---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Jeremiah 49"
description: "CHAPTER 49   :-. PREDICTIONS AS TO
AMMON, IDUMEA,
DAMASCUS, KEDAR,
HAZOR, AND ELAM. The event of the prophecy as to
Ammon preceded that as to Moab (see on"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/jeremiah/49"
---

CHAPTER 49

. PREDICTIONS AS TO
AMMON, IDUMEA,
DAMASCUS, KEDAR,
HAZOR, AND ELAM.
The event of the prophecy as to
Ammon preceded that as to Moab (see on ); and in , the destruction of Ammon is subjoined to the deposition
of Zedekiah.

**1. Hath Israel . . . no
heir?**—namely, to occupy the land of Gad, after it itself has
been carried away captive by Shalmaneser. Ammon, like Moab, descended
from Lot, lay north of Moab, from which it was separated by the river
Arnon, and east of Reuben and Gad ([Joshua 13:24](../../../kjv/joshua/13/24);
[Joshua 13:25](../../../kjv/joshua/13/25)) on the same side of
Jordan. It seized on Gad when Israel was carried captive. Judah was
by the right of kindred the heir, not Ammon; but Ammon joined with
Nebuchadnezzar against Judah and Jerusalem ([Joshua 13:25](../../../kjv/joshua/13/25)) and exulted over its fall ([Psalms 83:4-7](../../../kjv/psalms/83/4-7);
[Psalms 83:8](../../../kjv/psalms/83/8); [Zephaniah 2:8](../../../kjv/zephaniah/2/8);
[Zephaniah 2:9](../../../kjv/zephaniah/2/9)). It had already, in the
days of Jeroboam, in Israel's affliction, tried to "enlarge its
border" ([2 Kings 14:26](../../../kjv/2-kings/14/26); [Amos 1:1](../../../kjv/amos/1/1);
[Amos 1:13](../../../kjv/amos/1/13)).
**their king**— ([Amos 1:13](../../../kjv/amos/1/13)); referring to Melchom, their tutelary idol ([Amos 1:13](../../../kjv/amos/1/13)); and so the *Septuagint* reads it here as a proper name
([1 Kings 11:5](../../../kjv/1-kings/11/5); [1 Kings 11:33](../../../kjv/1-kings/11/33);
[2 Kings 23:13](../../../kjv/2-kings/23/13)). The Ammonite god is
said to do what *they* do, namely, occupy the Israelite land of
Gad. To Jehovah, the theocratic "King" of Israel, the land
belonged of right; so that their Molech or Melchom was a
usurper-*king.*
**his people**—the people
of Melchom, "their king." Compare "people of Chemosh,"
[Jeremiah 48:46](../../../kjv/jeremiah/48/46).

**2. Rabbah**—"the great,"
metropolis of Ammon (). Its destruction is foretold also in [Ezekiel 25:5](../../../kjv/ezekiel/25/5);
[Amos 1:14](../../../kjv/amos/1/14); [Amos 1:15](../../../kjv/amos/1/15).
**her daughters**—the towns
and villages, dependencies of the metropolis ([Amos 1:15](../../../kjv/amos/1/15)).
**shall . . . be heir**—shall
*possess* those who possessed him. The full accomplishment of
this is still future; partially fulfilled under the Maccabees (1
Maccabees 5:6).

**3. Heshbon . . . Ai**—Nebuchadnezzar,
coming from the north, first attacked Ammon, then its brother and
neighbor, Moab. As Ai of Ammon had already suffered destruction,
Heshbon of Moab being near it might well fear the same fate.
**hedges**—Their cities
being destroyed, the outcasts have no place of shelter save behind
the "hedges" of vineyards and gardens; or else the
*enclosures* of their villages.
**their king**—Melchom, the
idol, as the mention of "his priests" shows (compare ).

**4. thy flowing valley**—rather,
"thy valley shall flow," namely with the blood of the
slain; in sad contrast to their "valleys" in which they had
heretofore "gloried," as *flowing* with milk and honey
[GROTIUS]. Or else, as
*Margin,* "shall flow *away.*"
**backsliding**—apostate
from Jehovah, the God of their father Lot, to Molech.
**treasures**—her resources
for resisting the foe.
**Who shall,** &c.—Who
*can* come . . . ([Jeremiah 21:13](../../../kjv/jeremiah/21/13)).

**5. every man right
forth**—whithersoever chance may lead him ([Jeremiah 46:5](../../../kjv/jeremiah/46/5);
[Genesis 19:17](../../../kjv/genesis/19/17)); straight *before
him,* onwards at random ([Amos 4:3](../../../kjv/amos/4/3)).
**none . . . gather up him,**
&c.—There shall be none to *gather* together the *wandering*
fugitives, so as to care for them and restore them to their own
homes.

**6.** (Compare ). For the sake of "righteous" Lot their
progenitor. Partially fulfilled under Cyrus; in gospel times more
fully.

**7. Concerning Edom**—a distinct
prophecy, copied in part from Obadiah, but with the freedom of one
himself inspired and foretelling a later calamity. Obadiah's was
fulfilled probably in Sennacherib's time (compare [Isaiah 34:5](../../../kjv/isaiah/34/5);
[Amos 1:11](../../../kjv/amos/1/11)); Jeremiah's about the
same time as his preceding prophecies ([Jeremiah 49:12](../../../kjv/jeremiah/49/12);
[Ezekiel 25:12](../../../kjv/ezekiel/25/12)).
**wisdom**—for which the
Arabs and the people of Teman (a city of Edom) in particular, were
famed ([Genesis 36:15](../../../kjv/genesis/36/15); [1 Kings 4:30](../../../kjv/1-kings/4/30);
see Job, everywhere; [Obadiah 1:8](../../../kjv/obadiah/1/8)).
**vanished**—literally,
"poured out," that is, exhausted (compare [Obadiah 1:8](../../../kjv/obadiah/1/8), *Margin*) [MAURER].
Or, as the kindred Ethiopic word means, "worn out"
[LUDOVICUS DE
DIEU].

**8. turn**—namely, your backs in
flight.
**dwell deep**—in deep
defiles and caves [GROTIUS],
which abound in Idumea. Others refer it to the Arab custom of
retiring into the depth of the desert when avoiding an offended foe
([Jeremiah 49:30](../../../kjv/jeremiah/49/30)).
**Dedan**—a tribe bordering
on and made subject by Idumea; descended from Jokshan, son of Abraham
and Keturah ([Genesis 25:1-3](../../../kjv/genesis/25/1-3)).
**Esau**—The naming of
Edom's progenitor, reprobated by God, recalls the remembrance of the
old curse on him for his profanity, both his sin and its punishment
being perpetuated in his descendants ([Hebrews 12:16](../../../kjv/hebrews/12/16);
[Hebrews 12:17](../../../kjv/hebrews/12/17)).

**9.** (). *Grape gatherers,* yea even *thieves,* leave
something behind them; but the Chaldeans will sweep Idumea clean of
everything.

**10.** Edom became politically
extinct after the time of the Romans.
**uncovered his secret
places**—where he hid himself () and his treasures (). I have caused that nothing should be so hidden as that the
conqueror should not find it.
**brethren**—Ammon.
**neighbours**—the
Philistines.

**11.** Thy fatherless and widows
must rest their hope in God alone, as none of the adult males shall
be left alive, so desperate will be the affairs of Edom. The verse
also, besides this threat, implies a promise of mercy to Esau in
God's good time, as there was to Moab and Ammon ([Jeremiah 49:6](../../../kjv/jeremiah/49/6);
[Jeremiah 48:47](../../../kjv/jeremiah/48/47)); the extinction of the
adult males is the prominent idea (compare [Jeremiah 48:47](../../../kjv/jeremiah/48/47)).

**12.** (Compare [Jeremiah 25:15](../../../kjv/jeremiah/25/15);
[Jeremiah 25:16](../../../kjv/jeremiah/25/16); [Jeremiah 25:29](../../../kjv/jeremiah/25/29)).
**they whose judgment was not
to drink of the cup**—the Jews to whom, by virtue of the covenant
relation, it did not belong to drink the cup. It might have been
expected that they would be spared. He regards not the merits of the
Jews, for they were as bad or worse than others: but the grace and
adoption of God; it is just and natural ("judgment") that
God should pardon His sons sooner than aliens [CALVIN].

**13. Bozrah**—(See on ).

**14.** ().
**ambassador . . . unto the
heathen**—a messenger from God to stir up the Chaldeans against
Edom.

**15.** David and Joab had already
humbled Edom ([2 Samuel 8:14](../../../kjv/2-samuel/8/14)).

**16. terribleness**—the terror
which thou didst inspire into others.
**deceived thee**—rendered
thee proudly confident, as if none would dare to assail thee.
**dwellest in . . . rock**—Petra,
the chief of Idumea, was cut in the rocks; its ruins are very
remarkable. The whole south of Idumea abounds in cave dwellings and
rocks.
**though . . . nest . . .
eagle**— ([Job 39:27](../../../kjv/job/39/27); [Obadiah 1:3](../../../kjv/obadiah/1/3);
[Obadiah 1:4](../../../kjv/obadiah/1/4)). The eagle builds its
nest in the highest craggy eyry.

**17.** (Compare ).

**18.** ([Jeremiah 50:40](../../../kjv/jeremiah/50/40);
[Deuteronomy 29:23](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/29/23); [Amos 4:11](../../../kjv/amos/4/11)).
**no man shall abide there**—that
is, of the Idumeans. The Romans had a garrison there.

**19. he**—Nebuchadnezzar, or
Nebuzara-dan; the name would at once suggest itself to the minds of
the hearers ([Jeremiah 48:40](../../../kjv/jeremiah/48/40); [Jeremiah 46:18](../../../kjv/jeremiah/46/18)).
**swelling**—as a lion
which the overflow of the Jordan forced out of his lair on the banks,
to ascend the neighboring heights [CALVIN].
See as to the translation, "pride of the Jordan," see on
[Jeremiah 49:1](../../../kjv/jeremiah/49/1).
**habitation of . . .
strong**—the fastnesses of Idumea (compare [Jeremiah 49:1](../../../kjv/jeremiah/49/1)). MAURER
translates, "An ever verdant (literally, 'perennial')
pasturage," that is, Idumea heretofore having enjoyed
uninterrupted tranquillity; so in [Jeremiah 49:1](../../../kjv/jeremiah/49/1) the image is retained, the Idumeans being compared to "a
flock," and their king to "a shepherd," in this verse,
and the enemy to "a lion" (compare [Jeremiah 49:1](../../../kjv/jeremiah/49/1)). *English Version* accords more with the *Hebrew.*
**suddenly**—"in the
twinkling of an eye," as the *Hebrew* implies.
**him . . . her**—I will
make *Nebuzara-dan* enter *Idumea,* and then, having in the
twinkling of an eye effected the conquest, go *away speedily:*
elsewhere. Instead of "but," translate, "for."
GROTIUS translates, "run
*upon* her," or "to her," instead of "run
away from her." MAURER
understands it, "I will make him (the Idumean) run away from
her" (that is, from his own land); the similar change of
reference of the pronouns ([Jeremiah 49:1](../../../kjv/jeremiah/49/1)) favors this.
**who is a chosen man,**
c.—God calls the *choicest* warriors to Him, to set "*over*"
the work of devastating Idumea. God will surely execute His purpose,
for He can call forth from all sides the agents He chooses.
**who is like me?**— ([Jeremiah 49:1](../../../kjv/jeremiah/49/1)).
**who will appoint me the
time?**—namely, for entering into a trial in judgment with Me
(see *Margin*). Image from law courts ([Jeremiah 49:1](../../../kjv/jeremiah/49/1)).
**shepherd**—leader of the
Idumeans following up the previous image, "a lion"; no
Idumean shepherd shall withstand the lion sent by Jehovah ([Jeremiah 49:1](../../../kjv/jeremiah/49/1)), or save the Idumean flock.

**20. least of the flock**—the
weakest and humblest of the Chaldean host. Compare , where the hostile leaders and their hosts are called
"shepherds and their flocks."
**draw . . . out**—"shall
drag them away captive" [GROTIUS];
*shall drag them to and fro,* as a lion () does feeble sheep [MAURER].
***with them*******—that is, the habitation which they possess.

**21. was heard in**—that is,
shall be heard *at.*
**Red Sea**—a considerable
distance from Idumea; though the district at the Elantic bay of the
Red Sea originally belonged to Idumea, and the sea itself was called
from Edom, that is, "red" (, *Margin*). Others translate, "the weedy sea"
(*Margin*), and derive the name, "Red Sea," from its
red weeds; the former view is preferable.

**22.** (Compare [Jeremiah 48:40](../../../kjv/jeremiah/48/40);
[Jeremiah 48:41](../../../kjv/jeremiah/48/41)).
**Bozrah**—(See on [Jeremiah 48:41](../../../kjv/jeremiah/48/41)).

**23.** Prophecy as to Damascus, c.
([Isaiah 17:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/17/1) [Isaiah 10:9](../../../kjv/isaiah/10/9)).
The *kingdom* of Damascus was destroyed by Assyria, but the *city*
revived, and it is as to the latter Jeremiah now prophesies. The
fulfilment was probably about five years after the destruction of
Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar [JOSEPHUS,
*Antiquities,* 10.9,7].
**Hamath is confounded**—at
the tidings of the overthrow of the neighboring Damascus.
**on the sea**—that is, at
the sea; the dwellers there are alarmed. Other manuscripts read,
"like the sea." "There is anxiety (restless) as is the
sea: they cannot quiet it," that is, it cannot be quieted ([Isaiah 10:9](../../../kjv/isaiah/10/9)).
**it**—Whatever dwellers
are there "cannot be quiet."

**25. city of praise**—The
prophet, in the person of a citizen of Damascus deploring its
calamity, calls it "the city of praise," that is,
celebrated with praises everywhere for its beauty ([Jeremiah 33:9](../../../kjv/jeremiah/33/9);
[Jeremiah 51:41](../../../kjv/jeremiah/51/41)). "How is it
possible that such a city *has not been left* whole—has not
been spared by the foe?" Compare *left,* [Luke 17:35](../../../kjv/luke/17/35);
[Luke 17:36](../../../kjv/luke/17/36). So Israel "left"
standing some of the Canaanite cities ([Luke 17:36](../../../kjv/luke/17/36)).
**of my joy**—that is, in
which I delighted.

**26. Therefore**—that is, Since
Damascus is doomed to fall, *therefore,* &c.

**27. palaces of Ben-hadad**—that
palace from which so many evils and such cruelty to Israel emanated;
thus implying the *cause* of Damascus' overthrow. Not the
Ben-hadad of [2 Kings 13:3](../../../kjv/2-kings/13/3); [Amos 1:4](../../../kjv/amos/1/4);
it was a common name of the Syrian kings (compare [Amos 1:4](../../../kjv/amos/1/4); meaning "son of Hadad," the idol).

**28. Kedar**—son of Ishmael (). The Kedarenes led a wandering predatory life in
Arabia-Petræa, as the Bedouin Arabs ([2 Chronicles 21:16](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/21/16);
[2 Chronicles 21:17](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/21/17); [Psalms 120:5](../../../kjv/psalms/120/5)).
Kedar means "blackness" ([Psalms 120:5](../../../kjv/psalms/120/5)).
**Hazor**—not the city in
Palestine, but a district in Arabia-Petræa. "Kingdoms"
refer to the several combinations of clans, each under its own sheik.
**men of the east**—Kedar
and Hazor were east of Judea ([Judges 6:3](../../../kjv/judges/6/3);
[Job 1:3](../../../kjv/job/1/3)).

**29. tents**—in which they dwelt,
from which they are called Scenites, that is, tent dwellers.
**curtains**—namely, with
which the tents were covered ([Jeremiah 4:20](../../../kjv/jeremiah/4/20);
[Jeremiah 10:20](../../../kjv/jeremiah/10/20); [Psalms 104:2](../../../kjv/psalms/104/2)).
**they shall cry unto them,
Fear,** &c.—*The foe,* on crying, Fear . . ., shall
discomfit them (the Kedarenes) by their mere cry.

**30.** (See on ). No conqueror would venture to follow them into the desert.

**31. wealthy**—rather, "tranquil"
([1 Chronicles 4:40](../../../kjv/1-chronicles/4/40)).
**neither gates nor bars**—The
Arabs, lying out of the track of the contending powers of Asia and
Africa, took no measures of defense and had neither walled cities nor
gates ([Ezekiel 38:11](../../../kjv/ezekiel/38/11)). They
thought their scanty resources and wilderness position would tempt no
foe.
**alone**—separated from
other nations, without allies; and from one another scattered
asunder. So as to Israel's isolation ([Numbers 23:9](../../../kjv/numbers/23/9);
[Deuteronomy 33:28](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/33/28); [Micah 7:14](../../../kjv/micah/7/14)).

**32. camels**—their chief
possessions; not fields or vineyards.
**in utmost . . . corners**—who
seemed least likely to be dispersed. Or else, "having the hair
shaven (or clipped) in angles" ([Jeremiah 9:26](../../../kjv/jeremiah/9/26);
[Jeremiah 25:23](../../../kjv/jeremiah/25/23)) [GROTIUS].
**calamity from all sides**—which
will force even those in "corners" to "scatter"
themselves.

**33.** ().

**34. Elam**—part of Susiana, west
of Persia proper, but used to designate Persia in general. Elam
proper, or Elymais, nearer Judea than Persia, is probably here meant;
it had helped Nebuchadnezzar against Judea; hence its punishment. It
may have been idolatrous, whereas Persia proper was mainly
monotheistic.

**35. bow**—Elam was famed for its
bowmen ([Isaiah 22:6](../../../kjv/isaiah/22/6)).
**chief of their might**—in
opposition to "bow," that is, bowmen, who constituted their
main strength.

**36. four winds,**
&c.—Nebuchadnezzar's army containing soldiers from the four
quarters.

**37. consumed**—as a distinct
nation ([Daniel 8:2-27](../../../kjv/daniel/8/2-27)).
Fulfilled under Alexander and his successors.

**38.** I will show Myself King by
My judgments there, as though My tribunal were erected there. The
throne of Cyrus, God's instrument, set up over Media, of which Elam
was a part, may be meant [GROTIUS];
or rather, that of Nebuchadnezzar (). Then the restoration of Elam () will refer *partly* to that which took place on the
reduction of Babylon by Cyrus, prince of Persia and Media.

**39. latter days**—The *full*
restoration belongs to gospel times. Elamites were among the first
who heard and accepted it ([Acts 2:9](../../../kjv/acts/2/9)).

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