Jer 49:7 | KingComments | STEP | Edom – that’s Esau ( ) – is next to hear what the LORD has to say about him ( ). His land is located – as seen from Israel – on the other side of the Dead Sea, south of Moab. Edom is known for its boundless hatred of God’s people that stems from envy. Edom is also known for its wisdom ( ), with Teman as its center. But their wisdom does not avail when God comes to judge. Then He mockingly asks if there is no wisdom left and if the counsel of the wise has perished or if wisdom is simply superfluous. The judgment announced on Edom is also found in Obadiah ( ). This two-fold description of the judgment on Edom does show how much God’s anger rests on this people and how much Edom deserves it. Then suddenly the call to Dedan to flee is heard ( ). Dedan is a tribe that lives in the south of Edom and is known for its trade ( ). They must give up their usual contacts with Edom, lest they be drawn into the destruction that is coming upon him. If they do, it will testify to wisdom. For the LORD is bringing “the disaster of Esau upon him”, His just punishment. A grape gatherer always leaves some grapes hanging for a gleaning ( ; ). Thieves steal only what is of value and leave the rest. However, it will not be like that when the LORD judges Esau ( ). He will completely destroy him; there will be no place where he will be safe from His judgment. No one will escape, except for a few orphans and widows. Them the LORD will keep in life if they trust in Him ( ). Edom has made himself far more guilty than other nations and therefore will certainly not be held innocent ( ). He will have to drink the cup of God’s wrath. Edom has made it so that the LORD has sworn by Himself that He will destroy Bozrah and all its cities and make them perpetual ruins ( ). This means that there will be no restoration for Esau. Jeremiah then speaks of a message he heard from the LORD ( ). This message reads that an envoy is sent among the nations to say to gather themselves together and get ready for battle. The nations see Edom as a small people and despise him ( ). This has been wrought by the LORD. Edom himself thinks it is the other way around and that the nations fear him ( ). This self-deception comes from the pride of his heart. He believes that he lives in an impregnable fortress. But the LORD will bring him down from his height. He will make Edom an object of horror ( ). Those who see him will make sounds of horror. Edom will perish as happened with Sodom and Gomorrah about 1,200 years earlier ( ). Just as no one dwells there anymore, so in Edom no one will reside, no son of man. Then the prophet tells of the enemy who is coming to destroy Edom ( ). That enemy is coming like a lion. The LORD will send him quickly. He has chosen this instrument. Who will be able to argue against it or call Him to account about it? Who will be able to stand up as a protector of Esau that he might stand before Him? Here the LORD impressively announces that the judgment He has set out to execute on Edom is perfectly just and unalterable. Then He will make known His plan that He has made against Edom and the purposes which He has purposed against the inhabitants of Teman ( ). It will not take much force to drag them away. Their habitation in the high mountains will be destroyed. Their fall will be great; the earth will quake at the sound of their downfall ( ). Their outcry will be heard from a great distance. The picture of the lion ( ) now changes to that of an eagle. They have compared themselves to an eagle that builds its nest high on the rocks ( ). But when the enemy comes soaring like an eagle and spreads his wings over Bozrah, the heart of the mighty men of Edom will become like the heart of a woman in labor ( ). The enemy will totally overwhelm them and take possession of everything, while they will stand paralyzed with fear.

‏ Jeremiah 49:7

Prophecy Concerning Edom

Edom – that’s Esau (Gen 36:8) – is next to hear what the LORD has to say about him (Jer 49:7). His land is located – as seen from Israel – on the other side of the Dead Sea, south of Moab. Edom is known for its boundless hatred of God’s people that stems from envy. Edom is also known for its wisdom (Eze 25:13), with Teman as its center.

But their wisdom does not avail when God comes to judge. Then He mockingly asks if there is no wisdom left and if the counsel of the wise has perished or if wisdom is simply superfluous. The judgment announced on Edom is also found in Obadiah (Oba 1:1-19). This two-fold description of the judgment on Edom does show how much God’s anger rests on this people and how much Edom deserves it.

Then suddenly the call to Dedan to flee is heard (Jer 49:8). Dedan is a tribe that lives in the south of Edom and is known for its trade (Jer 25:23). They must give up their usual contacts with Edom, lest they be drawn into the destruction that is coming upon him. If they do, it will testify to wisdom. For the LORD is bringing “the disaster of Esau upon him”, His just punishment.

A grape gatherer always leaves some grapes hanging for a gleaning (Jer 49:9; Lev 19:10). Thieves steal only what is of value and leave the rest. However, it will not be like that when the LORD judges Esau (Jer 49:10). He will completely destroy him; there will be no place where he will be safe from His judgment. No one will escape, except for a few orphans and widows. Them the LORD will keep in life if they trust in Him (Jer 49:11).

Edom has made himself far more guilty than other nations and therefore will certainly not be held innocent (Jer 49:12). He will have to drink the cup of God’s wrath. Edom has made it so that the LORD has sworn by Himself that He will destroy Bozrah and all its cities and make them perpetual ruins (Jer 49:13). This means that there will be no restoration for Esau.

Jeremiah then speaks of a message he heard from the LORD (Jer 49:14). This message reads that an envoy is sent among the nations to say to gather themselves together and get ready for battle. The nations see Edom as a small people and despise him (Jer 49:15). This has been wrought by the LORD. Edom himself thinks it is the other way around and that the nations fear him (Jer 49:16). This self-deception comes from the pride of his heart. He believes that he lives in an impregnable fortress. But the LORD will bring him down from his height.

He will make Edom an object of horror (Jer 49:17). Those who see him will make sounds of horror. Edom will perish as happened with Sodom and Gomorrah about 1,200 years earlier (Jer 49:18). Just as no one dwells there anymore, so in Edom no one will reside, no son of man.

Then the prophet tells of the enemy who is coming to destroy Edom (Jer 49:19). That enemy is coming like a lion. The LORD will send him quickly. He has chosen this instrument. Who will be able to argue against it or call Him to account about it? Who will be able to stand up as a protector of Esau that he might stand before Him? Here the LORD impressively announces that the judgment He has set out to execute on Edom is perfectly just and unalterable.

Then He will make known His plan that He has made against Edom and the purposes which He has purposed against the inhabitants of Teman (Jer 49:20). It will not take much force to drag them away. Their habitation in the high mountains will be destroyed. Their fall will be great; the earth will quake at the sound of their downfall (Jer 49:21). Their outcry will be heard from a great distance.

The picture of the lion (Jer 49:19) now changes to that of an eagle. They have compared themselves to an eagle that builds its nest high on the rocks (Jer 49:16). But when the enemy comes soaring like an eagle and spreads his wings over Bozrah, the heart of the mighty men of Edom will become like the heart of a woman in labor (Jer 49:22). The enemy will totally overwhelm them and take possession of everything, while they will stand paralyzed with fear.