Study notes

Jeremiah 47

Introducing JeremiahWho wrote it, when, why, and what to look for as you read

46:1–49:39 Section

The judgement messages in these chapters are about nations around the southern kingdom. In chapter 25, Jeremiah had announced that God would bring judgement against them. These messages explain that judgement.

The main point of the messages is that these nations would be destroyed by Babylon. God would bring his judgement against Egypt, the Philistines, Moab, Ammon and Edom. He would bring it against Damascus, Kedar, Hazor and Elam.

God judged them for being proud, treating others badly and trusting in false gods. God cared deeply about these nations and what happened to them. He took delight in Damascus. He wept for Moab. He promised to set up his throne in Elam. God wanted these nations to know that he is the King who rules over all.

Jeremiah also shared a message of hope for some of these nations. God promised that their people would be successful again in the future. After the time of judgement, God would once again bless them.

47:1–7

This message from the Lord was about the Philistine cities on the southeastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea and their allies to the north. The Lord decided these cities would be destroyed during the Babylonian invasion.

47:2

an overflowing torrent: This metaphor describes the Babylonian armies moving into the coastal area. This began in 609 BC and peaked in 605 BC (compare Jeremiah 1:11–14).

47:4

  • For the day has come to destroy: The Lord decided what would happen and when events would occur.

  • The Philistines arrived in the southeastern coastal areas from the island of Crete between 1200 and 1100 BC. The northern cities, Tyre and Sidon, were colonized around the same time by distant relatives of the Philistines who mixed with the native Canaanites.

47:5

  • Gaza was a major Philistine city.

  • shave their heads: The people expressed their grief by shaving their heads (compare Isaiah 15:2; Micah 1:16).

  • Ashkelon, another Philistine city a few miles north on the coast, would become empty.

47:6

O sword of the LORD: God used the Babylonians to carry out his justice. This request might have come from the Philistine cities under attack by the Babylonians. The people wanted the attacks to stop.

47:7

The punishment would continue for a while. The judge had made his decision, and his mission was clear: Ashkelon must be destroyed.

Verse notes: Adapted by Mission Mutual (Aquifer Open Study Notes) from Tyndale Open Study Notes © 2023 Tyndale House Publishers. CC BY-SA 4.0. Section notes: Biblica Study Notes © 2023 Biblica, Inc. CC BY-SA 4.0, via BibleAquifer. About the sources