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John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 49:3

Verse 3 The Prophet now triumphs, as it were, over the land of Ammon, and, according to his accustomed manner, as we have before seen; for had the prophets spoken without metaphors, and simply narrated the things treated of by them, their words would have been frigid and inefficient, and would not have penetrated into the hearts of men. This, then, is the reason why the prophets adopted an elevated style, and adorned with grandeur their prophecies; for they never, like rhetoricians, affected... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 49:4

Verse 4 As the minds of men continually vacillate, because they do not sufficiently consider the infinite power of God, the Prophet, that he might remove all obstacles which might have rendered his prophecy doubtful, now declares that the Ammonites gloried in vain in their valleys. Some understand by valleys a fertile land, well watered. But the Prophet, as I think, refers rather to fortified places. He then says, that they in vain gloried in their deep valleys; as they were surrounded with... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 49:5

Verse 5 Jeremiah at length concludes his prophecy, by saying, that God would dissipate that foolish confidence through which the Ammonites were filled with pride, because he would bring a terror on them. He sets up terror in opposition to that security in which the Ammonites lay torpid; for they were inebriated, as it were, with their pleasures. And then the strongholds by which they thought themselves protected, so hardened their hearts, that they feared no danger. God then sets up this terror... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 49:6

Verse 6 He now says the same thing of the children of Ammon, as he said before of the Moabites, that some hope yet remained for them, for God would at length show mercy to that nation. But, as we have said, these promises were but adventitious, because God had chosen but one people to be a Father to them; and the children of Abraham must be viewed as distinct from all other nations. But though God built, as it were, a wall to separate his people from aliens, it was yet his will to give some... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 49:1-2

The paradox of Israel's inheritance. The fittingness of this prediction is very striking. It is Ammon, the appropriator of Gad, who is the special subject of it. I. ITS UNLIKELIHOOD . At the time the prediction was uttered appearances were completely against it. The original promise seemed doomed to failure. The flower and hope of Israel was in exile, and the land lay desolate. Interlopers reaped the benefit of their misfortunes, and seized upon portions of the unoccupied land. In... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 49:1-2

A usurper in the inheritance. I. ACTUAL POSSESSION IS NOT THE ONLY THING TO BE CONSIDERED . Ammon is the actual present possessor of the territory of Gad. But every possessor must be ready upon occasion to show his title. With respect to the most trifling article the possessor must be able to make clear that it is his own, that he bought it, or inherited it, or had it given to him; in short, that it came to him in some entirely lawful way. Ammon had taken Gad by force,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 49:1-3

The violence of the Ammonites shall be severely punished. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 49:2

The punishment of Ammon. Its capital, Rabbah (see 2 Samuel 12:26 , 2 Samuel 12:27 ), and the "daughter" cities, shall be laid waste. The alarm of war ("alarm" equivalent to "shout"), as in Jeremiah 4:19 . A desolate heap. Fortified towns were built on "heaps, or slight elevations (comp. on Jeremiah 30:18 ), the Hebrew name for which (in the singular) is tel. The "heap" and the ruins of the town together are aptly called a "heap of desolation." Then shall Israel be heir , etc.;... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 49:3

Heshbon . Here mentioned as de jure a Gadite, but de facto an Ammonitish, town; in Numbers 21:26 it appears as "the city of Sihon" the Amorite. In Isaiah 15:4 and Isaiah 16:9 it is reckoned to the Moabites. There was a continual warfare between the neigh-bouring tribes of Reuben and Gad on the one hand, and the Moabites and Ammonites on the other. Let Heshbon lament, because Ai is spoiled . The introduction of At, which is only known to us as a Canaanitish town, near Bethel, on... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 49:4

The valleys; i.e. long extended plains, such as were suitable for cornfields ( Isaiah 17:5 ; Ps 65:14), and such as characterized the territory of the Ammonites. Thy flowing valley. "Flowing;" that is, abounding with rich crops. The meaning of the phrase, however, is only probable. read more

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