King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 49:2 Mean?

Jeremiah 49:2 in the King James Version says “Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will cause an alarm of war to be heard in Rabbah of the Ammonit... — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 49 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will cause an alarm of war to be heard in Rabbah of the Ammonites ; and it shall be a desolate heap, and her daughters shall be burned with fire: then shall Israel be heir unto them that were his heirs, saith the LORD.

Jeremiah 49:2 · KJV


Context

1

Concerning the Ammonites , thus saith the LORD; Hath Israel no sons? hath he no heir? why then doth their king inherit Gad, and his people dwell in his cities? Concerning: or, Against their king: or, Melcom

2

Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will cause an alarm of war to be heard in Rabbah of the Ammonites ; and it shall be a desolate heap, and her daughters shall be burned with fire: then shall Israel be heir unto them that were his heirs, saith the LORD.

3

Howl, O Heshbon, for Ai is spoiled: cry, ye daughters of Rabbah, gird you with sackcloth; lament, and run to and fro by the hedges; for their king shall go into captivity, and his priests and his princes together. their king: or, Melcom

4

Wherefore gloriest thou in the valleys, thy flowing valley, O backsliding daughter? that trusted in her treasures, saying, Who shall come unto me? thy: or, thy valley floweth away


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will cause an alarm of war to be heard in Rabbah of the Ammonites. God announces judgment on Ammon with the prophetic formula 'the days come, saith the LORD' (hineh yamim ba'im ne'um-YHWH). The phrase 'alarm of war' translates teru'ah (תְּרוּעָה), a shout or blast—specifically the war cry or trumpet blast signaling battle. God Himself will cause this alarm to sound in Rabbah, Ammon's capital (modern Amman, Jordan), announcing their destruction.

And it shall be a desolate heap (tel shemamah, תֵּל שְׁמָמָה)—a 'tel' is an archaeological mound formed by successive destructions and rebuildings. Rabbah, once a fortified city, will become a ruin pile. Her daughters shall be burned with fire refers to the surrounding villages (Hebrew idiom: daughter-towns dependent on the mother-city). Complete devastation is prophesied.

The reversal is stunning: then shall Israel be heir unto them that were his heirs, saith the LORD. Ammon had occupied Israelite territory in Gad (verse 1), 'inheriting' what belonged to Israel. God promises to reverse this—Israel will repossess their land and even inherit Ammonite territory. This demonstrates the lex talionis (law of retaliation) principle: as Ammon did to Israel, so it will be done to them. Romans 12:19 and Hebrews 10:30 echo this—vengeance belongs to God, who will repay.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Ammon descended from Lot's incestuous relationship with his daughter (Genesis 19:38). Throughout Israel's history, Ammon proved hostile—they hired Balaam to curse Israel (Deuteronomy 23:3-4), oppressed Israel during the judges period (Judges 10-11), and Hanun humiliated David's ambassadors (2 Samuel 10:1-5). When Babylon destroyed Judah (586 BC), Ammon gloated and seized Israelite territory (Ezekiel 25:3, 6; Zephaniah 2:8-9). Jeremiah 40:14 reveals Ammon's king conspired to assassinate Gedaliah, the Babylonian-appointed governor. Nebuchadnezzar invaded Ammon around 582 BC in his campaign against surrounding nations. Archaeological evidence shows destruction layers at Ammonite sites from this period. The Ammonites eventually merged with surrounding peoples and disappeared from history, while Israel survived exile and returned to their land.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does God's judgment on Ammon for seizing Israel's inheritance demonstrate His faithfulness to covenant promises?
  2. What does the reversal—'Israel be heir unto them that were his heirs'—teach about God's justice and the ultimate futility of opposing His purposes?
  3. In what ways do nations and individuals today 'inherit' what belongs to God's people, and how should we respond in light of God's sovereignty?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 25 words
לָכֵ֡ן1 of 25
H3651

properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner

הִנֵּה֩2 of 25
H2009

lo!

יָמִ֨ים3 of 25

Therefore behold the days

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

בָּאִ֜ים4 of 25

come

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

נְאֻם5 of 25

saith

H5002

an oracle

יְהוָֽה׃6 of 25

the LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

וְ֠הִשְׁמַעְתִּי7 of 25

to be heard

H8085

to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)

אֶל8 of 25
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

רַבַּ֨ת9 of 25

in Rabbah

H7237

rabbah, the name of two places in palestine, east and west

בְּנֵי10 of 25

of the Ammonites

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

עַמּ֜וֹן11 of 25
H5983

ammon, a son of lot; also his posterity and their country

תְּרוּעַ֣ת12 of 25

that I will cause an alarm

H8643

clamor, i.e., acclamation of joy or a battle-cry; especially clangor of trumpets, as an alarum

מִלְחָמָ֗ה13 of 25

of war

H4421

a battle (i.e., the engagement); generally, war (i.e., war-fare)

וְהָֽיְתָה֙14 of 25
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

לְתֵ֣ל15 of 25

heap

H8510

a mound

שְׁמָמָ֔ה16 of 25

and it shall be a desolate

H8077

devastation; figuratively, astonishment

וּבְנֹתֶ֖יהָ17 of 25

and her daughters

H1323

a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)

בָּאֵ֣שׁ18 of 25

with fire

H784

fire (literally or figuratively)

תִּצַּ֑תְנָה19 of 25

shall be burned

H3341

to burn or set on fire; figuratively, to desolate

יֹרְשָׁ֖יו20 of 25

be heir

H3423

to occupy (by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place); by implication, to seize, to rob, to inherit; also to expel, to impoverish

יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל21 of 25

then shall Israel

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

אֶת22 of 25
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

יֹרְשָׁ֖יו23 of 25

be heir

H3423

to occupy (by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place); by implication, to seize, to rob, to inherit; also to expel, to impoverish

אָמַ֥ר24 of 25

saith

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

יְהוָֽה׃25 of 25

the LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Jeremiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Jeremiah 49:2 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Jeremiah 49:2 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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