This week, we shall conclude the study of the book of
Jeremiah in the Old Testament.
49:1-6—Message to Ammon
(1) See Note [1] below about the retaking of Gad’s territory by the Ammonites: The way the Lord speaks of the loss of Gad’s territory is rather unusual (v. 1):
a. Why would He ask, “Has Israel no sons (or heirs)?"?
b. Why would He use the name Molek (the god of the Ammonites) to speak of the Ammonites?
(2) In describing the future destruction of Ammon, who will be the peoples that drive them out or terrorize them? (vv. 2, 5)
(3) How does the Lord depict the demise of the nation (as represented by its capital Rabbah which is the capital of Jordan today) and its people? (vv. 2, 3, 5)
(4) What will happen to their worship of Molek? (v. 3)
(5) What were the sins of Ammon? (v. 4) Why does the Lord call them “unfaithful daughter Ammon”?(See Gen. 19:38)
(6) What will be the eventual future of the Ammonites? (v. 6) Why? (See 48:47; both Moab and Ammon are now part of Jordan)
49:7-22—Message to Edom (see Note [2] below)
(7) Why does the Lord make mention of the wisdom of the Edomites for which they were (probably) known? (v. 7)
(8) In terms of geography, what was Edom known for? (vv. 8, 16)
(9) Were their wisdom and their remarkable strongholds (together with their allies) able to prevent them from destruction?
(10) How utter was their coming destruction? (vv. 9-11, 12b, 18)
(11) What were the reasons given for their punishment? (vv. 16, 12). What might v. 12a, “those who do not deserve to drink”, refer to?
(12) Who is the one orchestrating this disaster?(especially in vv. 14, 19-20)
(13) How different does this oracle end from that of Moab’s? (see today’s Meditative Article)
(14) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
Note 1:
Gad was allotted the Trans-Jordan territory that belonged to the Ammonites, and it was not until the deportation of part of Israel by Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria in 733 B.C. (2 Ki. 15:29) and the subsequent collapse of Israel that enabled the Ammonites to retake Gad’s territory. Historically Ammon’s relationship with Israel was unfriendly (Jdg. 11:4-33; 1 Sam. 11:1-11; 2 Sam. 10; 1 Ki. 4:13-19; 2 Ki. 24:2). Note in particular Amos’ rebuke of Ammon (Amos 1:13-15). Ammon eventually fell victim to the Arabs before the middle of the 6th century B.C. and ceased to exist as an independent nation (see NICOT, 716).
Note 2:
Edom was also a long-term adversary of Israel (see Num. 20:14-21; Jdg. 11:17; 2 Sam. 8:13-14; 1 Ki. 11:14-22; 2 Ki. 8:20-22; 14:22; 16:5-6; 2 Chr. 25:14), but Israel was forbidden to ill-treat them since they were their brothers (Deut. 2:4; 23:7-8; Gen. 36:1ff). “The threatened devastation of the land of Edom was brought about by the Chaldeans, as is clear from Mal. 1:3; but the annihilation of the people was commenced by the Maccabeans, and completed by the Romans, about the time of the Jewish War” (K&D, 412-3). Note also that Teman literally means “south”, Dedan likely refers to the Dedanites who may have settled in Edom and Bozrah was its capital city.
49:23-27—Message to Damascus, Syria (see Note [1] below)
(1) How did the bad news from Damascus impact the rest of the nation? (v. 23)
(2) What punishment will befall Damascus? (vv. 26-27)
(3) How does the Lord depict the horror of its destruction? (v. 24)
(4) Why does the Lord call it “the town in which I delight”? (v. 25)
(5) What sins did Damascus commit? (see Amos 1:3-5)
49:28-33—Message to Kedar and Hazor (see Note [2] below)
(6) What kind of people were these nomadic tribes? (v.31)
(7) While no reason was given for God’s punishment, read Psalm 120:5-6 and see what the psalmist thought of them.
(8) What message does the Lord intend to send since it was rather unlikely that these desert people could hear this message at the time?
49:34-39—Message to Elam (see Note [3] below)
(9) As world history indicates that Nebuchadnezzar clashed with Elam in 596/4 B.C., what might be the significance of pointing out the timing of this prophecy (which would point to 597 B.C.)?
(10) What was Elam famous for? (v. 35)
(11) Was it enough to prevent Elam from destruction? Why or why not?
(12) How does the prophecy describe Elam’s destroyer? (v. 36)
(13) How harsh would the punishment be? (vv. 36-37)
(14) While no reason is given for God’s fierce anger, can you think of how the people in the land of Persia might have aroused God’s anger?
(15) Is there any hope for them in the future? (vv. 38-39)
(16) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
Note 1:
Damascus was the capital city, while Hamath and Arpad were two smaller cities in central and northern Syria respectively. Historically, Syria was mainly at war with Israel, the Northern Kingdom (1 Ki. 20; 22; 2 Ki. 5; 9:14-15; 10:32-33; 12:17-18; 14:23-29; 16:5-9 etc.). In the days of Nebuchadnezzar, these Aramean troops were sent with others to punish Judah (2 Ki. 24:2). Their more specific sins against Israel were mentioned by Amos 1:3-5. “The prophecy is, however, so general in this statement, that we need not confine its fulfillment to the conquest [of Syria] by Nebuchadnezzar” (K&D, 415).
Note 2:
Kedar and Hazor are believed to be Arab Bedouins with the former being descendants of Ishmael, dwelling in tents, while the latter is definitely not referring to the biblical city north of Galilee but the more settled Arabians who lived in villages. Nebuchadnezzar attacked these nomads in 599/8 B.C. (see NICOT, 726).
Note 3:
Elam lay to the east of Babylon in the southwest of modern Iran. In ancient times, it was a significant nation in the politics of lower Mesopotamia. Ashurbanipal destroyed the capital Susa and Nebuchadnezzar defeated Elam in 596/4 B.C. and it was eventually absorbed into the Persian Empire after 539 B.C. (see NICOT, 728-9). K&D opines that, “Elam is not considered in its historical relationship with Israel, but as the representative of the heathen world lying beyond…in order that through the judgment, it may be led to the knowledge of the true God, and share in His salvation” (K&D, 420).
Chapters 50-51 are two long chapters concerning Babylon, and it is helpful to read when the message was given (51:59-64) before we consider this long poetic message in smaller chunks. It is also important to note that while the message is about the coming destruction of Israel in the hands of the united army of the rising Medes (51:11), the language also points to a future time also for the restoration of Israel (50:4-5, 20).
(1) How should this message be delivered and why? (51:59-64)
(2) The destruction of Babylon is foretold (vv. 1-3)
a. In this opening “salvo”, why would God tell Jeremiah to “hold nothing back”?
b. Where will the destroyer of Babylon come from?
c. How utter will Babylon’s destruction be?
d. Why does the Lord zero in on the god of Babylon in this opening declaration? (Note: Bel and Marduk are not different deities of the Babylonians, but merely different names for the chief deity they worshipped.)
(3) For the sake of Israel? (vv. 4-7)
a. What impact would the destruction of Babylon have on the God’s people? (vv. 4-5) Why?
b. How vivid was the pastoral imagery concerning the plight of God’s people in those days?
c. What was the reason for their demise spoken through the mouths of their enemies? (v. 7)
(4) The destruction of Babylon is elaborated (vv. 8-16)
a. What kind of enemies will Babylon face? (vv. 9-10)
b. What reasons are given for her punishment? (vv. 11, 15b)
c. What kind of punishment will befall Babylon? (vv. 12-16)
d. How would Nebuchadnezzar take this message should he somehow hear of it (at the peak of his power)?
(5) A message of hope for Israel (vv. 17-20)
a. Who does the Lord use to punish His people? (v. 17)
b. Why then would these “servants” of the Lord be punished? (v. 18; see 40:10)
c. How will Israel be restored? (vv. 19-20)
d. Do you think it has been totally fulfilled at the return of God’s people at the destruction of Babylon in the hands of the Median-Persia Empire? (Ezr. 1) Why or why not?
(6) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
50:21-32—Punishing the Rebellious Babylonians—The two famous Babylonian cities are chosen likely because of their meaning: With “Merathaim” meaning “to rebel” and “Pekod” meaning “to punish”.
(1) In pronouncing His punishment on the Babylonians, the Lord charges them with opposing and defiling Him (vv. 24, 29); in what way(s) had the Babylonians done so? (v. 28)
(2) Since this is a “vengeance for His temple” destroyed by the Babylonians (v. 28), what do the opening of the granaries and the slaughtering of all their young bulls appear to signify? (vv. 26-27)
(3) In addition to the above, in commanding this army from afar (v. 26), what order does the Lord charge them with? (vv. 21, 29)
(4) Why does the Lord contrast the powerful strength of Babylon with the utter destruction she will face? (vv. 22- 24 and 30-32)
(5) Will this destruction be a gradual one? (v. 24)
50:33-34—Redeeming His People
(6) The people of God are obviously being punished for their sin. What then does the calling of Himself “their Redeemer” and “the Lord Almighty” signify?
(7) What is the purpose of His redeeming work? (v. 34)
50:35-46—The Destruction and Agony of Babylon
(8) In this poetic rendering of Babylonian's destruction (vv. 35-37), whom and what is the sword of the Lord against?
(9) What is the reason given? (v. 38)
(10) How utter and lasting will this destruction be? (vv. 39-40)
(11) Vv. 41-43 essentially contains the same prophecy against Judah in 6:22-24 (except with minor changes) and now is being applied to Babylon: What might be the message behind such a repetition?
(12) Vv. 44-46 also is essentially a repetition of the prophecy against Edom in 49:19-21. Note the substitutions and changes, and see what the message behind it might be.
(13) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
The repetition of the same message of destruction serves to reinforce the certainty of the fate of Babylon:
51:1-14—A Call to Battle
(1) Who will be the ones stirred and called by God to do His bidding to destroy Babylon? (vv. 1-2; 11)
(2) What is their charge and how utter is the destruction? (vv. 3-4, 11-12; 13-14)
(3) Can Babylon be healed? Why or why not? (vv. 8-9)
(4) What reasons are given for this punishment? (vv. 5, 11)
51:15-19—God versus Idols
(5) In what ways has God demonstrated who He is and His unmatched power? (vv. 15-16)
(6) In comparison, what are idols? (vv. 17-18)
(7) How is God unlike idols? (v. 19)
(8) Why is this message inserted into this prophecy against Babylon?
51:20-26—Babylon—God’s Gold Cup and War Club
(9) 50:7 refers to Babylon as God’s gold cup: How had Babylon been used as such by God?
(10) Here, Babylon is likened to God’s war club: How had Babylon been used as such by God? (vv. 20-22)
(11) What is the difference and similarity of these two imageries?
(12) Why does the Lord also call Babylon the “destroying mountain”?
(13) What is the fate of this mountain? (vv. 25-26)
51:27-33—Resuming the Call to Battle
(14) Who are the ones being summoned to battle? (vv. 27-28; note that Ararat, Minni and Ashkenaz are Armenians who were subsequently conquered by the Medes and later on by the Persians and drafted into their army)
(15) How is the invasion of the Median-Persian army depicted (which actually took place in 538 B.C.)? (vv. 29-33)
(16) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
51:34-35—The Cry for Vengeance by Jerusalem
(1) Do you think Jerusalem (as the representative of the people of God) could demand revenge from the Lord? Why or why not?
(2) What would you expect as the answer from the Lord?
51:36-53—God’s Answer to His people
(3) What is the Lord’s answer in essence? (vv. 36-40)
(4) Given these words of punishment (vv. 36-44), what would you expect to see if you are to visit Babylon today? (see today’s Meditative Article)
(5) What advice is given to the exiles residing in Babylon? (vv. 45-47)
(6) Why would the destruction of Babylon cause even heaven and earth to shout for joy? (vv. 48-53; you may want to read Rev. 18 as well)
51:54-58—Final Words Concerning Babylon
(7) Since such a world power could be brought to extinction within only 70 years (25:12) and such an awesome city could be brought to utter desolation, what important lessons can we learn from Babylon?
(8) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
The recording of the oracles that Jeremiah received from the Lord ends with chapter 51, and chapter 52 acts like an appendix that closes out not only the Book of Jeremiah but also supplements the historical information in 2 Kings.
52:1-27—The Fall of Jerusalem and Deportation
(1) This particular section is almost an exact repetition of the account given by 2 Kings 25:1-21, except that (i) it adds that Zedekiah died in the prison of Babylon (52:11); (ii) the exiles also included some of the poorest people and craftsmen (52:15); (iii) there is a more detailed account of the vessels taken from temple and added description to the decoration of the pillars (52:19, 23) and (iv) seven instead of five royal advisers were taken away as well.
a. Given the detailed prophecies given to Zedekiah in which Jeremiah urged him to surrender (38:17-23), what might be the significance of repeating the fall of Jerusalem and the fate of Zedekiah as a conclusion to this book of prophecy?
b. What other functions do you think this repetition serve?
52:28-30—The Total Number of Deportation
(2) The number given at each deportation was indeed very low, especially when compared to the information given in 2 Kings (e.g. 2 Ki. 24:14, 16). Perhaps, Jeremiah is counting only a specific type of people, but we do not know. In any case, what might be the purpose of giving us such a small number of exiles, totaling 4600 when Ezra reports that at the end of the promised 70 years of exile, some 42,360 returned to Jerusalem, exclusive of male and female servants (Ezr. 2:64)?
52:31-34—The Release of Jehoiachin
(3) What might be the purpose of ending the Book of Jeremiah with the release of Jehoiachin?
(4) As we conclude the study of the Book of Jeremiah, can you pause to consider and list three major lessons that this Book has impressed upon you?