47:1 The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before that Pharaoh smote Gaza.

“Some have supposed the Pharaoh here spoken of to be Pharaoh-necho, and that he subdued Gaza after the battle of Megiddo, (2 Kings 23:29,) when the whole country round submitted to his victorious arms. Others have thought that it was Pharaoh-hophra, who, having marched out of Egypt to the relief of Jerusalem, when besieged by the Chaldeans, in the ninth or tenth year of Zedekiah, thought proper to retire again on the approach of the enemy toward him, (Jeremiah 37:5; Jeremiah 37:7,) but, on his return, fell upon Gaza, and pillaged it. All this, however, is no better than mere conjecture.” — Blaney.

failing to see that the disaster there spoken of was to come on Gaza from the north, not from Egypt, identified it with Pharaoh-neco’s capture of “Kadytis,” probably Gaza (Herod. II. 159), after the battle of Megiddo (b.c. 608).

The calamities predicted in this chapter befell them probably during the long siege of Tyre, when their country was desolated to prevent their giving Tyre or Sidon any assistance, Jeremiah 47:1-5.

The Pharaoh is evidently Pharaoh Necho, and this capture of Gaza was one of the incidents of the campaign which opened with the victory at Megiddo and concluded so disastrously at Carchemish. Our first impulse is to look for some connection between this incident and the contents of the prophecy: possibly the editor who prefixed the heading may have understood by the northern enemy Pharaoh Necho on his return from Carchemish

The Pharaoh is evidently Pharaoh Necho, and this capture of Gaza was one of the incidents of the campaign which opened with the victory at Megiddo and concluded so disastrously at Carchemish. Our first impulse is to look for some connection between this incident and the contents of the prophecy: possibly the editor who prefixed the heading may have understood by the northern enemy Pharaoh Necho on his return from Carchemish

Some think it was either in his way to Carchemish, or as he came back a conqueror from the battle at Megiddo, where Josiah was slain.

1. Pharaoh-necho probably smote Gaza on his return after defeating Josiah at Megiddo (2Ch 35:20) [Grotius]. Or, Pharaoh-hophra (Jer 37:5, 7) is intended: probably on his return from his fruitless attempt to save Jerusalem from the Chaldeans, he smote Gaza in order that his expedition might not be thought
altogether in vain [Calvin] (Am 1:6, 7).

the conquest was effected by the defeated army as it was returning from the Euphrates, when Necho, on his march home, reduced Gaza (Hitzig), and by taking this fortress from the enemy, barred the way to Egypt. Of these two alternatives, we can accept neither as probable. The neglect, on the part of the author of the title, to observe the statement that the enemy is to come from the north, would show too great carelessness for us to trust him. But if he did notice the remark, then it merely follows that Pharaoh must have reduced Gaza on his return, after being defeated at Carchemish.

According to history Jeremiah lived to see one, and possibly two conquests of Gaza by Pharaoh, for Herodotus relates (II., 159): Σ?ροισι πεζ? ? Νεκ?ς συμβαλ?ν ?ν Μαγδ?? ?ν?κσε· μετ? δ? τ?ν μ?χην καδυτην π?λιν τ?ς Συρ?ης ?ον?σαν μεγ?λην ε?λε. Thus after the battle of Megiddo (for this is admitted to be Μ?γδολος) Pharaoh-necho conquered Gaza. That Κ?δυτις is Gaza (according to the Egyptian Katatu; comp. DUNCKER. I., S. 342, 818) is now generally acknowledged. Comp. M. NIEBUHR, Ass. u. Bab., S. 369; ARNOLD in HERZOG, R.-Enc. IV., S. 672; GRAFad h. loc., S. 523; DUNCKER, etc.

When this blow was given to Gaza by the king of Egypt is not certain, whether in his expedition against Carchemish or in his return thence, after he had slain Josiah, or when he afterwards came with design to relieve Jerusalem;

2 Thus saith the Lord; Behold, waters rise up out of the north, and shall be an overflowing flood, and shall overflow the land, and all that is therein; the city, and them that dwell therein: then the (Gemini) men shall (lunar open mouth) cry, and all the (Gemini) inhabitants of the land shall (lunar open mouth) howl.

3 At the noise of the stamping of the (lunar) hoofs of his strong horses, at the rushing of his (Auriga) chariots, and at the rumbling of his (Auriga solar) wheels, the (Gemini) fathers shall not (lunar eye) look back to their (Gemini) children for feebleness of hands;

4 Because of the day that cometh to spoil all the (Gemini) Philistines, and to cut off from (Gemini) Tyrus and Zidon every helper that remaineth: for the Lord will spoil the (Gemini) Philistines, the remnant of the country of Caphtor.

5 (Solar) Baldness is come upon (Taurus) Gaza; Ashkelon is cut off with the remnant of their valley: how long wilt thou cut thyself?

6 O thou sword of the Lord, how long will it be ere thou be (lunar open mouth) quiet? put up thyself into thy (Gemini) scabbard, rest, and be still.

7 How can it be (lunar open mouth) quiet, seeing the Lord hath given it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the sea shore? there hath he appointed it.