Jeremiah 49:23-27

How does the word concerning Damascus portray public fear?

Berean Standard Bible

23 Concerning Damascus: “Hamath and Arpad are put to shame, for they have heard a bad report; they are agitated like the sea; their anxiety cannot be calmed. 24 Damascus has become feeble; she has turned to flee. Panic has gripped her; anguish and pain have seized her like a woman in labor. 25 How is the city of praise not forsaken, the town that brings Me joy? 26 For her young men will fall in the streets, and all her warriors will be silenced in that day,” declares the LORD of Hosts. 27 “I will set fire to the walls of Damascus; it will consume the fortresses of Ben-hadad.”

What is the context?

Bad news brings agitation to Hamath and Arpad, and Damascus turns to flee. The sea and labor images give shape to anxiety that cannot be calmed.

The lament over the city of praise is followed by young men falling and fire consuming Ben-hadad’s fortresses. Renown has not secured the city against the announced disaster.

The passage names a particular city and its associated places. It should not be turned into a prediction of every later conflict involving a city with the same name.

How is this passage commonly understood?

Wesley proposes that the king of Syria speaks the lament over the city of his joy. The BSB does not identify that speaker explicitly, so his suggestion is best kept as a reading of the voice rather than a narrated identification.

What is our position?

We don't have a position on this passage yet. When our study reaches a conclusion the text supports, it will appear here.

Where can I study this further?

No deeper study linked yet.

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