Jeremiah 49:23-27

Jeremiah 49:23-27

[23] Concerning Damascus.  Hamath  is confounded,  and Arpad:  for they have heard  evil  tidings:  they are fainthearted;  there is sorrow  on the sea;  it cannot  be quiet.  [24] Damascus  is waxed feeble,  and turneth  herself to flee,  and fear  hath seized  on her: anguish  and sorrows  have taken  her, as a woman in travail.  [25] How is the city  of praise  not left,  the city  of my joy!  [26] Therefore her young men  shall fall  in her streets,  of war  shall be cut off  in that day,  saith  the LORD  of hosts.  [27] And I will kindle  a fire  in the wall  of Damascus,  and it shall consume  the palaces  of Benhadad. 

What does Jeremiah 49:23-27 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Perhaps this oracle is shorter because Damascus had not had the history of contact with Judah, in recent years, that the other nations mentioned in these oracles did. However, the books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles document incessant hostilities between the Arameans and Israel and Judah-earlier in history. Damascus was the capital of Aram, and the leader of a coalition of Aramean city-states (cf. Isaiah 7:8). It stood about150 miles north-northeast of Jerusalem.