Jeremiah 47 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

Jeremiah 47. Philistia. Instead of Jeremiah 47:1, LXX has simply On the Philistines, which is probably original. The waters rising from the north (Jeremiah 47:2) would suggest Babylon, not Egypt, as the foe; the editorial reference to Egypt in 1 might be suggested (wrongly) by Jeremiah 47:5. Pharaoh is supposed to have smitten Gaza (Cadytis, Herod. ii. 159) in 608. The devastating waters (Isaiah 8:7 f.) of an overflowing wady flood the land (Jeremiah 47:2); the terror of the enemy's approach breaks even the closest bonds of affection (Jeremiah 47:3). The Philistines, being destroyed, will not be able to help the Phœ nicians (Jeremiah 47:4). The cities of Philistia mourn (Jeremiah 47:5), and the Philistines appeal to Yahweh's sword for mercy (Jeremiah 47:6); the prophet answers them (Jeremiah 47:7) with the question How can it be quiet? (so read, with VSS, and note mg.).

Jeremiah 47:4. Tyre and Sidon: chief cities of Phœ nicia; the text is dubious, every helper that remaineth being really every helping survivor, an improbable phrase. Caphtor: the original home of the Philistines, i.e. Crete (pp. 56f., Amos 9:7 *).

Jeremiah 47:5. Baldness. cut thyself: see on Jeremiah 16:5 f. For their valley, read of the Anakim (Joshua 11:22), with LXX, taking the phrase as a vocative, O remnant of the Anakim!