Matthew Henry’s Modern English CommentaryJeremiah 49

The Judgment of AmmonitesThis prophecy is about the Ammonites, who were close relatives and neighbors to the Moabites and to Israel. Their land was next to the territory of the tribes of Israel on the east side of the Jordan River. The Ammonites took land that belonged to the tribe of Gad when the Israelites were taken away by the Assyrians. They acted as if Israel had no heirs and took over the land for themselves. God now brings them to account for this injustice and for their violence against Israel. The Ammonites were proud of their rich valleys and treasures, but they trusted in these things instead of God. Their pride and cruelty would lead to their downfall, but God also promises that one day He will show them mercy again.v. 1: God asks the Ammonites why they have taken the land of Gad. He says, Has Israel no sons? Has he no heir? Why then does Milcom inherit Gad, and his people dwell in its cities? The Ammonites took over Israel’s land when it was left empty, but God reminds them that this was not right .

v. 2: God says that the days are coming when He will make Rabbah, the capital of Ammon, a heap of ruins. The towns around it will be burned. Then Israel will take back the land from those who took it from them. This is God’s way of making things right .

v. 3: The people of Ammon will cry out and mourn. Their main city, Rabbah, will be destroyed, and the other towns will be burned. The people will wear sackcloth and run away, not knowing where to go. Even their god Milcom and his priests will go into captivity .

v. 4: God asks the Ammonites why they are so proud of their valleys and treasures. They trusted in their riches and thought no one could ever defeat them. But their confidence in their land and wealth would not save them .

v. 5: God says He will bring fear upon the Ammonites from all around. Everyone will be forced to flee, and no one will help those who wander. The people will forget about their treasures and valleys as they run for their lives .

v. 6: But God also promises hope for the future. He says, Afterward I will bring back the captivity of the children of Ammon. This means that one day, God will allow the Ammonites to return and have mercy on them, just as He promised to other nations .

The Judgment of EdomThis section contains God’s judgment on Edom, who were long-time enemies of Israel. The Edomites rejoiced when Israel suffered, but now it is their turn to face punishment. The words used here are similar to those in the prophecy of Obadiah, showing that all God’s prophets spoke with the same Spirit. God promises that Edom’s land will be destroyed, its people scattered, and its pride broken. This prophecy warns Edom, but also comforts Israel, showing that God does not ignore injustice.v. 7: God speaks to the Edomites, especially the wise men of Teman. He asks, Is wisdom no more in Teman? Has counsel vanished from the prudent? Edom was known for its wisdom, but now their plans will fail and their wisdom will not save them .

v. 8: God tells the people of Dedan, a city in Edom, to flee and hide deep, because God will bring disaster on Esau (Edom). Their punishment is near and no one will be able to escape .

v. 9–10: The destruction will be complete. Usually, grape pickers leave some grapes behind, and thieves stop after taking enough. But Edom will be totally stripped. Even their hidden treasures will be found and taken away. No one will be able to hide from this judgment (Jeremiah 49:9-10 ).

v. 11: God says, Leave your orphans, I will preserve them alive; and let your widows trust in Me . Unlike Edom, God’s people can trust Him to care for their families even in hard times.

v. 12: God reminds Edom that even those who did not deserve to drink the cup of suffering had to drink it. So Edom, who is more guilty, will not escape. They will surely be punished .

v. 13: God has sworn by Himself that Edom’s main city, Bozrah, will become a ruin, a curse, and a waste forever. God’s word is certain and cannot be changed .

v. 14: God has sent out a message to the nations, calling them to gather and attack Edom. This is part of God’s plan, and it will happen just as He says .

v. 15: Edom, who once made a big show among the nations, will now be small and despised. Those who looked down on others will become low themselves (Jeremiah 49:15; Obadiah 1:2 ).

v. 16: Edom trusted in their mountain forts and thought they could not be touched. But God will bring them down, no matter how high they are. Their pride and sense of safety will not protect them (Jeremiah 49:16; Obadiah 1:3-4 ).

v. 17–18: Edom will become a horrible wasteland, like Sodom and Gomorrah. No one will want to live there, and people who pass by will be shocked and afraid (Jeremiah 49:17-18 ).

v. 19: God will send an enemy like a roaring lion who will suddenly come against Edom’s safe places. God will choose the right person for this job, and no one can stop Him. No one is strong enough to stand against God .

v. 20: God’s decision is final. Even the weakest of the enemy army will be able to defeat Edom and make their land empty. God can use anyone to do His work .

v. 21: The fall of Edom will be so great that the whole world will hear about it. The noise will reach even to the Red Sea and people far away will tremble .

v. 22: The enemy will come like an eagle flying down on its prey. The hearts of Edom’s bravest warriors will melt with fear because they cannot stand against God’s plan .

The Judgment of DamascusThis prophecy is about God’s judgment on Damascus, the capital city of Syria. Syria was Israel’s neighbor to the north and often caused trouble for God’s people. The fate of Damascus represents the fall of the whole Syrian kingdom. Two other important cities, Hamath and Arpad, are also named. The palaces built by Ben-hadad, a common name for Syrian kings, are singled out for destruction. God shows that even powerful cities and nations can fall when He decides to judge them. Their pride, joy, and strength will not save them.v. 23: Hamath and Arpad hear bad news about an enemy coming. The people are troubled and afraid, like the sea in a storm that cannot rest. They do not know what to do because danger is approaching fast .

v. 24: Damascus, once strong and proud, becomes weak and turns to flee. The city is so afraid that it is like a woman in labor who cannot escape her pain. Their strength has turned to fear .

v. 25: The city that was once praised and filled with joy is deserted. People used to admire Damascus for its beauty and happiness, but now it is full of sadness and fear .

v. 26: The young men of Damascus will fall in the streets, killed by the sword. All the soldiers will be cut off. The city will lose its defenders and be left helpless .

v. 27: God says He will set fire to the walls of Damascus. The fire will destroy everything, including the palaces of Ben-hadad, where the kings of Syria once lived in luxury. This is God’s judgment for the evil planned against His people (Jeremiah 49:27; Amos 1:4 ).

The Judgment of KedarThis prophecy is about the people of Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor. Kedar was descended from Ishmael and lived in the deserts of Arabia. Hazor was a group of small kingdoms that joined with Kedar. These people lived in tents, not cities, and had no walls or gates. They were shepherds, rich in flocks and camels, and lived quietly, not bothering other nations. They felt safe because they had no enemies and lived far from busy cities. But God shows that even those who live quietly and feel secure can face trouble if He allows it. Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, would attack them, not because they did wrong to others, but because God had decided to judge them for their own sins.v. 28: God commands, Arise, go up to Kedar, and spoil the men of the east. The Babylonians will attack Kedar and take away their possessions, even though Kedar lived peacefully in the desert .

v. 29: The enemy will take their tents, flocks, and camels. They will also take their curtains and vessels. The people will cry out in fear as the Babylonians take everything they have .

v. 30: God tells the people of Hazor to flee and hide deep in the desert. The king of Babylon has planned to attack them. Even though they lived quietly and did not expect trouble, they must now run for their lives .

v. 31: God says to the Babylonians, Arise, go up to a wealthy nation that dwells without care. The people of Hazor felt safe because they had no walls or gates, but now they will be attacked and lose everything .

v. 32: The people of Kedar and Hazor will be scattered in every direction by the attack. Their camels and flocks will be taken as plunder. Even though they lived in the farthest corners, they cannot escape God’s judgment .

v. 33: Hazor will become a desolate place, empty forever. No one will want to live there after the destruction, because it is so remote and poor. Their quiet life will not protect them from God’s plan .

The Judgment of ElamThis prophecy concerns Elam, a nation descended from Elam the son of Shem (Genesis 10:22 ). Elam was likely a part of Persia near the Jewish lands. The message was given at the beginning of King Zedekiah’s reign. God warns that He will bring His fierce anger upon Elam because they had acted against Israel. The prophecy shows how God can bring down any nation, even those who seem powerful and secure. Yet, God also promises that His judgment will not last forever, and Elam will one day be restored.v. 34: The prophecy about Elam comes at the start of Zedekiah’s rule. It fits with the other prophecies against the nations, showing God’s plan for all people, not just Israel .

v. 35: God says, I will break the bow of Elam, the chief of their might. Elam was famous for its archers, but God will destroy their power. What they trusted in most will fail them .

v. 36: God will bring enemies from all directions—like the four winds—to scatter the people of Elam. The Elamites will be forced to flee in every direction, and their people will be found in every nation .

v. 37: Fear will fill the people of Elam. They will be terrified of their enemies, and the sword will chase them wherever they go. Even if they run, God’s judgment will find them .

v. 38: God will set His throne in Elam. This means He will show His power over them and remove their king and rulers. God is the one who decides who rules every nation .

v. 39: But God promises that in the future, He will bring back the people of Elam. This return may have started when the Persians became powerful, but it was fully fulfilled when people from Elam heard the good news of Jesus and became part of God’s family (Jeremiah 49:39; Acts 2:9, 11 ).