47:1 The LORD spoke to the prophet Jeremiah¹ about the Philistines before Pharaoh attacked Gaza.²

47:2 The LORD said,

“Look! Enemies are gathering in the north like water rising in a river.³
They will become like an overflowing stream.
They will overwhelm the whole country and everything in it like a flood.
They will overwhelm the cities and the people who live in them.
People will cry out in alarm.
Everyone living in the country will cry out in pain.
47:3 Fathers will hear the hoofbeats of the enemies’ horses,
the clatter of their chariots and the rumbling of their wheels.
They won’t turn back to save their children
because they will be paralyzed with fear.⁴
47:4 For the time has come
to destroy all the Philistines.
The time has come to destroy all the help
that remains for Tyre and Sidon.
For I, the LORD, will⁵ destroy the Philistines,
that remnant that came from the island of Crete.⁶
47:5 The people of Gaza will shave their heads in mourning.
The people of Ashkelon will be struck dumb.
How long will you cut yourselves to show your sorrow,⁷
you who are left of Philistia’s power?⁸
47:6 How long will you cry out,⁹ ‘Oh, sword of the LORD,
how long will it be before you quit killing?¹⁰
Go back into your scabbard!
Stay there and rest!’¹¹
47:7 But how can it rest¹²
when I, the LORD, have¹³ given it orders.
I have ordered it to attack
the people of Askelon and the sea coast.¹⁴