2 lines
7.4 KiB
HTML
2 lines
7.4 KiB
HTML
|
<p>As the Egyptians had often proved false friends, so the Philistines had always been sworn enemies, to the Israel of God, and the more dangerous and vexatious for their being such near neighbours to them. They were considerably humbled in David’s time, but, it seems they had got head again and were a considerable people till Nebuchadnezzar cut them off with their neighbours, which is the event here foretold. The date of this prophecy is observable; it was <i>before Pharaoh</i> smote Gaza. When this blow was given to Gaza by the king of Egypt is not certain, whether in his expedition against Carchemish or in his return thence, after he had slain Josiah, or when he afterwards came with design to relieve Jerusalem; but this is mentioned here to show that this word of the Lord came to Jeremiah against the Philistines when they were in their full strength and lustre, themselves and their cities in good condition, in no peril from any adversary or evil occurrent. When no disturbance of their repose was foreseen by any human probabilities, yet then Jeremiah foretold their ruin, which Pharaoh’s smiting Gaza soon after would be but an earnest of, and, as it were, the beginning of sorrows to that country. It is here foretold, 1. That a foreign enemy and a very formidable one shall be brought upon them: <i>Waters rise up out of the north</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="Jer.47.2" href="/passage/?search=Jer.47.2">Jer. 47:2</a>. Waters sometimes signify multitudes of people and nations (<a class="bibleref" title="Rev.17.15" href="/passage/?search=Rev.17.15">Rev. 17:15</a>), sometimes great and threatening calamities (<a class="bibleref" title="Ps.69.1" href="/passage/?search=Ps.69.1">Ps. 69:1</a>); here they signify both. They <i>rise out of the north</i>, whence fair weather and the wind that drives away rain are said to come; but now a terrible storm comes out of that cold climate. The Chaldean army shall overflow the land like a deluge. Probably this happened before the destruction of Jerusalem, for it should seem that in Gedaliah’s time, which was just after, the army of the Chaldeans was quite withdrawn out of those parts. The country of the Philistines was but of small extent, so that it would soon be overwhelmed by so vast an army. 2. That they shall all be in a consternation upon it. The men shall have no heart to fight, but shall sit down and cry like children: <i>All the inhabitants of the land shall howl</i>, so that nothing but lamentation shall be heard in all places. The occasion of the fright is elegantly described, <a class="bibleref" title="Jer.47.3" href="/passage/?search=Jer.47.3">Jer. 47:3</a>. Before it comes to killing and slaying, the very <i>stamping of the horses</i> and <i>rattling of the chariots</i>, when the enemy makes his approach, shall strike a terror upon the people, to such a degree that parents in their fright shall seem void of natural affection, <i>for they shall not look back to their children</i>, to provide for their safety, or so much as to see what becomes of them. Their <i>hands shall be so feeble</i> that they shall despair of carrying them off with them, and therefore they shall not care for seeing them, but leave them to take their lot; or they shall be in such a consternation that they shall quite forget even those pieces of themselves. Let none be over-fond of their children, nor dote upon them, since such distress may come that they may either wish they had none or forget that they have, and have no heart to look upon them. 3. That the country of the Philistines shall be spoiled and laid waste, and the other countries adjoining to them and in alliance with them. It is a day <i>to spoil the Philistines, for the Lord will spoil them</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="Jer.47.4" href="/passage/?search=Jer.47.4">Jer. 47:4</a>. Note, Those whom God will spoil must needs be spoiled; for, <i>if God be against them, who can be for them</i>? Tyre and Zidon were strong and wealthy cities, and they used to help the Philistines in a strait, but now they shall themselves be involved in the com
|