Jeremiah 49

19. he--Nebuchadnezzar, or Nebuzara-dan; the name would at once suggest itself to the minds of the hearers ( Jeremiah 48:40 , 46:18 ).
swelling--as a lion which the overflow of the Jordan forced out of his lair on the banks, to ascend the neighboring heights [CALVIN]. See as to the translation, "pride of the Jordan,"
habitation of . . . strong--the fastnesses of Idumea (compare Numbers 24:21 ). MAURER translates, "An ever verdant (literally, 'perennial') pasturage," that is, Idumea heretofore having enjoyed uninterrupted tranquillity; so in Jeremiah 49:20 the image is retained, the Idumeans being compared to "a flock," and their king to "a shepherd," in this verse, and the enemy to "a lion" (compare Jeremiah 50:17-19 ). English Version accords more with the Hebrew.
suddenly--"in the twinkling of an eye," as the Hebrew implies.
\him . . . her--I will make Nebuzara-dan enter Idumea, and then, having in the twinkling of an eye effected the conquest, go away speedily: elsewhere. Instead of "but," translate, "for." GROTIUS translates, "run upon her," or "to her," instead of "run away from her." MAURER understands it, "I will make him (the Idumean) run away from her" (that is, from his own land); the similar change of reference of the pronouns ( Jeremiah 50:44 ) favors this.
who is a chosen man, &c.--God calls the choicest warriors to Him, to set "over" the work of devastating Idumea. God will surely execute His purpose, for He can call forth from all sides the agents He chooses.
who is like me?--( Exodus 15:11 ).
who will appoint me the time?--namely, for entering into a trial in judgment with Me (see Margin). Image from law courts ( Job 9:19 ).
shepherd--leader of the Idumeans; following up the previous image, "a lion"; no Idumean shepherd shall withstand the lion sent by Jehovah ( Job 41:10 ), or save the Idumean flock.

20. least of the flock--the weakest and humblest of the Chaldean host. Compare Jeremiah 6:3 , where the hostile leaders and their hosts are called "shepherds and their flocks."
draw . . . out--"shall drag them away captive" [GROTIUS]; shall drag them to and fro, as a lion ( Jeremiah 49:19 ) does feeble sheep [MAURER].
with them--that is, the habitation which they possess.

21. was heard in--that is, shall be heard at.
Red Sea--a considerable distance from Idumea; though the district at the Elantic bay of the Red Sea originally belonged to Idumea, and the sea itself was called from Edom, that is, "red" ( Genesis 25:30 , Margin). Others translate, "the weedy sea" (Margin), and derive the name, "Red Sea," from its red weeds; the former view is preferable.

22. (Compare Jeremiah 48:40 Jeremiah 48:41 ).

23. Prophecy as to Damascus, &c. ( Isaiah 17:1 , 10:9 ). The kingdom of Damascus was destroyed by Assyria, but the city revived, and it is as to the latter Jeremiah now prophesies. The fulfilment was probably about five years after the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar [JOSEPHUS, Antiquities, 10.9,7].
Hamath is confounded--at the tidings of the overthrow of the neighboring Damascus.
on the sea--that is, at the sea; the dwellers there are alarmed. Other manuscripts read, "like the sea." "There is anxiety (restless) as is the sea: they cannot quiet it," that is, it cannot be quieted ( Isaiah 57:20 ).
it--Whatever dwellers are there "cannot be quiet."

25. city of praise--The prophet, in the person of a citizen of Damascus deploring its calamity, calls it "the city of praise," that is, celebrated with praises everywhere for its beauty ( Jeremiah 33:9 , 51:41 ). "How is it possible that such a city has not been left whole--has not been spared by the foe?" Compare left, Luke 17:35 Luke 17:36 . So Israel "left" standing some of the Canaanite cities ( Joshua 11:13 ).
of my joy--that is, in which I delighted.

26. Therefore--that is, Since Damascus is doomed to fall, therefore, &c.

27. palaces of Ben-hadad--that palace from which so many evils and such cruelty to Israel emanated; thus implying the cause of Damascus' overthrow. Not the Ben-hadad of 2 Kings 13:3 , Amos 1:4 ; it was a common name of the Syrian kings (compare 1 Kings 15:18 ; meaning "son of Hadad," the idol).

28. Kedar--son of Ishmael ( Genesis 25:13 ). The Kedarenes led a wandering predatory life in Arabia-Petræa, as the Bedouin Arabs ( 2 Chronicles 21:16 2 Chronicles 21:17 , Psalms 120:5 ). Kedar means "blackness" ( Solomon 1:5 ).
Hazor--not the city in Palestine, but a district in Arabia-Petræa. "Kingdoms" refer to the several combinations of clans, each under its own sheik.
men of the east--Kedar and Hazor were east of Judea ( Judges 6:3 , Job 1:3 ).

29. tents--in which they dwelt, from which they are called Scenites, that is, tent dwellers.
curtains--namely, with which the tents were covered ( Jeremiah 4:20 , 10:20 , Psalms 104:2 ).
they shall cry unto them, Fear, &c.--The foe, on crying, Fear . . ., shall discomfit them (the Kedarenes) by their mere cry.

31. wealthy--rather, "tranquil" ( 1 Chronicles 4:40 ).
neither gates nor bars--The Arabs, lying out of the track of the contending powers of Asia and Africa, took no measures of defense and had neither walled cities nor gates ( Ezekiel 38:11 ). They thought their scanty resources and wilderness position would tempt no foe.
alone--separated from other nations, without allies; and from one another scattered asunder. So as to Israel's isolation ( Numbers 23:9 , Deuteronomy 33:28 , Micah 7:14 ).

32. camels--their chief possessions; not fields or vineyards.
in utmost . . . corners--who seemed least likely to be dispersed. Or else, "having the hair shaven (or clipped) in angles" ( Jeremiah 9:26 , 25:23 ) [GROTIUS].
calamity from all sides--which will force even those in "corners" to "scatter" themselves.

33. ( Malachi 1:3 ).

34. Elam--part of Susiana, west of Persia proper, but used to designate Persia in general. Elam proper, or Elymais, nearer Judea than Persia, is probably here meant; it had helped Nebuchadnezzar against Judea; hence its punishment. It may have been idolatrous, whereas Persia proper was mainly monotheistic.

35. bow--Elam was famed for its bowmen ( Isaiah 22:6 ).
chief of their might--in opposition to "bow," that is, bowmen, who constituted their main strength.

36. four winds, &c.--Nebuchadnezzar's army containing soldiers from the four quarters.

37. consumed--as a distinct nation ( Daniel 8:2-27 ). Fulfilled under Alexander and his successors.

38. I will show Myself King by My judgments there, as though My tribunal were erected there. The throne of Cyrus, God's instrument, set up over Media, of which Elam was a part, may be meant [GROTIUS]; or rather, that of Nebuchadnezzar ( Jeremiah 43:10 ). Then the restoration of Elam ( Jeremiah 49:39 ) will refer partly to that which took place on the reduction of Babylon by Cyrus, prince of Persia and Media.

39. latter days--The full restoration belongs to gospel times. Elamites were among the first who heard and accepted it ( Acts 2:9 ).