Jeremiah 49:23

“Concerning Damascus, etc.] Or, “unto Damascus”f942; or, “against Damascus”f943; that is, “thus saith the Lord”; which is to be repeated from the foregoing instances, (<244901>Jeremiah 49:1,7). This is to be understood, not only of the city of Damascus, but of the whole kingdom of Syria, of which Damascus was the metropolis; (see <230708>Isaiah 7:8); Hamath is confounded, and Arpad; two cities in Syria; the first is generally thought to be Antioch of Syria, sometimes called Epiphania; and the other the same with Arvad, inhabited by the Arvadim, or Aradians; (see <121834>2 Kings 18:34 <231009>Isaiah 10:9 <262711>Ezekiel 27:11); these, that is, the inhabitants of them, as the Targum, were…”

“Prophecy as to Damascus, &c. (Isa 17:1; Isa 10:9). The kingdom of Damascus was destroyed by Assyria, but the city revived, and it is as to the latter Jeremiah now prophesies. The fulfilment was probably about five years after the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar [JOSEPHUS, Antiquities, 10.9,7]. Hamath is confounded--at the tidings of the overthrow of the neighboring Damascus. on the sea--that is, at the sea; the dwellers there are alarmed. Other manuscripts read, "like the sea." "There is anxiety (restless) as is the sea: they cannot quiet it," that is, it cannot be quieted (Isa 57:20). it--Whatever dwellers are there "cannot be quiet."”

“Though the superscription is confined to Damascus, the prophecy relates to the whole of Aram, called by us Syria, which was divided into two parts, the northern, of which Hamath was the capital, and the southeastern, belonging to Damascus. Hamath is confounded - Or, is ashamed. For Hamath see Isaiah 10:9 note. Arpad lay about fourteen miles north of Aleppo, at a place now called Tel Erfad. Fainthearted - The sinews are relaxed unknit, through terror. There is sorrow on the sea - In the sea. As the sea is used (marginal reference) of the agitation of the thoughts of evil men, its sense here also probably is, there is sorrow, or rather anxiety, in the agitated hearts of the Syrians. return to…”

“Damascus - Being the head of this country, is put for the whole country. Hamath - Hamath and Arpad were two cities also of Syria. On the sea - Their inhabitants that live near the sea shall be troubled. Jeremiah 49:25”

“49:23-27 Damascus, the capital of Aram (ancient Syria), and the Aramean cities of Hamath and Arpad, indicate Aram as the next object of the Lord’s judgment.”

“Damascus: Gen 14:15, Gen 15:2; Kg1 11:24; Isa 17:1-3, Isa 37:13; Amo 1:3-5; Zac 9:1, Zac 9:2; Co2 11:32 Hamath: Num 13:21; Sa2 8:9; Kg2 17:24, Kg2 18:34, Kg2 19:13; Isa 10:9, Isa 11:11 fainthearted: Heb. melted, Deu 20:8 \*marg. Jos 2:11, Jos 14:8; Sa2 17:10; Isa 13:7; Nah 2:10 sorrow: Isa 57:20 on the sea: or, as on the sea, Psa 107:26, Psa 107:27; Luk 8:23, Luk 8:24, Luk 21:25, Luk 21:26; Act 27:20 Jeremiah 49:24”

“Concerning Damascus. - Aram, on this side of the Euphrates, or Syria, was divided, in the times of Saul and David, into the kingdoms of Damascus, Zobah, and Hamath, of which the second, extending between Damascus and Hamath (see on Sa2 8:3), or situated north-eastward from Damascus, between the Orontes and the Euphrates, was the most powerful; its kings were defeated by Saul ( Sa1 14:47), and afterwards conquered and made tributary to the kingdom of Israel by David, who did the same to the Syrians of Damascus that had come to the assistance of Hadadezer king of Zobah (2 Sam 8 and 10). After the death of David and during the time of Solomon, a freebooter named Rezon, who had broken away from…”