Jeremiah 47

Philistia Overwhelmed: The Sword of the LORD Against the Coastlands

The chapter moves from the historical heading concerning Philistia, to the image of northern waters overwhelming the land, to the collapse of parental and communal strength, to mourning over Gaza, Ashkelon, and the coastland, and finally to the unavoidable command of the LORD's sword.

World English Bible, Public Domain

Jeremiah 47:1-7

When the LORD appoints judgment, even powerful cities and coastal nations cannot escape His sovereign decree.

1 Yahweh’s word that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines, before Pharaoh struck Gaza.

2 Yahweh says: “Behold, waters rise up out of the north, and will become an overflowing stream, and will overflow the land and all that is therein, the city and those who dwell therein. The men will cry, and all the inhabitants of the land will wail.

3 At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong ones, at the rushing of his chariots, at the rumbling of his wheels, the fathers don’t look back to their children for feebleness of hands;

4 because of the day that comes to destroy all the Philistines, to cut off from Tyre and Sidon every helper who remains; for Yahweh will destroy the Philistines, the remnant of the isle of Caphtor.

5 Baldness has come on Gaza; Ashkelon is brought to nothing, the remnant of their valley: how long will you cut yourself?

6 “ ‘You sword of Yahweh, how long will it be before you are quiet? Put yourself back into your scabbard; rest, and be still.’

7 “How can you be quiet, since Yahweh has given you a command? Against Ashkelon, and against the seashore, there has he appointed it.”

Key Terms

פַּרְעֹה Parʿōh H6547
עַזָּה ʿAzzâ H5804
מַיִם mayim H4325
צָפוֹן ṣāp̄ôn H6828
אֶרֶץ ʾereṣ H776
זָעַק zāʿaq H2199
סוּסִים sûsîm H5483
רֶכֶב reḵeḇ H7393
יוֹם yôm H3117
שָׁדַד šāḏaḏ H7703
עֹזֵר ʿōzēr H5826

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