Jeremiah 47

Chapter Overview

What happens in Jeremiah 47

This short chapter contains God's judgment against the Philistines. An overwhelming enemy from the north will sweep over their land like a flood. The destruction will be so sudden and complete that parents will not even stop to help their own children.

Scripture

The Coming Flood Against the Philistines

Study note

The Philistines were Israel's longtime enemies who lived along the Mediterranean coast in cities like Gaza, Ashkelon, and Ashdod. This prophecy was given before Pharaoh's attack on Gaza and predicts a greater destruction from the north -- Babylon. The invading army is described as a rising flood that would cover the land. The Philistines originally came from Caphtor (Crete), and their allies from Tyre and Sidon would be cut off and unable to help them.

1 Here is the message the Lord gave Jeremiah the prophet about the Philistines. This came before Pharaoh's army attacked the city of Gaza. The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before that Pharaoh smote Gaza.

2 The Lord said: "Look! A great flood of water is rising from the north. It will become a massive, crashing wave that covers the land and everything on it -- the towns and the people who live there. Everyone will scream for help. Every person in the land will cry out in despair." Thus saith the LORD; Behold, waters rise up out of the north, and shall be an overflowing flood, and shall overflow the land, and all that is therein; the city, and them that dwell therein: then the men shall cry, and all the inhabitants of the land shall howl.

3 "You will hear the thundering hooves of powerful warhorses. You will hear the rumble of enemy chariots and the roar of their spinning wheels. Fathers will be so frozen with fear that they will not even turn around to grab their children." At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong horses, at the rushing of his chariots, and at the rumbling of his wheels, the fathers shall not look back to their children for feebleness of hands;

4 "The day has come to wipe out all the Philistines. It is time to cut off every last helper of Tyre and Sidon. The Lord is about to destroy the Philistines, those people who first came from the shores of Caphtor." Because of the day that cometh to spoil all the Philistines, and to cut off from Tyrus and Zidon every helper that remaineth: for the LORD will spoil the Philistines, the remnant of the country of Caphtor.

The Sword of the Lord

Study note

Gaza and Ashkelon, two of the five major Philistine cities, would be devastated. The people would shave their heads and cut themselves -- signs of deep mourning in the ancient Near East. The chapter ends with a haunting question: How long will the Lord's sword keep destroying? The answer is that it cannot rest because the Lord has given it an assignment against Ashkelon and the coast. When God determines judgment, nothing can stop it.

5 "The people of Gaza will shave their heads to mourn. Ashkelon will be left speechless. You who remain in the valley -- how much longer will you slash yourselves in grief?" Baldness is come upon Gaza; Ashkelon is cut off with the remnant of their valley: how long wilt thou cut thyself?

6 "You beg, 'Sword of the Lord, when will you finally stop? Go back into your case! Settle down and be quiet!'" O thou sword of the LORD, how long will it be ere thou be quiet? put up thyself into thy scabbard, rest, and be still.

7 "But how can it possibly stop when the Lord has given it a mission? He has aimed it straight at Ashkelon and the seacoast. That is exactly where he has sent it." How can it be quiet, seeing the LORD hath given it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the sea shore? there hath he appointed it.

Key Themes

Themes in Jeremiah 47

Judgment on the philistinesThe overwhelming flood of divine judgmentGod's timing in executing justiceThe futility of resisting God's purposesGrief over necessary destruction

Apply This Today

Living Jeremiah 47

God's judgment is compared to a flood: once it begins, nothing can hold it back. The Philistines were long-standing enemies of Israel, but their judgment came from God, not from human revenge. Trusting God to handle injustice in His timing frees us from the burden of seeking our own vengeance.

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