Jeremiah 46 - 48 - Outline of Jeremiah (Book Notes menu page)
Appendix: Judgment upon the Gentile nations...
As discussed in the introduction to the notes on ch.45, Jeremiah's ministry to his people closed at the end of ch.44, where his final prophecy is of judgment upon the unbelieving remnant of Judah, which had fled to Egypt. The remainder of the book consists of appendices, written, for the most part, prior to the fall of Jerusalem. The final chapter (ch.52) is a recapitulation of Jerusalem's fall and adds some details to the account given in ch.39.

As we saw, chapter 45 is a personal message, of encouragement and correction, directed to Baruch, Jeremiah's scribe, several years before Jerusalem's fall.

Chapters 46-51 are prophetic messages of judgment upon the Gentile nations (46:1) which surrounded Israel, just prior to the Babylonian captivity of Jerusalem. These messages apply primarily to the 'near view,' in the immediate aftermath of that event. However, in many points, they also foreshadow the judgments of the Tribulation period, upon the final form of Gentile world dominion, which the prophetic scriptures refer to as 'Babylon.'

These countries are addressed from west to east, with the exception that Babylon is reserved for last, and addressed in greater length, due to their role in the judgment upon Israel and the other nations.
     We will not take time to examine everything in these chapters, but will attempt to highlight a few important points. Further study would be rewarding.
     Each message begins with something like "The Word of the LORD 'against' {ie., concerning, in regard to} Egypt..." (eg., 46:1,2; 49:1). The LORD's warning of impending judgment is actually an expression of grace toward each of these groups. Individuals who believe and heed His warnings are afforded a way of escape. However, the LORD unequivocally states that He is 'against' Babylon (the system) to ensure its destruction (50:31; 51:25).

I. Judgment upon Egypt, 46:1-28
  1. Egypt's advance against Babylon will be defeated (46:1-12).
    • The time and occasion of the prophecy (46:2) - The fourth year of Jehoiakim (cp. 25:1).
      The prophecies regarding the other nations may have been delivered at this time also. (Compare 25:15-38, noting the order of the list of nations in 25:19-26 with the order of the prophecies in the appendices to Jeremiah's book, as listed above... "and Sheshach {Babylon} shall drink after them").
    • Jehoiakim had been installed as king by Pharaoh-Nechoh (2Kin 23:34-37).
      Judah had looked to Egypt for protection. But Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, displaced Egypt and became the predominant power in the region, at the battle of Carchemish (which is described prophetically here, in 46:1-12). This battle took place in 605 BC (approximately 4 years after the prophecy was given, and 19 years before the fall of Jerusalem). Carchemish was on the upper Euphrates, in the frontier between modern day Turkey and Syria.
  2. Babylon's invasion of Egypt will be successful (46:13-26).
    • This invasion took place in about 568 BC. It was foretold here and also in ch.44.
      Following the fall of Jerusalem, the remnant of Judah had fled to Egypt for fear of Nebuchadnezzar. Yet, Nebuchadnezzar would overtake the very places in which they had taken refuge (cp. 46:13-14; 44:1-f).
    • The daughter of Egypt had been (and would be) confounded when her misplaced confidences failed her (46:24,25).
      The daughters of Judah, who had turned from the LORD to dwell in Egypt, placing their trust in Egypt's armed forces and false gods, would share in Egypt's desolation (46:19).
  3. Hope for the future (46:26b-28)
    • Egypt would be restored, after her desolation (46:26b; cp. Eze 29:6-14).
      However, Egypt would be restored as a 'base kingdom', and would no longer be a world power.
    • Israel will be restored, though all other nations be brought to nothing (46:27-28).
      • The LORD will accomplish this: "I will..." for "I am with thee..."
      • He promises to save the seed of Israel "from the land of their captivity" (ie., Babylon).
        The promise is not extended to those who have fled into Egypt (44:27,28).
      • In the future day of restoration, Israel will have true and lasting peace and security (46:27).
      • It should be obvious that many aspects of these prophecies have been fulfilled historically.
        However, other aspects (including Israel's ultimate restoration) await fulfillment in the future 'day of the LORD' (46:10).
 
II. Judgment upon Philistia (47:1-7)
  1. The near application: is the trampling of a people and region caught in the conflict
    between Pharaoh-Nechoh of Egypt (47:1) and Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, whose armies are "the waters from the north" (47:2), as described in ch.46 (above).
  2. The future application: The sword of the LORD will not rest in this region (47:6,7), until Israel enters its rest (46:27,28) in the Messiah's Millennial Kingdom. The named places are mentioned frequently in the news media, today.
    • Gaza- One of the primary cities in the Gaza strip.
    • Tyre and Sidon- Prominent cities in Lebanon.
    • Ashkelon- a port on the Mediterranean Sea, located 15 miles north of Gaza city.
      In Jeremiah's day, it was a city of the Philistines. Today, it belongs to Israel. Its proximity to the Gaza strip (just 6 miles north of the border), makes it a frequent target for Palestinian missiles.
    • Caphtor {ie., the island of Crete? or Cyprus?}-
      The Philistines are called "the remnant" {remainder, descendants} of Caphtor (cp. Amos 9:7).
      However, the present day "Palestinians" are related to the Arab nations of the region.
    Note: Restoration is not promised to Philistia (nor to Edom, Damascus, Kedar, Hazor and Babylon).
    These countries occupy the inheritance of Abraham's promised Seed (Gal 3:16), who will possess them during the Messianic Kingdom (Gen 15:18; Psa 72:8).
 
III. Judgment upon Moab (48:1-47)
  1. The warning (48:1,2) and terror of her destruction (48:3-6).-
    The progression of the enemy's conquest is traced from city to city. (Madmen is the name of one of the cities.) Moab was located directly east of the Dead Sea. Heshbon, a city on the border with the Ammonites to their north, would turn against the nation of Moab (48:2), and also against those Moabites who would attempt to find refuge there (48:45).
       The spoiler (48:8,18,32) is Nebuchadnezzar and his army. This lengthy chapter vividly portrays the violence, confusion, misery and ruin of war, as the spoiler steadily advances across the whole land crushing its unsubmissive prey.
       The phrase "an heifer of three years old" (in 48:34) is probably the name of a town: "Eglath Shelishiyah" [NASB] (cp. Isa 15:5). If so, its location is unknown.
  2. The reasons for her judgment:
    • Their trust in her own works and wealth (48:7a).
    • Their trust in her false god, Chemosh (48:7b,13).
      More than a century earlier, the northern kingdom of Israel was destroyed due to their idolatrous religion, which was initially centered in Bethel (1Kin 12:32).
    • Their self-exaltation and pride against the LORD (48:26,29,30,42).
    • Their joy at the captivity of Israel by Assyria, though Israel had not coveted (as thieves) Moab's land (48:27).
      In fact, the cities mentioned, in this chapter, had long belonged to Israel, which had taken them, when the Amorites had attacked Israel as they traveled to Canaan, in the time of Moses and Joshua. (Several cities named in ch.48 are listed in Num 32:33-38.)
         Israel had progressively lost some of these cities, after they turned from the LORD to false gods. When Israel was taken captive by Assyria, Moab had rejoiced at Israel's loss and quickly appropriated the land as their own. Likewise, when Jerusalem was besieged by Babylon, the Moabites were glad to see that Judah was as weak as any heathen nation (ie., Judah's God appeared to be no stronger than the heathen gods).
    For these reasons, the LORD had commissioned the judgment, which would soon come upon them, at the hands of Babylon (48:10-13). Yet, the LORD grieved in anticipation of their sorrows in the necessary punishment (48:31,32,36). When it came, in fulfillment of His prophetic Word, the Moabites would know the identity of the true and living God (Eze 25:8-11).
  3. The result of her judgment: The nation of Moab would be "destroyed from being a people" (48:42).-
    Today, its territory and ethnic identity have been swallowed up by the country of Jordan, the Hashemite kingdom, whose Arab rulers claim descent from Muhammed.
  4. The promise of her restoration (48:47)-
    In the latter days, the LORD will restore this people, which are descendants of Lot (Gen 19:36,37), though their ethnic identity is untraceable, today.
       With the exception of the last verse (48:47), this chapter seems focused on the woes which would befall Moab in the near term, at the hand of Nebuchadnezzar. In Isaiah's prophecy concerning Moab, the near and far prophetic views are more readily discerned. (See the Book Notes on Isaiah ch.15-16.)
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