47 The word of the Lord against the Philistines.

The words of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the Prophet, against the Philistines, before that Pharaoh smote [a]Gaza.

Thus saith the Lord, Behold, waters rise up out of the [b]North, and shall be as a swelling flood, and shall overflow the land, and all that is therein, and the cities with them that dwell therein: then the men shall cry, and all the inhabitants of the land shall howl,

At the noise and stamping of the hoofs of his strong horses, at the noise of his chariots, and at the rumbling of his wheels: [c]the fathers shall not look back to their children, for feebleness of [d]hands,

Because of the day that cometh to destroy all the Philistines, and to destroy Tyre, and Sidon, and all the rest that take their part: for the Lord will destroy the Philistines, the remnant of the isle of [e]Caphtor.

[f]Baldness is come upon Gaza: Ashkelon is cut up with the rest of their valleys. How long wilt [g]thou cut thyself?

O thou sword of the Lord, how long will it be or thou cease! turn again into thy scabbard, rest and be still.

How can it [h]cease, seeing the Lord hath given it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the sea bank? even there hath he appointed it.

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 47:1 Which was also called Gaza, a city of the Philistines.
  2. Jeremiah 47:2 He meaneth the army of the Chaldeans, Isa. 8:7, 8.
  3. Jeremiah 47:3 The great fear shall take away their natural affection.
  4. Jeremiah 47:3 Their heart shall so fail them.
  5. Jeremiah 47:4 For the Caphtorims, which are also called Cappadocians, had destroyed in old time the Philistines, and dwelt in their land even to Gaza, Deut. 2:23.
  6. Jeremiah 47:5 They that pilled off their hair for sorrow and heaviness.
  7. Jeremiah 47:5 As the heathen used in their mourning, which the Lord forbade his people to do, Deut. 14:1.
  8. Jeremiah 47:7 Meaning, that it is not possible that the wicked should by any means escape or stay the Lord, when he will take vengeance.

A Message About the Philistines

47 This is the word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines(A) before Pharaoh attacked Gaza:(B)

This is what the Lord says:

“See how the waters are rising in the north;(C)
    they will become an overflowing torrent.
They will overflow the land and everything in it,
    the towns and those who live in them.
The people will cry out;
    all who dwell in the land will wail(D)
at the sound of the hooves of galloping steeds,
    at the noise of enemy chariots(E)
    and the rumble of their wheels.
Parents will not turn to help their children;
    their hands will hang limp.(F)
For the day has come
    to destroy all the Philistines
and to remove all survivors
    who could help Tyre(G) and Sidon.(H)
The Lord is about to destroy the Philistines,(I)
    the remnant from the coasts of Caphtor.[a](J)
Gaza will shave(K) her head in mourning;
    Ashkelon(L) will be silenced.
You remnant on the plain,
    how long will you cut(M) yourselves?

“‘Alas, sword(N) of the Lord,
    how long till you rest?
Return to your sheath;
    cease and be still.’(O)
But how can it rest
    when the Lord has commanded it,
when he has ordered it
    to attack Ashkelon and the coast?”(P)

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 47:4 That is, Crete