20. least of the flock—the weakest and humblest of the Chaldean host. Compare :-, where the hostile leaders and their hosts are called "shepherds and their flocks." draw . . . out—"shall drag them away captive" [GROTIUS]; shall drag them to and fro, as a lion ( :-) does feeble sheep [MAURER]. with them —that is, the habitation which they possess. read more
21. was heard in—that is, shall be heard at. Red Sea—a considerable distance from Idumea; though the district at the Elantic bay of the Red Sea originally belonged to Idumea, and the sea itself was called from Edom, that is, "red" ( :-, Margin). Others translate, "the weedy sea" (Margin), and derive the name, "Red Sea," from its red weeds; the former view is preferable. read more
22. (Compare Jeremiah 48:40; Jeremiah 48:41). Bozrah—(See on Jeremiah 48:41- :). read more
E. The oracle against Edom 49:7-22The Edomites lived to the southeast of Judah, south of Moab. The Zered River was their northern border, the Gulf of Aqabah (about 100 miles to the south) the southern, the Arabah the western, and the desert the eastern borders. The Edomites were descendants of Esau, and a long history of antagonism with the Israelites that reached back to the days of Jacob and Esau, and Israel’s wilderness wanderings, marked their relationship (cf. Numbers 20:14-21; Judges... read more
God’s purposes for Edom were to have enemies drag all the people from their country, even the children, leaving the land desolate of people. News of Edom’s destruction would spread far and have major repercussions. Even Egypt would hear of it, since the news would cross the Red Sea. read more
The enemy would come down on Edom like an eagle (or vulture, cf. Jeremiah 48:40-41). Men would be as fearful as women in labor when the invader struck.Nebuchadnezzar fulfilled the judgment predicted in this prophecy when he subdued the entire Transjordan region. Like Moab and Ammon, Edom plotted against the Babylonians, who had incorporated them into their empire about 605 B.C. However, the Edomites assisted the Babylonians in attacking Judah in 588-586 B.C. (Psalms 137:7; Lamentations 4:21;... read more
Against Ammon, Edom, and other Nations1-6. The territory of Ammon was N. of Moab, and the two peoples were connected by descent. The carrying away of the tribes on the E. of Jordan by Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria (2 Kings 15:29), strengthened the hands of Ammon, and it is their occupation of the portion of Gad upon that occasion that forms the crime which is dwelt on in this prophecy, and which shall bring on them judgment.1. Their king] RV ’Malcam,’or Moloch, the god of the Ammonites, and... read more
(20) Surely.—Literally, If not . . .”—the strongest Hebrew idiom of asseveration.The least of the flock shall draw them out . . .—The English is obscure, probably because the object of the verb has been taken as its subject. Better, Surely they (i.e., the Chaldæan invaders) will vex them, the feeble ones of the flock; surely he will make their pasturage terror-stricken at them. The thought expressed is that the very fields of Edom would, as it were, shudder at the cruelty of their conquerors.... read more
(21) The noise thereof was heard in the Red sea.—Literally, as in the margin, the Weedy, or Reed sea. The crash of the fall of Edom, the cries of the slaughtered people, were to be heard far off on the waters of the sea that washed its shores. Elath, on the Gulf of Akaba, was the sea-port of Edom (2 Chronicles 26:2). read more
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Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Jeremiah 49:20
Jeremiah 49:20. Surely the least of the flock shall draw them— Surely the tender lambs of the flock shall be carried away; their pastures shall be laid waste even in their presence. Houbigant. Others, by the least of the flock, understand the common soldiers in the Chaldean army; "any one of whom (says the prophet) shall have sufficient strength and courage to defeat the Idumaean forces." read more