Commentary on Jeremiah Part 12 (No. F024xii)

Chapter 45

The word that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch the son of Neri'ah, when he wrote these words in a book at the dictation of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoi'akim the son of Josi'ah, king of Judah: ²"Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, to you, O Baruch: ³You said, 'Woe is me! for the LORD has added sorrow to my pain; I am weary with my groaning, and I find no rest.' ⁴Thus shall you say to him, Thus says the LORD: Behold, what I have built I am breaking down, and what I have planted I am plucking up--that is, the whole land. ⁵And do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not; for, behold, I am bringing evil upon all flesh, says the LORD; but I will give you your life as a prize of war in all places to which you may go."

Intent of Chapter 45

This oracle was advised at the outset of the difficulties ahead (36:1-4; 1:10). Some scholars, (see OARSV n.), view this survey of the difficulties past as Baruch's reassurance to Jehoiakim of God's assurance to him of physical deliverance (39:15-18). However, see also the notes re God's message in Ch. 13 (Pt. IV), condemning Babylonian influence.

This text in the RSV relates to Ch. 52:1 of the LXX. Jamieson-Faucett-Brown states: Jer. 52:1-34 written by some other than Jeremiah (probably Ezra) as an historical supplement to the previous prophecies.

Ch. 45 of the LXX is at Ch. 38 in the MT [RSV].

English Translation of the Greek Septuagint Bible.

Brenton, Sir Lancelot C. L... (1851)

Chapter 45 ^45:1 And Saphanias the son of Nathan, and Godolias the son of Paschor, and Joachal the son of Semelias, heard the words which Jeremias spoke to the people, saying, ² Thus saith the Lord; He that remains in this city shall die by the sword, and by the famine: but he that goes out to the Chaldeans shall live; and his soul shall be given him for a found treasure, and he shall live. ³ For thus saith the Lord; This city shall certainly be delivered into the hands of the host of the king of Babylon, and they shall take it. ⁴ And they said to the king. Let that man, we pray thee, be slain, for he weakens the hands of the fighting men that are left in the city, and the hands of all the people, speaking to them according to these words: for this man does not prophesy peace to this people, but evil. ⁵ Then the king said, Behold, he is in your hands. For the king could not resist them. ⁶ And they cast him into the dungeon of Melchias the king’s son, which was in the court of the prison; and they let him down into the pit: and there was no water in the pit, but mire: and he was in the mire. ⁷ And Abdemelech the Ethiopian heard, (now he was in the king’s household,)that they had put Jeremias into the dungeon; and the king was in the gate of Benjamin: ⁸ and he went forth to him, and spoke to the king and said, ⁹ Thou hast done evil in what thou hast done to slay this man with hunger: for there is no more bread in the city. ¹⁰ And the king commanded Abdemelech, saying, Take with thee hence thirty men, and bring him up out of the dungeon, that he die not. ¹¹ So Abdemelech took the men and went into the underground part of the king’s house, and took thence old rags and old ropes, and threw them to Jeremias into the dungeon. ¹² And he said, Put these under the ropes. And Jeremias did so. ¹³ And they drew him with the ropes, and lifted him out of the dungeon: and Jeremias remained in the court of the prison. ¹⁴ Then the king sent, and called him to himself into the house of Aselisel, which was in the house of the Lord: and the King said to him, I will ask thee a question, and I pray thee hide nothing from me. ¹⁵ And Jeremias said to the king, If I tell thee, wilt thou not certainly put me to death? and if I give thee counsel, thou wilt not at all hearken to me. ¹⁶ And the king swore to him, saying, As the Lord lives who gave us this soul, I will not slay thee, neither will I give thee into the hands of these men. ¹⁷ And Jeremias said to him, Thus saith the Lord; If thou wilt indeed go forth to the captains of the king of Babylon, thy soul shall live, and this city shall certainly not be burnt with fire; and thou shalt live, and thy house. ¹⁸ But if thou wilt not go forth this city shall be delivered into the hands of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and thou shalt by no means escape. ¹⁹ And the king said to Jeremias, I consider the Jews that have gone over to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hands, and they mock me. ²⁰ And Jeremias said, They shall in no wise deliver thee up. Hear the word of the Lord which I speak to thee; and it shall be better for thee, and thy soul shall live. ²¹ But if thou wilt not go forth, this is the word which the Lord has shewn me. ²² And, behold, all the women that are left in the house of the king of Juda were brought forth to the princes of the king of Babylon; and they said, The men who were at peace with thee have deceived thee, and will prevail against thee; and they shall cause thy foot to slide and fail, they have turned back from thee. ²³ And they shall bring forth thy wives and thy children to the Chaldeans: and thou shalt by no means escape, for thou shalt be taken by the hand of the king of Babylon, and this city shall be burnt. ²⁴ Then the king said to him, Let no man know any of these words, and certainly thou shalt not die. ²⁵ And if the princes shall hear that I have spoken to thee, and they come to thee, and say to thee, Tell us, what said the king to thee? hide it not from us, and we will in no wise slay thee, and what said the king to thee? ²⁶ Then thou shalt say to them, I brought my supplication before the presence of the king, that he would not send me back into the house of Jonathan, that I should die there. ²⁷ And all the princes came to Jeremias, and asked him: and he told them according to all these words, which the king had commanded him. And they were silent, because the word of the Lord was not heard. ²⁸ And Jeremias remained in the court of the prison, until the time when Jerusalem was taken.

Chapter 46

The word of the LORD which came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the nations. ²About Egypt. Concerning the army of Pharaoh Neco, king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphra'tes at Car'chemish and which Nebuchadrez'zar king of Babylon defeated in the fourth year of Jehoi'akim the son of Josi'ah, king of Judah: ³"Prepare buckler and shield, and advance for battle! ⁴Harness the horses; mount, O horsemen! Take your stations with your helmets, polish your spears, put on your coats of mail! ⁵Why have I seen it? They are dismayed and have turned backward. Their warriors are beaten down, and have fled in haste; they look not back--terror on every side! says the LORD. ⁶The swift cannot flee away, nor the warrior escape; in the north by the river Euphra'tes they have stumbled and fallen. ⁷"Who is this, rising like the Nile, like rivers whose waters surge? ⁸Egypt rises like the Nile, like rivers whose waters surge. He said, I will rise, I will cover the earth, I will destroy cities and their inhabitants. ⁹Advance, O horses, and rage, O chariots! Let the warriors go forth: men of Ethiopia and Put who handle the shield, men of Lud, skilled in handling the bow. ¹⁰That day is the day of the Lord GOD of hosts, a day of vengeance, to avenge himself on his foes. The sword shall devour and be sated, and drink its fill of their blood. For the Lord GOD of hosts holds a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphra'tes. ¹¹Go up to Gilead, and take balm, O virgin daughter of Egypt! In vain you have used many medicines; there is no healing for you. ¹²The nations have heard of your shame, and the earth is full of your cry; for warrior has stumbled against warrior; they have both fallen together." ¹³The word which the LORD spoke to Jeremiah the prophet about the coming of Nebuchadrez'zar king of Babylon to smite the land of Egypt: ¹⁴"Declare in Egypt, and proclaim in Migdol; proclaim in Memphis and Tah'panhes; Say, 'Stand ready and be prepared, for the sword shall devour round about you.' ¹⁵Why has Apis fled? Why did not your bull stand? Because the LORD thrust him down. ¹⁶Your multitude stumbled and fell, and they said one to another, 'Arise, and let us go back to our own people and to the land of our birth, because of the sword of the oppressor.' ¹⁷Call the name of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, 'Noisy one who lets the hour go by.' ¹⁸"As I live, says the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts, like Tabor among the mountains, and like Carmel by the sea, shall one come. ¹⁹Prepare yourselves baggage for exile, O inhabitants of Egypt! For Memphis shall become a waste, a ruin, without inhabitant. ²⁰"A beautiful heifer is Egypt, but a gadfly from the north has come upon her. ²¹Even her hired soldiers in her midst are like fatted calves; yea, they have turned and fled together, they did not stand; for the day of their calamity has come upon them, the time of their punishment. ²²"She makes a sound like a serpent gliding away; for her enemies march in force, and come against her with axes, like those who fell trees. ²³They shall cut down her forest, says the LORD, though it is impenetrable, because they are more numerous than locusts; they are without number. ²⁴The daughter of Egypt shall be put to shame, she shall be delivered into the hand of a people from the north." ²⁵The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, said: "Behold, I am bringing punishment upon Amon of Thebes, and Pharaoh, and Egypt and her gods and her kings, upon Pharaoh and those who trust in him. ²⁶I will deliver them into the hand of those who seek their life, into the hand of Nebuchadrez'zar king of Babylon and his officers. Afterward Egypt shall be inhabited as in the days of old, says the LORD. ²⁷"But fear not, O Jacob my servant, nor be dismayed, O Israel; for lo, I will save you from afar, and your offspring from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return and have quiet and ease, and none shall make him afraid. ²⁸Fear not, O Jacob my servant, says the LORD, for I am with you. I will make a full end of all the nations to which I have driven you, but of you I will not make a full end. I will chasten you in just measure, and I will by no means leave you unpunished."

Intent of Chapter 46

46:1 to 51:64 God's Oracle Against Foreign Nations This message was given through Isaiah Chs. 13-23; Jeremiah here and throughout; Ezekiel Chs. 25-32; Daniel Chs. 2-12 and see Epilogue. Modern Scholars denigrate Daniel because of the impact of the prophecies on the corrupted influence of pseudo-Christianity and its interrelationship with Revelation.

46:1 Introduction (1:2; 14:1); continues 25:15-38.

46:2-28 Against Egypt This also supports Ezekiel which ties both into the Last day over the 20^th century to the 120^th Jubilee (No. 036; & 036_2) supported by Daniel (see F027 to F027xiii).

46:2-12 In 605 BCE Nebuchadrezzar as Crown Prince of Babylon, reigning jointly with his father in this year, defeated the Egyptians under Neco (Necho) II at Carchemish on the Northern Euphrates sixty miles west of Haran (Gen. 11:31) the last capital of Assyria. This act was to commence the time sequence God gave to Daniel (F027ii) that would take the last sequence of prophecies of the latter prophets from Isaiah to the last days at the return of Messiah (F027xii, xiii) and the complete destruction of the Babylonian religious system (see ## 036; 036_2; F066v; #282E and Ch. 44 n. Part XI).

The Chaldeans pursued the Egyptian forces to the borders of Egypt which stopped the plans of Egypt in expanding its influence over Asia Minor. Humbled before his nation and the other African nations (Put, Lud, Cush and Cyrene or Syene) (see Ezek. 30:5-6) (see ##45A, 45B, 45C, 45D, 45E), Egyptian influence was curtailed for some time, and it was invaded by Cambyses in 525 BCE under the Prophecy of Pharaoh's Broken Arms (as in (#036 above).

46:13-26 This Oracle most probably comes as God's Prophecy against Egypt from 605 BCE at Carchemish and continues to the beginning of Chislev 601 BCE when Nebuchadrezzar and Necho fought to a standstill on the border of Egypt as recorded in the Babylonian Chronicle or perhaps in 43:8-13 n. Part XI.

The text here is in two parts. The poetic text refers to Lower Egypt (Memphis) and the prose refers to Upper Egypt (Thebes).

Apis is the Bull god of Southern Egypt (Nah. 3:8). Tabor is the great mountain rising above the plain of Jezreel (Ezdraelon Jos. 19:22).

Carmel is the mountain at the end of the plain of Jezreel, projecting into the Mediterranean (see Jos. 19:26).

46:27-28 This text is a doublet of 30:10-11 and refers to the destruction of the nations in the Last Days and contrasts the destruction of Egypt and their deliverance into the hands of the Babylonian Beast and the systems that follow them (F027ii) with the reconstruction of Israel and the destruction of the national systems under Messiah.

Ch.46 of the MT [RSV] is contained in Ch 26 of the LXX. vv. 4-13 are missing in the LXX, having been added later.

Ch. 46 of the LXX is in Ch. 39 of the MT [RSV]

English Translation of the Greek Septuagint Bible.

Brenton, Sir Lancelot C. L...

Chapter 46 ^46:1 And it came to pass in the ninth month of Sedekias king of Juda, that Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon came, and all his host, against Jerusalem, and they besieged it. ² And in the eleventh year of Sedekiass, in the fourth month, on the ninth day of the month, the city was broken up. ³ And all the leaders of the king of Babylon went in, and sat in the middle gate, Marganasar, and Samagoth, and Nabusachar, and Nabusaris, Nagargas, Naserrabamath, and the rest of the leaders of the king of Babylon, ⁴ ⁵ ⁶ ⁷ ⁸ ⁹ ¹⁰ ¹¹ ¹² ¹³ ¹⁴ and they sent, and took Jeremias out of the court of the prison, and gave him in charge to Godolias the son of Achicam, the son of Saphan: and they brought him out, and he sat in the midst of the people. ¹⁵ And the word of the Lord came to Jeremias in the court of the prison, saying, ¹⁶ Go and say to Abdemelech the Ethiopian, Thus said the Lord God of Israel; Behold, I will bring my words upon this city for evil, and not for good. ¹⁷ But I will save thee in that day, and I will by no means deliver thee into the hands of the men before whom thou art afraid. ¹⁸ For I will surely save thee, and thou shalt by no means fall by the sword; and thou shalt find thy life, because thou didst trust in me, saith the Lord.

Chapter 47

The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines, before Pharaoh smote Gaza. ²"Thus says the LORD: Behold, waters are rising out of the north, and shall become an overflowing torrent; they shall overflow the land and all that fills it, the city and those who dwell in it. Men shall cry out, and every inhabitant of the land shall wail. ³At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his stallions, at the rushing of his chariots, at the rumbling of their wheels, the fathers look not back to their children, so feeble are their hands, ⁴because of the day that is coming to destroy all the Philistines, to cut off from Tyre and Sidon every helper that remains. For the LORD is destroying the Philistines, the remnant of the coastland of Caphtor. ⁵Baldness has come upon Gaza, Ash'kelon has perished. O remnant of the Anakim, how long will you gash yourselves? ⁶Ah, sword of the LORD! How long till you are quiet? Put yourself into your scabbard, rest and be still! ⁷How can it be quiet, when the LORD has given it a charge? Against Ash'kelon and against the seashore he has appointed it."

Intent of Chapter 47

47:1-7 Against the Philistines

Other oracles against the Philistines are found at Isa. 14:29-31; Ezek. 25:15-17. This Oracle may be associated with Nebuchadrezzar's sack of Ashkelon (vv. 5,7; 36:9). The Phoenician cities of Tyre and Sidon are considered to perhaps also be allied with the Philistines (27:3). The Philistines are thought to be generally related to the Indo-European inhabitants of Crete (Capthor); (see Am. 9:7 and the n; 2Sam. 8:18 n.).

v. 5: Anakim (Jos. 11:21-22 (for other signs of Lamentation comp. 16:6; 41:5) (Re Anakim see also The Nephilim (No. 154)).

Ch. 47 of the MT [RSV] is in Ch 29:1-7 of the LXX. Ch 47 of the LXX is at Ch. 40 of the MT [RSV].

English Translation of the Greek Septuagint Bible.

Brenton, Sir Lancelot C. L...

Chapter 47 ^47:1 The word that came from the Lord to Jeremias, after that Nabuzardan the captain of the guard had let him go out of Rama, when he had taken him in manacles in the midst of the captivity of Juda, even those who were carried to Babylon. ² And the chief captain of the guard took him, and said to him, The Lord thy God has pronounced all these evils upon this place: ³ and the Lord has done it; because ye sinned against him, and hearkened not to his voice. ⁴ Behold, I have loosed thee from the manacles that were upon thine hands. If it seem good to thee to go with me to Babylon, then will I set mine eyes upon thee. ⁵ But if not, depart; return to Godolias the son of Achicam, the son of Saphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed governor in the land of Juda, and dwell with him in the midst of the people in the land of Juda: to whatsoever places it seems good in thine eyes to go, do thou even go. And the captain of the guard made him presents, and let him go. ⁶ And he came to Godolias to Massepha, and dwelt in the midst of his people that was left in the land. ⁷ And all the leaders of the host that was in the country, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Godolias governor in the land, and they committed to him the men and their wives, whom Nabuchodonosor had not removed to Babylon. ⁸ And there came to Godolias to Massepha Ismael the son of Nathanias, and Joanan son of Caree, and Saraeas the son of Thanaemeth, and the sons of Jophe the Netophathite, and Ezonias son of the Mochathite, they and their men. ⁹ And Godolias swore to them and to their men, saying, Be not afraid before the children of the Chaldeans: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be better for you. ¹⁰ And, behold, I dwell in your presence at Massepha, to stand before the Chaldeans who shall come against you: and do ye gather grapes, and fruits, and oil, and put them into your vessels, and dwell in the cities which ye have obtained possession of. ¹¹ And all the Jews that were in Moab, and among the children of Ammon, and those that were in Idumea, and those that were in all the rest of the country, heard that the king of Babylon had granted a remnant to Juda, and that he had appointed over them Godolias the son of Achicam. ¹² And they came to Godolias into the land of Juda, to Massepha, and gathered grapes, and very much summer fruit, and oil. ¹³ And Joanan the son of Caree, and all the leaders of the host, who were in the fields, came to Godolias to Massepha, ¹⁴ and said to him, Dost thou indeed know that king Beleissa son of Ammon has sent Ismael to thee to slay thee? But Godolias believed them not. ¹⁵ And Joanan said to Godolias secretly in Massepha, I will go now and smite Ismael, and let no man know it; lest he slay thee, and all the Jews that are gathered to thee be dispersed, and the remnant of Juda perish. ¹⁶ But Godolias said to Joanan, Do not the thing, for thou speakest lies concerning Ismael.

Chapter 48

Concerning Moab. Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "Woe to Nebo, for it is laid waste! Kiriatha'im is put to shame, it is taken; the fortress is put to shame and broken down; ²the renown of Moab is no more. In Heshbon they planned evil against her: 'Come, let us cut her off from being a nation!' You also, O Madmen, shall be brought to silence; the sword shall pursue you. ³"Hark! a cry from Horona'im, 'Desolation and great destruction!' ⁴Moab is destroyed; a cry is heard as far as Zo'ar. ⁵For at the ascent of Luhith they go up weeping; for at the descent of Horona'im they have heard the cry of destruction. ⁶Flee! Save yourselves! Be like a wild ass in the desert! ⁷For, because you trusted in your strongholds and your treasures, you also shall be taken; and Chemosh shall go forth into exile, with his priests and his princes. ⁸The destroyer shall come upon every city, and no city shall escape; the valley shall perish, and the plain shall be destroyed, as the LORD has spoken. ⁹"Give wings to Moab, for she would fly away; her cities shall become a desolation, with no inhabitant in them. ¹⁰"Cursed is he who does the work of the LORD with slackness; and cursed is he who keeps back his sword from bloodshed. ¹¹"Moab has been at ease from his youth and has settled on his lees; he has not been emptied from vessel to vessel, nor has he gone into exile; so his taste remains in him, and his scent is not changed. ¹²"Therefore, behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I shall send to him tilters who will tilt him, and empty his vessels, and break his jars in pieces. ¹³Then Moab shall be ashamed of Chemosh, as the house of Israel was ashamed of Bethel, their confidence. ¹⁴"How do you say, 'We are heroes and mighty men of war'? ¹⁵The destroyer of Moab and his cities has come up, and the choicest of his young men have gone down to slaughter, says the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts. ¹⁶The calamity of Moab is near at hand and his affliction hastens apace. ¹⁷Bemoan him, all you who are round about him, and all who know his name; say, 'How the mighty scepter is broken, the glorious staff.' ¹⁸"Come down from your glory, and sit on the parched ground, O inhabitant of Dibon! For the destroyer of Moab has come up against you; he has destroyed your strongholds. ¹⁹Stand by the way and watch, O inhabitant of Aro'er! Ask him who flees and her who escapes; say, 'What has happened?' ²⁰Moab is put to shame, for it is broken; wail and cry! Tell it by the Arnon, that Moab is laid waste. ²¹"Judgment has come upon the tableland, upon Holon, and Jahzah, and Meph'a-ath, ²²and Dibon, and Nebo, and Beth-diblatha'im, ²³and Kiriatha'im, and Beth-ga'mul, and Beth-me'on, ²⁴and Ker'i-oth, and Bozrah, and all the cities of the land of Moab, far and near. ²⁵The horn of Moab is cut off, and his arm is broken, says the LORD. ²⁶"Make him drunk, because he magnified himself against the LORD; so that Moab shall wallow in his vomit, and he too shall be held in derision. ²⁷Was not Israel a derision to you? Was he found among thieves, that whenever you spoke of him you wagged your head? ²⁸"Leave the cities, and dwell in the rock, O inhabitants of Moab! Be like the dove that nests in the sides of the mouth of a gorge. ²⁹We have heard of the pride of Moab--he is very proud--of his loftiness, his pride, and his arrogance, and the haughtiness of his heart. ³⁰I know his insolence, says the LORD; his boasts are false, his deeds are false. ³¹Therefore I wail for Moab; I cry out for all Moab; for the men of Kir-he'res I mourn. ³²More than for Jazer I weep for you, O vine of Sibmah! Your branches passed over the sea, reached as far as Jazer; upon your summer fruits and your vintage the destroyer has fallen. ³³Gladness and joy have been taken away from the fruitful land of Moab; I have made the wine cease from the wine presses; no one treads them with shouts of joy; the shouting is not the shout of joy. ³⁴"Heshbon and Ele-a'leh cry out; as far as Jahaz they utter their voice, from Zo'ar to Horona'im and Eg'lath-shelish'iyah. For the waters of Nimrim also have become desolate. ³⁵And I will bring to an end in Moab, says the LORD, him who offers sacrifice in the high place and burns incense to his god. ³⁶Therefore my heart moans for Moab like a flute, and my heart moans like a flute for the men of Kir-he'res; therefore the riches they gained have perished. ³⁷"For every head is shaved and every beard cut off; upon all the hands are gashes, and on the loins is sackcloth. ³⁸On all the housetops of Moab and in the squares there is nothing but lamentation; for I have broken Moab like a vessel for which no one cares, says the LORD. ³⁹How it is broken! How they wail! How Moab has turned his back in shame! So Moab has become a derision and a horror to all that are round about him." ⁴⁰For thus says the LORD: "Behold, one shall fly swiftly like an eagle, and spread his wings against Moab; ⁴¹the cities shall be taken and the strongholds seized. The heart of the warriors of Moab shall be in that day like the heart of a woman in her pangs; ⁴²Moab shall be destroyed and be no longer a people, because he magnified himself against the LORD. ⁴³Terror, pit, and snare are before you, O inhabitant of Moab! says the LORD. ⁴⁴He who flees from the terror shall fall into the pit, and he who climbs out of the pit shall be caught in the snare. For I will bring these things upon Moab in the year of their punishment, says the LORD. ⁴⁵"In the shadow of Heshbon fugitives stop without strength; for a fire has gone forth from Heshbon, a flame from the house of Sihon; it has destroyed the forehead of Moab, the crown of the sons of tumult. ⁴⁶Woe to you, O Moab! The people of Chemosh is undone; for your sons have been taken captive, and your daughters into captivity. ⁴⁷Yet I will restore the fortunes of Moab in the latter days, says the LORD." Thus far is the judgment on Moab.

Intent of Chapter 48

48:1-47 Against Moab

This text is classed as a dirge (see OARSV n).

The occasion is thought to perhaps be the suppression of the revolt of Moab and the other western states by Assurbanipal ca. 650 BCE. This suppression was to continue for many centuries. This instance is thought to refer to the punitive raids against Judah in 601 BCE (12:7-13). There was also an inconclusive plot to revolt in 594 BCE (27:1-11). The dirge is thought to be popular in Judah (Isa. 15:1-16:14). This chapter has many affinities with other prophetic oracles on Moab (Amos 2:1-3; Obadiah; Zeph. 2:8ff; and Espec. Isa. 15 above).

48:1-10 Moab (east of the Jordan) Nebo Not the mountain of that name but the city built by the Reubenites, referred to in Num. 32:38 and named on the inscription (see Soncino n.). Other cities are also referred to in this chapter. The Moabite stone records how it was taken by Mesha king of Moab (ca. 895 BCE). Kiriathaim, Kerioth, Jahzah, Dibon, Aroer, Bozrah (Bezer, Beth-diblathaim, Baal-meon, and Horonaim (Num. 32:34-58) are also named on the inscription. Kiriathaim Probably Kureyat ten miles north of the Dead Sea.

Misgab of the MT is rendered the Fortress in the RSV. The Soncino says it is unknown and may be the High Fortress as translated in Isa. 25:12.

v. 2 In Heshbon they have devised...O Madmen shall be brought to silence

The Soncino says that the names of the cities are a play on words. Heshbon is related to the verb Chasab to devise and Madmen with the word Daman (to be silent) (Rashi, Kimchi). Heshbon was one of the chief cities of Moab NE of the Dead Sea. It marked the northern boundary of Moab until the Reubenites claimed the territory lying between it and the Arnon, which flows into the Dead Sea about the Middle of its Eastern border. Many of the cities in this text were assigned to the Reubenites by Moses (Num. 32:33ff. Josh. 13:15ff. The seizures proved a source of hostility in the early days (Judg. 3:12 ff; 1 Sam. 14:47). The sympathy of the prophet with Moab's misfortune (v. 31) cf. Isa. 15:5) suggests they had long since acquiesced in the eyes of the Soncino rabbis. However the important thing to remember was that the Reubenites, Gadites and half of Manasseh had been taken into captivity, north of Syria well before Israel in 722 BCE (cf. #212F).

The site of Madmen is unknown; The Soncino says that so far as the name is concerned, it may be compared to Madmannah, a city of Judah (Josh. 15:31) and Madmenah Isa. 10:31, a Benjamite City.

Scholars are divided as to the location of Horonaim.

The ascent of Luhith is between Zoar and Rabbath-Moab.

48:10 The work of the Lord is a divine decree and thus must be carried out with zeal.

v. 11 Moab has never experienced exile but remains in its place like wine settled on its lees. Jeremiah comments: neither has he gone into captivity (Metsudath David).

Moab was subject to the nations of the north in accordance with the Greeks, Romans and the Kingdoms of the North and under Parthia as foretold by Daniel (F027ii).

All his people are subjected for their idolatry to Chemosh. They became subject to the Baal worship of the Gods of the Babylonians.

Note that the restoration of Moab is for the Latter Days which is under the Messiah at his return. We will deal with this in Part XIII.

Moab is ashamed of Chemosh as Israel is ashamed of Bethel and the Babylonian influence that destroyed them also. All the Babylonian deities penetrated Israel and Judah (see Ch, 13) and are there to this day (see Summary part XIV).

Ch. 48 of the MT [RSV] is at 31:1-44 of the LXX vv. 45-47 have been added to the MT [RSV] later. (Post 70 CE.)

Ch. 48 of the LXX is at Ch. 41 of the MT [RSV]

English Translation of the Greek Septuagint Bible.

Brenton, Sir Lancelot C. L...

Chapter 48 ^48:1 Now it came to pass in the seventh month that Ismael the son of Nathanias the son of Eleasa of the seed royal, came, and ten men with him, to Godolias to Massepha: and they ate bread there together. ² And Ismael rose up, and the ten men that were with him, and smote Godolias, whom the king of Babylon had appointed governor over the land, ³ and all the Jews that were with him in Massepha, and all the Chaldeans that were found there. ⁴ And it came to pass on the second day after he had smitten Godolias, and no man knew of it, ⁵ that there came men from Sychem, and from Salem, and from Samaria, even eighty men, having their beards shaven, and their clothes rent, and beating their breasts, and they had manna and frankincense in their hands, to bring them into the house of the Lord. ⁶ And Ismael went out to meet them; and they went on and wept: and he said to them, Come in to Godolias. ⁷ And it came to pass, when they had entered into the midst of the city, that he slew them and cast them into a pit. ⁸ But ten men were found there, and they said to Ismael, Slay us not: for we have treasures in the field, wheat and barley, honey and oil. So he passed by, and slew them not in the midst of their brethren. ⁹ Now the pit into which Ismael cast all whom he smote, is the great pit, which king Asa had made for fear of Baasa king of Israel: even this Ismael filled with slain men. ¹⁰ And Ismael brought back all the people that were left in Massepha, and the king’s daughter, whom the captain of the guard had committed in charge to Godolias the son of Achicam: and he went away beyond the children of Ammon. ¹¹ And Joanan the son of Caree, and all the leaders of the host that were with him, heard of all the evil deeds which Ismael had done. ¹² And they brought all their army, and went to fight against him, and found him near much water in Gabaon. ¹³ And it came to pass, when all the people that was with Ismael saw Joanan, and the leaders of the host that was with him, ¹⁴ that they returned to Joanan. ¹⁵ But Ismael escaped with eight men and went to the children of Ammon. ¹⁶ And Joanan, and all the leaders of the host that were with him, took all the remnant of the people, whom he had brought back from Ismael, mighty men in war, and the women, and the other property, and the eunuchs, whom they had brought back from Gabaon: ¹⁷ and they departed, and dwelt in Gaberoch-amaa, that is by Bethleem, to go into Egypt, for fear of the Chaldeans: ¹⁸ for they were afraid of them, because Ismael had smitten Godolias, whom the king of Babylon made governor in the land.

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Bullinger’s Notes on Chs. 45-48 (for KJV)

Chapter 45

Verse 1

Baruch. He was the grandson of Maaseiah, governor of Jerusalem in Josiah's reign (2 Chronicles 34:8), and brother of Seraiah, chief chamberlain (Jeremiah 51:59).

written these words, &c. See Jeremiah 36. the fourth year, &c. See App-86.

Verse 2

the LORD, the God of Israel. See note on Jeremiah 11:3.

Verse 4

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6.

built... break down... planted... pluck up. See note on Jeremiah 1:10.

Verse 5

And seekest, &c.. Wouldst thou seek to secure great things for thyself?

evil. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44.

saith the LORD. [is] Jehovah's oracle.

life. soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.

for. prey. Compare Jeremiah 39:18.

Chapter 46

Verse 1

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.

which came. For the most part in the fourth year of Jehoiakim (see App-86), and may have been included in the roll of Jeremiah 36. This section may be compared with Isaiah's "burdens" and "woes" (compare p. 930), and Ezekiel (Jeremiah 25:32), and Amos (Jeremiah 1:1; Jeremiah 1:2).

against. concerning. Compare Jeremiah 49:1.

the. Some codices, with six early printed editions (one Rabbinic), read "all the".

Gentiles. nations.

Verse 2

Egypt. Comes first because most important in connection with Judah, as well as coming second to Babylon at that time (with which it corresponds in position in the Structure above). Judah was indeed, then subject to Egypt. The policy of Judah's rulers was to lean on Egypt instead of heeding Jeremiah. These prophecies are designed to assure the nation that it could not rely on Gentile powers to thwart God's word by Jeremiah.

Carchemish. Compare 2 Chronicles 35:20-24. The Gargamish of the Inscriptions, now known as Jerablus, or Membij, &c.

the fourth year of Jehoiakim.. critical era in the history of Egypt, Babylon, Judah, and the world. See App-86. Four years before, Pharaoh-necho, on his way to Carchemish, had defeated and slain Josiah at Megiddo, and afterward taken his son Shallum as. vassal to Egypt, and set up Jehoiakim (2 Kings 23:29-35).

Verse 3

Order ye. Prepare ye, or Put in order.

Verse 4

brigandines. coats of mail.

Verse 5

beaten down. crushed.

fled apace. Figure of speech Polyptoton. Hebrew fled. flight. Well rendered "fled apace".

fear was round about. Hebrew. magor missabib. terror round about. See note on Jeremiah 6:25.

saith, &c. See note on Jeremiah 45:5.

Verse 6

mighty man. Hebrew. geber. App-14.

Verse 7

as. flood. = as the river: i.e. the Nile, in flood.

Verse 8

I will go up. Egypt at this time was so strong that Jeremiah's prophecy seemed most unlikely to come to pass.

Verse 9

Come up, &c. Figure of speech Eironeia. Compare Jeremiah 46:11.

the Ethiopians. Cush. Mercenaries, forming the chief part of the Egyptian forces.

the Libyans. Hebrew Phut. Compare Ezekiel 27:10; Ezekiel 30:5. and Acts 2:10.

the Lydians. Not those in Western Asia (Genesis 10:22). All belonging to Africa.

Verse 10

the Lord GOD of hosts. Hebrew Adonai Jehovah. baoth. App-4. See note on Jeremiah 2:19.

a day of vengeance. On the Egyptians.

made drunk. bathed. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 32:42).

hath. sacrifice. Compare Isaiah 34:6; Ezekiel 39:17.

Verse 11

Go up, &c. Figure of speech Eironeia, as shown by the rest of the verse.

Gilead. Compare Jeremiah 8:22.

take. fetch.

for thou shalt not be cured. healing there is none for thee. Compare Jeremiah 8:22; Jeremiah 51:8.

Verse 12

land. earth.

Verse 14

The Forty-Second Prophecy of Jeremiah (see book comments for Jeremiah).

Migdol... Noph... Tahpanhes. See note on Jeremiah 44:1.

Verse 15

valiant men. Some codices, with two early printed editions, Septuagint, and Vulgate, read "one" (singular), perhaps referring to Apis their sacred bull.

swept away. laid prostrate (singular) Compare 1 Samuel 5:3.

they stood not. he made no stand.

did drive them. had driven him back.

them. him.

Verse 16

fall. be stumbling.

one... upon another. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:37).

Verse 17

noise. sound.

passed. let pass over. Compare 2 Samuel 20:5.

Verse 18

saith the King. [is] the King's oracle. Compare Jeremiah 48:15.

the LORD of hosts. See note on Jeremiah 6:6.

Verse 19

dwelling in. inhabitress of. Probably. the Jews, as in Ezekiel 12:2.Ezekiel 48:18.

furnish thyself to go into captivity. baggage for captivity prepare thee.

Verse 20

heifer. Probably an allusion to Apis, the sacred bull.

destruction. piercing. Hebrew. kerez. Occurs only here. Revised Version margin suggests gadfly. If it be so, the attack is on the heifer.

cometh. Some codices, with two early printed editions, Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "attacketh her".

the north. Though Babylon was on the east, the entry through Palestine was from the north, as Abraham entered it.

Verse 21

they did not stand. they made no stand. Some codices, with two early printed editions, Syriac, and Vulgate, read, "and they have made", &c.

Verse 23

searched. reconnoitred.

grasshoppers. locusts.

Verse 25

The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel. See note on Jeremiah 7:3.

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4.

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos, to add to the emphasis of the Divine title employed.

multitude of No: or Amon of Thebes (an Egyptian idol).

trust. confide. Hebrew. batah. App-69.

Verse 26

lives. souls. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.

Verse 27

Jacob. Referring to the natural seed; i.e. the whole nation. See notes on Genesis 32:28; Genesis 43:6; Genesis 45:26; Genesis 45:28.

Verse 28

Fear thou not. Compare Jeremiah 30:10; Jeremiah 30:11. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 26:24. Compare Deuteronomy 31:8). App-92.

a full end. Compare Jeremiah 10:24; Jeremiah 30:11.

not leave thee wholly unpunished. not hold thee guiltless. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 20:7; Exodus 34:7; Numbers 14:18).

Chapter 47

Verse 1

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.

against. concerning. Compare Jeremiah 48:1; Jeremiah 49:1; Jeremiah 49:7; Jeremiah 49:23.

before. To show that this prophecy was not the anticipation of human foresight.

Pharaoh. Pharaoh-necho, after his victory over Josiah (2 Kings 23:29; 2 Chronicles 35:20).

Gaza. Hebrew. 'azzah (with 'eth). Now Ghuzzeh. Still standing at the time of this prophecy (the fourth year of Jehoiakim). Not Carchemish, for compare 2 Kings 24:7.

Verse 2

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos.

waters. The symbol of the Chaldean armies.

the north. Compare Jeremiah 46:20.

men. Hebrew. adam.

Verse 3

strong horses. Compare Jeremiah 8:16.

rushing. rattling.

children. sons.

Verse 4

the day that cometh. Compare Jeremiah 46:10.

Tyrus and Zidon. The same origin as the Philistines.

the country. the sea coast.

Caphtor. Not identified. Perhaps Crete, whence the Philistines emigrated (Genesis 10:14.Deuteronomy 2:23.Amos 9:7; Amos 9:7).

Verse 5

Baldness. the sign of mourning. Compare Jeremiah 16:6.

Ashkelon. Now 'Aakalan.

their valley. Septuagint reads "Anakim" instead of 'imkam.

Verse 6

sword of the LORD. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 32:41).

47:7

How... ? Figure of speech Erotesis.

Chapter 48

Verse 1

Against. concerning.

Moab. Always hostile to Israel. Compare Judges 3:12, Jdg 3:28. 1 Samuel 14:47; 2 Samuel 8:2; 2 Kings 1:1; 2 Kings 3:4-27; 2 Kings 13:20. In the reign of Jehoiakim they joined with the Chaldeans.

thus saith. As in Numbers 21:28; Numbers 21:29; Numbers 24:17 (compare verses: Jeremiah 48:45; Jeremiah 48:46), and Amos 2:2.

the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel. See note on Jeremiah 7:3.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.

Nebo. Not the mountain, but formerly. Reubenite possession (Numbers 32:37; Numbers 32:38), now belonging to Moab.

Kiriathaim. Now probably el Kureiyat, between Medeba and Dibon.

Misgab. Probably. the high fort.

Verse 2

Heshbon. Now Hesban. The capital of Sihon king of the Amorites. Rebuilt by Reubenites (Numbers 32:37. Compare Joshua 13:17).

devised. counselled. Note Figure of speech Paronomasia. Heshbon, hashbu.

evil. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44.

be cut down. be reduced to silence.

Madmen. Now Umm Deineh,. town in Moab twelve miles N. E. of Dibon.

Verse 3

Horonaim. Probably near Zoar. Compare Isaiah 15:5.

Verse 5

Luhith. ' Now Tal'atel Heith, one mile west of Mount Nebo.

Verse 6

lives. soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.

the heath. naked trees. Compare Jeremiah 17:6.

Verse 7

thou shalt also. thou too shalt.

Chemosh shall go forth into captivity. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 21:29). App-92. See App-54, and compare Judges 11:24. 1Ki 11:7. 2 Kings 23:13.

Verse 10

deceitfully. negligently: i.e. this work of judgment.

Verse 11

hath been at ease. Since Moab had driven out the Emims (Deuteronomy 2:10).

remained. stood.

Verse 12

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos.

saith the LORD. [is] Jehovah's oracle.

wanderers, that shall cause him to wander. tilters that shall tilt him. Keeping up the symbol of. wine-jar (Jeremiah 48:11).

Verse 13

as. according as.

the house of Israel. See note on Jeremiah 2:4. The last occurrence in Jeremiah.

Beth-el. Reference to the calves of Jeroboam (1 Kings 12:29; Hosea 10:5).

Verse 14

men. Hebrew, plural of 'enosh. App-14.

Verse 15

gone up... her cities. her cities have gone up, or ascended in burning.

saith the King. [is] the King's oracle. Compare Jeremiah 46:18.

the LORD of hosts. See note on Jeremiah 6:6.

Verse 16

hasteth fast. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 32:35). App-92.

Verse 18

Dibon. Now Dhiban. Ruins north of the river Arnon. Compare Jeremiah 48:22.

Verse 19

inhabitant. inhabitress. Reference to "daughter' (Jeremiah 48:18).

Aroer. Now 'Ar'air, on the north bank of Wady, Mojib (Arnon).

Verse 20

Arnon. Now Wady Mojib, on the east side of the Dead Sea.

Verse 21

Holon. Now probably Aleiyan (not Holon or Hilen in Judah).

Jahazah... Mephaath. Not yet identified. Compare Isaiah 15:4.

Verse 22

Dibon. See Jeremiah 48:18.

Beth-diblathaim. Also Almon-diblathaim (Numbers 33:46; Numbers 33:47). Now probably Khan Deleyat. house of the two disks, mentioned on the Moabite stone. App-64.

Verse 23

Beth-gamul. Now Khan Jemail, east of Dibon.

Beth-meon. Now Tell M'ain. Compare Joshua 13:17.

Verse 24

Kerioth. Probably the same as Kiriathaim (Jeremiah 48:1).

Bozrah. Now el Buseirah, in Edom, south-east of the Dead Sea.

Verse 26

wallow in. stagger or splash into.

Verse 27

since. as often as, or whenever.

skippedst for joy. didst shake thyself in excitement, or wag thy head.

Verse 29

pride. arrogance. Note the Figure of speech Synonymia: six expressions, for the sake of emphasis.

Verse 31

mine heart shall mourn. must one mourn. So the St. Petersburg Codex (A.D. 916), with note that the Eastern Massorites read "I shall mourn".

Kir-heres. Now Kerak, the fortified town east of southern end of the Dead Sea.

Verse 32

Sibmah. Now probably Sumia, east of Jordan. Compare Numbers 32:38.

Jazer. Now Beit Zer'ah, east of Jordan.

plants. branches.

over the sea. Probably the Dead Sea.

Verse 33

wine. Hebrew. yayin. App-27.

Verse 34

From the cry, &c. or, on hearing Heshbon '. mournful cry.

Elealeh. Now el 'Al,. ruin near Heshbon.

Jahaz.. town in Reuben. Not yet identified.

Zoar. Now Tell esh Shughur, on the south side of Wady Heshban. Originally "Bela".

as an heifer of three years old: or, the third Eglath (to distinguish it from two other Eglaths), or Eglath-Shelishiyah,

Nimrim. Now Wady Nimrim, near the south end of the Dead Sea.

Verse 35

high places. See note on 1 Kings 3:3.

Jeremiah 48:36

like pipes. Used in mourning at funerals. Compare Matthew 9:23.

Verse 37

every head. Some codices, with four early printed editions (one margin), read "For upon every head".

bald. baldness. The symbol of mourning. Compare Jeremiah 47:5.

upon the loins. Some codices, with three early printed editions, Septuagint, and Vulgate, read "and upon all loins".

Verse 38

the housetops. Where they prayed to their gods. Compare Jeremiah 19:13.

streets. broadways.

Verse 40

he. one (not named): Nebuchadnezzar understood.

shall fly. Codex Oriental, 2091 (British Museum), reads "shall ascend"; but the Massorah (App-30) has. note, saying "according to other codices, it is fly" (vol, 167a).

as an eagle. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 28:49). App-92.

Verse 41

mighty men's. Hebrew. geber. App-14.

Verse 43

Fear. Terror.

Verse 44

the fear... the pit... the pit... in the snare. Note the Figure of speech Paronomasia. Hebrew. h appa- had... happahath... happahath... bepah.

the year of their visitation. See note on Jeremiah 8:12.

Verse 45

stood... because of the force. stood strengthless; or, halted.

a fire shall come forth out of Heshbon, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 21:28). App-92.

devour. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 24:17). App-92.

corner: or, flank.

tumultuous ones. sons of tumult.

Verse 46

Woe, &c. Figure of speech Maledictio. App-6.

the people of Chemosh. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 21:29).

perisheth. Same word as "undone" in Numbers 21:29.

captives. in the captivity (masculine)

captives. Feminine.

Verse 47

bring again the captivity. Note the Figure of speech Paronomasia

the latter days. in the end, or after part of the days.

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