--- title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible" author: "Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown" languages: [en] shelf: "Commentaries" section: 423 of 927 url: https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/423/ cite: "Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, section 423. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/423/" --- # Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible *Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown* The Victorian standard commentary, critical and practical, from Genesis to Revelation. ## 423. Jeremiah · 47 of 56 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/423/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/423/#p-N [¶0] sword shall devour ... be ... drunk--poetical personification ([De 32:42]). [¶1] a sacrifice--([Is 34:6]; [Eze 39:17]). The slaughter of the Egyptians is represented as a sacrifice to satiate His righteous vengeance. [¶2] 11. Gilead ... balm--(See on [Jr 8:22]); namely, for curing the wounds; but no medicine will avail, so desperate shall be the slaughter. [¶3] virgin--Egypt is so called on account of her effeminate luxury, and as having never yet been brought under foreign yoke. [¶4] thou shalt not be cured--literally, "there shall be no cure for thee" ([Jr 30:13]; [Eze 30:21]). Not that the kingdom of Egypt should cease to exist, but it should not recover its former strength; the blow should be irretrievable. [¶5] 12. mighty ... stumbled against ... mighty ... fallen both together--Their very multitude shall prove an impediment in their confused flight, one treading on the other. [¶6] 13-26. Prophecy of the invasion of Egypt by Nebuchadnezzar, which took place sixteen years after the taking of Jerusalem. Having spent thirteen years in the siege of Tyre, and having obtained nothing for his pains, he is promised by God Egypt for his reward in humbling Tyre ([Eze 29:17-20; 30]:1-31:18). The intestine commotions between Amasis and Pharaoh-hophra prepared his way (compare Note, see on [Is 19:1], &c.). [¶7] 27-28. Repeated from [Jr 30:10], . When the Church (and literal Israel) might seem utterly consumed, there still remains hidden hope, because God, as it were, raises His people from the dead ([Ro 11:15]). Whereas the godless "nations" are consumed even though they survive, as are the Egyptians after their overthrow; because they are radically accursed and doomed [Calvin]. ### Chapter 47 ### Jr 47:1-7. Prophecy against the Philistines [¶10] 1. Pharaoh-necho probably smote Gaza on his return after defeating Josiah at Megiddo ([2Ch 35:20]) [Grotius]. Or, Pharaoh-hophra ([Jr 37:5], ) is intended: probably on his return from his fruitless attempt to save Jerusalem from the Chaldeans, he smote Gaza in order that his expedition might not be thought altogether in vain [Calvin] ([Am 1:6], ). [¶11] 2. waters--([Is 8:7]). The Chaldeans from the north are compared to the overwhelming waters of their own Euphrates. The smiting of Gaza was to be only the prelude of a greater disaster to the Philistines. Nebuzara-dan was left by Nebuchadnezzar, after he had taken Jerusalem, to subdue the rest of the adjoining cities and country. [¶12] 3. (Compare [Jr 4:29]). [¶13] fathers ... not look back to ... children--Each shall think only of his own safety, not even the fathers regarding their own children. So desperate shall be the calamity that men shall divest themselves of the natural affections. [¶14] for feebleness of hands--The hands, the principal instruments of action, shall have lost all power; their whole hope shall be in their feet. [¶15] 4. every helper--The Philistines, being neighbors to the Phoenicians of Tyre and Sidon, would naturally make common cause with them in the case of invasion. These cities would have no helper left when the Philistines should be destroyed. [¶16] Caphtor--the Caphtorim and Philistines both came from Mizraim ([Ge 10:13], ). The Philistines are said to have been delivered by God from Caphtor ([Am 9:7]). Perhaps before the time of Moses they dwelt near and were subjugated by the Caphtorim ([De 2:23]) and subsequently delivered. "The remnant" means here those still left after the Egyptians had attacked Gaza and Palestine; or rather, those left of the Caphtorim after the Chaldeans had attacked them previous to their attack on the Philistines. Some identify Caphtor with Cappadocia; Gesenius, with Crete ([Eze 25:16], Cherethims); Kitto, Cyprus. Between Palestine and Idumea there was a city Caparorsa; and their close connection with Palestine on the one hand, and Egypt (Mizraim, [Ge 10:13], ) on the other hand, makes this locality the most likely. [¶17] 5. Baldness ... cut thyself--Palestine is represented as a female who has torn off her hair and cut her flesh, the heathenish ([Le 19:28]) token of mourning ([Jr 48:37]). [¶18] their valley--the long strip of low plain occupied by the Philistines along the Mediterranean, west of the mountains of Judea. The Septuagint reads Anakim, the remains of whom were settled in those regions ([Nu 13:28]). Joshua dislodged them so that none were left but in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod ([Jos 11:21], ). But the parallel ([Jr 47:7]), "Ashkelon ... the sea-shore," established English Version here, "Ashkelon ... their valley." [¶19] 6. Jeremiah, in the person of the Philistines afflicting themselves ([Jr 47:5]), apostrophizes the "sword of the Lord," entreating mercy (compare [De 32:41]; [Eze 21:3-5, 9], ). [¶20] up thyself--Hebrew, "Gather thyself," that is, retire or return. [¶21] 7. Jeremiah, from addressing the sword in the second person, turns to his hearers and speaks of it in the third person. [¶22] Lord ... given it a charge--([Eze 14:17]). [¶23] the sea-shore--the strip of land between the mountains and Mediterranean, held by the Philistines: "their valley" (see on [Jr 47:5]). [¶24] there hath he appointed it--([Mi 6:9]). There hath He ordered it to rage. ### Chapter 48 ### Jr 48:1-47. Prophecy against Moab [¶27] It had taken part with the Chaldeans against Judea ([2Ki 24:2]). Fulfilled by Nebuchadnezzar five years after the destruction of Jerusalem, when also he attacked Egypt ([Jr 43:8-13]) and Ammon ([Jr 49:1-6]). [Josephus, Antiquities, 10:9,7]. Jeremiah in this prophecy uses that of [Is 15:1-16:14], amplifying and adapting it to his purpose under inspiration, at the same time confirming its divine authority. Isaiah, however, in his prophecy refers to the devastation of Moab by the Assyrian king, Shalmaneser; Jeremiah refers to that by Nebuchadnezzar. [¶28] 1. Nebo--a mountain and town of Moab; its meaning is "that which fructifies." [¶29] Kiriathaim--a city of Moab, consisting of two cities, as the word signifies; originally held by the Emim ([Ge 14:5]). [¶30] Misgab--meaning "elevation." It lay on an elevation. [¶31] 2. no more praise--([Is 16:14]). [¶32] in Heshbon--The foe having taken Heshbon, the chief city of Moab ([Jr 48:45]), in it devise evil against Moab ("it") saying, Come, &c. Heshbon was midway between the rivers Arnon and Jabbok; it was the residence of Sihon, king of the Amorites, and afterwards a Levitical city in Gad ([Nu 21:26]). There is a play on words in the Hebrew, "Heshbon, Hashbu." Heshbon means a place of devising or counsel. The city, heretofore called the seat of counsel, shall find other counsellors, namely, those who devise its destruction. [¶33] thou shall be cut down ... Madmen--rather, by a play on words on the meaning of madmen ("silence"), Thou shalt be brought to silence, so as well to deserve thy name ([Is 15:1]). Thou shalt not dare to utter a sound. [¶34] 3. Horonaim--the same as the city Avara, mentioned by Ptolemy. The word means "double caves" ([Ne 2:10]; [Is 15:5]). [¶35] 4. little ones ... cry--heightening the distress of the scene. The foe does not spare even infants. [¶36] 5. going up of Luhith ... going down of Horonaim--Horonaim lay in a plain, Luhith on a height. To the latter, therefore, the Moabites would flee with "continual weeping," as a place of safety from the Chaldeans. Literally, "Weeping shall go up upon weeping." [¶37] 6. They exhort one another to flee. [¶38] heath--or the juniper (see on [Jr 17:6]). Maurer translates, "Be like one naked in the wilderness." But the sense is, Live in the wilderness like the heath, or juniper; do not "trust in" walls ([Jr 48:7]) [Grotius]. (Compare [Mt 24:16-18]). [¶39] 7. thy works--namely, fortifications built by thy work. Moab was famous for its fortresses ([Jr 48:18]). The antithesis is to [Jr 48:6], "Be ... in the wilderness," where there are no fortified cities. [¶40] thou ... also--like the rest of the surrounding peoples, Judah, &c. [¶41] Chemosh--the tutelary god of Moab ([Nu 21:29]; [Jud 11:24]; [1Ki 11:7]; [2Ki 23:13]). When a people were vanquished, their gods also were taken away by the victors ([Jr 43:12]). [¶42] 8. the valley ... shall perish--that is, those dwelling in the valley. [¶43] 9. Give wings, &c.--([Psa 55:6]). Unless it get wings, it cannot escape the foe. "Wings," the Hebrew root meaning is a "flower" ([Job 14:2]); so the flower-like plumage of a bird. [¶44] 10. work of ... Lord--the divinely appointed utter devastation of Moab. To represent how entirely this is God's will, a curse is pronounced on the Chaldeans, the instrument, if they do it negligently (Margin) or by halves ([Jud 5:23]); compare Saul's sin as to Amalek ([1Sa 15:3], ), and Ahab's as to Syria ([1Ki 20:42]).