Jeremiah 47:2-4

A. The Overflowing Stream Jeremiah 47:2-4

Borrowing a figure used earlier by Isaiah (Isaiah 8:7) Jeremiah describes the conqueror of the Philistine as an overflowing flood. The prophet sees the waters slowly rising in the north, gradually swelling, and then sweeping southward like a torrential stream which carries ruin and destruction along its course. That mighty river shall overflow all the land of the Philistine (Jeremiah 47:2). Jeremiah can hear the shrieks, screams and howls of despair mingled with the sounds of the prancing steeds and rumbling chariots and grinding wheels of the Chaldean forces. The fathers are so terrified that they abandon their wives and children to the on-rushing enemy (Jeremiah 47:3). The day of ruin has come to Philistia. No Philistine will be able to go to the aid of Tyre and Sidon and those cities as well will taste the wrath of the invincible conqueror.[380] Those who inhabited Philistia in the days of Jeremiah are only the remnant of the original invaders from Caphtor, the island of Crete. The Philistine had already suffered greatly in wars with Egypt and Assyria. Now the remnant of that once proud people will again suffer judgment at the hands of the God of Israel (Jeremiah 47:4).

[380] Ezekiel 26:1-21; Ezekiel 27:1-36 describes at length the humiliation of the two proud commercial cities of Phoenicia.