Jeremiah 47, Message to the Philistines (DRAFT)

(This DRAFT study has been done fairly quickly, without the further guide of commentaries. I hope to improve on it later.) 

The past chapter had a message for Egypt. Now we turn to smaller kingdoms around Judah.

Jeremiah 47:1-3, Gaza

This is the word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines before Pharaoh attacked Gaza: This is what the LORD says: 

"See how the waters are rising in the north;

 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 

at the sound of the hoofs of galloping steeds, 

at the noise of enemy chariots 

and the rumble of their wheels. 

Fathers will not turn to help their children;

 their hands will hang limp. 

The Philistines in Gaza, an ancient enemy of Israel, will be overwhelmed. Flood waters are arising in the north. (Is this an allusion to Assyria and Babylon?) These predictions were made before Pharaoh attacked Gaza.

Jeremiah 47:4-5, Shave her head

For the day has come to destroy all the Philistines

 and to cut off all survivors who could help Tyre and Sidon. 

The LORD is about to destroy the Philistines, 

the remnant from the coasts of Caphtor.

Gaza will shave her head in mourning;

 Ashkelon will be silenced. 

O remnant on the plain,

how long will you cut yourselves? 

The Philistines, on the coast southwest of Judah, will be destroyed. Gaza will shave her head in mourning.

Jeremiah 47:6-7, Return to your scabbard!

"`Ah, sword of the LORD,' [you cry,] 

`how long till you rest? 

Return to your scabbard; 

cease and be still.' 

But how can it rest 

when the LORD has commanded it, 

when he has ordered it 

to attack Ashkelon and the coast?" 

The people cry out for God's sword to be put back in its scabbard. There is so much killing! But the sword cannot rest when God has pulled it out for judgment.