Nations in the Crosshairs
Jeremiah’s prophecies against the nations continue in this chapter, looking at a variety of small nations. Other prophets speak to these nations as well, which provide some parallels. For instance, the opening verses of Obadiah parallel some of Jeremiah’s words against Edom.
Edom is south of Moab (mentioned last time), southeast of the Dead Sea. Ammon is north of Moab with their capital of Rabbah located where the modern Jordanian capital of Amman lies today. Damascus was the capital of the Arameans, encompassing part of modern day Syria. These nations were frequently Israel’s enemies.
Kedar and Hazor represent Bedouin Arab nomads. Kedar was a son of Ishmael (Genesis 25:13). There’s a Hazor in northern Israel, but that is not in view here. Jeremiah calls them the “kingdoms of Hazor”, implying they are a group. They appear to also be nomadic tribes along with Kedar.
Elam is situated southeast of Babylon next to the Persian Gulf, encompassing part of what would later become Persia. Elam is actually mentioned among the groups of people in Jerusalem when the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost (Acts 2:9). Perhaps this is part of how the Lord restored them (Jeremiah 49:39).
God would use Nebuchadnezzar to disrupt the world order, defeating these people groups. Borders would change. People would move, either fleeing invasion or being carried into captivity. They felt relatively secure and confident, but the strengths they relied on would disappoint. Their armies would fail. Their defenses would fall.
The description of Edom’s security failure stands out the most to me.
The horror you inspire has deceived you,
Jeremiah 49:16
and the pride of your heart,
you who live in the clefts of the rock,
who hold the height of the hill.
Though you make your nest as high as the eagle’s,
I will bring you down from there,
declares the LORD.
The Hebrew phrase “clefts of the rock” is found three times in the Bible. The other two are Obadiah 3 and Song of Songs 2:14. It is a place of refuge. But the Lord warns Edom: if you make yourself go up, I will make you go down.
To Ponder…
- In what are you placing your security?
- What does it look like to place our security in the Lord?
