Jeremiah 49:23-39, Oracles Against the Nations: A Message for Damascus, Kedar/Hazor, and Elam

Of the nations mentioned here in Yahweh’s judgment, only Damascus seems to have had any relationship to Israel, mostly as an enemy. The Israelites knew of these other nations but may not have known why God was judging them, other than that they did not worship the one true God, Yahweh. God is intimately aware of and concerned with the lives of every nation on earth. And He chose to bring judgment against these nations at this time.

²³ Concerning Damascus:

“Hamath and Arpad are dismayed, for they have heard bad news. They are disheartened, troubled like the restless sea. ²⁴ Damascus has become feeble, she has turned to flee and panic has gripped her; anguish and pain have seized her, pain like that of a woman in labor. ²⁵ Why has the city of renown not been abandoned, the town in which I delight? ²⁶ Surely, her young men will fall in the streets; all her soldiers will be silenced in that day,” declares Yahweh Almighty. ²⁷ “I will set fire to the walls of Damascus; it will consume the fortresses of Ben-Hadad.”

Damascus was the capital city of Aram (Syria), and here stands for the whole nation. It was conquered by the Assyrians 130 years before Jeremiah prophesies, by Tiglath-pileser III, who claims to have destroyed 592 of Syria’s towns. With Assyrian collapse and the defeat of her armies allied with Egypt’s armies by Babylon, Damascus came under Babylonian control, even joining the Babylonian army to attack Judah. Hamath and Arpad were two of her cities of prominence. No reason is given for God’s judgment on her. He is urging her to abandon the walls of Damascus or be “silenced” in death.

²⁸ Concerning Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon attacked: This is what Yahweh says:

“Arise, and attack Kedar and destroy the people of the East. ²⁹ Their tents and their flocks will be taken; their shelters will be carried off with all their goods and camels. People will shout to them, ‘Terror on every side!’ ³⁰ “Flee quickly away! Stay in deep caves, you who live in Hazor,” declares Yahweh. “Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has plotted against you; he has devised a plan against you. ³¹ “Arise and attack a nation at ease, which lives in confidence,” declares Yahweh, “a nation that has neither gates nor bars; its people live far from danger. ³² Their camels will become plunder, and their large herds will be spoils of war. I will scatter to the winds those who are in distant places and will bring disaster on them from every side,” declares Yahweh. ³³ “Hazor will become a haunt of jackals, a desolate place forever. No one will live there; no people will dwell in it.”

Kedar and Hazor was more a federation of tribal Arabic nomads who had not fortified cities and who banded together to fight both Assyria and Babylon and protect their flocks and merchandizing. Their self-confidence is mentioned as point of failure before Yahweh.

³⁴ This is the word of Yahweh that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning Elam, early in the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah: ³⁵ This is what Yahweh Almighty says:

“See, I will break the bow of Elam, the mainstay of their might. ³⁶ I will bring against Elam the four winds from the four quarters of heaven; I will scatter them to the four winds, and there will not be a nation where Elam’s exiles do not go. ³⁷ I will shatter Elam before their foes, before those who want to kill them; I will bring disaster on them, even my fierce anger,” declares Yahweh. “I will pursue them with the sword until I have made an end of them. ³⁸ I will set my throne in Elam and destroy her king and officials,” declares Yahweh. ³⁹ “Yet I will restore the fortunes of Elam in days to come,” declares Yahweh.

Elam was in present day Iran opposite southern Babylonia, and was known for its skilled archers. Their bow was broken first by Assyria and later by the Medes, who joined with Persia to defeat Babylon. There is no record of them being an independent nation other than this biblical prophecy about them. It is not clear who will deal out this judgment from Yahweh. As with some of the other nations, Yahweh promises to restore Elam in the “days to come” of Messiah.

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Discussion Questions:

1. Why can God both consider Damascus a town in which He delights and worthy of judgment?
2. What does Kedar/Hazor’s self-confidence say about her relationship to God?
3. Why do you think Yahweh promises to restore the nation of Elam, whereas others He does not (Damascus, Kedar/Hazor, for example)?