Jeremiahchapter 47

1 This is the word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet about the Philistines before Pharaoh struck down Gaza.

2 This is what the LORD says: “See how the waters are rising from the north and becoming an overflowing torrent. They will overflow the land and its fullness, the cities and their inhabitants. The people will cry out, and all who dwell in the land will wail

3 at the sound of the galloping hooves of stallions, the rumbling of chariots, and the clatter of their wheels. The fathers will not turn back for their sons; their hands will hang limp.

4 For the day has come to destroy all the Philistines, to cut off from Tyre and Sidon every remaining ally. Indeed, the LORD is about to destroy the Philistines, the remnant from the coasts of Caphtor.

5 The people of Gaza will shave their heads in mourning; Ashkelon will be silenced. O remnant of their valley, how long will you gash yourself?

6 ‘Alas, O sword of the LORD, how long until you rest? Return to your sheath; cease and be still!’

7 How can it rest when the LORD has commanded it? He has appointed it against Ashkelon and the shore of its coastland.”

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Chapter summary

A brief, terrifying poem against the Philistines before Pharaoh smote Gaza.

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A brief, terrifying poem against the Philistines before Pharaoh smote Gaza. Waters rise out of the north and become an overflowing stream that covers the land and the city and its inhabitants; men cry, and every inhabitant howls. At the noise of stamping hoofs and rushing chariots and rumbling wheels, fathers do not look back for their children, so feeble are their hands: the day is come to destroy all the Philistines, and to cut off from Tyre and Sidon every helper that remains. Gaza is bald, Ashkelon brought to nothing. The chapter ends addressing the sword itself: how long till thou be quiet? put thyself into thy scabbard. Yet how can it rest when Jehovah has given it a charge?

Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary, John Wesley, Notes on the Old Testament and John Calvin, Commentaries.

Context

Prophecy · Jeremiah — Jeremiah overview

A. 1–4 Waters Rising Out of the North Against Philistia
B. 5–7 Ashkelon Cut Off: How Can the Sword Be Quiet?

Top cross-references8 chapters ▾

Jeremiah 251 verse
- Jeremiah 25:20all the mixed tribes; all the kings of Uz; all the kings of the Philistines: Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod;
- Read Jeremiah 25 →
Jeremiah 81 verse
- Jeremiah 8:16The snorting of enemy horses is heard from Dan. At the sound of the neighing of mighty steeds, the whole land quakes. They come to devour the land and everything in it, the city and all who dwell in it.
- Read Jeremiah 8 →
Genesis 101 verse
- Genesis 10:19and the borders of Canaan extended from Sidon toward Gerar as far as Gaza, and then toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha.
- Read Genesis 10 →
Exodus 251 verse
- Exodus 25:15The poles are to remain in the rings of the ark; they must not be removed.
- Read Exodus 25 →

4 more chapters this one speaks with

Isaiah 81 verse
- Isaiah 8:7the Lord will surely bring against them the mighty floodwaters of the Euphrates—the king of Assyria and all his pomp. It will overflow its channels and overrun its banks.
- Read Isaiah 8 →
Isaiah 151 verse
- Isaiah 15:2Dibon goes up to its temple to weep at its high places. Moab wails over Nebo, as well as over Medeba. Every head is shaved, every beard is cut off.
- Read Isaiah 15 →
Judges 51 verse
- Judges 5:22Then the hooves of horses thundered—the mad galloping of his stallions.
- Read Judges 5 →
Nahum 21 verse
- Nahum 2:4The chariots dash through the streets; they rush around the plazas, appearing like torches, darting about like lightning.
- Read Nahum 2 →

Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.