Jeremiah 49:7-22
Summary for Jer 49:7-22: 49:7-22 a The people of Edom were descendants of Esau, Jacob’s brother (Gen 32:3 b). The land of Edom lay south of Moab, in the highlands rising east of the Arabah Valley. The divine Judge exercised his right to hold every nation accountable.Summary for Jer 49:7-8: 49:7-8 c Is there no wisdom: Edom was famous for its wise men, but they would suddenly appear foolish because they were unaware of the coming doom.
• Teman and Dedan were cities of Edom.
Summary for Jer 49:9-11: 49:9-11 d Harvesters customarily left some of the crop for the poor (Lev 19:9-10 e); thieves would take only those grapes they could get quickly and easily. The invaders would take their time and mercilessly strip Edom bare, leaving only ruin behind them. However, the Lord promised to be merciful to the defeated nation’s orphans and widows.
Summary for Jer 49:12-22: 49:12-22 f The cup of judgment symbolized the fulfillment of the Lord’s decrees (see 25:15-17 g). This section vividly depicts the aftermath of a nation’s drinking from that cup.
49:13 h Bozrah was a fortress built on top of a high rock with steep sides, but no place in Edom would be safe.
49:14 i The ambassador might have been an angel sent by God (cp. 1 Kgs 22:20-22 j).
Summary for Jer 49:15-16: 49:15-16 k The leaders of Edom thought themselves powerful because they stirred fear in those who passed through their land on the King’s Highway.
• Edom had a rock fortress, now called Petra; it was hard to find and could only be approached through a deep, narrow gorge. Even this remote place could not secure the Edomites against the Lord’s judgment.
49:18 l As had occurred with the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Edom would become uninhabited.
49:19 m In divine judgment, the Lord would use the Babylonians to come like a lion ... leaping on the sheep as they chased Edom’s leaders out of the land.
• The Lord’s rhetorical questions implied the answer, “No one can challenge the Lord; he is the only Almighty ruler.”
49:22 n The eagle, a common bird in the rugged mountains of Edom, is a metaphor for the rapid penetration of the region by the Babylonians.
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