Jeremiah 47:3

The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible

Contextual Overview

¹This is the word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet about the Philistines before Pharaoh conquered Gaza. ²This is what the LORD says: "See how the waters are rising from the north and becoming an overflowing torrent. They will overflow the land and its fullness, the cities and their inhabitants. The people will cry out, and all who dwell in the land will wail ³at the sound of the galloping hooves of stallions, the rumbling of chariots, and the clatter of their wheels. The fathers will not turn back for their sons; their hands will hang limp.⁴For the day has come to destroy all the Philistines, to cut off from Tyre and Sidon every remaining ally. Indeed, the LORD is about to destroy the Philistines, the remnant from the coasts of Caphtor. ⁵The people of Gaza will shave their heads in mourning; Ashkelon will be silenced. O remnant of their valley, how long will you gash yourself? ⁶'Alas, O sword of the LORD, how long until you rest? Return to your sheath; cease and be still!' ⁷How can it rest when the LORD has commanded it? He has appointed it against Ashkelon and the shore of its coastland."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the noise: Jeremiah 8:16, Jeremiah 46:9, Judges 5:22, Job 39:19-25, Ezekiel 26:10, Ezekiel 26:11, Nahum 2:4, Nahum 3:2, Nahum 3:3

the fathers: Deuteronomy 28:54, Deuteronomy 28:55, Lamentations 4:3, Lamentations 4:4

Reciprocal: Isaiah 5:28 - their horses' Isaiah 9:5 - confused noise Isaiah 23:4 - I travail Jeremiah 13:14 - even Jeremiah 18:22 - a cry Jeremiah 50:42 - shall ride Lamentations 1:6 - harts Ezekiel 23:24 - with chariots Ezekiel 24:22 - General

Cross-References

Genesis 4:2
Later she gave birth to Cain's brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, while Cain was a tiller of the soil.

Genesis 47:14
Joseph collected all the money to be found in the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan in exchange for the grain they were buying, and he brought it into Pharaoh's palace.

Genesis 47:15
When the money from the lands of Egypt and Canaan was gone, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, "Give us food. Why should we die before your eyes? For our funds have run out!"

Jonah 1:8
"Tell us now," they demanded, "who is to blame for this calamity that is upon us? What is your occupation, and where have you come from? What is your country, and who are your people?"

2 Thessalonians 3:10
For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: "If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong [horses],.... The noise of the cavalry of Nebuchadnezzar's army, as they came marching on towards the country of the Philistines; who, being mounted on strong prancing horses, made a great noise as they came along, and were heard at a distance:

at the rushing of his chariots, [and at] the rumbling, of his wheels; the rattling and clatter the chariot wheels made; in which rode the chief officers and generals, with other mighty men: chariots were much used in war in those times:

the fathers shall not look back to [their] children for feebleness of hands; they should be so frightened at the approach of the enemy, and flee with much precipitancy to provide for their own safety, that they should not think of their children, or stay to deliver and save them, the most near and dear unto them; being so terrified as not to be able to lift up their hands to defend themselves, and protect their children. The Targum is,

"the fathers shall not look back to have mercy on [their] children;''

in their fright should forget their natural affection to them, and not so much as look back with an eye of pity and compassion on them; so intent upon their own deliverance and safety.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

His strong horses - War-horses, chargers.

The rushing of his chariots - Rather, the rattling, the crashing noise which they make as they advance.

For feebleness of hands - The Philistines flee in such panic that a father would not even turn round to see whether his sons were effecting their escape or not.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Jeremiah 47:3. The stamping of the hoofs — At the galloping sound, -

Quadrupedante putrem sonitu quatit ungula campum,

is a line of Virgil, (AEn. viii. 596,) much celebrated; and quoted here by Blayney, where the galloping sound of the horses' hoofs is heard. In the stamping of the horses, the rushing of the chariots, and the rumbling of the wheels, our translators intended to convey the sense by the sound of the words; and they have not been unsuccessful. Their translation of the original is at the same time sufficiently literal.

The fathers shall not look back — Though their children are left behind, they have neither strength nor courage to go back to bring them off.