49 1 The word of the Lord against the Ammonites,  7 Edom, 23 Damascus, 28 Kedar, 34 and Elam.

Unto the children of [a]Ammon thus saith the Lord, Hath Israel no sons? or hath he none heir? Why then hath their king [b]possessed Gad? and his people dwelt in [c]his cities?

Therefore behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will cause a noise of war to be heard in [d]Rabbah of the Ammonites, and it shall be a desolate heap, and her daughters shall be burnt with fire: then shall Israel possess those that possessed him, saith the Lord.

Howl, O Heshbon, for Ai is wasted: cry ye daughters of Rabbah: gird you with sackcloth: mourn and run to and fro by the hedges: for their king shall go into captivity; and his Priests, and his Princes likewise.

Wherefore gloriest thou in the [e]valleys? thy valley floweth away, O rebellious daughter: she trusted in her treasures, saying, Who shall come unto me?

Behold, I will bring [f]a fear upon thee, saith the Lord God of hosts, of all those that be about thee, and ye shall be scattered every man [g]right forth, and none shall gather him that fleeth.

And [h]afterward I will bring again the captivity of the children of Ammon.

¶ To Edom thus saith the Lord of hosts, Is wisdom no more in [i]Teman? is counsel perished from their children? is their wisdom vanished?

Flee, ye inhabitants of Dedan ([j]they are turned back, and have consulted to dwell) for I have brought the destruction of Esau upon him, and the time of his visitation.

If the [k]grape gatherers come to thee, would they not leave some grapes? if thieves come by night, they will destroy till they have enough.

10 For I have discovered Esau: I have uncovered his secrets, and he shall not be able to hide himself: his seed is wasted, and his brethren and his neighbors, and there shall be none to say,

11 Leave thy [l]fatherless children, and I will preserve them alive, and let thy widows trust in me.

12 For thus saith the Lord, [m]Behold, they whose judgment was not to drink of the cup, have assuredly drunken, and art thou he that shall escape free? thou shalt not go free, but thou shalt surely drink of it.

13 For I have sworn by myself, saith the Lord, that [n]Bozrah shall be waste, and for a reproach, and a desolation, and a curse, and all the cities thereof shall be perpetual desolations.

14 I have heard a rumor from the Lord, and an ambassador is sent unto the heathen, saying, Gather you together, and come against [o]her, and rise up to the battle.

15 For lo, I will make thee but small among the heathen, and despised among men.

16 Thy [p]fear, and the pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, and keepest 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.

17 Also Edom shall be desolate: everyone that goeth by it, shall be astonished, and shall hiss at all the plagues thereof,

18 As in the overthrow of Sodom and of Gomorrah, and the places thereof near about, saith the Lord: no man shall dwell there, neither shall the sons of men remain in it.

19 Behold, [q]he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan unto the strong dwelling place: for I will make Israel to rest, even I will make [r]him to haste away from her, and who is a chosen man that I may appoint against her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who is the [s]shepherd that will stand before me?

20 Therefore hear the counsel of the Lord that he hath devised against Edom, and his purpose that he hath conceived, against the inhabitants of Teman: surely the least [t]of the flock shall draw them out: surely [u]he shall make their habitations desolate with them.

21 The earth is moved at the noise of their fall: the cry of their voice is heard in the red sea.

22 Behold, he shall come up, and fly as the eagle, [v]and spread his wings over Bozrah, and at that day shall the heart of the strong men of Edom be as the heart of a woman in travail.

23 ¶ Unto [w]Damascus he saith, Hamath is confounded and Arpad, for they have heard evil tidings, and they are faint hearted as one on the fearful sea that can not rest:

24 Damascus is discouraged, and turneth herself to flight, [x]and fear hath seized her: anguish and sorrows have taken her as a woman in travail.

25 How is the glorious [y]city not reserved, the city of my joy?

26 Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets, and all her men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the Lord of hosts.

27 And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, which shall consume the palaces of [z]Ben-Hadad.

28 Unto [aa]Kedar, and to the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babel shall smite, thus saith the Lord, Arise, and go up unto Kedar, and destroy the men of the East.

29 Their tents and their flocks shall they take away: yea, they shall take to themselves their [ab]curtains and all their vessels, and their camels, and they shall cry unto them, Fear is on every side.

30 Flee, get you far off ([ac]they have consulted to dwell) O ye inhabitants of Hazor, saith the Lord: for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babel hath taken counsel against you, and hath devised a purpose against you.

31 [ad]Arise, and get you up unto the wealthy nation that dwelleth without care, saith the Lord, which have neither gates nor bars, but dwell alone.

32 And their camels shall be a bootie, and the multitude of their cattle a spoil, and I will scatter them into all winds, and to the utmost corners, and I will bring their destruction from all the sides thereof, saith the Lord.

33 And Hazor shall be a dwelling for dragons, and desolation forever: there shall no man dwell there, nor the sons of men remain in it.

34 ¶ The words of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the Prophet, concerning [ae]Elam, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying,

35 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Behold, I will break the [af]bow of Elam, even the chief of their strength.

36 And upon Elam I will bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them towards all these winds, and there shall be no nation, whither the fugitives of Elam shall not come.

37 For I will cause Elam to be afraid before their enemies, and before them that seek their lives, and will bring upon them a plague, even the indignation of my wrath, saith the Lord, and I will send the sword after them, till I have consumed them.

38 And I will set my [ag]throne in Elam, and I will destroy both the king and the princes from thence, saith the Lord: but [ah]in the latter days I will bring again the captivity of Elam, saith the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 49:1 They were separated from the Moabites by the river Arnon, and after that the ten tribes were carried away into captivity, they invaded the country of Gad.
  2. Jeremiah 49:1 To wit, of the Ammonites.
  3. Jeremiah 49:1 Meaning, of the Israelites.
  4. Jeremiah 49:2 Which was one of the chief cities of the Ammonites, as were Heshbon and Ai: there was also a city called Heshbon among the Moabites.
  5. Jeremiah 49:4 In thy plentiful country.
  6. Jeremiah 49:5 Signifying, that power and riches cannot prevail, when as God will execute his judgments.
  7. Jeremiah 49:5 That is, without looking back, and as everyone can find a way to escape.
  8. Jeremiah 49:6 In the time of Christ, when the Gentiles shall be called.
  9. Jeremiah 49:7 Which was a city of Edom, called by the name of Teman Eliphaz’ son, who came of Esau.
  10. Jeremiah 49:8 The enemies that shall dissemble as though they fled away, shall turn back and invade your land, and possess it.
  11. Jeremiah 49:9 Meaning, that God would utterly destroy them, and not spare one, though the grape gatherers leave some grapes, and thieves seek but till they have enough, Obad. 1:5.
  12. Jeremiah 49:11 The destruction shall be so great, that there shall be none left to take care over the widows and the fatherless.
  13. Jeremiah 49:12 I have not spared mine own people, and how should I pity thee?
  14. Jeremiah 49:13 Which was a chief city of Edom.
  15. Jeremiah 49:14 That is, Bozrah.
  16. Jeremiah 49:16 Or, idol.
  17. Jeremiah 49:19 To wit, Nebuchadnezzar after he hath overcome Judah, which is meant by the swelling of Jordan, shall come against mount Seir and Edom.
  18. Jeremiah 49:19 That is, the Israelites, whom the Edomites kept as prisoners, to haste away from thence.
  19. Jeremiah 49:19 The captain and governor of the army, meaning, Nebuchadnezzar.
  20. Jeremiah 49:20 They shall not be able to resist his petty captains.
  21. Jeremiah 49:20 To visit, the enemy.
  22. Jeremiah 49:22 As Jer. 48:40, was said of Moab.
  23. Jeremiah 49:23 Which was the chief city of Syria, whereby he meaneth the whole country.
  24. Jeremiah 49:24 When she heard the sudden coming of the enemy.
  25. Jeremiah 49:25 He speaketh this in the person of the king and of them of the country, who shall wonder to see Damascus the chief city destroyed.
  26. Jeremiah 49:27 Who was king of Syria, 1 Kings 20:26, and had built these palaces, which were still called the palaces of Ben-Hadad.
  27. Jeremiah 49:28 Meaning, the Arabians, and their borderers.
  28. Jeremiah 49:29 Because they used to dwell in tents, he nameth the things that pertain thereunto.
  29. Jeremiah 49:30 The enemies will dwell in your places.
  30. Jeremiah 49:31 He showeth that they of Hazor will flee to the Arabians for succor, but that shall not avail them.
  31. Jeremiah 49:34 That is, Persia, so called of Elam the son of Shem.
  32. Jeremiah 49:35 Because the Persians were good archers, he showeth that the thing wherein they put their trust, should not profit them.
  33. Jeremiah 49:38 I will place Nebuchadnezzar there, and in these prophecies Jeremiah speaketh of those countries, which should be subdued under the first of those four monarchies whereof Daniel maketh mention.
  34. Jeremiah 49:38 This may be referred to the Empire of Persians and Medes after the Chaldeans, or unto the time of Christ, as Jer. 48:47.

A Message About Ammon

49 Concerning the Ammonites:(A)

This is what the Lord says:

“Has Israel no sons?
    Has Israel no heir?
Why then has Molek[a](B) taken possession of Gad?(C)
    Why do his people live in its towns?
But the days are coming,”
    declares the Lord,
“when I will sound the battle cry(D)
    against Rabbah(E) of the Ammonites;
it will become a mound of ruins,(F)
    and its surrounding villages will be set on fire.
Then Israel will drive out
    those who drove her out,(G)
says the Lord.
“Wail, Heshbon,(H) for Ai(I) is destroyed!
    Cry out, you inhabitants of Rabbah!
Put on sackcloth(J) and mourn;
    rush here and there inside the walls,
for Molek(K) will go into exile,(L)
    together with his priests and officials.
Why do you boast of your valleys,
    boast of your valleys so fruitful?
Unfaithful Daughter Ammon,(M)
    you trust in your riches(N) and say,
    ‘Who will attack me?’(O)
I will bring terror on you
    from all those around you,”
declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty.
“Every one of you will be driven away,
    and no one will gather the fugitives.(P)

“Yet afterward, I will restore(Q) the fortunes of the Ammonites,”
declares the Lord.

A Message About Edom(R)(S)

Concerning Edom:(T)

This is what the Lord Almighty says:

“Is there no longer wisdom in Teman?(U)
    Has counsel perished from the prudent?
    Has their wisdom decayed?
Turn and flee, hide in deep caves,(V)
    you who live in Dedan,(W)
for I will bring disaster on Esau
    at the time when I punish him.
If grape pickers came to you,
    would they not leave a few grapes?
If thieves came during the night,
    would they not steal only as much as they wanted?
10 But I will strip Esau bare;
    I will uncover his hiding places,(X)
    so that he cannot conceal himself.
His armed men are destroyed,
    also his allies and neighbors,
    so there is no one(Y) to say,
11 ‘Leave your fatherless children;(Z) I will keep them alive.
    Your widows(AA) too can depend on me.’”

12 This is what the Lord says: “If those who do not deserve to drink the cup(AB) must drink it, why should you go unpunished?(AC) You will not go unpunished, but must drink it. 13 I swear(AD) by myself,” declares the Lord, “that Bozrah(AE) will become a ruin and a curse,[b] an object of horror(AF) and reproach;(AG) and all its towns will be in ruins forever.”(AH)

14 I have heard a message from the Lord;
    an envoy was sent to the nations to say,
“Assemble yourselves to attack it!
    Rise up for battle!”

15 “Now I will make you small among the nations,
    despised by mankind.
16 The terror you inspire
    and the pride(AI) of your heart have deceived you,
you who live in the clefts of the rocks,(AJ)
    who occupy the heights of the hill.
Though you build your nest(AK) as high as the eagle’s,
    from there I will bring you down,”
declares the Lord.
17 “Edom will become an object of horror;(AL)
    all who pass by will be appalled and will scoff
    because of all its wounds.(AM)
18 As Sodom(AN) and Gomorrah(AO) were overthrown,
    along with their neighboring towns,”
says the Lord,
“so no one will live there;
    no people will dwell(AP) in it.

19 “Like a lion(AQ) coming up from Jordan’s thickets(AR)
    to a rich pastureland,
I will chase Edom from its land in an instant.
    Who is the chosen one I will appoint for this?
Who is like(AS) me and who can challenge me?(AT)
    And what shepherd(AU) can stand against me?”

20 Therefore, hear what the Lord has planned against Edom,(AV)
    what he has purposed(AW) against those who live in Teman:(AX)
The young of the flock(AY) will be dragged away;
    their pasture will be appalled at their fate.(AZ)
21 At the sound of their fall the earth will tremble;(BA)
    their cry(BB) will resound to the Red Sea.[c]
22 Look! An eagle will soar and swoop(BC) down,
    spreading its wings over Bozrah.(BD)
In that day the hearts of Edom’s warriors(BE)
    will be like the heart of a woman in labor.(BF)

A Message About Damascus

23 Concerning Damascus:(BG)

“Hamath(BH) and Arpad(BI) are dismayed,
    for they have heard bad news.
They are disheartened,
    troubled like[d] the restless sea.(BJ)
24 Damascus has become feeble,
    she has turned to flee
    and panic has gripped her;
anguish and pain have seized her,
    pain like that of a woman in labor.(BK)
25 Why has the city of renown not been abandoned,
    the town in which I delight?
26 Surely, her young men(BL) will fall in the streets;
    all her soldiers will be silenced(BM) in that day,”
declares the Lord Almighty.
27 “I will set fire(BN) to the walls of Damascus;(BO)
    it will consume(BP) the fortresses of Ben-Hadad.(BQ)

A Message About Kedar and Hazor

28 Concerning Kedar(BR) and the kingdoms of Hazor,(BS) which Nebuchadnezzar(BT) king of Babylon attacked:

This is what the Lord says:

“Arise, and attack Kedar
    and destroy the people of the East.(BU)
29 Their tents and their flocks(BV) will be taken;
    their shelters will be carried off
    with all their goods and camels.
People will shout to them,
    ‘Terror(BW) on every side!’

30 “Flee quickly away!
    Stay in deep caves,(BX) you who live in Hazor,(BY)
declares the Lord.
“Nebuchadnezzar(BZ) king of Babylon has plotted against you;
    he has devised a plan against you.

31 “Arise and attack a nation at ease,
    which lives in confidence,”
declares the Lord,
“a nation that has neither gates nor bars;(CA)
    its people live far from danger.
32 Their camels(CB) will become plunder,
    and their large herds(CC) will be spoils of war.
I will scatter to the winds(CD) those who are in distant places[e](CE)
    and will bring disaster on them from every side,”
declares the Lord.
33 “Hazor(CF) will become a haunt of jackals,(CG)
    a desolate(CH) place forever.
No one will live there;
    no people will dwell(CI) in it.”

A Message About Elam

34 This is the word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning Elam,(CJ) early in the reign of Zedekiah(CK) king of Judah:

35 This is what the Lord Almighty says:

“See, I will break the bow(CL) of Elam,
    the mainstay of their might.
36 I will bring against Elam the four winds(CM)
    from the four quarters of heaven;(CN)
I will scatter them to the four winds,
    and there will not be a nation
    where Elam’s exiles do not go.
37 I will shatter Elam before their foes,
    before those who want to kill them;
I will bring disaster on them,
    even my fierce anger,”(CO)
declares the Lord.
“I will pursue them with the sword(CP)
    until I have made an end of them.
38 I will set my throne in Elam
    and destroy her king and officials,”
declares the Lord.

39 “Yet I will restore(CQ) the fortunes of Elam
    in days to come,”
declares the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 49:1 Or their king; also in verse 3
  2. Jeremiah 49:13 That is, its name will be used in cursing (see 29:22); or, others will see that it is cursed.
  3. Jeremiah 49:21 Or the Sea of Reeds
  4. Jeremiah 49:23 Hebrew on or by
  5. Jeremiah 49:32 Or who clip the hair by their foreheads