Jeremiah 47King James Version
A short burden on the Philistines. Waters rise out of the north. Howl, O city. Cry, O Philistia. The sword of the Lord.
A brief oracle against Philistia. Waters rise from the north, flooding the land, fathers cannot turn back for their children, and the sword of the Lord does not rest. The whole land will be cut off. The oracle grieves even the enemy: oh sword of the Lord, how long before you rest? Put yourself in your scabbard, be still. The answer is silence, which means: not yet.
God's judgment on the Philistines is described with grief, not triumphalism. Even the instrument of judgment is asked how long it must continue.
6: "O thou sword of the LORD, how long will it be ere thou be quiet? put up thyself into thy scabbard, rest, and be still." The prophetic voice asking God's own sword to stop, which is itself the answer: it will not stop yet.
Philistia occupied the southern coastal plain of Canaan, where Gaza and Ashkelon still stand. The Babylonian army coming from the north would reach them. The oracle may have been written after a specific Babylonian campaign against Philistine cities, or before it as anticipatory prophecy.
The Philistines, Israel's ancient coastal enemy, now themselves subject to the same judgment. The unnamed population of Gaza and Ashkelon. God, whose sword moves from the north.
The oracle is only seven verses but its compressed grief made it a model for prophetic lament over enemies. The questioning of the sword, the almost pained address to the instrument of judgment, showed later readers that prophetic oracles against nations were not simply satisfaction at enemy destruction. They carried their own cost.
For when you are watching something destructive run its course and you know there is nothing to do but wait for it to exhaust itself. The question is not rhetorical. The prophet genuinely asks.
1The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before that Pharaoh smote Gaza.
2Thus saith the LORD; Behold, waters rise up out of the north, and shall be an overflowing flood, and shall overflow the land, and all that is therein; the city, and them that dwell therein: then the men shall cry, and all the inhabitants of the land shall howl.
3At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong horses, at the rushing of his chariots, and at the rumbling of his wheels, the fathers shall not look back to their children for feebleness of hands;
4Because of the day that cometh to spoil all the Philistines, and to cut off from Tyrus and Zidon every helper that remaineth: for the LORD will spoil the Philistines, the remnant of the country of Caphtor.
5Baldness is come upon Gaza; Ashkelon is cut off with the remnant of their valley: how long wilt thou cut thyself?
6O thou sword of the LORD, how long will it be ere thou be quiet? put up thyself into thy scabbard, rest, and be still.
7How can it be quiet, seeing the LORD hath given it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the sea shore? there hath he appointed it.