1A message from the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet. It was about the Philistines before Pharaoh attacked the city of Gaza.2The LORD said, ‘The armies of Babylon are like waters rising in the north. They will become a great flood. They will flow over the land and everything in it. They will flow over the towns and those who live in them. The people will cry out. All those who live in the land will weep.3They will weep when they hear galloping horses. They will weep at the noise of enemy chariots. They will weep at the rumble of their wheels. Parents will not even try to help their children. Their hands will not be able to help them.4The day has come to destroy all the Philistines. The time has come to remove all those who could help Tyre and Sidon. I am about to destroy the Philistines. I will not leave anyone alive who came from the coasts of Crete.5The people of Gaza will be so sad they will shave their heads. And Ashkelon’s people will be silent. You who remain on the plain, how long will you cut yourselves?6‘ “Sword of the LORD!” you cry out. “How long will it be until you rest? Return to the place you came from. Stop killing us! Be still!”7But how can his sword rest when the LORD has given it a command? He has ordered it to attack Ashkelon and the Philistine coast.’
1The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines, before Pharaoh struck down Gaza. (Jer 25:20; Eze 25:15; Am 1:6; Zep 2:4; Zep 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. (Isa 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; Na 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. (Ge 10:14; Isa 23:1; Jer 25:22; Jer 47:1; Joe 3:4; Am 1:8; Am 9:7)5Baldness has come upon Gaza; Ashkelon has perished. O remnant of their valley, how long will you gash yourselves? (Jud 1:18; Isa 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! (De 32:41; Eze 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.” (Jud 1:18; Jer 25:20; Eze 14:17; Mic 6:9)