Jeremiah 47
February 23, 2024 1:18 PM
Solitary Man
solitaryman.substack.com
20240223
Jer 47:1 The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before that Pharaoh smote Gaza.
From I can figure, we have a bit of a schmozz here. Schmozz is my personal word for conundrum, mystery, or something not very clear.
We cannot be certain when this prophecy was given, nor when or which Pharaoh smote Gaza. Here are the two main theories:
The first theory is that this prophecy ties into Jer 25:20, where Jeremiah in 605 BC was led to give a brief word of judgment on Judah’s surrounding nations. Azzah there refers to Gaza. It is said that Pharaoh Necho attacked Gaza on his return from his victory over the Babylonians at Carchemish. This would of been the time that Josiah opposed him at the battle of Megiddo (2 Ki 23:29, 2 Chr 35:20), which cost Josiah his life. Others think this is Pharaoh Hophra, who went to the aid of Zedekiah in 587. He was thrown back by the Chaldeans, and on his return trip home, smote Gaza (Jer 37:5,7). However there is little proof to substantiate either of these claims.
Regardless of which event this verse is referring to, the point is that Jeremiah delivered this word to Philistia when it was still comparatively strong and not under any imminent threat. Just like Dave Wilkerson and Carter Conlon delivered many warnings of judgment to America over the decades when no certain calamity had yet appeared, or had just begun appearing, so Jeremiah gives this short pronouncement of certain doom in a time when it was not yet evident.
The difference in this word than what those 2 men of God gave was that there appeared to be no opportunity given to Philistia to repent and be saved. We were so blessed in the west that God spoke many times to us, and always gave us the chance to turn away from our iniquity. Like Israel, and like Judah, we kept refusing. So like them, we are now at a place of no return. I submit that our situation resembles Philistia’s in that judgment has now been decreed, and that is that.
The Philistines have always been known as the enemies of God’s people. A Philistine has become commonly known as one who is barbaric, uncivilized, ungodly. Other prophets prophesied against it (Is 14:29-31, Ez 25:15-17, Am 1:6, Zeph 2:4).
Philistia largely disappears from history when Nebuchadnezzar conquers it at the same time as Jerusalem, even though Pharaoh may of gotten there first. Do not be fooled by the Palestine of today. That is simply an artificial construct, created by the Roman Empire, as an insult to the Jews after they had finally eradicated all resistance to their rule in 135 AD, and decided to rename the territory in honor of Israel’s traditional enemies.
Jer 47:2 Thus saith the LORD; Behold, waters rise up out of the north, and shall be an overflowing flood, and shall overflow the land, and all that is therein; the city, and them that dwell therein: then the men shall cry (shriek from anguish), and all the inhabitants of the land shall howl (with a wailing tone).
Of course, the waters that rise from the north are the Chaldeans, or Babylonians, as they were also called. The nuance of the wording is so appropriate, as when you look at the excessive emotionalism of the typical middle eastern citizen, you can easily envision the howling and the wailing that would of occurred as all they treasured was destroyed right in front of their eyes, or before their face, as the common biblical phrase would describe it.
Jer 47:3 At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong horses, at the rushing of his chariots, and at the rumbling of his wheels, the fathers shall not look back to their children for feebleness of hands;
The terror of the invading army would be such that fathers would not take the time to see if their children were safe. They would either be powerless to do so, or they did not have the strength to effect a deliverance.
I have heard several alternative media personnel, who have been engaged in this fight for freedom since 2020, state that the most shocking aspect of the people’s non-response to all the machinations of the cabal was when people willingly gave their children over to the jab without a fight. No questions, no hesitation, no reservation. Regardless of any fact or reality that stared them right in the face, they fought one another to be first in line to poison their own children. And when they started getting sick, they were thankful that their 8 year old only got myocarditis, as they were sure the injection had saved them from something worse.
You just cannot make this stuff up. Feeble minds lead to feeble hands.
Jer 47:4 Because of the day that cometh to spoil (ravage, lay waste) all the Philistines, and to cut off from Tyrus and Zidon every helper that remaineth (has survived): for the LORD will spoil the Philistines, the remnant of the country of Caphtor.
Tyre and Zidon (Sidon) were also coastal cities and were in frequent alliance with Philistia. God says the day has come which spells the doom of Philistia. In this day no help can be expected from these 2 allies. Indeed, Nebuchadnezzar would also take care of them in their appointed time.
God calls the people of Philistia the remnant of the Caphtor. Caphtor has been associated with Crete, Cyprus, Cappadocia. The Caphtorim and Philistines both came from Mizraim (Gen 10:13-14). Some also think the Philistines came from somewhere in Egypt. The most common consensus is Crete. Regardless of where they came from and what their ancestral background is, God has said the day of their end has come.
Jer 47:5 Baldness is come upon Gaza; Ashkelon is cut off (brought to silence) with the remnant of their valley: how long wilt thou cut thyself?
These are the two most common signs of mourning, especially amongst the pagans. Cutting your hair and beard (Jer 48:37, Is 15:2-3), and slashing oneself to draw blood (1 Ki 18:28). How long will you continue to mourn? What is about to occur will indeed occur. Will you mourn forever? Do you think slashing yourselves will avail you of any help from your pagan gods, like the prophets of Baal did when they faced off against the god of Elijah?
An interesting rendering is found in the Septuagint (rendered as LXX), the Greek version of the Hebrew scripture. Let us look at Ellicott’s commentary for English readers:
The LXX. apparently followed a different text, and gives “the remnant of the Anakim” instead of “the remnant of their valley.” Hitzig adopts this rendering, and connects it with the known fact that a remnant of the old gigantic non-Semitic race had taken refuge among the Philistines (1Sam 17:4; 2Sam 21:22; 1Chr 20:5-8) after they had been driven from Hebron (Josh 14:12-15, 15:13-14).
if you look at the Hebrew word for ‘of their valley’, you find ay-mak. Perhaps that was transliterated as Anakim by the Septuagint authors.
Jer 47:6 O thou sword of the LORD, how long will it be ere thou be quiet? put up thyself into thy scabbard, rest, and be still.
God is in the midst of pronouncing doom and woe on all of Israel’s enemies that surround her. He began with Egypt. Seeming allies today, but enemies in the past. Now he turns to Philistia, the perpetual enemy. In the midst of these sure words of destruction, the prophet takes a moment to give vent to this emotion. Speaking in behalf of the Philistine victim, perhaps, he cries out in anguish: ‘How long shall God’s mishpat that is manifesting in war continue’? When will the sword of the Lord rest? Will there ever be an end to God’s judgment?
Jer 47:7 How can it be quiet, seeing the LORD hath given it a charge (command) against Ashkelon, and against the sea shore? there hath he appointed it.
Whether or not the plaintive cry is to be understood as coming from the lips of the prophet or from the Philistines themselves, the answer is the same. God’s command has gone forth. No man can reverse it. There are some mishpats (decrees, verdicts, judgments) that are irrevocable. In the case of Philistia, this is one of them.
God has pronounced judgment on Canada and America (and on many other lands as well). I believe it is irrevocable. He has appointed the sword of the Lord to go and cut off the abominable and the profane out of the land. Not just by the sword. But also by the famine, pestilence, and evil beasts.
The question remaining is how much judgment can the true remnant avert by crying out day and night to heaven? Are you willing to be one of the few willing to spend what is left of your life petitioning the judge of all the earth to yet show mercy and grace on this sin sick, accursed land, even though most of the people are not even aware of what they have brought upon themselves?
Solitary Man
https://solitaryman.substack.com/
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