Chapter Overview
Summary
Oracles against Ammon, Edom, Damascus, Kedar/Hazor, and Elam. MT ch. 49 bundles five oracles. In LXX these are SCATTERED across the OAN section with different numbering and a completely different ORDER.
Notable Variants
LXX is shorter throughout, especially in the Edom oracle (vv. 7-22, which parallels Obadiah). The Elam oracle (vv. 34-39) is FIRST in LXX OAN order (LXX ch. 25:14ff) but EIGHTH in MT. The Damascus oracle is significantly shorter in LXX.
Structural Notes
MT ch. 49 contains 5 sub-oracles with LXX equivalents: Ammon (MT 49:1-6 = LXX 30:1-5, 6th in LXX), Edom (MT 49:7-22 = LXX 29:7-22, 5th in LXX), Damascus (MT 49:23-27 = LXX 30:12-16, 8th in LXX), Kedar/Hazor (MT 49:28-33 = LXX 30:6-11, 7th in LXX), Elam (MT 49:34-39 = LXX 25:14-19, 1st in LXX).
Concerning the Ammonites — this is what the LORD says: Does Israel have no sons? Has he no heir? Then why has Milcom dispossessed Gad, and why do his people settle in its cities?
Ammon oracle. LXX = ch. 30:1-5 (6th OAN). Minor differences from MT.
Therefore the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will sound the battle alarm against Rabbah of the Ammonites. She will become a desolate mound, and her surrounding towns will be burned with fire. Then Israel will dispossess those who dispossessed him, says the LORD.
Ammon oracle. LXX = ch. 30:1-5 (6th OAN). Minor differences from MT.
Wail, Heshbon, for Ai is destroyed! Cry out, daughters of Rabbah! Put on sackcloth, lament, and run back and forth among the walls, for Milcom will go into exile, his priests and officials together.
Ammon oracle. LXX = ch. 30:1-5 (6th OAN). Minor differences from MT.
Why do you boast of your valleys — your valley is flowing away, faithless daughter! You who trust in your treasures, saying, 'Who would come against me?'
Ammon oracle. LXX = ch. 30:1-5 (6th OAN). Minor differences from MT.
I am bringing terror upon you, declares the Lord GOD of Hosts, from every side. Each of you will be driven out headlong, and no one will gather the fugitives.
Ammon oracle. LXX = ch. 30:1-5 (6th OAN). Minor differences from MT.
But afterward I will restore the fortunes of the Ammonites, declares the LORD.
Ammon oracle. LXX = ch. 30:1-5 (6th OAN). Minor differences from MT.
Concerning Edom — this is what the LORD of Hosts says: Is there no longer wisdom in Teman? Has counsel vanished from the discerning? Has their wisdom rotted away?
Edom oracle. LXX = ch. 29 (5th OAN). Largely identical here.
Flee! Turn back! Go deep into hiding, you inhabitants of Dedan! For I will bring Esau's disaster upon him — the time when I punish him.
Edom oracle. LXX = ch. 29 (5th OAN). Largely identical here.
If grape-pickers came to you, would they not leave some gleanings? If thieves came in the night, would they not steal only what they needed?
Edom oracle. LXX = ch. 29 (5th OAN). Largely identical here.
But I — I have stripped Esau bare, I have uncovered his hiding places, and he cannot conceal himself. His offspring are destroyed, his brothers and his neighbors, and he is no more.
Edom oracle. LXX = ch. 29 (5th OAN). Largely identical here.
Leave your orphans — I will keep them alive. Let your widows trust in me.
Edom oracle. LXX = ch. 29 (5th OAN). Largely identical here.
For this is what the LORD says: If those who did not deserve to drink the cup must drink it, will you really go unpunished? You will not go unpunished — you will certainly drink it.
Edom oracle. LXX = ch. 29 (5th OAN). Largely identical here.
For I have sworn by myself, declares the LORD, that Bozrah will become a desolation, a reproach, a ruin, and a curse. All her cities will be ruins forever.
Edom oracle. LXX slightly shorter — some phrases absent.
I have heard a report from the LORD, and a messenger has been sent among the nations: 'Assemble and march against her! Rise up for battle!'
Edom oracle. LXX slightly shorter — some phrases absent.
For I will make you small among the nations, despised among humanity.
Edom oracle. LXX slightly shorter — some phrases absent.
The dread you inspire has deceived you, the arrogance of your heart — you who dwell in the clefts of the rock, who cling to the height of the hill. Even if you build your nest as high as the eagle, from there I will bring you down, declares the LORD.
Edom oracle. LXX slightly shorter — some phrases absent.
Edom will become a desolation. Everyone passing by will be appalled and will hiss at all her wounds.
Edom oracle. Largely identical.
Like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring cities, says the LORD, no one will live there, no human being will settle in her.
Edom oracle. Largely identical.
Look — like a lion coming up from the thickets of the Jordan to rich pastureland, I will suddenly chase him away from it. And who is the chosen one I will appoint over it? For who is like me? Who can summon me to court? And what shepherd can stand against me?
Edom oracle. Largely identical.
Therefore hear the plan of the LORD that he has devised against Edom, and his purposes that he has formed against the inhabitants of Teman: Surely the youngest of the flock will drag them away; surely their pasture will be made desolate because of them.
Edom oracle. Largely identical.
At the sound of their fall the earth trembles; their outcry is heard at the Sea of Reeds.
Edom oracle. Largely identical.
Look — like an eagle he rises and swoops, spreading his wings over Bozrah. On that day the heart of Edom's warriors will be like the heart of a woman in labor.
Edom oracle. Largely identical.
Concerning Damascus — Hamath and Arpad are put to shame, for they have heard bad news. They melt in anxiety; there is agitation on the sea that cannot be calmed.
Masoretic (WLC)
לְדַמֶּשֶׂק
Septuagint (LXX)
τῇ Δαμασκῷ
Damascus oracle begins. LXX = ch. 30:12 (8th OAN). LXX is significantly shorter.
Damascus has lost her strength. She has turned to flee, and panic has gripped her. Distress and pain have seized her like a woman giving birth.
Damascus oracle. LXX shorter.
How is the renowned city not abandoned, the town of my delight!
Damascus oracle. LXX shorter.
Therefore her young men will fall in her public squares, and all her soldiers will be silenced on that day, declares the LORD of Hosts.
Damascus oracle. LXX shorter.
I will set fire to the walls of Damascus, and it will consume the fortresses of Ben-hadad.
Damascus oracle. LXX shorter.
Concerning Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon defeated — this is what the LORD says: Rise up, advance against Kedar, and plunder the people of the east!
Kedar/Hazor oracle. LXX = ch. 30:6-11 (7th OAN). Minor differences.
Their tents and their flocks will be seized, their tent curtains and all their goods and their camels carried off. Men will shout at them: 'Terror on every side!'
Kedar/Hazor oracle. LXX = ch. 30:6-11 (7th OAN). Minor differences.
Flee! Wander far away! Go deep into hiding, you inhabitants of Hazor, declares the LORD! For Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has devised a plan against you and formed a strategy against you.
Kedar/Hazor oracle. LXX = ch. 30:6-11 (7th OAN). Minor differences.
Rise up, advance against a nation at ease, living in security, declares the LORD — a nation with no gates and no bars, dwelling in isolation.
Kedar/Hazor oracle. LXX = ch. 30:6-11 (7th OAN). Minor differences.
Their camels will become plunder and their vast herds, spoil. I will scatter to every wind those who clip the corners of their hair, and from every direction I will bring their disaster, declares the LORD.
Kedar/Hazor oracle. LXX = ch. 30:6-11 (7th OAN). Minor differences.
Hazor will become a haunt of jackals, a desolation forever. No one will live there; no human being will settle in her.
Kedar/Hazor oracle. LXX = ch. 30:6-11 (7th OAN). Minor differences.
The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning Elam, at the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah:
Masoretic (WLC)
אֲשֶׁר הָיָה דְבַר־יְהוָה אֶל־יִרְמְיָהוּ הַנָּבִיא אֶל עֵילָם
The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning Elam.
Septuagint (LXX)
ὃ ἐγένετο ῥῆμα κυρίου πρὸς Ιερεμιαν τὸν προφήτην ἐπὶ Αιλαμ
The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against Elam.
Elam oracle begins. In LXX, this is the FIRST Oracle Against the Nations (LXX 25:14ff), placed immediately after the ch. 25 transition. In MT, Elam is the 8th oracle (near the end). LXX's placement of Elam first is one of the most distinctive features of the LXX arrangement.
This is what the LORD of Hosts says: I am about to break the bow of Elam, the chief weapon of their strength.
Elam oracle. Substantially identical in content between MT and LXX.
I will bring against Elam the four winds from the four corners of the heavens. I will scatter them to all these winds, and there will be no nation where Elam's exiles will not reach.
Elam oracle. Substantially identical in content between MT and LXX.
I will shatter Elam before their enemies, before those who seek their lives. I will bring disaster upon them — the burning heat of my anger, declares the LORD. I will send the sword after them until I have consumed them.
Elam oracle. Substantially identical in content between MT and LXX.
I will set my throne in Elam and destroy her king and officials from there, declares the LORD.
Elam oracle. Substantially identical in content between MT and LXX.
But in the latter days I will restore the fortunes of Elam, declares the LORD.
Elam oracle. Substantially identical in content between MT and LXX.