Prophecy against Philistia

47 The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the (A)Philistines, before Pharaoh [a]conquered (B)Gaza. This is what the Lord says:

“Behold, waters are going to rise from (C)the north
And become an overflowing torrent,
And (D)overflow the land and everything that is in it,
The city and those who live in it;
And the people will (E)cry out,
And every inhabitant of the land will wail.
Because of the noise of the [b](F)galloping hoofs of his [c]stallions,
The roar of his chariots, and the rumbling of his wheels,
The fathers have not turned back for their children,
Because of the debility of their hands,
Because of the day that is coming
To (G)destroy all the Philistines,
To eliminate from (H)Tyre and Sidon
Every surviving ally;
For the Lord is going to destroy the Philistines,
The remnant of the coastland of (I)Caphtor.
(J)Baldness has come upon Gaza;
(K)Ashkelon has been destroyed.
Remnant of their valley,
How long will you (L)gash yourself?
Ah, (M)sword of the Lord,
How long will you not be quiet?
Withdraw into your sheath;
Rest and stay still.
How can [d]it be quiet,
When the Lord has (N)given it an order?
Against Ashkelon and against the sea shore—
There He has (O)summoned it.”

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 47:1 Lit struck
  2. Jeremiah 47:3 Lit stamping of the
  3. Jeremiah 47:3 Lit mighty ones
  4. Jeremiah 47:7 Lit you

Judgment on the Philistines

47 The word of the Lord that came to the prophet Jeremiah concerning the Philistines, before Pharaoh attacked Gaza:(A)

Thus says the Lord:
See, waters are rising out of the north
    and shall become an overflowing torrent;
they shall overflow the land and all that fills it,
    the city and those who live in it.
People shall cry out,
    and all the inhabitants of the land shall wail.(B)
At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his stallions,
    at the clatter of his chariots, at the rumbling of their wheels,
parents do not turn back for children,
    so feeble are their hands,(C)
because of the day that is coming
    to destroy all the Philistines,
to cut off from Tyre and Sidon
    every helper that remains.
For the Lord is destroying the Philistines,
    the remnant of the coastland of Caphtor.(D)
Baldness has come upon Gaza;
    Ashkelon is silenced.
O remnant of Anakim![a]
    How long will you gash yourselves?(E)
Ah, sword of the Lord!
    How long until you are quiet?
Put yourself into your scabbard;
    rest and be still!(F)
How can it[b] be quiet,
    when the Lord has given it an order?
Against Ashkelon and against the seashore—
    there he has appointed it.(G)

Footnotes

  1. 47.5 Gk: Heb their valley
  2. 47.7 Gk Vg: Heb you

47 The word of the Lord that came to Jeremias the prophet against the people of Palestine, before Pharao took Gaza.

Thus saith the Lord: Behold there come up waters out of the north, and they shall be as an overflowing torrent, and they shall cover the land, and all that is therein, the city and the inhabitants thereof: then the men shall cry, and all the inhabitants of the land shall howl,

At the noise of the marching of arms, and of his soldiers, at the rushing of his chariots, and the multitude of his wheels. The fathers have not looked back to the children, for feebleness of hands,

Because of the coming of the day, in which all the Philistines shall be laid waste, and Tyre and Sidon shall be destroyed, with all the rest of their helpers. For the Lord hath wasted the Philistines, the remnant of the isle of Cappadocia.

Baldness is come upon Gaza: Ascalon hath held her peace with the remnant of their valley: how long shalt thou cut thyself?

O thou sword of the Lord, how long wilt thou not be quiet? Go into thy scabbard, rest, and be still.

How shall it be quiet, when the Lord hath given it a charge against Ascalon, and against the countries thereof by the sea side, and there hath made an appointment for it?

It’s Doomsday for Philistines

47 1-5 God’s Message to the prophet Jeremiah regarding the Philistines just before Pharaoh attacked Gaza. This is what God says:

“Look out! Water will rise in the north country,
    swelling like a river in flood.
The torrent will flood the land,
    washing away city and citizen.
Men and women will scream in terror,
    wails from every door and window,
As the thunder from the hooves of the horses will be heard,
    the clatter of chariots, the banging of wheels.
Fathers, paralyzed by fear,
    won’t even grab up their babies
Because it will be doomsday for Philistines, one and all,
    no hope of help for Tyre and Sidon.
God will finish off the Philistines,
    what’s left of those from the island of Crete.
Gaza will be shaved bald as an egg,
    Ashkelon struck dumb as a post.
You’re on your last legs.
    How long will you keep flailing?

“Oh, Sword of God,
    how long will you keep this up?
Return to your scabbard.
    Haven’t you had enough? Can’t you call it quits?

“But how can it quit
    when I, God, command the action?
I’ve ordered it to cut down
    Ashkelon and the seacoast.”