JEREMIAH LESSON 50
We will begin this lesson in Jeremiah 49:1 "Concerning the
Ammonites, thus saith the LORD; Hath Israel no sons? hath he no heir?
why [then] doth their king inherit Gad, and his people dwell in his
cities?"
The Ammonites were a violent people. The Ammonites have moved
into the area of the Gadites. The "king", here, is speaking of a false
god, probably Molech. The meaning of inherit, in the verse above, is
take possession of. This means they have taken land that was given to
Gad by God. This land belonged to the Israelites and their children
for all generations.
Jeremiah 49:2 "Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD,
that I will cause an alarm of war to be heard in Rabbah of the
Ammonites; and it shall be a desolate heap, and her daughters shall be
burned with fire: then shall Israel be heir unto them that were his
heirs, saith the LORD."
God will burn these oppressors with fire, and they will leave the
land to the Israelites, who it belonged to in the first place.
Jeremiah 49:3 " Howl, O Heshbon, for Ai is spoiled: cry, ye
daughters of Rabbah, gird you with sackcloth; lament, and run to and
fro by the hedges; for their king shall go into captivity, [and] his
priests and his princes together."
Heshbon is a city located in the land of Gad, but inhabited by
the Ammonites. Daughters of Rabbah are speaking of their unwalled
cities. This says, run, because your false god cannot help you.
Jeremiah 49:4 "Wherefore gloriest thou in the valleys, thy
flowing valley, O backsliding daughter? that trusted in her treasures,
[saying], Who shall come unto me?"
These Ammonites were the offspring of Lot and his daughter. This
family started with an incestuous affair. They were related to
Abraham, because Lot was Abraham's nephew. This is the only connection
I can make with them being a daughter. They certainly were backslidden
from several generations back. They certainly had forsaken the God of
Lot. They worshipped the false god Molech. To put trust in a false
god, is a hopeless thing. It seems, they trusted in riches, as well.
In time of God's judgement, neither one are of much use. The only God
to go to is the great I Am.
Jeremiah 49:5 Behold, I will bring a fear upon thee, saith the
Lord GOD of hosts, from all those that be about thee; and ye shall be
driven out every man right forth; and none shall gather up him that
wandereth.
We see the cities and towns being abandoned. People were running
for fear of things to come.
Jeremiah 49:6 "And afterward I will bring again the captivity of
the children of Ammon, saith the LORD."
This is speaking of the time when Cyrus releases the captives in
Babylon, and they return to their homeland.
Jeremiah 49:7 "Concerning Edom, thus saith the LORD of hosts;
[Is] wisdom no more in Teman? is counsel perished from the prudent? is
their wisdom vanished?"
The Edomites are the descendents of Esau, who sold his birthright
for a bowl of soup. They were not hostile to the Israelites, like the
Ammonites were. The reason for their destruction is, because of their
unfaithfulness to God. The Edomites were known of as very wise men.
The question, here, is why are they not using that wisdom and making
better decisions? The first mention of the Temanites is in Genesis.
One of Job's friends was a Temanite, as well.
Jeremiah 49:8 "Flee ye, turn back, dwell deep, O inhabitants of
Dedan; for I will bring the calamity of Esau upon him, the time [that]
I will visit him."
The inhabitants of Dedan were commercially minded. This
destruction leads to Dedan, as well. The Edomites were fleeing for
safety away from the towns. They came through Dedan to safety. They
would hide in caves, or in the desert.
Jeremiah 49:9 "If grapegatherers come to thee, would they not
leave [some] gleaning grapes? if thieves by night, they will destroy
till they have enough."
This is just saying, that grapegathers hired by the owner of the
vineyard, would conform to the wishes of the owner to leave a remant
of grapes for the poor. When a robber comes, they have no regard for
the owner, or the poor. They take all they want, and destroy the rest.
Jeremiah 49:10 "But I have made Esau bare, I have uncovered his
secret places, and he shall not be able to hide himself: his seed is
spoiled, and his brethren, and his neighbours, and he [is] not."
This is speaking of the judgement of God being like a robber, who
leaves nothing. They had hidden in caves before, but even this will
not be hidden from God who sent the invaders. All the men will be
caught and killed, or taken into captivity.
Jeremiah 49:11 Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve
[them] alive; and let thy widows trust in me."
The LORD had sworn that all of Edom's cities would be laid waste.
He is, also, promising here, to take care of the widows and orphans,
if the Edomites will leave them. God has always cared for the
fatherless and the widows.
Jeremiah 49:12 "For thus saith the LORD; Behold, they whose
judgment [was] not to drink of the cup have assuredly drunken; and
[art] thou he [that] shall altogether go unpunished? thou shalt not go
unpunished, but thou shalt surely drink [of it]."
If God punishes His beloved Israel, He will surely punish their
enemies, as well. The cup, spoken of here, is the cup of God's wrath.
Jeremiah 49:13 "For I have sworn by myself, saith the LORD, that
Bozrah shall become a desolation, a reproach, a waste, and a curse;
and all the cities thereof shall be perpetual wastes."
The LORD swore by Himself, because there was no greater to swear
by. Bozrah was a fortress of the metropolis of North Edom. Bozrah is
mentioned, because of its fortress. Since Bozrah, which was so heavily
fortified, was destroyed, all the other cities less fortified would
be, too. They were all turned into useless waste.
Jeremiah 49:14 "I have heard a rumour from the LORD, and an
ambassador is sent unto the heathen, [saying], Gather ye together, and
come against her, and rise up to the battle."
Jeremiah is giving some of his own statements in this verse. He
is aware God has contacted a heathen nation to come against them. He
is trying to make them understand, that this is very near. God is
sending the heathen nation, that is the important message here.
Jeremiah 49:15 "For, lo, I will make thee small among the
heathen, [and] despised among men."
They had been highly thought of, because of their wisdom, in the
past. The invasion, and conquering of them, would take away the
prestige they had.
Jeremiah 49:16 "Thy terribleness hath deceived thee, [and] the
pride of thine heart, O thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock,
that holdest the height of the hill: though thou shouldest make thy
nest as high as the eagle, I will bring thee down from thence, saith
the LORD."
It seems, their pride was their downfall. In their hearts they
thought themselves better than the Israelites. This grieved God. There
is no mountain high enough, or no cave deep enough, to hide from God.
Be sure, He will find you out.
Jeremiah 49:17 "Also Edom shall be a desolation: every one that
goeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss at all the plagues
thereof."
This destruction is very near, when Jeremiah is speaking, but
there is another desolation about 70 A.D. when Edom fades away
altogether. Perhaps, both times are mentioned here. Those who had been
praised for their greatness, will now be hissed for their weakness.
Jeremiah 49:18 "As in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah and the
neighbour [cities] thereof, saith the LORD, no man shall abide there,
neither shall a son of man dwell in it."
Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by fire and brimstone which
fell from the heavens. This will be a different cause of destruction,
but with the same results. No Sodomites will ever call Sodom home
again, after the destruction in 70 A. D.
Jeremiah 49:19 "Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the
swelling of Jordan against the habitation of the strong: but I will
suddenly make him run away from her: and who [is] a chosen [man, that]
I may appoint over her? for who [is] like me? and who will appoint me
the time? and who [is] that shepherd that will stand before me?"
The shepherd in this is, probably, speaking of the ruler of Edom,
since Edom was known as a pastureland. Nebuchadnezzar or the invader
{whoever he is}, comes up like a lion, roaring across the land, as if
nothing were there. They come like a flood, that cannot be stopped
against Edom. This could be looking on down, until the later invasion
about 70 A.D., when the Edomites as a people are no more. There will
be a new people appointed for the land at that time. God is "me" in
the verse above. No one can resist the LORD. The ruler of Edom, like
all, will stand before the LORD to be judged.
Jeremiah 49:20 "Therefore hear the counsel of the LORD, that he
hath taken against Edom; and his purposes, that he hath purposed
against the inhabitants of Teman: Surely the least of the flock shall
draw them out: surely he shall make their habitations desolate with
them."
The divine counsels, I believe, are those we read about in I John
5:7 "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the
Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." This counsel was
set from the foundation of the world. God foreknew all that would
happen, in every instance. The least is, probably, speaking of a
heathen nation.
Jeremiah 49:21 "The earth is moved at the noise of their fall, at
the cry the noise thereof was heard in the Red sea."
Their fall was great and terrible. The earth moving speaks of an
earthquake, so strong it will be heard in the Red Sea. Whether this is
a literal earthquake, or just something terrible that appears to be an
earthquake, is not known.
Jeremiah 49:22 "Behold, he shall come up and fly as the eagle,
and spread his wings over Bozrah: and at that day shall the heart of
the mighty men of Edom be as the heart of a woman in her pangs."
The eagle swoops down and takes his prey. This is a sudden
destruction that comes. Women's pains of childbirth come on them
suddenly. They are frightened during the birth. This is what is
mentioned about the men, here. The destruction comes so suddenly, and
so does their fear.
Jeremiah 49:23 "Concerning Damascus. Hamath is confounded, and
Arpad: for they have heard evil tidings: they are fainthearted; [there
is] sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet."
Damascus is on the border of the desert. Hamath is on the border
of Israel. The mention of the sea has to do with the restlessness of
the sea.
Jeremiah 49:24 "Damascus is waxed feeble, [and] turneth herself
to flee, and fear hath seized on [her]: anguish and sorrows have taken
her, as a woman in travail."
Damascus was a very worldly city. Pleasures of the world were the
things you always think of when you think of Damascus. They were a
mixture of people, who were not following after the one true God. The
destruction of the enemy is sudden as a woman in travail. Her sorrows
come in a day. She has been judged and condemned.
Jeremiah 49:25 "How is the city of praise not left, the city of
my joy!"
This city of praise and joy is Damascus. The revelry, and worldly
praise, and joy are what is spoken of here.
Jeremiah 49:26 "Therefore her young men shall fall in her
streets, and all the men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith
the LORD of hosts."
This just speaks of the entire army being destroyed.
Jeremiah 49:27 "And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus,
and it shall consume the palaces of Ben-hadad."
We see from this, that even the palaces will not be spared. The
whole city shall be burned.
Jeremiah 49:28 "Concerning Kedar, and concerning the kingdoms of
Hazor, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon shall smite, thus saith
the LORD; Arise ye, go up to Kedar, and spoil the men of the east."
Kedar represents the Arabs who are nomads in this area. The name
"Kedar" means to be dark. This is, probably, speaking of the dark Arab
skin. They were descendents of Ishmael. Hazor was a district in
Arabia. These were settled Arabs, not like the nomads of Kedar. We see
from this, that God is not letting anyone off without punishment for
their sins.
Jeremiah 49:29 "Their tents and their flocks shall they take
away: they shall take to themselves their curtains, and all their
vessels, and their camels; and they shall cry unto them, Fear [is] on
every side."
The tents were their homes. Just as the houses had been burned in
Israel, these tents are taken here. They will leave them nothing to
live by. They utterly spoil them.
Jeremiah 49:30 "Flee, get you far off, dwell deep, O ye
inhabitants of Hazor, saith the LORD; for Nebuchadrezzar king of
Babylon hath taken counsel against you, and hath conceived a purpose
against you."
We see from this, that the army is the army of Babylon. This is a
message to the Arabs, which are in the villages, to hurry and get out,
while there is still time. This army will be sweeping through this
area, and the only chance they have, is to flee.
Jeremiah 49:31 "Arise, get you up unto the wealthy nation, that
dwelleth without care, saith the LORD, which have neither gates nor
bars, [which] dwell alone."
This wealthy nation, spoken of here, are these Arabs. They do not
have an army, and do not even have walled cities, so it will be no
trouble to overcome them. They had been wealthy in the fact that they
had been at peace. They had not been fighters, so they had no army.
Jeremiah 49:32 "And their camels shall be a booty, and the
multitude of their cattle a spoil: and I will scatter into all winds
them [that are] in the utmost corners; and I will bring their calamity
from all sides thereof, saith the LORD."
It appears, they had many cattle and camels. This would be the
booty for the conqueror. The camels were used much in the way our
early settlers used horses. They were a mode of transportation. Cattle
were food. It appears, there will be no way of escape for them,
because the enemy will come from all around them.
Jeremiah 49:33 "And Hazor shall be a dwelling for dragons, [and]
a desolation for ever: there shall no man abide there, nor [any] son
of man dwell in it."
This is the very same fate as for Hazor. There will be utter
destruction.
Jeremiah 49:34 "The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the
prophet against Elam in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of
Judah, saying," Jeremiah 49:35 "Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold,
I will break the bow of Elam, the chief of their might."
Elam was one of the most ancient kingdoms in the world. It was
south of Assyria. It was east of Persia. The man, Elam, was the first
son of Shem. This Elam, probably, got its name from him. He was the
father of the Elamites. Elam was a land of bowsmen. This is just
saying, they will break the bow so they cannot fight.
Jeremiah 49:36 "And upon Elam will I bring the four winds from
the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them toward all those
winds; and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of Elam shall
not come."
This is very similar to the scattering of the Jews to every
country. They will be scattered to all lands. They would be a
dispersed people to all nations.
Jeremiah 49:37 "For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their
enemies, and before them that seek their life: and I will bring evil
upon them, [even] my fierce anger, saith the LORD; and I will send the
sword after them, till I have consumed them:"
We do not read of why the wrath of God is upon them, but we know
it is not without just cause. We do know at one point, that they were
opposed to rebuilding the temple in the time of Ezra. This is
explanation enough for me. God has every right to do with them, as He
wishes.
Jeremiah 49:38 "And I will set my throne in Elam, and will
destroy from thence the king and the princes, saith the LORD."
The throne is speaking of his tribunal. Elam's king will reign no
more. There will be strangers on the throne.
Jeremiah 49:39 "But it shall come to pass in the latter days,
[that] I will bring again the captivity of Elam, saith the LORD."
The latter days are speaking of the end times. In the following
Scripture that speaks of all the nationalities of people at Pentecost,
we see the Elamites mentioned. Acts 2:9 "Parthians, and Medes, and
Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and
Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia". Seth was not from the family of
Cain. He was the son of Adam and Eve, who the spiritual blessings
came through. God never totally destroys this line. They will return,
possibly, during the Messianic age.
Jeremiah 50 Questions
1. Who is verse 1 addressed to?
2. The Ammonites had moved into the area of _________.
3. What false god is intended by "king" in verse 1?
4. This land belonged to whom?
5. Rabbah was of whom?
6. Heshbon is a city located in the land of _______.
7. The Ammonites were the offspring of whom?
8. To put trust in a false god, is ___________.
9. They trusted in ________, as well.
10. The only God to go to is whom?
11. Why were the people running?
12. What time is verse 6 speaking of?
13. Who are the Edomites descended from?
14. He sold his birth right for a _______ of ______.
15. The Edomites were thought of as being _______ men.
16. Where are the Temanites mentioned the first time?
17. The inhabitants of Dedan were _____________ minded.
18. What is verse 9 saying?
19. What will happen to Edom's fatherless children?
20. Who did the LORD swear by?
21. Where was Bozrah?
22. What is Jeremiah giving in verse 14?
23. When is a time of destruction of Edom, besides the near one
in Jeremiah's time?
24. Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed with _______ and _________.
25. Who is the shepherd in verse 19?
26. Who will the king of Edom stand before to be judged?
27. Who are the divine counsel of verse 20?
28. The earth moving speaks of an _________.
29. The _______ swoops down and takes his prey.
30. Describe the morals of Damascus?
31. What happens to the palace of Ben-hadad?
32 Who does Kedar represent?
33. The name "Kedar" means what?
34. These tents were their _______.
35. What is the wealthy nation speaking of?
36. Who was Elam?
37. What happens to the Elamites?
38. When will God bring Elam back?
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