Jeremiah 49:2

Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will cause an alarm of war to be heard in Rabbah of the Ammonites; and it shall be a desolate heap, and her daughters shall be burned with fire: then shall Israel be heir unto them that were his heirs, saith the LORD.

Therefore, behold, the days {H3117} come {H935}, saith {H559} the LORD {H3068}, that I will cause an alarm {H8643} of war {H4421} to be heard {H8085} in Rabbah {H7237} of the Ammonites {H1121}{H5983}; and it shall be a desolate {H8077} heap {H8510}, and her daughters {H1323} shall be burned {H3341} with fire {H784}: then shall Israel {H3478} be heir {H3423} unto them that were his heirs {H3423}, saith {H5002} the LORD {H3068}.

Therefore," says ADONAI, "the days are coming when I will sound the battle alarm against Rabbah and the people of 'Amon; it will become a tel of ruins, her villages burned to the ground. Then Isra'el will inherit from them who disinherited him," says ADONAI.

Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will sound the battle cry against Rabbah of the Ammonites. It will become a heap of ruins, and its villages will be burned. Then Israel will drive out their dispossessors, says the LORD.

Therefore, behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that I will cause an alarm of war to be heard against Rabbah of the children of Ammon; and it shall become a desolate heap, and her daughters shall be burned with fire: then shall Israel possess them that did possess him, saith Jehovah.

Jeremiah 49:2 is a powerful prophetic declaration concerning the judgment of God upon the Ammonites, specifically their capital city, Rabbah, and the subsequent restoration of Israel's rightful inheritance. This verse underscores God's sovereign control over nations and His faithfulness to His covenant people.

Context

The book of Jeremiah contains a series of prophecies against various nations surrounding Israel, often referred to as "the burdens of the nations" (see Jeremiah 46:1 onwards). The Ammonites, descendants of Lot (Genesis 19:38), were a people located east of the Jordan River, frequently in conflict with Israel throughout their history, often encroaching on Israelite territory and harassing them (e.g., Judges 11:4-33, 1 Samuel 11:1-11). Rabbah (modern Amman, Jordan) was their prominent city. This prophecy comes as a divine response to their pride, idolatry, and historical antagonism towards God's people.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment on Gentile Nations: The verse highlights God's justice, extending even to nations outside of Israel. The "alarm of war" and the transformation of Rabbah into a "desolate heap" signifies complete and devastating destruction orchestrated by God Himself. This judgment was often executed through powerful empires like Babylon, acting as instruments of God's wrath.
  • Sovereignty of God: The repeated phrase "saith the LORD" emphasizes that these are not mere human predictions but divine decrees. God declares His intention to bring about these events, demonstrating His ultimate authority over all earthly kingdoms and their destinies.
  • Restoration and Vindication of Israel: Crucially, the prophecy concludes with "then shall Israel be heir unto them that were his heirs." This speaks to a reversal of fortunes. The Ammonites, who had perhaps dispossessed or harassed Israel, would now face ruin, and Israel would reclaim or inherit what was rightfully theirs, or even the land of their former oppressors. This aligns with broader prophetic themes of Israel's future restoration and prosperity after periods of hardship (e.g., Jeremiah 30:3).

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "alarm of war" (Hebrew: teru'ah) suggests a loud, terrifying shout or trumpet blast, indicating a sudden and overwhelming attack. The term "desolate heap" (Hebrew: tel) vividly describes the complete ruin of Rabbah, reduced to a mound of debris, a common archaeological term for ancient ruined cities.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 49:2 reminds us of several enduring truths:

  • God's Justice is Universal: God holds all nations accountable for their actions, particularly their treatment of His people and their defiance of His moral law.
  • God's Faithfulness to His People: Despite periods of scattering or oppression, God remains faithful to His covenant promises, ultimately ensuring the vindication and restoration of those who belong to Him.
  • The Certainty of Prophetic Fulfillment: This prophecy, like many others in Scripture, found historical fulfillment, serving as a powerful testament to the reliability of God's Word and His control over history. It encourages believers to trust in the ultimate triumph of God's purposes.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Jeremiah 4:19

    ¶ My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.

  • Deuteronomy 3:11

    For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of giants; behold, his bedstead [was] a bedstead of iron; [is] it not in Rabbath of the children of Ammon? nine cubits [was] the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it, after the cubit of a man.

  • Ezekiel 21:20

    Appoint a way, that the sword may come to Rabbath of the Ammonites, and to Judah in Jerusalem the defenced.

  • Ezekiel 25:4

    Behold, therefore I will deliver thee to the men of the east for a possession, and they shall set their palaces in thee, and make their dwellings in thee: they shall eat thy fruit, and they shall drink thy milk.

  • Ezekiel 25:6

    For thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast clapped [thine] hands, and stamped with the feet, and rejoiced in heart with all thy despite against the land of Israel;

  • 2 Samuel 11:1

    ¶ And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth [to battle], that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.

  • Amos 1:14

    But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, and it shall devour the palaces thereof, with shouting in the day of battle, with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind:

Add TrulyRandomVerse to your Home Screen for quick access!

← Back