Judgment on Elam

Judgment on Elam

The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against Elam in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying, Jer. 49:34

The word of... The 89th prophecy in Jeremiah (Jer. 49:34-39; 49:34-38 fulfilled; Jer. 49:39 unfulfilled). Next, Jer. 50:1.

Eight Predictions—Fulfilled:

1. I will break the bow of Elam, the chief of their might (Jer. 49:35).

2. I will bring upon Elam the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and I will scatter them toward all those winds (Jer. 49:36).

3. Elam will be scattered among all nations.

4. I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies and them that seek their life (Jer. 49:37).

5. I will bring evil upon them, even My fierce anger.

6. I will send the sword after them till I have consumed them.

7. I will set My throne in Elam (Jer. 49:38).

8. I will destroy from thence the king and the princes.

One Prediction—Unfulfilled:

I will bring again the captivity of Elam in the latter days (Jer. 49:39).

against Elam in... Elam was a country east of the Tigris river. It was subjected by Nebuchadnezzar as well as all other countries round about Babylon (Jer. 49:34-39; 25:25; Dan. 2:37-38). The Persians, as it is commonly understood, who descended from Elam, the son of Shem (Gen. 10:22). According to Josephus; the country of Elymais, is here designed. Which, though in the times of Cyrus, was added to, and made a part of, the Persian Empire, yet was a country distinct both from Persia and Media. And it seems very manifest that Elam served under Sennacherib, king of Assyria, when he besieged Jerusalem (Isa. 22:6). And afterwards fell into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and became subject to him, which is the calamity here threatening them. For certain it is, that, in Belshazzar's time, Shushan in Elam was the royal seat of the kings of Babylon, (Dan. 8:2). Now this prophecy against Elam was delivered out;

the beginning of... This prophecy was given 11 years before Jerusalem was destroyed; the conquest of Elam could have been after Judah fell (Jer. 49:34; 2Ki. 24:18; 25:2-3). Perhaps in the first year of Zedekiah's reign, how long before it had its accomplishment is not certain.

Prophecy against Elam (Jer. 49:34-39)

Elam was east of Babylon in what is today the country of Iran. This prophecy was given early in the reign of Zedekiah, about 597 B.C.

Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the chief of their might. Jer. 49:35

I will break... Elamites were famous archers (compare Isa. 22:6).

Elam was one of the most ancient kingdoms in the world. It was south of Assyria. It was east of Persia. The man, Elam, was the first son of Shem. This Elam probably got its name from him. He was the father of the Elamites. Elam was a land of bowmen.

bow of Elam,... Evidently the Elamites depended mainly upon their skill with the bow to protect themselves.

God promised to break the bow of Elam which He called the mainstay of their might. This is significant because the Elamites were known for their archery skills (cf. Isa. 22:6). This is just saying, they will break the bow so they cannot fight.

And upon Elam will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them toward all those winds; and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of Elam shall not come. Jer. 49:36

four quarters of... The term "four winds" is used several times in a symbolic sense to represent the four directions (Dan. 7:2; Mat. 24:31).

In the times of Nebuchadnezzar, who should bring with him, in his army, people that dwelt in the several parts of the world, comparable to the winds for their swiftness and strength.

and will scatter... Those four winds, east, west, north, and south.
and there shall... Those that are driven out of it, forced to flee from it, or are taken captive, should come into the several nations of the world. So that there would not be any in which an Elamite was not.
This is very similar to the scattering of the Jews to every country. They will be scattered to all lands. They would be a dispersed people to all nations.

Her invaders would come from all directions (the four winds and the four quarters of the heavens) and would scatter… Elam’s exiles throughout the earth.

For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies, and before them that seek their life: and I will bring evil upon them, even my fierce anger, saith the LORD; and I will send the sword after them, till I have consumed them: Jer. 49:37

dismayed before their... Frightened; thrown into the utmost consternation, so that they shall have no heart nor spirit to go out against them, and meet them, and defend themselves. But make all haste imaginable to flee from them, such a panic would seize them.

and before them... A further description of their enemies; they being such, who, not content with their substance, sought to take away their lives. Nothing less would satisfy them, being: cruel and blood thirsty ones.

evil upon them... The word evil is often used in the sense of judgment or punishment for sin. What sins Elam had been guilty of is not stated but we can suppose that they were the same as those which caused other nations of their time to be punished. And a greater evil than that cannot be; signifying that the destruction that should be made among them would be the effect of the wrath of God upon them for their sins.

and I will... That is, those that slay with the sword, as the Targum. These should go after those that fled, and destroy them, till the greater part of them were consumed. For all of them that were taken were not destroyed; or otherwise there would have been none to return from captivity, as is promised at the close of this prophecy.
We do not read of why the wrath of God is upon them, but we know it is not without just cause. We do know at one point that they were opposed to rebuilding the temple in the time of Ezra. This is explanation enough for me. God has every right to do with them as He wishes.

Though there is some evidence that Nebuchadnezzar defeated the Elamites about 596 B.C. , his subjugation at that time did not fulfill this message. Elam became a central part of the Persian Empire that later conquered Babylon (cf. Dan. 8:2).

And I will set my throne in Elam, and will destroy from thence the king and the princes, saith the LORD. Jer. 49:38

my throne in... The throne of Nebuchadnezzar is spoken of here as God’s throne because it was God who was giving the greatness of the Babylonian kingdom to Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. 2:37-38; 4:17).

Either when Alexander subdued it, or Cyrus. Or rather Nebuchadnezzar, whose palace probably was, as it is certain his successors was, in Shushan in Elam, as before observed from (Dan. 8:2). This is called the Lord's throne, because he gave it to him. His conquest of Elam, and his dominion over it, were from him.

and will destroy... So that there should be no more kings of Elam, and princes and nobles of their own, after this time. And because mention is made of the kings of Elam in the times of Nebuchadnezzar (Jer. 25:25). Though that is observed in the first year of his reign, some have thought that it is best to understand it for Cyrus, the Lord's servant and anointed. And whose throne might well be called the throne of God. Which he gave him, and set him on in an eminent manner, not only there, but elsewhere (see Ezra 1:2). And when this country of Elam, or Elymais, became a part of the Persian empire, and never had any more kings to reign over it separately.

The throne is speaking of his tribunal. Elam's king will reign no more. There will be strangers on the throne.

Jeremiah’s statement about Elam’s destruction seems to take on eschatological dimensions as God said He would set His throne in Elam to supervise her destruction.

But it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring again the captivity of Elam, saith the LORD. Jer. 49:39

come to pass... The latter days are speaking of the end times. In the following Scripture that speaks of all the nationalities of people at Pentecost, we see the Elamites mentioned.
Acts 2:9 "Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia".

Seth was not from the family of Cain. He was the son of Adam and Eve, who the spiritual blessings came through. God never totally destroys this line. They will return possibly during the Messianic age.

I will bring... Elam is another of several nations God has promised to restore in the latter days:

1. Elam (Jer. 49:39)

2. Moab (Jer. 48:47)

3. Ammon (Jer. 48:6)

4. Israel (Jer. 23:20; 30:24; Deut. 4:30; Hos. 3:5; Acts 15:13-19)

As with certain other peoples in this section of nations, God would allow Elamites to return to their homeland. (In Acts 2:9), Elamites were among the group present at the Pentecost event. This has eschatological implications as well.

Prophecy against Elam

Yet Elam’s destruction will not be total because God will restore her fortunes… in days to come (cf. Jer. 48:47; 49:6).