Jeremiah 49:39

In the last days, however, the eschatological future, He would restore Elam’s fortunes (cf. Jeremiah 49:6; Jeremiah 48:47). People from this area will experience Yahweh’s blessing in the Millennium. Elam became a satrapy of the Persian Empire, and its capital, Susa, became the winter residence of the Persian kings after 539 B.C. [Note: Thompson, p. 729; Harrison, Jeremiah and . . ., p. 147..] But this promise projects beyond that time. [Note: Feinberg, "Jeremiah," p. 671.]

Why did God announce judgment on a people that were so geographically remote from Judah in this collection of oracles? There may have been more hostility in Elamite Israelite relations than history has revealed so far. However, the attack by one Elamite king on Abraham and his family (Genesis 14) may have been adequate reason for God’s punishment (Genesis 12:3). Probably there was continuing hostility. Moreover, since the Elamites were ancient allies of the Babylonians, they had to share the guilt of Babylon’s sins against God’s people (cf. Genesis 9:6).

A promise of restoration does not appear in every oracle. Nevertheless, we should probably understand that as God judged all these nations, so He will also bless the people who will be living in these territories when Christ returns to set up His kingdom on earth.

Another difference between the oracles is that some mention the reasons for judgment but others do not. Probably the reasons for God’s judgment of them all are the same, namely, failure to acknowledge His sovereignty and to live humbly by recognizing Him as the God of all the earth. He was their suzerain and they were His vassals. Other reasons were their antagonism toward His people and their brutality toward others.

"The oracles provide data that suggest that they were viewed in a treaty context. First, the oracles contain judgment statements that are similar to the curses characteristic of international treaties . . . Second, the cup-of-wrath concept may reflect the treaty and the manner in which it was imposed . . . Third, there are references to military aggression against fellow vassals that point to treaty violations (Jeremiah 48:1-2; Jeremiah 48:45; Jeremiah 49:1-2).

"The conclusion reached is that the OAN [oracles against nations] in Jeremiah 47-49 reflect the context of the international treaty, providing the prophet a metaphor for expressing his understanding of the relationship of the LORD to the nations. The oracles, whether or not they were all intended to be heard by the nations, served first of all to affirm the sovereignty of the LORD over all the world, and second, they served as a warning to Judah, to refrain from trusting in alliances with, or in dependence upon, nations that stood under divine judgment." [Note: Smothers, p. 277.]

"In recent history, the nations haven’t acted any better than the ones recorded in Jeremiah 46-49. Innocent blood is shed legally as millions of babies are aborted in their mother’s wombs. International terrorism, genocide, exploitation of people and material resources, war, crime, the abuse of children, and a host of other sins have stained the hands of nations with blood. What will they do when the Judge becomes angry and starts to avenge the innocent?" [Note: Wiersbe, p. 139. Cf. Hebrews 10:31.]