Jeremiah 49:1

CHAPTER XLIX

This chapter is a collection of prophecies relating to several

nations in the neighbourhood of Judea; and, like those

preceding, are supposed to have been fulfilled by the ministry

of Nebuchadnezzar during the thirteen years' siege of Tyre. The

chapter opens with a prophecy concerning the Ammonites, whose

chief city, Rabbah, shall be destroyed; and Malcom, the supreme

divinity of the people, with all his retinue of priests and

officers, carried into captivity, 1-5.

Promise that the Ammonites shall be restored to their liberty, 6.

Prophecy against the Edomites, (very like that most dreadful one

in the thirty-fourth chapter of Isaiah against the same

people,) who shall be utterly exterminated, after the

similitude of Sodom and Gomorrah, 7-22.

Prophecy against Damascus, 23-27;

and against Kedar, 28, 29.

Utter desolation of the kingdoms of Hazor foretold, 30-33.

The polity of the Elamites shall be completely dissolved, and

the people dispersed throughout the nations, 34-38.

The Elamites shall be delivered from their captivity in the

latter days, 39.

It wilt be proper here to observe that these predictions should

not be so explained as if they admitted of merely a private

interpretation; for, as Bishop Lowth remarks upon Isaiah's

prophecy concerning the Idumeans, "by a figure very common in

the prophetical writings, any city or people, remarkably

distinguished as enemies of the people and kingdom of God, is

put for those enemies in general;" therefore, it is under the

Gospel dispensation that these prophecies shall be accomplished

to their fullest extent upon all the antichristian nations

that have sinned after the similitude of the ancient enemies of

the people of God under the Mosaic economy.

NOTES ON CHAP. XLIX

Verse Jeremiah 49:1. CONCERNING THE AMMONITES] This prophetic discourse was also delivered after the capture of Jerusalem.

Hath Israel no sons? - no heir?] The Ammonites, it appears, took advantage of the depressed state of Israel, and invaded their territories in the tribe of Gad, hoping to make them their own for ever. But the prophet intimates that God will preserve the descendants of Israel, and will bring them back to their forfeited inheritances.

Why then doth their king] מלכם Malcom or Milcom, the chief idol of the Ammonites. That the idol Milcom is here meant is sufficiently evident from Jeremiah 49:3, where it is said: "Milcom (not their king) shall go into captivity; his PRIESTS and his princes together." Milcom is also called Molech. Malcom is put here for the Ammonites, as the people of Chemosh in the preceding chapter are put for the Moabites in general.