Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 47:3
At the noise of the stamping of the hooves 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;
3. At the noise wheels ] Gi. omits all three clauses, Co. the middle one; both objecting on metrical grounds.
strong ones ] See on Jer 8:16.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
His strong horses – War-horses, chargers.
The rushing of his chariots – Rather, the rattling, the crashing noise which they make as they advance.
For feebleness of hands – The Philistines flee in such panic that a father would not even turn round to see whether his sons were effecting their escape or not.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 3. The stamping of the hoofs] At the galloping sound, –
Quadrupedante putrem sonitu quatit ungula campum,
is a line of Virgil, (AEn. viii. 596,) much celebrated; and quoted here by Blayney, where the galloping sound of the horses’ hoofs is heard. In the stamping of the horses, the rushing of the chariots, and the rumbling of the wheels, our translators intended to convey the sense by the sound of the words; and they have not been unsuccessful. Their translation of the original is at the same time sufficiently literal.
The fathers shall not look back] Though their children are left behind, they have neither strength nor courage to go back to bring them off.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
This is all but a description of the march of an army, so terrible as should make parents forget their natural affection, and flee away to save themselves, looking upon themselves as lost, and unable to protect their children.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3. (Compare Jer4:29).
fathers . . . not look backto . . . childrenEach shall think only of his own safety, noteven the fathers regarding their own children. So desperate shall bethe calamity that men shall divest themselves of the naturalaffections.
for feebleness of handsThehands, the principal instruments of action, shall have lost allpower; their whole hope shall be in their feet.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong [horses],…. The noise of the cavalry of Nebuchadnezzar’s army, as they came marching on towards the country of the Philistines; who, being mounted on strong prancing horses, made a great noise as they came along, and were heard at a distance:
at the rushing of his chariots, [and at] the rumbling, of his wheels; the rattling and clatter the chariot wheels made; in which rode the chief officers and generals, with other mighty men: chariots were much used in war in those times:
the fathers shall not look back to [their] children for feebleness of hands; they should be so frightened at the approach of the enemy, and flee with much precipitancy to provide for their own safety, that they should not think of their children, or stay to deliver and save them, the most near and dear unto them; being so terrified as not to be able to lift up their hands to defend themselves, and protect their children. The Targum is,
“the fathers shall not look back to have mercy on [their] children;”
in their fright should forget their natural affection to them, and not so much as look back with an eye of pity and compassion on them; so intent upon their own deliverance and safety.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
He continues the same subject; for he says, that so grievous would be the calamity, that fathers would not have a care for their children, which is a proof of extreme sorrow; for men even in adversity do not divest themselves of their natural feelings. When a father has children, he would willingly undergo ten deaths, if necessary, in order to save their life; but when men forget that they are parents, it is a proof, as I have said, of the greatest grief, as though men, having changed their nature, were become logs of wood. But the Prophet expresses the cause, not only of sorrow, but also of anxiety; From the voice, he says, of the noise of the hoofs of his valiant ones; he does not name the horses, but פרסות, peresut, refer to horses; hoofs, he says, shall make a great noise by stamping. And then such would be the commotion by the driving of chariots, and such a tumult would the revolving wheels create, that fathers, being astonished, would not. look on their children At length, he adds, through dissolution of hands By dissolution of hands he means loss of courage or fainting. For as vigor spreads from the heart through every part of the body, so also the bands are the chief instruments of all actions. When therefore the bands are relaxed and become feeble, it follows that men become as it were inanimate. The Prophet now means that the Philistines would become like the dead, so as not to move, no, not even their fingers; and why? because they would be so terrified by the stamping of horses, by the commotion of chariots, and by the rumbling of wheels, that they would lose their senses. It follows, —
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(3) The fathers shall not look back to their children.The selfishness of panic was to reach its highest point, and to crush out the instincts of natural affection. Even fathers would be content to save themselves, regardless of their childrens lives.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
3. Strong horses War horses.
The fathers shall not look back Nothing could more impressively set forth the appalling danger and terror. So fearful would be the panic that the parent would not pause to see whether his children were effecting their escape.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jer 47:3. At the noise, &c. At the clapping, or clattering sound of the hoofs of his horses, &c. The fathers look not back, &c. Every one is so possessed with a sense of his own danger, that he does not think of those who are most nearly and tenderly related to him. Compare chap. Jer 9:4. Mic 7:5-6. Mat 10:35-36.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Jer 47:3 At 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;
Ver. 3. The fathers shall not look back to their children. ] Though never so dear to them – the Greeks call them, and the Latins have their filius of – but shall be solicitous of their own lives only. Qui de Deo ne tantillum quidem fuerant solliciti.
For feebleness of hands.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
strong horses. Compare Jer 8:16.
rushing = rattling.
children = sons.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the noise: Jer 8:16, Jer 46:9, Jdg 5:22, Job 39:19-25, Eze 26:10, Eze 26:11, Nah 2:4, Nah 3:2, Nah 3:3
the fathers: Deu 28:54, Deu 28:55, Lam 4:3, Lam 4:4
Reciprocal: Isa 5:28 – their horses’ Isa 9:5 – confused noise Isa 23:4 – I travail Jer 13:14 – even Jer 18:22 – a cry Jer 50:42 – shall ride Lam 1:6 – harts Eze 23:24 – with chariots Eze 24:22 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 47:3. The reference to the horses and chariots, etc., is in view of the army that was destined to he brought against the Philistine land. Fathers not look back to their children-. So great will the consternation be that parents will not be concerned for the safety of their children but will think of themselves only.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
47:3 At 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, {c} the fathers shall not look back to [their] children for feebleness of {d} hands;
(c) The great fear will take away their natural affection.
(d) Their heart will so fail them.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
The invading horses and chariots would so terrorize the people that parents would not even think to protect their children. They would be too concerned with finding safety for themselves in the panic.