Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 49:8
Flee ye, turn back, dwell deep, O inhabitants of Dedan; for I will bring the calamity of Esau upon him, the time [that] I will visit him.
8. dwell deep, O inhabitants of Dedan ] See on ch. Jer 25:23. They are bidden to seek an inaccessible hiding-place.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Jer 49:8
Dwell deep, O inhabitants of Dedan.
Dwell deep, O Dedan
We do not quite know who these inhabitants of Dedan were, but in all probability they were some Arabian tribe or tribes. The text intends one of two things–either to inform these inhabitants of Dedan, that however deep in the cavernous rocks they should hide themselves, they would certainly be destroyed; or else it was a gracious warning to remove from Edom, strike their tents, and retreat into the depths of the wilderness, and so escape from the invaders.
I. Let us take it sarcastically. It is as though the prophet said to these Edomites, and those that dwelt with them, You think you never can be destroyed, for your city is situated in a rocky defile, where a handful of men can hold the pass. You suppose that the mightiest armies will fail to conquer you, and therefore you are very proud; but your pride is vain. Thy terribleness hath deceived thee, and the pride of thine heart, O thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, that holdest the height of the hill: though thou shouldest, make thy nest as high as the eagle, I will bring thee down from thence, saith the Lord. That word has been terribly fulfilled, for the ancient rock-city stands as a wonder to all travellers, and when they ride through it, which is not often, for it is with great difficulty that you reach the place at all, they find the city standing, but the houses desolate, and without inhabitants. Edom is a perpetual desolation, because of her sins:
1. From the text I hear a cry, like the stern voice of Elias, to every profane stoner who thinks that he will ultimately escape the wrath of God. Thou mayest dwell deep, O transgressor, but God shall find thee out. Thou sayest, How shall He reach me? The hand of death has only to be stretched out, and thou art HIS captive at once: and a little thing will do it–the wind has but to pass over thee, and thou art gone. A drop of blood may go the wrong way, a valve may refuse to open, a vessel may burst, a band may snap, and there thou liest, beneath Gods avenging hand, like a stag smitten by the hunter. Thou art dust, and a breath wilt scatter thee to the four winds. Thy spirit will be equally unable to escape from God. When it leaves this body, whither will it fly?
2. The same solemn warning may be applied to those who are self-righteous, and who think that they are forming a hiding-place for themselves You think that you will save yourselves by your works Ah! labour mightily; for hard must be your toil if you think to finish a righteousness of your own. In the very fire must you labour. You would make a dwelling for yourself as secure as the Rock of Ages? You had need build anxiously. I do not wonder that you are ill at ease. I wonder you have any peace, for the labours which you propose are more stupendous than those of Hercules! You would work miracles without the God of miracles! Vanity of vanities, all is vanity!
3. The same text, in the same way, might be applied to those who are hypocrites, and are practising secret sins while they yet wear the name of Christ, and are numbered amongst His people. Where are the deep places which can afford refuge to religious pretenders? Where shall liars conceal themselves? O hypocrite! it may be you have planned your sin so cleverly that the wife of your bosom does not know it: your scheme is so admirably cunning that you carry two faces, and yet no Christian sees other than that Christian mask of yours. Ah, sir! but you are a greater fool than I take you for, if you think you can deceive your God. Cast off your double-mindedness. Cease to do evil, learn to do well, for it is time to seek the Lord, and may God grant you His effectual grace that you may do so at once, ere He condemn you to the lowest hell.
II. But now we will use the text instructively, in which view, the first and natural sense would be, that the prophet warns the tribe of Dedan, who had come to live among the Edomites, to go away from them, and dwell in the depths of the wilderness; so that when the destroyer came, they might not participate in Edoms doom. It was the warning voice of mercy, separating its chosen from among the multitude of the condemned.
1. The people of God, like the tribes of Dedan, to some extent, dwell in Edom. Your business, your duty, is to come out from among them. Be ye separate, and touch not the unclean thing. Better go to heaven alone, than to hell in company. Better be true to God, with Abdiel, faithful among the faithless found, than win the applause of the crowd by great liberality and equal inconsistency. More important still, however, is the separation of every Christian from worldly habits, customs, and ways. Wherever you are, dear friend, though you must be in the world, take care that you be not of it. Dwelt deep in the solitudes where Jesus dwelt–in the lonely holiness which was fostered on the cold mountains side, and then shone resplendent amid temptation and persecution! Commit yourself unto no man; call no man master; lean on no arm of flesh; walk before the Lord in the land of the living, and so dwell deep, as did your Lord.
2. My earnest desire is that every saved soul among you may dwell deep, that is to say, that none of you may be superficial Christians, but that; you may be deep believers, well rooted plants of grace, thorough, downright, out-and-out Christians–that you may not only dwell in the Rock of Ages, but dwell deep in it. To this let me call your attention.
(1) It is highly important, beloved, that every one of us should have a deep sense of sin, and a profound horror of it. Oh, to loathe iniquity and see with self-abhorrence its heinous character; for so shall we prize the salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love which thought it, the blood which bought it, and the grace which wrought it out!
(2) Should your convictions of sin be already deep, then seek to dwell deep as to your faith in Jesus Christ. The nearer to Jesus the more perfect our peace. The innermost place of the sanctuary is the most Divine.
(3) So would I have you dwell deep an the matter of Christian study. An instructed Christian is a more useful vessel of honour for the Master, than an ignorant believer.
(4) Above all things, and beyond all things, would I earnestly impress upon my beloved friends the need of deep living unto God. There is such a thing as flimsy living, in which you pray, and pray,–yes, but it is a superficial, routine exercise. Those who live only upon outward ordinances, and do not practise private devotion, and are not abundantly with God in secret communion–these do not dwell deep. Get to the roots of things. The gold mines of Scripture are not in the top soil, you must open a shaft; the precious diamonds of experience are not picked up in the roadway, their secret places are far down. Get down into the vitality, the solidity, the veracity, the divinity of the Word of God, and seek to possess with it all the inward work of the blessed Spirit.
3. If any inquire what are our reasons for bringing forward at this time such an exhortation as this, I will briefly answer them.
(1) It is well for us to dwell deep, because trials will surely come.
(2) Again, there is a necessity that you should dwell deep, for in these days many errors have gone abroad in the world, and many teachers of heresy and infidelity; and if you do not dwell deep, they will shake you terribly.
(3) Dwell deep, for there are seasons coming when all your grace will be wanted. I have never heard of a man coming to mischief through having too much grace. Presumption brings a thousand evils, but holy carefulness brings very few, if any.
(4) Dwell deep, because those who live near to God, and are substantial in godliness, are the happiest of people. The top of the cup of religion may be bitter, but it grows sweeter the deeper down you drink.
(5) While this deep living gives a man more happiness, it also endows him with more strength.
(6) Dwell deep, for you will glorify God most. The nearer you get to the sun, the brighter you will be. The nearer you live to Christ, the more like Him you will be. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Dwell deep
I. Dwell deep in the peace of god. Gods peace is so deep and blessed that it cannot be fathomed or explained; the fugitive into its sacred secrets cannot be followed or dragged forth to perish by the merciless pack of the wolves of care. Men of the world cannot understand that mystery of peace; but the believer knows the way into it, and makes it his hiding-place and pavilion.
II. Dwell deep in communion with God. Get away from the rush and strife around, and go alone into the clear, still depths of His nature. The Rhone loses all its silt in the deep, clear waters of Genevas lake. A few hasty words of prayer will not avail for this. A days climb is often necessary before one can reach the heart of the mountains.
III. Dwell deep in stillness of soul. Get within. God awaits thee there. Centre thyself. When the world is full of alarm and harassments, study to be quiet. The souls health cannot be maintained apart from the observance of times of waiting on God in solitude. The great importance of perseverance in the exercise of prayer and inward retirement may be sufficiently learnt, says one, next to the experience of it, merely from the tempters artifices and endeavours to allure us from it, and make us neglect it. (F. B. Meyer, B. A.)
Deep dwellers
The plants which grow in the Alps are, as a rule, firmly and largely rooted. An authority on this topic says: The roots of some plants enter so far into the gritty soil as to defy the tourist to bring them out, while others simply search farther into the heart of the flaky rock, so that they are safer from any want of moisture than if in the best and richest soil. So in many lives, the very strength and beauty of Christian character are a proof that the roots of the soul have struck deep into the everlasting truth and love, the granite truths of the Divine Being and attributes. Dwell deep! O Dedan! (H. O. Mackey.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 8. Dwell deep] An allusion to the custom of the Arabs, who, when about to be attacked by a powerful foe, strike their tents, pack up their utensils, lade their camels, which they can do in a couple of hours, and set off to the great desert, and so bury themselves in it that no enemy either will or can pursue, as it is the Arabs alone that know the deserts, and can find water and provender for their support.
Dedan] Was a city of Idumea, not far from Teman.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Dedan was the son of Jokshan, 1Ch 1:32, from which it is probable that the city
Dedan had its name; it is reckoned, Jer 25:23, with Tema and Buz, and is mentioned Eze 27:15,20; 38:13. It was a city of Arabia joining on Idumea, Isa 21:13. They being neighbours to the Edomites, are called to flee, and to get into caves and holes of the earth, where they might dwell deep in the earth, and be in some security, which they would not be in their own city, so near to the Edomites country, for God was resolved to bring misery upon the Edomites, a time of calamity in which he would visit them with his judgments. There are other critical readings of these words, but this seemeth to be the plain sense of them.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
8. turnnamely, your backs inflight.
dwell deepin deepdefiles and caves [GROTIUS],which abound in Idumea. Others refer it to the Arab custom ofretiring into the depth of the desert when avoiding an offended foe(Jer 49:30).
Dedana tribe borderingon and made subject by Idumea; descended from Jokshan, son of Abrahamand Keturah (Ge 25:1-3).
EsauThe naming ofEdom’s progenitor, reprobated by God, recalls the remembrance of theold curse on him for his profanity, both his sin and its punishmentbeing perpetuated in his descendants (Heb 12:16;Heb 12:17).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Flee ye, turn back, dwell deep, O inhabitants of Dedan,…. Another city in Idumea; though some take it to be a country in Arabia, bordering on Edom, and subdued by the Edomites: the inhabitants of this place are advised to “flee” for their lives, since the enemy was just upon them; and “turn back”, lest they should fall into his hands; and hide themselves in some deep caverns of the earth, in holes, and dens of rocks, and such like places. It is a prophecy that they should flee from and turn their backs on their enemies, and betake themselves to some very secret places for safety;
for I will bring the calamity of Esau upon him; which was determined concerning him, threatened to him, and was his just desert; even the utter destruction of the whole land:
the time of his visitation; the time fixed to visit him in a way of wrath and punishment being come,
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The Prophet shews here how great was the pride of that nation, and sets it as it were before their eyes. Flee, he says; the language is abrupt, yet the meaning is not ambiguous. The meaning is, that when any one warned the Idumeans to flee, none of them would move; nay, they would remain fixed in their own country, for they thought that they would have there a perpetual quietness. The citizens of Dedan have made deep their habitation He names another city not far from Teman. He then adds, in God’s name, But I will bring destruction on Esau in the time of his visitation (36)
We now understand the design of the Prophet, — that he wished to set before our eyes how proudly the Idumeans trusted in their defences, as they never could be persuaded to flee. The Prophet then, as God’s herald, declares that they would have to flee. But what did they do? They made deep their habitation, that is, they would remain quiet in their own country, as though they were fixed in the center of the earth, and therefore unassailable. By saying then that they made deep, he sets forth their obstinacy, so that no one could terrify them, though he announced extreme dangers. But it was his purpose thus to strengthen confidence in his prophecy, because the greatest part of the faithful could form no judgment but according to the present aspect of things; and the Idumeans proudly laughed at all threatenings. That the faithful then might not think that the Idumeans would be safe, he afterwards adds, in God’s name, “Behold, I will bring ruin on Esau.” He mentions their father, and the Idumeans, we know, descended from Esau the first-born of Isaac; and hence they were of the same blood with the Israelites. But the Prophet, by bringing forward the name of a reprobate man, intended, no doubt, to renew the memory of a curse, for Esau had been rejected, and his younger brother Jacob succeeded in his place. Hence the Prophet, that he might gain more credit to his words, brought before the people what was well known to them, that Esau had been rejected by God; for on the rejection of Esau depended their gratuitous election and adoption.
And he says that God would be the avenger of that nation at the time of visitation; for as I have before reminded you, what we have read was not immediately fulfilled. When, therefore, the Israelites suffered extreme calamities, their hope might a hundred times have failed them, on seeing the Idumeans remaining still as it were asleep in their pleasures, and these judgments of God as it were buried; for it might have come to their minds that all which Jeremiah had declared had passed away like smoke. Hence, to sustain their hope and patience, he sets before them here the time of visitation; as though he had said, that the Idumeans also would have their turn, after God had patiently borne with their impiety and spared them for a long time. But of this we shall hereafter see. Now, as I have shown elsewhere, the words which remind us of the time of God’s visitations, ought to be noticed, that we may not by hastening fall headlong, as it is usually the case; for they who are in a hurry, fall at the first step. That we may then learn to wait for the ripened time, let this remain fixed in our minds, that God has his settled seasons of visitations. It now follows —
(36) The versions, (except the Syr. and the Targ.) have the verbs here in the imperative mood; and they are so regarded by most critics, “Flee ye, turn back, dwell deep,” etc.. This is necessary on account of כי, for, which follows. — Ed
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(8) O inhabitants of Dedan.See Note on Jer. 25:23. In Eze. 25:13 Dedan appears, as here, in company with Edom and Teman. In Isa. 21:13 the travelling companies of Dedanim appear as carrying on the traffic of Edom with other countries. The words dwell deep are as a warning, bidding them retire as far as possible, so as to escape from the Chaldan invaders.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
8. Dwell deep Retire into the depth of the desert the hidden and inaccessible places, where the enemy may not find and destroy you. Esau was the ancestor of the Edomites.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jer 49:8. Dwell deep, O inhabitants of Dedan See the note on Jer 49:30. The Dedanites were descended from Dedan, a grandson of Abraham, and settled in Arabia. Houbigant renders the last clause of this verse, For I am about to bring ruin upon Esau, or Edom: I will bring upon him the time of vengeance.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Jer 49:8 Flee ye, turn back, dwell deep, O inhabitants of Dedan; for I will bring the calamity of Esau upon him, the time [that] I will visit him.
Ver. 8. Dwell deep. ] Hide yourselves in holes of the earth, grots in the ground, clefts of the rocks, where you may best secure yourselves from the pursuing enemy.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
dwell deep: i.e. in out of the way recesses.
Dedan. Not identified. He was a grandson of Abraham (Gen 25:1-3). Compare Isa 21:13. Eze 25:13. A tribe descended from Abraham by Keturah (Gen 25:3).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Flee: Jer 49:30, Jer 6:1, Jer 48:6, Mat 24:15-18, Rev 6:15
turn back: or, they are turned back
dwell: Jer 48:28, Jdg 6:2, 1Sa 13:6, Isa 2:21, Amo 9:1-3, Oba 1:3, Oba 1:4
Dedan: Jer 25:23, Isa 21:13
for: Jer 49:32, Jer 46:21, Jer 48:44, Lam 4:21, Lam 4:22
Reciprocal: Gen 25:3 – Dedan 1Ch 1:32 – Dedan Eze 25:13 – of Dedan shall fall by the sword Eze 27:15 – Dedan
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 49:8. Dedan refers to some other locality in the land of Edom, The prediction of misfortune that was to come on it was expressed in the form of a warning for its citizens to flee from the place. Dwell deep is a figurative exhortation to the inhabitants of the place to “prepare for the worst. or to make the best they can of a situation of distress when it is brought upon them.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Jer 49:8. Flee ye, turn back, dwell deep When the Arabs, says Harmer, have drawn upon themselves such a general resentment of the more fixed inhabitants of those countries that they think themselves unable to stand against them, they withdraw into the depths of the great wilderness, where none can follow them with hopes of success. DArvieux tells us, they will be quite ready to decamp upon less than two hours warning, and, retiring immediately into the deserts, render it impossible for other nations, even the most powerful, to conquer them, they not daring to venture far into the deserts, where the Arabs alone know how to steer their course, so as to hit upon places of water and forage. Is it not then most probable that the dwelling deep, which Jeremiah here recommends to the Arab tribes, means this plunging far into the deserts, rather than going into deep caves and dens, as Grotius and other commentators suppose? O inhabitants of Dedan The Dedanites were Arabians of the posterity of Dedan, a grandson of Abraham, Gen 25:3. They seem by this place to have been, in latter times, subdued by the Idumeans, and incorporated with them.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
49:8 Flee ye, {k} turn back, dwell deep, O inhabitants of Dedan; for I will bring the calamity of Esau upon him, the time [that] I will punish him.
(k) The enemies that pretend to flee, will turn back and invade your land, and possess it.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
The people would have to flee because the Lord was going to bring disaster on them. The oasis of Dedan lay in Edom’s southeast region close to the Arabian Desert.