Jeremiah 49:14

49:7-22 The Edomites were old enemies to the Israel of God. But their day is now at hand; it is foretold, not only to warn them, but for the sake of the Israel of God, whose afflictions were aggravated by them. Thus Divine judgments go round from nation to nation; the earth is full of commotion, and nothing can escape the ministers of Divine vengeance. The righteousness of God is to be observed amidst the violence of men.

I have heard a rumour from the Lord,.... "A hearing" (l); or a report concerning the destruction of Edom, made to him in a dream or vision, by the spirit of God, as a spirit of prophecy: and an ambassador is sent to the Heathen; or a messenger; Jeremiah the prophet, as some; or an angel, as Kimchi suggests, sent to gather the nations to war against Bozrah; or a divine impulse, as others, with which the Chaldeans were impressed; which was as a voice to them, saying, gather ye together, and come against her, and rise up to the battle; get your forces together, and come against Bozrah or Edom, to invade and subdue it; attack it in a military way, not doubting of victory; see Obadiah 1:1. (l) "auditum audivi", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Schmidt.

Jeremiah 49:14-16 . I have heard a rumour — Hebrew, שׁמועה , a report or message, from the Lord, and an ambassador is sent unto the heathen. Obadiah begins his prophecy against Edom in similar words. The prophets, it must be observed, “often represent God as summoning armies, and setting them in array of battle against those people whom he has decreed to destroy. And his stirring up men’s spirits to invade such countries, is described here as if he had sent an ambassador to the Chaldeans and their confederates, to engage them in a war against the Idumeans; according to the methods which earthly princes use to engage their allies.” — Lowth. For lo, I will make thee small, &c. — I will bring thee low and make thee very contemptible. Thy terribleness hath deceived thee — “Thou hast been formerly terrible to all about thee, and looked upon as impregnable; and the confidence thou hast had in this thy strength hath made thee careless and secure, and thereby given thy enemies an advantage against thee.” O thou that dwellest in the clefts, &c. — St. Jerome, who lived in the neighbourhood, tells us, in his commentary upon Obadiah, “that Idumea was a rocky mountainous country, and that the inhabitants dwelt in caves dug out of the rocks and hills.” Though thou shouldest make thy nest as high as the eagle — The greatest height or strength cannot place thee out of the reach of divine vengeance.

Verses 14-18. - Based at first on the older prophecy (see Obadiah 1:1-4 ); then follow two verses in Jeremiah's peculiar manner. As yet Edom feels himself secure in his rocky home. But a Divine impulse already stirs the nation, through whom Jehovah wills to humble the proud. Edom shall become a second Sodom. Verse 14. - I have heard a rumour. In Obadiah it is " we have heard," i.e. the company of prophets (comp. Isaiah 53:1 , "Who hath believed our report?" according to one interpretation). Jeremiah, to justify his adoption of the outward form of his prophecy, declares that he is personally responsible for its substance. "Rumour," or as the word is elsewhere rendered, "report," is a technical term for a prophetic revelation ( Obadiah 1:1 ; Isaiah 28:9, 19 ; Isaiah 53:1 ; comp. Isaiah 21:10 ; Isaiah 28:22 ); and it is from this Old Testament usage that ἀκοή acquires its special meaning in Romans 10:16, 17 . In fact, ἀκοή , or bearing, is a more exact equivalent of the original. A prophet is one who has "listened in the council of God" ( Job 15:8 , corrected version; comp. Amos 3:7 ), and "when the Lord Jehovah hath spoken, who can but prophesy?" ( Amos 3:8 ). Prophetic perception of Divine truth is so exceptional a thing that it can only be expressed approximately in terms of everyday life.

One while it may be called a "hearing," a "report," another while a "vision" or "intuition." He who makes to hear or see is, of course, Jehovah, through the objective influence of his Spirit. It is important to study the Biblical phraseology, which has a depth of meaning too often overlooked, owing to the blunter edge which time has given to our modern speech. An ambassador; rather, a herald. Unto the heathen; rather, unto the nations. There is no religious idea involved; the word goyim literally means "nations," and there is no reason for deviating from the primary sense. In the next verse it is even more necessary to make this correction. Jeremiah 49:14

I have heard a rumour from the Lord: Obadiah beginneth his prophecy much with such words. God hath revealed his will to me in a vision or a dream. An ambassador is sent unto the heathen: he speaks after the manner of earthly princes, who use to send their ambassadors to other princes to declare their minds to them. Saying, Gather ye together, and come against her, and rise up to the battle: the meaning is, God hath made such impressions upon other nations, he hath inclined them, or set them on work, to get together in armies to come against Edom in battle.