> [[jeremiah-46|← Previous]] | [[jeremiah-00|TOC]] | [[jeremiah-48|Next →]] --- # Jeremiah, Chapter 47 ## Chapter 47 **Against the Philistines.** 1 The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines, before Pharaoh attacked Gaza: ^jeremiah-47-1 2 Thus says the LORD: ^jeremiah-47-2 See: waters are rising from the north, to become a torrent in flood; They shall flood the land and all it contains, the cities and their inhabitants. People will howl and wail, every inhabitant of the land. 3 At the noise of the pounding hooves of his steeds, ^jeremiah-47-3 the clanking chariots, the rumbling wheels, Parents do not turn back for their children; their hands hang helpless, 4 Because of the day that is coming ^jeremiah-47-4 to destroy all the Philistines And cut off from Tyre and Sidon the last of their allies. Yes, the LORD is destroying the Philistines, the remnant from the coasts of Caphtor. 5 Baldness is visited upon Gaza, ^jeremiah-47-5 Ashkelon is reduced to silence; Ashdod, remnant of their strength, how long will you gash yourself? 6 Ah! Sword of the LORD! ^jeremiah-47-6 When will you find rest? Return to your scabbard; stop, be still! 7 How can it find rest ^jeremiah-47-7 when the LORD has commanded it? Against Ashkelon and the seacoast, there he has appointed it. \* (47:2] – [7) Nebuchadnezzar’s military campaign against Ashkelon in 604 B.C. may provide some historical background for this poem. \* (47:4) Tyre and Sidon: Phoenician seaports allied commercially with the Philistines and often rebelling against Nebuchadnezzar; cf. [27:1] – [4]. After the capture of Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar carried out a partially successful thirteen-year siege of Tyre. Caphtor: Crete and other Aegean islands, points of origin for the Philistines and other sea peoples; cf. [Am 9:7]. \* (47:5) Baldness…gash yourself: close-cropped hair, silence, and ritual slashing of the body express mourning and grief and here represent the mourner’s awareness that chaos has overcome order (cf. [41:5]). a. (47:1) [Ez 25:15] – [16]; [Zep 2:4]. b. (47:4) [Jer 25:22]; [Ez 25:16] – [17]; [Am 1:8]; [9:7]. c. (47:5) [Am 1:7]. d. (47:7) [Zep 2:5] – [6]. --- _New American Bible, revised edition_ (2010, 1991, 1986, 1970) Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. > [[jeremiah-46|← Previous]] | [[jeremiah-00|TOC]] | [[jeremiah-48|Next →]]