Ammon
The Ammonites were located east of the Jordan River and north of
Moab. They played an important role
after the destruction of Jerusalem in that they were behind Ishmael’s
assassination of Gedaliah. They were
also an ally of Israel during the revolt of Judah against Babylon – which
ultimately ended in the utter destruction of Jerusalem. There has been conflict throughout the
history of Judah and Ammon.
Ammon’s Treachery
At the beginning of this chapter Jeremiah asks 4 questions. Does Israel have no sons? Does Israel have no heirs? Why then has Molech (Milcom) dispossessed
Gad? Why have the Ammonite settled in
the cities of Israel?
When Assyria conquered Israel, the northern kingdom was either
killed or dragged into captivity. This
left the land largely bare, although the Assyrian policy was to relocate people
from other parts of their empire to newly conquered regions. However, the Ammonites also took advantage of
the downfall of Israel. The Ammonites
moved in and claimed some of the territory for their own.
This display of greed and self-centeredness irritated God. It was bad enough that they refused to
acknowledge God’s presence. But to take
over His land and the land that He had set aside for His people was an act of
war. God may have caused His people to
go into bondage, but that doesn’t mean that they weren’t coming back! When Ammon seized the land of Israel, they
were making a claim that they didn’t care about God’s plans at all. What is the saying? Get while the getting’s good!
Ammon takes advantage of Israel in their moment of God’s
correction. Ammon takes advantage of
people while they are down. God doesn’t
look highly upon those who in their power take advantage of those who are
weak. I think this is a lesson that all
of us can learn.
Pride
Furthermore, Ammon was prideful.
They believed in the beauty of their spaces. They believed in the strength of their own
creations. They believed that none could
come against them. Of course, they
already forgot that they were a vassal of Babylon. For the record, God doesn’t care much for
arrogant pride, either. They would fall.
But God displays mercy here.
Ammon will be restored. They will
have an opportunity to learn the lesson.
Edom
Edom was east of the Dead Sea and south of Moab. The Edomites are the offspring of Esau. They have had a history of conflict with the
Hebrew people since Jacob and Esau.
In fact, it is this brotherly relationship for which Edom is
judged the hardest. If God was going to
punish those unrelated to the Hebrew people for their crimes, how could God not
punish those related to the Hebrew people?
The destruction of Edom is going to be thorough. More than once God tells Edom that they will
be laid bare. God compares Edom to Sodom
and Gomorrah – nobody shall live there again.
Only the orphans and the widows – the outcasts and uncared for – will
have a chance of surviving under God’s provision. And unlike Ammon, there is no promise of
restoration.
Syria (Damascus, Arpad, Hamath)
Syria is to the north of Ammon.
Syria had a reputation for attacking Israel and occasionally making weak
alliances with Israel to attack Judah. They
had their own share of trouble with Babylon as well.
God calls Damascus a city of His joy. Yet, there was judgment due upon them for
they also did not receive God and God’s ways.
God swears to kindle a fire in Damascus and destroy their
strongholds. When Nebuchadnezzar
conquers Damascus, all of the soldiers of Damascus were killed and their
strongholds were burned with fire. There
is no promise of redemption, although we do know that the country continues to
exist to this day.
Kedar and Hazor
Kedar was a nomadic tribe of Ishmaelites (children of Abraham
through Hagar). They were known for
their archery, warlike nature, ability to trade, and their care of sheep. Hazor is an unknown nation that apparently
existed in the Arabian peninsula.
Note that these verses read with God calling forth Babylon. God Himself wills the destruction of Kedar
and Hazor at the hand of the Babylonians.
Notice that Hazor felt so secure and prideful in their remote location
that they didn’t even have fortifications!
Again, there is no promise of restoration after the Babylonians come.
Elam
Elam was a distant country from Judah. They were actually located east of Babylon,
beyond the Tigris and Euphrates rivers into what is known today as Iran. They were known for their archery.
Notice that like the Israelites, the Elamites will be scattered
throughout the whole of the known world.
Interestingly enough, although Nebuchadnezzar does subjugate the
Elamites, it is actually the Persians and the Medes that take over Elam and
make them a part of their empire. Then,
the Persians with the help of the Elamites conquer Babylon. Through this process, though, the Elamite
nation is lost among the Persians. In
effect, they are assimilated into Persia.
Their destruction is not ultimate, though. Here God does promise restoration to Elam.
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