Jeremiah 49:20

Therefore 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. THE LEAST OF THE FLOCK - the weakest and humblest of the Chaldean host. Compare , where the hostile leaders and their hosts are called "shepherds and their flocks." SHALL DRAW THEM OUT - `shall drag them away captive' (Grotius); shall drag them to and fro, as a lion () does feeble sheep (Maurer). HE SHALL MAKE THEIR HABITATIONS DESOLATE WITH THEM. The force of "with them" is simply the habitation which they possess....

The Prophet proceeds with his subject respecting the Idumeans and their destruction; but he makes a preface in order to gain credit to his words. He then says that this was God’s _counsel _and his _thoughts_. He speaks after the manner of men; for he transfers to God what does not properly belong to his nature; for God does not deliberate or consult, but has once for all decreed before the creation of the world what he will do; nor does he toss about his thoughts in all directions, as men do, who do not immediately see what is right or what ought to be done. Nothing of this kind belongs to God. But this way of speaking is sufficiently common, when what strictly applies to man is transferred to God. It ought at the same time to be observed, that this is not done without reason, for when God speaks by his servants, we ever raise doubts, “Is that said in earnest — can it be changed — is it...

7-22 The Edomites were old enemies to the Israel of God. But their day is now at hand; it is foretold, not only to warn them, but for the sake of the Israel of God, whose afflictions were aggravated by them. Thus Divine judgments go round from nation to nation; the earth is full of commotion, and nothing can escape the ministers of Divine vengeance. The righteousness of God is to be observed amidst the violence of men....

Verse Jeremiah 49:20. _THE INHABITANTS OF TEMAN_] Taken here for the whole of Idumea. These are a kind of synonyms which prevent monotony, and give variety to the poet's versification. _SURELY THE LEAST OF THE FLOCK SHALL DRAW THEM OUT_] They shall be like timid sheep; the weakest foe shall overcome them....

Edom stretched along the south of Judah from the border of Moab on the Dead Sea to the Mediterranean and the Arabian deserts, and held the same relation to Judah which Moab held toward the kingdom of Israel. Although expressly reserved from attack by Moses Deuteronomy 2:5, a long feud caused the Edomites to cherish so bitter an enmity against Judah, that they exulted with cruel joy over the capture of Jerusalem by the Chaldaeans, and showed great cruelty toward those why fled to them for refuge. Of the prophecies against Edom the first eight verses of Obadiah are also found in Jeremiah (see the marginal references). As Jeremiah wrote before the capture of Jerusalem, and Obadiah apparently after it (see Jeremiah 49:13), it might seem certa

EXPOSITION On Ammon, Edom, Damascus, Kedar and Hazer, and Elam. JEREMIAH 49:1 The violence of the Ammonites shall be severely punished. JEREMIAH 49:1 HATH ISRAEL NO SONS! The violent seizure, perpetrated before his eyes, of parts of the sacred territory, forces the indignant question from the prophet, "How can these things be?" It was so on a former occasion (see Jeremiah 2:14), and it is so again, now that the Ammonites are occupying the land of the Gadites. True, the present generation has lost its property, but the next is the heir to all its rights and privileges. THEIR KING; rather, _their King—_the

THEREFORE HEAR THE COUNSEL OF THE LORD THAT HE HATH TAKEN AGAINST EDOM,.... The decree of the Lord; the purpose and resolution he had taken up in his heart against the Idumeans, which was wisely formed, and upon just and good grounds: AND HIS PURPOSES THAT HE HATH PURPOSED AGAINST THE INHABITANTS OF TEMAN; a principal place in Edom, the inhabitants of which were famous for their wisdom, Jeremiah 49:7; and therefore are here particularly mentioned; there being no wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel against the Lord, so as to frustrate his purposes and designs, which have always their effect, Proverbs 19:21; SURELY THE LEAST OF THE FLOCK SHALL DRAW THEM OUT; not the Persians, the least of the sons of Japheth, as some Rabbins in Jarchi c; nor the Israelites, as K

CHAPTER 49 Concerning Ammon, Edom, Damascus, Kedar, and Elam _ 1. Concerning the Ammonites (Jeremiah 49:1) _ 2. Concerning Edom (Jeremiah 49:7) 3. Concerning Damascus (Jeremiah 49:23) 4. Concerning Kedar and Hazor (Jeremiah 49:28) 5. Against Elam (Jeremiah 49:34) Ammon was the younger brother of Moab, and, like the Moabites, the Ammonites were a wicked people, though they had no cities like Moab, but were restless wanderers; they were also the enemies of Israel. The predic

EDOM. For the land, and the relations of this people to Israel, see on Obadiah, from Jeremiah 49:1 of which the present prophecy has taken verbally Jeremiah 49:9; Jeremiah 49:14. This does not, in itself, disprove the Jeremianic authorship of other parts of this prophecy, _e.g._ Jeremiah 49:7 f., Jeremiah 49:10 f., Jeremiah 49:22. The Edomites are paralysed by disaster. Let the Dedanites (their southern neighbours,...

COUNSEL. Referring to Teman's wisdom. Compare Jeremiah 49:7. TAKEN. counselled. Figure of speech _Polyptoton._ DRAW THEM OUT. As. dog drags away and tears. dead body. HABITATIONS: or, folds....