told us most explicitly in Isaiah’s passage regarding judgment against the king of Babylon. Also it is interesting to me to note that after Satan is thrown out of heaven, he chooses to indwell the Antichrist and desecrate God’s temple as he begins the 3.5 years of complete authority granted him by God. How does he desecrate the temple? By placing his throne in the temple and declaring himself to be God.
Isaiah 14:12–15 “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.”
Revelation 13:4–5 “And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.”
2 Thessalonians 2:3–4 “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”
Jer. 50:33 ¶ Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The children of Israel and the children of Judah were oppressed together: and all that took them captives held them fast; they refused to let them go.
It’s much easier to see how God’s people could make application of the messages of the prophets to their times since they were unaware of the future applications of these prophecies that become clearer as time marches on. The LORD Jesus affirms this to be true by referencing the abomination of desolation spoken of Daniel as an event yet future. Until that time, I am sure the Jewish people had assumed that prophecy to have been fulfilled by Antiochus Epiphanes, who in retrospect we can now understand to be a type of the coming Antichrist. (See the journal on Daniel 11 for more details.)
These verses speak of the captives of Israel as being oppressed and under the ruling authority of their enemies without hope of escape. The first thing that jumped into my mind was the plight of the Jews in Russia as depicted in “The Fiddler on the Roof.” Of course, the Jews have faced much oppression in the nations of the world throughout history. The policy of many European countries was to establish ghettos to which the Jews were confined for the most part. The Spanish Inquisition resulted in the death of thousands of Jews before they were finally expelled by Ferdinand and Isabella. Germany’s ultimate solution for the Jews was carried out in the concentration camps of World War II—to name a few.
Jer. 50:34 Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name: he shall throughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.
Though God has acted in judgment against His people, His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is still in force. He has provided a Redeemer in the person of His precious Son, Jesus Christ, who will eventually assume the throne of David and bring peace to the land of Israel. In the process, He will completely destroy Babylon. To “disquiet” the people of Babylon is to put them in fear through His awesome display of power.
The prophet Micah understood that God would provide a redeemer, an intercessor that would allow His people to enter His presence.
Micah 7:9 “I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness.”
Jer. 50:35 A sword is upon the Chaldeans, saith the LORD, and upon the inhabitants of Babylon, and upon her princes, and upon her wise men.
Jer. 50:36 A sword is upon the liars; and they shall dote: a sword is upon her mighty men; and they shall be dismayed.
Jer. 50:37 A sword is upon their horses, and upon their chariots, and upon all the mingled people that are in the midst of her; and they shall become as women: a sword is upon her treasures; and they shall be robbed.
The sword is representative of God’s judgment as declared by His word. God’s word is pictured in scripture as a sword that is effective in accomplishing His purposes.
Ephesians 6:17 “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God….”
Revelation 19:11–15 “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war….and his name is called The Word of God…. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.”
Isaiah 55:11 “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”
God’s judgment is pictured as acting against all the wicked in Babylon—men of royalty, men thought to possess wisdom, proud men, and mighty men. His judgment will render ineffective their horses, chariots and mercenaries; these hired soldiers will melt in fear before the judgment of God. His judgment will also result in the loss of all her treasures.
Jer. 50:38 A drought is upon her waters; and they shall be dried up: for it is the land of graven images, and they are mad upon their idols.
Jer. 50:39 Therefore the wild beasts of the desert with the wild beasts of the islands shall dwell there, and the owls shall dwell therein: and it shall be no more inhabited for ever; neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation.
Jer. 50:40 As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the LORD; so shall no man abide there, neither shall any son of man dwell therein.
God’s judgment will include a drought throughout the land. God then declares that His judgment is also because of their worship of false gods—another testimony to her pride in rejecting the one true God.
The destruction of Babylon will culminate in its complete and permanent destruction as a nation. The land will be left to the wild beasts of the desert and the wild beasts of the islands. The Hebrew for “islands” makes reference to the howling sounds made by the creatures. God emphasizes the fact that Babylon will never again be inhabited by man after this judgment, so we know that it is yet future. Just to be clear, its destruction is compared to that of Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring cities of the plains. Though never again has Babylon risen to great significance on the world stage, it has been continually inhabited throughout history.
Isaiah declares this same truth in his prophecy against Babylon. The day is coming when Babylon will no longer exist as a nation.
Isaiah 13:19–21 “And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees’ excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there. But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there.”
Jer. 50:41 Behold, a people shall come from the north, and a great nation, and many kings shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth.
Jer. 50:42 They shall hold the bow and the lance: they are cruel, and will not shew mercy: their voice shall roar like the sea, and they shall ride upon horses, every one put in array, like a man to the battle, against thee, O daughter of Babylon.
Jer. 50:43 The king of Babylon hath heard the report of them, and his hands waxed feeble: anguish took hold of him, and pangs as of a woman in travail.
These verses are interesting in light of God’s declaration that according to how Babylon has treated His people, so will they be treated (v29 above). In chapter 6 Jeremiah was declaring the warning of the coming attack of Babylon against Judah using almost the same language.
Jeremiah 6:22–24 “Thus saith the LORD, Behold, a people cometh from the north country, and a great nation shall be raised from the sides of the earth. They shall lay hold on bow and spear; they are cruel, and have no mercy; their voice roareth like the sea; and they ride upon horses, set in array as men for war against thee, O daughter of Zion. We have heard the fame thereof: our hands wax feeble: anguish hath taken hold of us, and pain, as of a woman in travail.”
This section of verses is again confusing to me as to the application. The king and his lords were partying when Cyrus took the city. It’s hard to think that it applies to the Antichrist, although we do know that he will experience opposition according to the prophecy of Daniel.
Daniel 11:40 & 44 “And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over….But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.”
The Hebrew for the word “trouble” in the verses from Daniel above does make reference to causing fear or alarm. Still thinking…
Jer. 50:44 Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan unto the habitation of the strong: but I will make them suddenly run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who isthat shepherd that will stand before me?
Jer. 50:45 Therefore hear ye the counsel of the LORD, that he hath taken against Babylon; and his purposes, that he hath purposed against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out: surely he shall make their habitation desolate with them.
I think the translation from the CJB is clearer: “ It will be like a lion coming up from the thickets of the Yarden against a strong settlement; in an instant I will chase him away and appoint over it whomever I choose. For who is like me? Who can call me to account? What shepherd can stand up to me?”
The primary point of these verses is that the LORD is sovereign and all powerful; He is in complete control over all that is happening. There is no being on earth that can stand against Him. His judgment has been declared against the whole land and not even the weakest among them will be spared.
Jer. 50:46 At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth is moved, and the cry is heard among the nations.
It’s interesting to note that the fall of Edom is said to reverberate as far as the Red Sea (49:20-21), while the fall of Babylon seems to reverberate through the nations, implying the known world. That correlates perfectly with the fall of Babylon declared in both Isaiah and Revelation.
Isaiah 14:9–10 “Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us?”
Revelation 18:9 “And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning….”
The prophet’s message regarding the judgment of Babylon is continued in the next chapter.