@Jer 47:1-7. PROPHECY AGAINST THE PHILISTINES.
1. Pharaoh-necho probably smote Gaza on his return after defeating Josiah at Megiddo (@2Ch 35:20) [GROTIUS]. Or, Pharaoh-hophra (@Jer 37:5,7) is intended: probably on his return from his fruitless attempt to save Jerusalem from the Chaldeans, he smote Gaza in order that his expedition might not be thought altogether in vain [CALVIN] (@Am 1:6,7).
2. waters--(@Isa 8:7). The Chaldeans from the north are compared to the overwhelming waters of their own Euphrates. The smiting of Gaza was to be only the prelude of a greater disaster to the Philistines. Nebuzara-dan was left by Nebuchadnezzar, after he had taken Jerusalem, to subdue the rest of the adjoining cities and country.
3. (Compare @Jer 4:29).
fathers . . . not look back to . . . children--Each shall think only
of his own safety, not even the fathers regarding their own children. So
desperate shall be the calamity that men shall divest themselves of the
natural affections.
for feebleness of hands--The hands, the principal instruments of
action, shall have lost all power; their whole hope shall be in their
feet.
4. every helper--The Philistines, being neighbors to the Phoenicians
of Tyre and Sidon, would naturally make common cause with them in the
case of invasion. These cities would have no helper left when the
Philistines should be destroyed.
Caphtor--the Caphtorim and Philistines both came from Mizraim
(@Ge 10:13,14). The Philistines are said to have been delivered by
God from Caphtor (@Am 9:7). Perhaps before the time of Moses they
dwelt near and were subjugated by the Caphtorim (@De 2:23) and
subsequently delivered. "The remnant" means here those still left after
the Egyptians had attacked Gaza and Palestine; or rather, those left of
the Caphtorim after the Chaldeans had attacked them previous to their
attack on the Philistines. Some identify Caphtor with Cappadocia;
GESENIUS, with Crete (@Eze 25:16, Cherethims);
KITTO, Cyprus. Between
Palestine and Idumea there was a city Caparorsa; and their close
connection with Palestine on the one hand, and Egypt (Mizraim,
@Ge 10:13,14) on the other hand, makes this locality the most
likely.
5. Baldness . . . cut thyself--Palestine is represented as a female
who has torn off her hair and cut her flesh, the heathenish (@Le 19:28)
token of mourning (@Jer 48:37).
their valley--the long strip of low plain occupied by the Philistines
along the Mediterranean, west of the mountains of Judea. The Septuagint reads Anakim, the remains of whom were settled in those regions
(@Nu 13:28). Joshua dislodged them so that none were left but in Gaza,
Gath, and Ashdod (@Jos 11:21,22). But the parallel (@Jer 47:7),
"Ashkelon . . . the sea-shore," established English Version here,
"Ashkelon . . . their valley."
6. Jeremiah, in the person of the Philistines afflicting themselves
(@Jer 47:5), apostrophizes the "sword of the Lord," entreating mercy
(compare @De 32:41 Eze 21:3-5,9,10).
up thyself--Hebrew, "Gather thyself," that is, retire or return.
7. Jeremiah, from addressing the sword in the second person, turns
to his hearers and speaks of it in the third person.
Lord . . . given it a charge--(@Eze 14:17).
the sea-shore--the strip of land between the mountains and
Mediterranean, held by the Philistines: "their valley"
(see on Jer 47:5).
there hath he appointed it--(@Mic 6:9). There hath He ordered it
to rage.