Matthew Poole Commentary - Jeremiah 49:1 - 49:1

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Matthew Poole Commentary - Jeremiah 49:1 - 49:1


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JEREMIAH CHAPTER 49



The judgment of the Ammonites, Jer_49:1-5: their restoration, Jer_49:6. The judgment of Edom, Jer_49:7-22; of Damascus, Jer_49:23-27; of Kedar and Hazor, Jer_49:28-33; of Elam, and its restoration, Jer_49:34-39.



The Ammonites were the posterity of Ben-ammi, Lot’s incestuous child, by his younger daughter, Gen_19:38. Their country was near the Jews’ country. The Jews, in their journey from Egypt to Canaan to possess it, passed by their country, but were by God forbidden to meddle with it, because he had given it to the children of Lot, Deu_2:19; but they proved bad neighbours to the Israelites when in Canaan. They assisted the king of Moab against them, Jud_3:13, and made war against them, Jud_10:9 11:4. Nahash their king made an inroad upon them, 1Sa_12:12. David fought with them in his time, 2Sa_8:12, and destroyed them, 2Sa_11:1. Jehoshaphat also and Jotham fought with them, 2Ch_20:1 27:5. During the long tract of time that there were wars betwixt the Jews and Ammonites, the laud of Gad and Reuben, which lay beyond Jordan, fell into the hand of the Syrians, Moabites, and Ammonites (whence it is that in the former chapter we read of many cities of Moab, which were, upon the division of Canaan, in the lot of Gad and Reuben). This prophecy cannot be well understood without a previous understanding this. Hence it is that the prophet saith, Hath Israel no sons? God had given that country of Gilead to Manasseh, and Reuben, and Gad, Num_32:40 Jos_13:29-31; and as men’s estates ought to descend to their heirs, so this land should have continued and descended to the posterity of these tribes, but the Ammonites had by force taken away a part, and Melcom possessed it. Melcom is their king, or the name of their idol to whom they gave the name of king, as other heathens called their idol Baal, that is, lord. And the people of the king of the Ammonites, or of Melcom the idol of the Ammonites, dwelt in the cities belonging to Gad, which was one of the tribes of Israel.