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A Message about Ammon

49 This message was given concerning the Ammonites. This is what the Lord says:

“Are there no descendants of Israel
    to inherit the land of Gad?
Why are you, who worship Molech,[a]
    living in its towns?
In the days to come,” says the Lord,
    “I will sound the battle cry against your city of Rabbah.
It will become a desolate heap of ruins,
    and the neighboring towns will be burned.
Then Israel will take back the land
    you took from her,” says the Lord.

“Cry out, O Heshbon,
    for the town of Ai is destroyed.
Weep, O people of Rabbah!
    Put on your clothes of mourning.
Weep and wail, hiding in the hedges,
    for your god Molech, with his priests and officials,
    will be hauled off to distant lands.
You are proud of your fertile valleys,
    but they will soon be ruined.
You trusted in your wealth,
    you rebellious daughter,
    and thought no one could ever harm you.
But look! I will bring terror upon you,”
    says the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
“Your neighbors will chase you from your land,
    and no one will help your exiles as they flee.
But I will restore the fortunes of the Ammonites
    in days to come.
    I, the Lord, have spoken.”

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Footnotes

  1. 49:1 Hebrew Malcam, a variant spelling of Molech; also in 49:3.

Prophecies against Ammon

49 To the people of Ammon:

This is what the Lord says:

“Does Israel have no sons?
    Does he have no heir?
Why then has Milcom[a] taken possession of Gad,
    and his people settled in its towns?
Therefore, look, the time is[b] coming,”
    declares the Lord,
“when I’ll cause a battle cry to be heard in
    Rabbah[c] of the Ammonites.
It will become a desolate mound,
    and its towns will be burned with fire.
Israel will take possession of those who possessed him,”
    says the Lord.
“Wail, Heshbon, because Ai is destroyed.
    Cry out, daughters of Rabbah,
        put on sackcloth and lament.
Run back and forth inside the walls,
    for Milcom is going into exile
        along with his priests and his princes.
Why do you boast in your valleys?
Your valley is flowing away, faithless daughter,
    who trusted in her treasures,
        saying, ‘Who will come against me?’
Look, I’m bringing terror on you from all around you,”
    declares the Lord God of the Heavenly Armies.
“You will be driven out, fleeing recklessly,[d]
    and there will be no one to gather the fugitives.
But afterwards I’ll restore the fortunes of
    the people of Ammon,”[e]
        declares the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 49:1 Milcom or Molech was the chief deity of the Ammonites.
  2. Jeremiah 49:2 Lit. the days are
  3. Jeremiah 49:2 Rabbah was the capital city of Ammon.
  4. Jeremiah 49:5 Lit. each one before him
  5. Jeremiah 49:6 Lit. the sons of Ammon