Jeremiah 49:1-39

49:1-6 | The Ammonites were descendants of Lot, who lived to the east of the Jordan River (Gen. 19:38). They had sent delegates to Jerusalem in 593 BC (27:3 as part of a coalition against Babylon. Jeremiah’s oracles against the nations would remind Judah that these alliances were doomed to failure.

49:7-22 | The Edomites were descendants of Esau and long-time rivals of Israel and Judah (Gen. 36:1-43). Their judgement is a common theme in the OT prophets (Isa. 24; 63:1-6; Ezek. 35; Mal. 1:2-5), and this passage closely parallels Obadiah’s prophecies against Edom. The judgement of this nation is representative of how God will judge all His enemies in the end times.

49:14 | Edom had sent envoys to Jerusalem as part of the doomed conspiracy against Babylon in 593 BC (27:3). The Lord had sent His own ambassador, calling for an enemy attack on Edom.

49:15, 16 | The Lord would make Edom small among the nations in part because they participated with Babylon in the assault on Jerusalem

49:23-27 | Damascus was the capital of the Aramean kingdom, a powerful enemy of Israel throughout its history until its near destruction by the Assyrians in 732 BC. The Lord would use Babylon to further decimate its armies and destroy its palaces and fortresses.

49:28-33 | God’s judgement would extend to the Arabian tribes of Kedar and Hazor, and Nebuchadnezzar attacked Arabia in 599 BC. Isaiah 60:7 promises that the descendants of Ishmael will be participants in God’s future kingdom.

49:34-39 | Elam was east of Babylon in modern Iran. The Elamites’ skills as archers (Isa. 22:6) would not protect them when the Lord brought judgement and exile upon them.