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A Prophecy against Philistia

47 Yahweh spoke this message to the prophet Jeremiah about the Philistines before Pharaoh defeated Gaza. This is what Yahweh says:

Water is rising in the north.
    It will become an overflowing river.
        It will overflow the land and everything in it,
            the cities and those who live in them.
    People will cry out and everyone who lives in the land will cry loudly.
They will hear the sound of galloping war horses,
    the rattling of enemy chariots,
        and the rumbling of their wheels.
    Fathers who lack courage abandon their children.
The time has come to destroy all the Philistines,
    to cut off from Tyre and Sidon any Philistine
        who might have escaped to get help.
    Yahweh will destroy the Philistines
    and anyone who is left from the island of Crete.
Gaza will shave its head in mourning.
    Ashkelon will be destroyed.
    How long will you cut yourselves, you people left on the plains?
You cry out, “Sword of Yahweh,
    how long will you keep on fighting?
        Go back into your scabbard.
            Stay there and rest!”
How can the sword of Yahweh rest?
    Yahweh has ordered it to attack Ashkelon and the coast.
        He has put it there.

A Message About the Philistines

47 This is the word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines(A) before Pharaoh attacked Gaza:(B)

This is what the Lord says:

“See how the waters are rising in the north;(C)
    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(D)
at the sound of the hooves of galloping steeds,
    at the noise of enemy chariots(E)
    and the rumble of their wheels.
Parents will not turn to help their children;
    their hands will hang limp.(F)
For the day has come
    to destroy all the Philistines
and to remove all survivors
    who could help Tyre(G) and Sidon.(H)
The Lord is about to destroy the Philistines,(I)
    the remnant from the coasts of Caphtor.[a](J)
Gaza will shave(K) her head in mourning;
    Ashkelon(L) will be silenced.
You remnant on the plain,
    how long will you cut(M) yourselves?

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

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 47:4 That is, Crete

47 The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before that Pharaoh smote Gaza.

Thus saith the Lord; Behold, waters rise up out of the north, and shall be an overflowing flood, and shall overflow the land, and all that is therein; the city, and them that dwell therein: then the men shall cry, and all the inhabitants of the land shall howl.

At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong horses, at the rushing of his chariots, and at the rumbling of his wheels, the fathers shall not look back to their children for feebleness of hands;

Because of the day that cometh to spoil all the Philistines, and to cut off from Tyrus and Zidon every helper that remaineth: for the Lord will spoil the Philistines, the remnant of the country of Caphtor.

Baldness is come upon Gaza; Ashkelon is cut off with the remnant of their valley: how long wilt thou cut thyself?

O thou sword of the Lord, how long will it be ere thou be quiet? put up thyself into thy scabbard, rest, and be still.

How can it be quiet, seeing the Lord hath given it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the sea shore? there hath he appointed it.