1Det følgende budskab om filistrene i Gaza modtog jeg, før byen blev erobret af egypterhæren.2Herren siger: „En flodbølge fra nord vil oversvømme filistrenes land, og den vil ødelægge byerne med alle deres indbyggere. Folk vil skrige af rædsel, og alle i landet vil græde.3Hør hestenes trampen og vognhjulenes rumlen, mens de suser fremad. Forældre vil springe for livet uden at få deres hjælpeløse børn med.4Nu er timen kommet, hvor filistrene og deres forbundsfæller fra Tyrus og Sidon skal udryddes. Ja, Herren udrydder filistrene, den sidste rest af indvandrerne fra Kreta.5Gazas indbyggere rager håret af i sorg. Ashkalons folk er stumme af rædsel. Resten af det tidligere så mægtige folk snitter sig i huden af bar fortvivlelse.6Det hjælper ikke, at de råber til mig om at standse fjendens nedslagtninger,7for det er mig, der har sendt dem. Jeg har beordret dem til at slå ned på Ashkalon, ja, alle dem, der bor langs havet.”
1The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines, before Pharaoh struck down Gaza. (Jer 25,20; Ez 25,15; Amos 1,6; Zef 2,4; Zef 2,5)2“Thus says the Lord: Behold, waters are rising out of the north, and shall become an overflowing torrent; they shall overflow the land and all that fills it, the city and those who dwell in it. Men shall cry out, and every inhabitant of the land shall wail. (Es 8,7; Jer 1,13; Jer 8,16; Jer 46,7)3At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his stallions, at the rushing of his chariots, at the rumbling of their wheels, the fathers look not back to their children, so feeble are their hands, (Jer 46,5; Nah 3,2)4because of the day that is coming to destroy all the Philistines, to cut off from Tyre and Sidon every helper that remains. For the Lord is destroying the Philistines, the remnant of the coastland of Caphtor. (1.Mos 10,14; Es 23,1; Jer 25,22; Jer 47,1; Joel 3,4; Amos 1,8; Amos 9,7)5Baldness has come upon Gaza; Ashkelon has perished. O remnant of their valley, how long will you gash yourselves? (Dom 1,18; Es 3,24; Jer 25,20; Jer 48,37)6Ah, sword of the Lord! How long till you are quiet? Put yourself into your scabbard; rest and be still! (5.Mos 32,41; Ez 21,3)7How can it[1] be quiet when the Lord has given it a charge? Against Ashkelon and against the seashore he has appointed it.” (Dom 1,18; Jer 25,20; Ez 14,17; Mika 6,9)