1.
The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before that Pharaoh smote Gaza.
1. Pharaoh-necho probably
smote Gaza on his return after defeating Josiah at Megiddo () [GROTIUS]. Or,
Pharaoh-hophra (Jeremiah 37:5;
Jeremiah 37:7) 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]
(Amos 1:6; Amos 1:7).
2.
Thus saith the LORD; Behold, waters rise up out of the north, and shall be an overflowing flood, and shall overflow the land, and all that is therein; the city, and them that dwell therein: then the men shall cry, and all the inhabitants of the land shall howl.
2. waters— (). 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.
3.
At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong horses, at the rushing of his chariots, and at the rumbling of his wheels, the fathers shall not look back to their children for feebleness of hands;
3. (Compare ).
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.
for feebleness of hands—The
hands, the principal instruments of action, shall have lost all
power; their whole hope shall be in their feet.
4.
Because of the day that cometh to spoil all the Philistines, and to cut off from Tyrus and Zidon every helper that remaineth: for the LORD will spoil the Philistines, the remnant of the country of Caphtor.
4. every helper—The
Philistines, being neighbors to the Phoelignicians 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.
Caphtor—the Caphtorim
and Philistines both came from Mizraim (Genesis 10:13;
Genesis 10:14). The Philistines are
said to have been delivered by God from Caphtor (Genesis 10:14). Perhaps before the time of Moses they dwelt near and were
subjugated by the Caphtorim (Genesis 10:14) 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 (Ezekiel 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, Genesis 10:13; Genesis 10:14)
on the other hand, makes this locality the most likely.
5.
Baldness is come upon Gaza; Ashkelon is cut off with the remnant of their valley: how long wilt thou cut thyself?
5. Baldness . . . cut
thyself—Palestine is represented as a female who has torn off
her hair and cut her flesh, the heathenish () token of mourning ().
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 (Numbers 13:28). Joshua
dislodged them so that none were left but in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod
(Joshua 11:21; Joshua 11:22).
But the parallel (Jeremiah 47:7),
"Ashkelon . . . the sea-shore," established English
Version here, "Ashkelon . . . their valley."
6.
O thou sword of the LORD, how long will it be ere thou be quiet? put up thyself into thy scabbard, rest, and be still.
6. Jeremiah, in the person of
the Philistines afflicting themselves (), apostrophizes the "sword of the Lord,"
entreating mercy (compare Deuteronomy 32:41;
Ezekiel 21:3-5; Ezekiel 21:9;
Ezekiel 21:10).
up thyself—Hebrew,
"Gather thyself," that is, retire or return.
7.
How can it be quiet, seeing the LORD hath given it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the sea shore? there hath he appointed it.
7. Jeremiah, from addressing the
sword in the second person, turns to his hearers and speaks of it in
the third person.
Lord . . . given it a charge—
(Ezekiel 14:17).
the sea-shore—the strip
of land between the mountains and Mediterranean, held by the
Philistines: "their valley" (see on Ezekiel 14:17).
there hath he appointed it—
(Micah 6:9). There hath He ordered
it to rage.