Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 49:20

Therefore hear the counsel of the LORD, that he hath taken against Edom; and his purposes, that he hath purposed against the inhabitants of Teman: Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out: surely he shall make their habitations desolate with them.

20. they shall drag of the flock ] mg. is scarcely intelligible. The figure is that of dogs or other fierce beasts seizing the most helpless of the sheep. Cp. Jer 15:3. But Du. followed by Co. understands the meaning to be that shepherd lads (instead of “little ones of the flock”) shall be dragged away.

habitation ] homestead. See on Jer 49:19.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Verse 20. The inhabitants of Teman] Taken here for the whole of Idumea. These are a kind of synonyms which prevent monotony, and give variety to the poet’s versification.

Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out] They shall be like timid sheep; the weakest foe shall overcome them.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

Edom and Teman in this verse signify both the same thing; God calls to men to hear the resolutions he had taken up against the Edomites, resolutions as wise and steady as if they had been taken upon the wisest counsels and deliberation.

Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out; God is resolved to drive out the Edomites, and the least of Nebuchadnezzars forces shall drag them out of their lurking-places; and God will make the place where they dwell a desolation.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

20. least of the flocktheweakest and humblest of the Chaldean host. Compare Jer6:3, where the hostile leaders and their hosts are called”shepherds and their flocks.”

draw . . . out“shalldrag them away captive” [GROTIUS];shall drag them to and fro, as a lion (Jer49:19) does feeble sheep [MAURER].

with themthat is, the habitation which they possess.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Therefore hear the counsel of the Lord that he hath taken against Edom,…. The decree of the Lord; the purpose and resolution he had taken up in his heart against the Idumeans, which was wisely formed, and upon just and good grounds:

and his purposes that he hath purposed against the inhabitants of Teman; a principal place in Edom, the inhabitants of which were famous for their wisdom, Jer 49:7; and therefore are here particularly mentioned; there being no wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel against the Lord, so as to frustrate his purposes and designs, which have always their effect, Pr 19:21;

surely the least of the flock shall draw them out; not the Persians, the least of the sons of Japheth, as some Rabbins in Jarchi c; nor the Israelites, as Kimchi, particularly Rachel’s sons, or the posterity of Joseph and Benjamin; but the common soldiers, the weakest and most feeble in the Chaldean army: as princes are compared to shepherds, their people are like flocks; and now the least of these in the king of Babylon’s army should be a match for the strongest of the Edomites; and should draw them out of their habitations, as dogs or wolves drag sheep out of the folds, and draw about dead carcasses, and devour them. The words are in the form of an oath, “if the least of the flock do not draw them out”; that is, as I live they shall; or I swear by myself they shall certainly do it; so the Targum,

“if they do not draw and kill the mighty of the people:”

surely he shall make their habitations desolate with them; or, “their folds”; the sheep shall be destroyed, and their folds shall be demolished; that is, the inhabitants of Edom shall be slain with the sword, and their cities, towns, and villages, shall be laid waste.

c Vid. T. Bab. Yoma, fol. 10. 1.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

The Prophet proceeds with his subject respecting the Idumeans and their destruction; but he makes a preface in order to gain credit to his words. He then says that this was God’s counsel and his thoughts. He speaks after the manner of men; for he transfers to God what does not properly belong to his nature; for God does not deliberate or consult, but has once for all decreed before the creation of the world what he will do; nor does he toss about his thoughts in all directions, as men do, who do not immediately see what is right or what ought to be done. Nothing of this kind belongs to God. But this way of speaking is sufficiently common, when what strictly applies to man is transferred to God. It ought at the same time to be observed, that this is not done without reason, for when God speaks by his servants, we ever raise doubts, “Is that said in earnest — can it be changed — is it revocable?” In short, we receive what is light and frivolous, and immediately give credit to it; but when God declares anything, we subject it to comments, and raise up a hundred disputes on every subject, “Oh, but this or that may happen; and it may be that God does not speak in earnest.” As, then, men never acquiesce in God’s word, as they ought to do, the Prophets borrow from common use these forms of speech, that God had thus thought, that he had thus decreed.

The meaning is, that whatever Jeremiah had hitherto predicted of the Idumeans, could not be retracted, for it was a settled decree, so fixed as though God had thought of it for a hundred or thousand years.

He now adds, the inhabitants of Teman; by whom he means the Idumeans. But the repetition deserves notice: he first mentions Edom, and then the inhabitants of Teman. And Teman and Seir are sometimes the same. If not, cast them down, etc.; the verb properly means to draw, and to draw in reproach and contempt, as when a carcase is drawn through the mire. Then the Prophet means here a throwing down, accompanied with reproach. And he says, If not, draw them forth shall the least of the flock He speaks here otherwise than before; for he called the Chaldeans chosen, and extolled their strength, that he might strip the Idumeans of their vain confidence; but he now proceeds further and says, that there was no need of great valor to put that nation to flight, because even the least could lay them prostrate on the ground, and also draw them in disgrace through the land. Now, though the manner of speaking is different, yet the meaning remains the same, even that God would arm the Chaldeans with courage, so that they would easily destroy the land of Edom; and then, that though the Chaldeans should not, according to the estimation of men, excel in valor, they would yet be superior to the Idumeans, because victory was in God’s hand, and he could work by means of flies as well as by men, and by children as well as by giants.

The formula of swearing is adopted, when he says, If not, draw them, etc. It is an elliptical phrase, as it has often been observed; such an obtestation as this is understood, “Believe me not hereafter,” or, “Regard me not as God.” In short, it is a form of an oath, which is a stronger affirmation than if he had simply said, “Draw them forth shall the least of the flock.”

Some render the last clause, “If not, set shall they,” etc.; as though the verb came from שום, shum, to put, to set; but it is from שמם, shemem, or ימם, imem, as some think, though rather שמם, shemem The Prophet, I have no doubt, means, that they would destroy, or lay waste over them their dwellings. It follows —

Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary

(20) Surely.Literally, If not . . .the strongest Hebrew idiom of asseveration.

The least of the flock shall draw them out . . .The English is obscure, probably because the object of the verb has been taken as its subject. Better, Surely they (i.e., the Chaldan invaders) will vex them, the feeble ones of the flock; surely he will make their pasturage terror-stricken at them. The thought expressed is that the very fields of Edom would, as it were, shudder at the cruelty of their conquerors. It is noticeable that the whole passage is repeated in Jer. 50:44-45, and is there applied to Babylon.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

20. The least of the flock shall draw them out The latter part of this verse is not intelligibly rendered in the Authorized Version. It should be, They shall worry them, the feeble ones of the flock; surely he shall lay waste their habitation over them.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments