Jeremiah 47:1
This chapter continues this final gathering of oracles that are against the nations. The Philistines were the inhabitants of the coastal plain west of Judah. The dating is uncertain. In 609B.C. Pharaoh Neco advanced into the area to aid the Assyrians. In 604B.C. Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Ashkelon, a major Philistine city. In 601B.C Pharaoh Neco repelled an invasion by Babylon and pushed up north and conquered Gaza.
Jeremiah 47:2-3
The rising waters in Jeremiah 46:7-8 was a reference to Egypt and a picture of the rising Nile as the Egyptians had hopes of a spreading out and conquering the region. Now the rising waters are coming from the North. This must be a reference to Nebuchadnezzar. We are presented with a picture of complete and utter devastation to the power of seeing the parents as a picture of being defeated and broken to the point of not even helping their child. It feels like a 'what's the use?' scenario.
Jeremiah 47:4-5
The day had come, as determined by the Lord, of the Philistine destruction. Tyre and Sidon was a Phoenician city that was allied with the Philistines. The alliance would be broken at the destruction of the Philistines. The remnant of the coasts of Caphtor is an unknown location but is thought to be associated with Crete. The Philistines were a sea people that settled on the coast in 1500B.C.
The shaving of the head was part of mourning for the dead, as was cutting themselves. Some commentaries suggest the 'remnant on the plain' are those left of the Anakim.
Jeremiah 47:6-7
The 'sword of the Lord' was quite literally Babylon. They were called as God's servant to serve His purpose.
©2019 Doug Ford
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