Глава 49

1–6. Prophecy about the Ammonites. 7–22. About Edom. 23–27. About Damascus and Syria in general. 28–33. About the Arabs, 34–39. and about Elam. Jeremiah 49:1–6. The Ammonites illegally occupied the areas belonging to the tribe of Gad, and for this the prophet announces to them the destruction of their cities and their taking into captivity. However, the captive Ammonites will eventually be returned to their country. Jer.49:1. The Lord says this about the sons of Ammon: Do Israel have no sons? doesn't he have an heir? Why did Malchom take possession of Gad, and his people live in its cities? Аммонитяне, потомки Лота, жившие к востоку от Иордана, между реками Арноном и Иавоком, были сначала оттеснены из своих владений аморреями, наследниками всех земель которых, по праву завоевания, явились израильтяне, особенно колено Гадово и Рувимово. Но уже во время войны израильтян с сирийцами оттесненные к востоку аммонитяне воспользовались стесненным положением Израиля и напали на его владения, чтобы расширить свои пределы. (Am 1:13). Еще более они усилились после того, как жители Израильского царства были уведены в плен Феглафелассаром (Фулом, см. 4Цар 15.29 ). Когда Израильскому царству был положен конец в 722 г., аммонитяне, конечно, стали еще более смелыми и незначительное число израильтян колена Гадова, оставшееся в своей области, не могло оказать сопротивления захвату их городов аммонитянами. Пророк и говорит, что аммонитяне напрасно так по-хозяйски распоряжаются за Иорданом: там есть еще израильтяне, не уведенные Ассирийцами в плен, и им, а не аммонитянам, принадлежит право наследовать земли тех израильтян, которые уведены в плен. – “Malchom” is more correct: Milcom is the god of the Ammonites. Jer.49:2. Therefore, behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when the cry of war will be heard in Rabbah of the sons of Ammon, and it will become a heap of ruins, and its cities will be burned with fire, and Israel will take possession of those who owned it, says the Lord. Rabbi Ammon is the main city of the Amnonites, near the river. Jabboke. Jer.49:3. Howl, O Heshbon, for Ai is desolate; Shout, daughters of Rabbah, gird yourself with sackcloth, weep and wander through the gardens, for Malchom will go into captivity along with his priests and princes. "Ai" is a city beyond the Jordan, north of Heshbon. "Daughters of Rabbah" - small Ammonite cities that depended on Rabbah. - “Roam around the gardens,” that is, you will have nowhere to live - the cities will be destroyed. According to another reading: “amaze yourself with rifling.” Jer.49:4. Why do you boast about the valleys? Your valley will flow with blood, treacherous daughter, trusting in her treasures, saying, “Who will come to me?” The valleys in the land of the Ammonites were very fertile. This prophecy was spoken at the same time as the prophecy against the Moabites, that is, around the 4th year of Joachim, since Nebuchadnezzar is not yet mentioned here. On the fulfillment of the prophecy, see Special Note to Chapter XLVIII. Jeremiah 49:7–22. The Edomites, despite the fact that there were glorious sages among them, will not escape destruction and they are threatened by the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah. Jer.49:7. The Lord of hosts says this about Edom: Is there not more wisdom in Teman? Has there not been any advice from the wise? Has their wisdom failed? "Concerning Edom" see Isaiah 21.11. Jeremiah's prophecy about Edom often literally repeats the prophecy of Obadiah about this people. Wed. Jer 49.7 and Obd 1.8 v.; Jer 49.9 and Obd 1.5; Jer 49.14 and Oba 1.1; Jer 49.15 and Oba 1.2; Jer 49.16 and Obd 1.3. – The inhabitants of Teman, the Edom region, were famous for their wisdom (Job 2.11). But their wisdom seemed to completely disappear in view of the danger approaching their country. Jer.49:8. Flee, turning your rear, hide in the caves, inhabitants of Dedan, for I will bring the destruction of Esau upon him - the time of My visit. "Dedan" - neighbors of the Edomites who were engaged in trade (Jeremiah 25.23). - “In the caves” of Palestine, very long and inaccessible, its inhabitants often escaped during the invasion of enemies. Jer.49:9. If grape pickers came to you, they would probably leave behind a few unpicked berries. And if thieves came at night, they would steal as much as they needed. According to the Law of Moses (Deut. 24.21), grape pickers had to leave a few berries on the vine for orphans and the poor. Jer.49:10. But I will strip Esau naked, I will reveal his hidden places, and he cannot hide. His tribe will be destroyed, and his brothers and his neighbors; and there will be none. “Hidden places” are hiding places where the most valuable things were hidden. – The brothers and neighbors of the Edomites were the Amalekites, Horites, Simeonites and other tribes. Jeremiah 49:11. Leave your orphans, I will keep them alive, and let your widows trust in Me. Since Edom can no longer take care of its widows and orphans on its own, it must entrust them to the mercy of Jehovah, who promises them protection. Jeremiah 49:12. For thus says the Lord: behold, those who were not destined to drink the cup will certainly drink it, and will you remain unpunished? No, you will not go unpunished, but you will certainly drink the cup. “Those who were not destined” are, of course, the Jews who were to inherit the blessings of the Promised Land (Exodus 3.7–8). Jer.49:13. For by Me I swear, says the Lord, that Bozhar will be a horror, a mockery, a desolation and a curse, and all its cities will become eternal deserts. "Bozor" - Botsra, ch. city ​​of Idumea (cf. Is 34.6). Jeremiah 49:16. Your terrible position and the arrogance of your heart have deceived you, who dwell in the clefts of the rocks and occupy the tops of the hills. But even if you build your nest high like an eagle, I will bring you down from there, says the Lord. The Edomites carved their dwellings into the rocks, making artificial caves there that were inaccessible to newcomers from other places. Jeremiah 49:19. Behold, he ascends like a lion from the heights of the Jordan to the fortified dwellings; but I will force them to leave Idumea hastily, and whoever is chosen I will set over it. For who is like Me? and who will demand an answer from Me? and what shepherd will oppose Me? “He” is, of course, the Babylonian king. - “Like a lion from the height of the Jordan.” - more precisely: like a lion from the high thickets of the Jordan (cf. Jer 12.5). - “Fortified dwellings”, - that is, for the cities of Idumean. - “But I will force”, more precisely: in fact, I will force them (the Edomites) to leave hastily... etc. - “Shepherd” - king, leader. Jer.49:20. Hear therefore the decree of the Lord which He has made concerning Edom, and His intentions which He has concerning the inhabitants of Teman: verily, the least of the flocks will carry them away and lay waste their habitations. "The smallest". More precisely, they, the smallest (i.e., humiliated) in the herd (of peoples), will be dragged away (by the conquerors), and even their home will come (like a person) in amazement at the fate that befell them (relocation into captivity). Jer.49:21. The noise of their fall will shake the earth, and the echo of their cry will be heard near the Red Sea. "By the Red Sea". Here we mean the countries lying south of Edom, to the harbor of the Elanite Gulf of the Black Sea - Elath. Earth can mean all the states that lay north of Idumea. The prophecy about Edom also belongs to the time of King Jehoiakim (about the 4th year of his reign), because here too Nebuchadnezzar is not yet named. For the fulfillment of prophecy, see Isaiah 21. Jeremiah 49:23–27. Damascus and its neighboring Syrian cities of Hamath and Arnad will also be devastated and destroyed by the enemy. Jer.49:23. About Damascus. - Hamath and Arpad were put to shame, for, having heard the sorrowful news, they became despondent; there is anxiety at sea, they cannot calm down. Damascus - see Isaiah 17. "Hemath and Arpad" - see Isaiah 10.9. - “Anxiety at sea” is more correct: like a constantly agitated sea. Jeremiah 49:24. Damascus became afraid and fled; fear took possession of him; pain and torment seized him like a woman in childbirth. The Syrians recently suffered the devastation caused in their country by Pharaoh Necho, who subjugated Syria, which had hitherto been in vassal relations to the kingdom of Assyria. Now Syria will have to endure the horror of a second invasion - Nebuchadnezzar, who will subjugate this country to himself as the heir of Assyria. Jeremiah 49:25. How did the city of glory, the city of my joy, not survive? The words of a resident of Damascus or, perhaps, the exclamation of the Damascus king. For the fulfillment of this prophecy, which was also said, apparently, before the battle of Carchemish (around the 4th year of Joachim), see Isaiah 17. Jeremiah 49:28–33. The Arab tribes, conquered by Nebuchadnezzar, must wait for more attacks from the Chaldeans. Jeremiah 49:28. About Kedar and about the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, destroyed, thus says the Lord: Arise, march against Kedar, and devastate the sons of the east! Kidar - Arab nomads see Jer 2.10 and Isa 21.16–17. Asor are Arab tribes that led a sedentary life (Asor - in Hebrew, hazor fortification) and were ruled by special sheikhs who had the power of a king (hence: “kingdoms of Asor”). These tribes, living between Stony Arabia and Babylonia and near the Persian Gulf, were subjugated by Nebuchadnezzar after the Battle of Carchemish (cf. Is 21.13–17). Jer.49:31. Arise, stand against a peaceful people living carelessly, says the Lord; He has no doors or locks; they live alone. The Arab cattle breeders were unfamiliar with city customs and did not have doors or locks. Jeremiah 49:32. Their camels will be given as prey, and many of their herds to be plundered; And I will scatter them to all the winds, those who cut the hair of the churches, and I will bring destruction upon them on all sides, says the Lord. “Hair cutters” - see Jer 9.25. You can read about the fulfillment of this prophecy in parallel. place of the book Isaiah (chap. Isaiah 21.13 et seq.). Nebuchadnezzar, while ruining Arabia, had in mind to force her to stop trade relations with Phenicia and send all her wealth for sale to Babylon, which he partially achieved (Plato, Ancient East, p. 636). Jeremiah 49:34–39. The prophet announces to Elam the judgment of God, due to which he will partly be scattered across different countries, and partly defeated by enemy swords. But in the distant future, the mercy of God is announced to Elam. Jeremiah 49:34. The word of the Lord, which came to Jeremiah the prophet against Elam, at the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah: "Elam" - see Jeremiah 25.25. This prophecy was spoken seven years later than most of the prophetic speeches of this group. Jeremiah 49:35. Thus says the Lord of hosts: Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, their main strength. It is very likely that the Elamites formed part of Nebuchadnezzar’s troops who destroyed Jerusalem and for this they are being proclaimed the judgment of God. – “Bow of Elam” – see Isaiah 22.6. Jeremiah 49:37. And I will strike the Elamites with fear before their enemies and before those who seek their lives; And I will bring disaster upon them, My wrath, says the Lord, and I will send a sword after them, until I destroy them. It is difficult to decide which nations are called enemies of the Elamites here. With the fall of the Assyrian kingdom, the Elamites felt free, but soon Nebuchadnezzar had to make an attempt to subjugate this state as well. Some interpreters, however, see these enemies in the Persians, who conquered Elam, and the Elamites already took part in the destruction of Babylon by the Persians (Isaiah 21.2). Special notes. Critics very much doubt the authenticity of the section from Chapter XLVI to Chapter XLIX, as well as the authenticity of the “index” related here, as Chapter XXV is called. They say that this entire collection of prophecies arose after the Babylonian captivity and even - like, for example, the prophecy about Elam, by which it is supposed to mean Persia - during the time of Alexander the Great. The grounds for such suspicion are as follows: Jeremiah here expresses an opinion that does not correspond to his concepts about God only as a God of vengeance, Who certainly decided to destroy the pagans. He does not say a word about the possibility of repentance for the pagans, and without such a sermon on repentance, his very prophecy seems extremely one-sided. In the same way, Jeremiah - they say - could not threaten different nations with destruction without explaining their relationship to his own fellow tribesmen. Finally, they point out that the clear, calm development of thoughts that we find in other speeches of Jeremiah is absent here; thought here rushes in fits and starts, and repetitions of previously expressed prophecies are often encountered. But all these discussions about what and how Jeremiah should have said can hardly be considered serious grounds for declaring the said prophecies not genuine. Indeed, already in the 1st chapter (v. 10) the pagan peoples are presented as the subject of special attention of the prophet, and it is very natural that he devoted an entire section of his book to their fate. Then, why would Jeremiah here especially thoroughly reveal the idea of ​​\u200b\u200bthe guilt of different nations before the righteous God? This was clear enough and did not require constant repetition in each individual case. Further, that there could be no talk of preaching repentance to pagan peoples with the aim of having a pedagogical influence on them, which was possible in relation to the Jews, this is clear to any unprejudiced person. However, then the time of God’s long-suffering towards these peoples was already fulfilled, and Jeremiah could only announce to them the judgment of God, although not final destruction (see Jer 46.26; Jer 48.47; Jer 49.6, 39). – The authenticity of the L-LI chapters is discussed separately. You might be interested in: