Jeremiah 47, Oracles Against the Nations: A Message for Philistia

The Philistines shared a long history with Israel, most of it as enemies. They came from Crete and settled on the coastline of Canaan, taking land parceled out to the tribes of Israel. They had an unsettled peace with Israel during the time of the Judges (see Samson’s interaction with them). Saul and David fought them. With the rise of the Assyrian empire and then the Babylonian, they were constantly threatened and defeated by these marauders, or by Egypt who was fighting against the Assyrians and Babylonians. They were idolaters.

^47:1 This is the word of Yahweh that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines before Pharaoh attacked Gaza:

Gaza, so much in the news today, was one of the principal cities of Philistia, along with Ekron, Ashdod, Ashkelon, and Gath. There were at least three invasions of Gaza by Egypt, one of which is mentioned here.

² This is what Yahweh says: “See how the waters are rising in the north; they will become an overflowing torrent. They will overflow the land and everything in it, the towns and those who live in them. The people will cry out; all who dwell in the land will wail ³ at the sound of the hooves of galloping steeds, at the noise of enemy chariots and the rumble of their wheels. Parents will not turn to help their children; their hands will hang limp. ⁴ For the day has come to destroy all the Philistines and to remove all survivors who could help Tyre and Sidon. Yahweh is about to destroy the Philistines, the remnant from the coasts of Caphtor. ⁵ Gaza will shave her head in mourning; Ashkelon will be silenced. You remnant on the plain, how long will you cut yourselves?

The picture is of abject horror because of the invasion (“flood”) of Babylon. Tyre and Sidon to the north, historical allies, would not be helped any longer by Philistia because she would be destroyed. Great mourning will be unrelenting.

⁶ “‘Alas, sword of Yahweh, how long till you rest? Return to your sheath; cease and be still.’ ⁷ But how can it rest when Yahweh has commanded it, when he has ordered it to attack Ashkelon and the coast?”

The “sword of Yahweh” is Yahweh’s judging action against whomever He is judging. It was the army of Gideon against the Midianites in Judges 7. Here, it is the Babylonian invasion. The suffering caused begs for respite, but Yahweh’s judgment must be completed. Justice must be served.

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Discussion Questions:

1. When was the last time you were truly and thoroughly scared?
2. Why would it be important for Judah to hear this message to Philistia?
3. When Philistia was conquered, do you think they knew it was Yahweh’s judgment?