Jeremiah 49

King James Version

Full text for Jeremiah Chapter 49

1¶ Concerning the Ammonites, thus saith the LORD; Hath Israel no sons? hath he no heir? why [then] doth their king inherit Gad, and his people dwell in his cities?

2Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will cause an alarm of war to be heard in Rabbah of the Ammonites; and it shall be a desolate heap, and her daughters shall be burned with fire: then shall Israel be heir unto them that were his heirs, saith the LORD.

3Howl, O Heshbon, for Ai is spoiled: cry, ye daughters of Rabbah, gird you with sackcloth; lament, and run to and fro by the hedges; for their king shall go into captivity, [and] his priests and his princes together.

4Wherefore gloriest thou in the valleys, thy flowing valley, O backsliding daughter? that trusted in her treasures, [saying], Who shall come unto me?

5Behold, I will bring a fear upon thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts, from all those that be about thee; and ye shall be driven out every man right forth; and none shall gather up him that wandereth.

6And afterward I will bring again the captivity of the children of Ammon, saith the LORD.

7¶ Concerning Edom, thus saith the LORD of hosts; [Is] wisdom no more in Teman? is counsel perished from the prudent? is their wisdom vanished?

8Flee ye, turn back, dwell deep, O inhabitants of Dedan; for I will bring the calamity of Esau upon him, the time [that] I will visit him.

9If grapegatherers come to thee, would they not leave [some] gleaning grapes? if thieves by night, they will destroy till they have enough.

10But I have made Esau bare, I have uncovered his secret places, and he shall not be able to hide himself: his seed is spoiled, and his brethren, and his neighbours, and he [is] not.

11Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve [them] alive; and let thy widows trust in me.

12For thus saith the LORD; Behold, they whose judgment [was] not to drink of the cup have assuredly drunken; and [art] thou he [that] shall altogether go unpunished? thou shalt not go unpunished, but thou shalt surely drink [of it].

13For I have sworn by myself, saith the LORD, that Bozrah shall become a desolation, a reproach, a waste, and a curse; and all the cities thereof shall be perpetual wastes.

14I have heard a rumour from the LORD, and an ambassador is sent unto the heathen, [saying], Gather ye together, and come against her, and rise up to the battle.

15For, lo, I will make thee small among the heathen, [and] despised among men.

16Thy terribleness hath deceived thee, [and] the pride of thine heart, O thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, that holdest the height of the hill: though thou shouldest make thy nest as high as the eagle, I will bring thee down from thence, saith the LORD.

17Also Edom shall be a desolation: every one that goeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss at all the plagues thereof.

18As in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour [cities] thereof, saith the LORD, no man shall abide there, neither shall a son of man dwell in it.

19Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan against the habitation of the strong: but I will suddenly make him run away from her: and who [is] a chosen [man, that] I may appoint over her? for who [is] like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who [is] that shepherd that will stand before me?

20Therefore hear the counsel of the LORD, that he hath taken against Edom; and his purposes, that he hath purposed against the inhabitants of Teman: Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out: surely he shall make their habitations desolate with them.

21The earth is moved at the noise of their fall, at the cry the noise thereof was heard in the Red sea.

22Behold, he shall come up and fly as the eagle, and spread his wings over Bozrah: and at that day shall the heart of the mighty men of Edom be as the heart of a woman in her pangs.

23¶ Concerning Damascus. Hamath is confounded, and Arpad: for they have heard evil tidings: they are fainthearted; [there is] sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet.

24Damascus is waxed feeble, [and] turneth herself to flee, and fear hath seized on [her]: anguish and sorrows have taken her, as a woman in travail.

25How is the city of praise not left, the city of my joy!

26Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets, and all the men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the LORD of hosts.

27And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it shall consume the palaces of Benhadad.

28¶ Concerning Kedar, and concerning the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon shall smite, thus saith the LORD; Arise ye, go up to Kedar, and spoil the men of the east.

29Their tents and their flocks shall they take away: they shall take to themselves their curtains, and all their vessels, and their camels; and they shall cry unto them, Fear [is] on every side.

30Flee, get you far off, dwell deep, O ye inhabitants of Hazor, saith the LORD; for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath taken counsel against you, and hath conceived a purpose against you.

31Arise, get you up unto the wealthy nation, that dwelleth without care, saith the LORD, which have neither gates nor bars, [which] dwell alone.

32And their camels shall be a booty, and the multitude of their cattle a spoil: and I will scatter into all winds them [that are] in the utmost corners; and I will bring their calamity from all sides thereof, saith the LORD.

33And Hazor shall be a dwelling for dragons, [and] a desolation for ever: there shall no man abide there, nor [any] son of man dwell in it.

34¶ The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against Elam in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying,

35Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the chief of their might.

36And upon Elam will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them toward all those winds; and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of Elam shall not come.

37For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies, and before them that seek their life: and I will bring evil upon them, [even] my fierce anger, saith the LORD; and I will send the sword after them, till I have consumed them:

38And I will set my throne in Elam, and will destroy from thence the king and the princes, saith the LORD.

39But it shall come to pass in the latter days, [that] I will bring again the captivity of Elam, saith the LORD.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Jeremiah 49 contains divine judgments against Ammon, Edom, Damascus, Kedar, Hazor, and Elam. The LORD condemns their pride and false security, foretelling desolation, war, and captivity for these nations. While many face severe destruction, God also promises a future restoration for Ammon and Elam in the latter days.

Medium Summary

This chapter details the LORD's pronouncements of judgment against several nations surrounding Israel. Ammon is condemned for inheriting Gad's land, facing war in Rabbah and the captivity of its leaders, though a future restoration is promised. Edom's pride and perceived wisdom are challenged, as God declares its land will become a desolation like Sodom and Gomorrah, its secret places uncovered. Damascus is prophesied to experience feebleness, anguish, and the fall of its young men, with its palaces consumed by fire. Kedar and Hazor are marked for conquest and spoiling by Nebuchadrezzar, their wealth taken, and their lands made desolate. Finally, Elam's military might will be broken and its people scattered by divine wrath, yet a future return from captivity is also foretold.

Long Summary

Jeremiah 49 presents a series of divine judgments against six distinct nations, commencing with Ammon. The LORD questions Ammon's occupation of Gad's territory, declaring that Rabbah will become a desolate heap, and its people will face war and the captivity of their king, priests, and princes, with Israel ultimately reclaiming its inheritance. Despite this severe judgment, a promise of future restoration for the children of Ammon is included. Next, Edom is addressed, its famed wisdom in Teman questioned as God vows to bring calamity upon Esau. Edom's pride, especially in its secure dwelling in the 'clefts of the rock,' will be brought low, and its land will become a perpetual desolation, compared to the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, though God pledges to preserve its fatherless and widows. Damascus is then prophesied to suffer great anguish and fear, becoming feeble, with its young men falling in the streets and its palaces consumed by fire. The prophecy shifts to Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor, detailing their impending conquest and spoiling by Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon. These wealthy nations, dwelling without care, will have their tents, flocks, and possessions taken, and their inhabitants scattered, with Hazor becoming a permanent 'dwelling for dragons' and a desolation forever. The chapter concludes with a prophecy against Elam, delivered early in King Zedekiah's reign. The LORD declares He will break Elam's 'bow,' the chief of their might, scattering its people to the four winds and bringing fierce anger upon them, even setting His throne in Elam to destroy its king and princes. However, like Ammon, Elam is also promised a future return from captivity in the latter days, demonstrating God's ultimate sovereignty and redemptive purpose even amidst judgment.

Core Concepts

  • Divine Judgment on NationsThe LORD pronounces severe judgments against Ammon, Edom, Damascus, Kedar, Hazor, and Elam, highlighting His sovereign authority over all nations and their destinies.
  • Pride and False SecuritySeveral nations, particularly Edom and Ammon, are condemned for their pride and trust in their own strength, wealth, or geographical defenses, such as Edom's dwelling in the 'clefts of the rock.'
  • Desolation and CaptivityA recurring consequence for the condemned nations is the utter desolation of their cities and lands, along with the captivity or scattering of their people and leaders, as seen with Rabbah, Bozrah, and Hazor.
  • Nebuchadrezzar as God's InstrumentKing Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon is identified as the agent through whom God will execute judgment against Kedar and Hazor, illustrating God's use of earthly powers to fulfill His divine purposes.
  • Restoration in the Latter DaysDespite the severe judgments, the LORD promises a future return from captivity for both Ammon and Elam, offering a glimmer of hope and demonstrating God's long-term redemptive plan.
  • Sovereignty of GodThroughout the chapter, God asserts His absolute power and control over the destinies of nations, challenging their perceived wisdom, strength, and security with rhetorical questions like 'who is like me?'
  • Israel's InheritanceThe prophecy against Ammon directly addresses their occupation of Gad's land, stating that Israel shall again be heir to what was theirs, underscoring God's faithfulness to His covenant people.