Bible Commentaries
Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible
Jeremiah 47
Jeremiah 47. Philistia.—Instead of Jeremiah 47:1, LXX has simply "On the Philistines", which is probably original. The "waters rising from the north" (Jeremiah 47:2) would suggest Babylon, not Egypt, as the foe; the editorial reference to Egypt in 1 might be suggested (wrongly) by Jeremiah 47:5. Pharaoh is supposed to have smitten Gaza (Cadytis, Herod. ii. 159) in 608. The devastating waters (Isaiah 8:7 f.) of an overflowing wady flood the land (Jeremiah 47:2); the terror of the enemy's approach breaks even the closest bonds of affection (Jeremiah 47:3). The Philistines, being destroyed, will not be able to help the Phœnicians (Jeremiah 47:4). The cities of Philistia mourn (Jeremiah 47:5), and the Philistines appeal to Yahweh's sword for mercy (Jeremiah 47:6); the prophet answers them (Jeremiah 47:7) with the question "How can it be quiet?" (so read, with VSS, and note mg.).
Jeremiah 47:4. Tyre and Sidon: chief cities of Phœnicia; the text is dubious, "every helper that remaineth" being really "every helping survivor", an improbable phrase.—Caphtor: the original home of the Philistines, i.e. Crete (pp. 56f., Amos 9:7*).
Jeremiah 47:5. Baldness . . . cut thyself: see on Jeremiah 16:5 f. For "their valley", read "of the Anakim" (Joshua 11:22), with LXX, taking the phrase as a vocative, "O remnant of the Anakim!"
Add Comment
Comments