Oracles against the Nations Table

49:1 the Ammonites Their land was east of the Jordan and northeast of the Dead Sea. See note on Ezek 25:2.

Milcom The Hebrew text says malkam (“their king”) but the reference could also be taken as milkom, the name of the patron god of the Ammonites. Here, a reference to Ammon’s god would be symbolic of the kingdom of Ammon itself, so either reading is possible. The Ammonite god may also have been known by the name Molech (see 1 Kgs 11:5, 7).

Gad An Israelite tribe with territory east of the Jordan River, bordering Ammon. Israel and Ammon regularly disputed possession of the territory (Judg 11:12–27; 2 Sam 12:26–31).

49:2 Rabbah Capital of Ammon. The site is in the middle of modern-day Amman, the capital of Jordan. See Ezek 21:20 and note.

49:3 Heshbon A city in northern Moab in the territory disputed among Israel, Moab, and Ammon.

Ai is devastated The identification of Ai is uncertain. It is not the city mentioned in Joshua’s conquests (Josh 7). The Hebrew word means “heap of ruins” (see Jer 26:18), so it might not refer to a specific location.

Milcom will go into exile The same fate as the god of Moab. See 48:7 and note. Compare Amos 1:15, where “king” or “priest” and “princes” are probably better translated as “Milcom” and “his officials.”

49:6 I will restore the fortunes of the Ammonites Compare Jer 29:14; 48:47. Yahweh promises to restore Israel, Moab, and Ammon after they’ve gone through judgment.

49:7 Concerning Edom Judah’s neighbor to the southeast. See note on Jer 25:21. See note on Isa 34:5.

there no longer wisdom in Teman Edom had a reputation for wisdom (Obad 8).

Teman An important city in Edom, often used to refer to the entire territory. See Gen 36:11 and note. Compare Amos 1:12; Obad 9; Hab 3:3; Ezek 25:13.

49:8 Dedan A trading center in Arabia, southeast of Edom. The warning may be for Dedanites to avoid Edom because it will soon be judged. Judgment oracles against Edom and Dedan are juxtaposed in Isa 21:11–14. See note on Gen 10:7, and note on Ezek 27:15.

the disaster of Esau Edomites descended from Esau, Israel’s brother. See note on Gen 25:25.

49:9 grape-gatherers come to you This verse is nearly identical to Obad 5. The book of Obadiah consists entirely of a judgment oracle against Edom.

49:11 And your widows, let them trust in me The rest of Edom receives judgment, but Yahweh cares for the orphans and widows. See Deut 10:18; Psa 68:5.

49:12 who are not condemned to drink the cup must certainly drink See Jer 25:15 and note. Yahweh did not spare His own people from His wrath, so other nations should not expect to escape. On the cup of wrath, see 25:15–26.

49:13 Bozrah will become as a horror Bozrah, Edom’s capital, will experience the same fate as Judah (24:9). Compare Isa 34:6; 63:1; Amos 1:12.

49:14 a message from Yahweh The rare Hebrew word used here indicates divine revelation. It is used only here and in Obad 1.

49:16 O you who dwell in the clefts of Edom was a mountainous region.

49:18 Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighbors Places destroyed by Yahweh for wickedness (Gen 19). The traditional location of Sodom and Gomorrah is either within or very close to Edomite territory. See note on Isa 1:9.

49:19 like a lion The imagery in Jer 49:19–22 is repeated for Babylon in 50:44–46.

49:20 they will drag them away, the little ones of the flock Refers to the exile of the people. The imagery portrays the people as sheep and their leaders as shepherds.

49:21 at the Red Sea A significant distance away.

49:23 Concerning Damascus The chief city of the Aramean city-states.

Hamath and Arpad Hamath was a city on the Orontes River in central Syria, about 132 miles north of Damascus. Arpad was a regional center in northern Syria. Hamath and Arpad are mentioned as a pair in the Bible and in ancient Assyrian texts. See Isa 10:9; 36:19.

49:24 a woman in labor A typical metaphor for anguish and pain. See Jer 4:31; 48:41; 49:22.

49:27 I will kindle a fire at the wall of Damascus Compare Amos 1:4.

Ben-hadad A name for several Aramean kings. See 1 Kgs 15:18–20; 2 Kgs 13:24.

49:28 Kedar Refers to the northern region of Arabia. See note on Isa 21:16.

Hazor An otherwise unknown settlement in northern Arabia.

Nebuchadnezzar See note on Jer 21:2.

49:29 Terror is from all around See note on 20:3.

49:31 no gates and there are no bars for them Compare Ezek 38:11.

49:33 a lair of jackals, a waste forever Compare Jer 9:11; 10:22.

49:34 Elam The region east of the Tigris River on the north side of the Persian Gulf.

the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah 597 bc. On Zedekiah, see note on 21:1.

49:35 the bow of Elam See Isa 22:6 and note.

49:39 I will restore the fortunes of Elam Some, but not all, of the nations are promised a future restoration. Compare Jer 29:14; 46:25–26; 48:47; and 49:6.