Verse 1

The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before Pharaoh smote a Gaza.

(a) Or Azzah, a city of the Philistines.

Verse 2

Thus saith the LORD; Behold, waters rise out of the b north, and shall be an overflowing flood, and shall overflow the land, and all that is in it; the city, and them that dwell in it: then the men shall cry, and all the inhabitants of the land shall wail.

(b) He means the army of the Chaldeans, (Isaiah 8:7,8).

Verse 3

At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong [horses], at the rushing of his chariots, [and at] the rumbling of his wheels, c the fathers shall not look back to [their] children for feebleness of d hands;

(c) The great fear will take away their natural affection.

(d) Their heart will so fail them.

Verse 4

Because of the day that cometh to lay waste all the Philistines, [and] to cut off from Tyre and Zidon every helper that remaineth: for the LORD will lay waste the Philistines, the remnant of the country of e Caphtor.

(e) For the Caphtorims had destroyed in old time the Philistines, and dwelt in their land even to Gaza, (Deuteronomy 2:23).

Verse 5

f Baldness is come upon Gaza; Ashkelon is cut off [with] the remnant of their valley: how long wilt g thou cut thyself?

(f) They who shaved their heads for sorrow and heaviness.

(g) As the heathen used in their mourning, which the Lord forbade his people to do, (Deuteronomy 14:1).

Verse 7

How can it be h quiet, seeing the LORD hath given it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the sea shore? there hath he appointed it.

(h) Meaning, that it is not profitable that the wicked should by any means escape or hinder the Lord when he will take vengeance.