Jeremiah 47: A Flood From the North Sweeps the Philistines
A short, forceful oracle pictures Gaza and Ashkelon overrun before an unstoppable army.
Continuing the oracles against the nations begun in Jeremiah 46, this short chapter targets the Philistines just before Pharaoh strikes Gaza. An invading flood from the north is pictured overwhelming Tyre, Sidon, and every remaining Philistine city.
The word of the Lord which came to Jeremiah the prophet about the Philistines, before Pharaoh's attack on Gaza.
This is what the Lord has said: See, waters are coming up out of the north, and will become an overflowing stream, overflowing the land and everything in it, the town and those who are living in it; and men will give a cry, and all the people of the land will be crying out in pain.
At the noise of the stamping of the feet of his war-horses, at the rushing of his carriages and the thunder of his wheels, fathers will give no thought to their children, because their hands are feeble;
Because of the day which is coming with destruction on all the Philistines, cutting off from Tyre and Zidon the last of their helpers: for the Lord will send destruction on the Philistines, the rest of the sea-land of Caphtor.
The hair is cut off from the head of Gaza; Ashkelon has come to nothing; the last of the Anakim are deeply wounding themselves.
O sword of the Lord, how long will you have no rest? put yourself back into your cover; be at peace, be quiet.
How is it possible for it to be quiet, seeing that the Lord has given it orders? against Ashkelon and against the sea-land he has given it directions.