1-6 Judgment on the Ammonites
1 The LORD says, Israel has heirs for its land, so why do the people of Milcom (Ammonite god) live in its cities?
2 The LORD will wage war against Rabbah (major city of Ammon), and it shall become a desolate mound, burned by fire.
3 Wail, Heshbon (city of Moab, also mentioned in 48:2), for Ai (city of Ammon) is destroyed.
3 Mourn and weep, for your god Milcom will be exiled, along with his priests. Interesting how God talks about an idol like he is real. I guess he was, to the Ammonites.
4-5 You have been boastful, but I will bring you down with terror; there won't even be anyone to pick up the pieces.
6 But afterward I will restore your fortunes. According to commentaries, the Ammonites were restored under the reign of Cyrus (Medo-Persian empire)
7-22 Judgment on Edom
7 Is there no wisdom in Teman (city named after a grandson of Esau)? In other words, have you lost your minds?
8 Hide, people of Dedan (a tribe bordering on Edom, named for a grandson of Abraham by Keturah).
9-10 Grape gatherers would leave something behind, as would thieves, but I will strip you bare.
11 However, I will spare your orphans and widows. God has great compassion on orphans and widows. His condemnations often include not only idol worship but poor treatment of widows, orphans and the poor.
16 You think you hide in the high clefts of the rock, but I'll bring you down. This has to refer to Petra, a city built into the cliffs of a mountain. I love it when the Bible mentions in passing a place that is now considered an ancient wonder of architecture and archeology.
23-24 Hamath and Arpad (cities of Syria) will melt in fear at the bad news; Damascus will be seized by panic, anguish and sorrows.
25-26 The famous city is forsaken, with her young men and soldiers destroyed.
27 The LORD will kindle a fire at its walls that will devour the strongholds of Ben-hadad (common name for Syrian kings that means "son of Hadad," an idol).
28-33 Judgment on Kedar and Hazor
Note: Kedarites were nomadic descendants of Ishmael (Genesis 25:13); Hazor was a district in Arabea-Petrea, according to Jamiesson, Fausset and Brown.
28-30 God commands Babylon to destroy Kedar and warns the inhabitants of Hazor to flee.
31-33 Rise up against Kedar and Hazor, who feel so secure they think they need no protection, but their cattle will be taken, their cities laid waste.
34-39 Judgment on Elam (part of Persia, who helped Babylon defeat Judah)
2 The LORD will wage war against Rabbah (major city of Ammon), and it shall become a desolate mound, burned by fire.
3 Wail, Heshbon (city of Moab, also mentioned in 48:2), for Ai (city of Ammon) is destroyed.
3 Mourn and weep, for your god Milcom will be exiled, along with his priests. Interesting how God talks about an idol like he is real. I guess he was, to the Ammonites.
4-5 You have been boastful, but I will bring you down with terror; there won't even be anyone to pick up the pieces.
6 But afterward I will restore your fortunes. According to commentaries, the Ammonites were restored under the reign of Cyrus (Medo-Persian empire)
7-22 Judgment on Edom
7 Is there no wisdom in Teman (city named after a grandson of Esau)? In other words, have you lost your minds?
8 Hide, people of Dedan (a tribe bordering on Edom, named for a grandson of Abraham by Keturah).
9-10 Grape gatherers would leave something behind, as would thieves, but I will strip you bare.
11 However, I will spare your orphans and widows. God has great compassion on orphans and widows. His condemnations often include not only idol worship but poor treatment of widows, orphans and the poor.
- If those less evil than you are to be punished, do you think I would spare you?
- Bozrah (royal city of Edom) will be laid waste, an object of cursing.
16 You think you hide in the high clefts of the rock, but I'll bring you down. This has to refer to Petra, a city built into the cliffs of a mountain. I love it when the Bible mentions in passing a place that is now considered an ancient wonder of architecture and archeology.
- Edom will become an object of horror, compared to Sodom and Gomorrah, where no one wanted to live.
- I am like the lion who chases the shepherd away; who can stand against me?
- God will swoop down like an eagle over Edom, and the hearts of the warriors will be like the heart of a woman in labor.
23-24 Hamath and Arpad (cities of Syria) will melt in fear at the bad news; Damascus will be seized by panic, anguish and sorrows.
25-26 The famous city is forsaken, with her young men and soldiers destroyed.
27 The LORD will kindle a fire at its walls that will devour the strongholds of Ben-hadad (common name for Syrian kings that means "son of Hadad," an idol).
28-33 Judgment on Kedar and Hazor
Note: Kedarites were nomadic descendants of Ishmael (Genesis 25:13); Hazor was a district in Arabea-Petrea, according to Jamiesson, Fausset and Brown.
28-30 God commands Babylon to destroy Kedar and warns the inhabitants of Hazor to flee.
31-33 Rise up against Kedar and Hazor, who feel so secure they think they need no protection, but their cattle will be taken, their cities laid waste.
34-39 Judgment on Elam (part of Persia, who helped Babylon defeat Judah)
- I will break the bow of Elam and scatter them to the winds. Apparently they were known for their skilled bowmen (Isaiah 22:6)
- I will terrify them, consume them, and set my throne there, destroying their kings and their officials.
- But in the latter days I will restore their fortunes. The Elamites were among the first to accept the gospel (Acts 2:9)
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