Jeremiah 49:1-6

Judgment on the Ammonites

1 Concerning the Ammonites, this is what the LORD says: “Has Israel no sons? Is he without heir? Why then has Milcom ^[a] taken possession of Gad? Why have his people settled in their cities?

2 Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will sound the battle cry against Rabbah of the Ammonites. It will become a heap of ruins, and its villages will be burned. Then Israel will drive out their dispossessors, says the LORD.

3 Wail, O Heshbon, for Ai has been destroyed; cry out, O daughters of Rabbah! Put on sackcloth and mourn; run back and forth within your walls, for Milcom will go into exile together with his priests and officials.

4 Why do you boast of your valleys— your valleys so fruitful, ^[b] O faithless daughter? You trust in your riches and say, ‘Who can come against me?’

5 Behold, I am about to bring terror upon you, declares the Lord GOD of Hosts, from all those around you. You will each be driven headlong, with no one to regather the fugitives.

6 Yet afterward I will restore the Ammonites from captivity, ^[c]” declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 49:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 49

This chapter contains prophecies concerning the judgments of God on several nations and kingdoms, chiefly bordering on the land of Israel; on the Ammonites, Jer 49:1-6; on the Edomites, Jer 49:7-22; on the kingdom of Damascus, or the Syrians, Jer 49:23-27; on the Kedarenes or Arabians, Jer 49:28-33; and on the Elamites or Persians, Jer 49:34-39.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or their king; Milcom is a variant of Molech; also in verse 3; see Leviticus 18:21 and 1 Kings 11:7.
• [b]. Or your valleys flowing
• [c]. Or restore the fortunes of the Ammonites