Jeremiah 49:28-29
Concerning Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon struck down. Thus says the LORD: “Rise up, advance against Kedar! Destroy the people of the east! Their tents and their flocks shall be taken, their curtains and all their goods; their camels shall be led away from them, and men shall cry to them: ‘Terror on every side!’
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This prophecy about Kedar and Hazor isn't just a prediction of conquest; it reveals that even seemingly free, nomadic people of the east, dwelling in their tents and living apart, are not beyond God's reach or judgment when His purposes demand it. Nebuchadnezzar is given a divine commission to "rise up" and "spoil" them, showing that God’s sovereignty extends even to those who might appear remote and untouchable.
This passage is a prophetic oracle directed against the Arab tribes of Kedar and the peoples of Hazor, identifying them as targets for Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. Jeremiah, following prophecies about other nations, now turns to these eastern peoples, commissioned by the LORD to rise up and plunder them. The text emphasizes their nomadic lifestyle and the impending destruction of their tents, flocks, and possessions by the Babylonian armies.
Who were the Kedarites and the people of Hazor? What does it mean to be called the 'men of the east'?
This prophecy targets Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor. Kedar was a prominent son of Ishmael, whose descendants became a powerful nomadic tribe in the Arabian desert, known for their predatory lifestyle and their trade in livestock, particularly with cities like Tyre. They are often referred to as the 'men of the east' or 'children of the east', a term that generally described the nomadic peoples living east of the Jordan River and Mesopotamia.
'Hazor' likely refers not to a specific city, but to a region or a collective term for Arab groups, possibly including those who had settled in villages ('hacereem') rather than living purely nomadically in tents. These 'kingdoms' were likely confederations of clans or tribes under their own chiefs.
Their way of life, centered around tents and flocks, made them distinct from settled, urban societies. The conquest by Nebuchadnezzar would mean the seizure of their tents, their coverings, their livestock, and their camels – the very essentials of their existence.
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Who gave Nebuchadnezzar the authority to attack these desert tribes?
The prophecy makes it clear that this invasion is not just a geopolitical event; it's divinely ordained. The phrase 'Thus says the LORD' precedes the command to Nebuchadnezzar: 'Arise ye, go up to Kedar! Destroy the people of the east!'
This shows that God uses powerful empires, like Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar, as instruments of His judgment. Even peoples living in remote areas, who might seem removed from the political centers of power, are not beyond God's notice or His sovereign plan. Nebuchadnezzar, often called a 'scourge of God,' is given a commission to bring devastation.
Understand the original words
magor · Hebrew Noun
A state of extreme dread, panic, or overwhelming calamity. It is often used in prophetic literature to describe the reaction of those facing the righteous judgment of God.
This prophecy against Kedar and Hazor highlights how even the nomadic and seemingly remote peoples of the East were caught in the sweep of Babylonian imperial ambitions, showing that no one was truly beyond the reach of God's judgment or the geopolitical shifts of the era.
c. 722 BC
Assyrian Campaigns Against Arab Tribes
The Neo-Assyrian Empire frequently campaigned against Arab tribes, including those in the Kedar region, to secure trade routes and quell raids.
605 BC
Nebuchadnezzar's First Campaign
Nebuchadnezzar II, before becoming sole king, leads Babylonian forces in campaigns that likely subdued some Arabian territories.
c. 590s BC— this verse
Nebuchadnezzar's Campaign Against Kedar
Jeremiah prophesies that Nebuchadnezzar, the powerful king of Babylon, will attack and plunder the nomadic tribes of Kedar and the settled regions of Hazor.
c. 580s BC
Fall of Jerusalem
Jerusalem falls to Nebuchadnezzar, leading to the Babylonian exile of Judeans.
550s BC
Rise of the Persian Empire
Cyrus the Great begins his conquests, eventually leading to the fall of Babylon and a new era for the region.
This passage describes a prophecy against the Arabians (Dedan, Tema, and Kedar) and their plunder, mirroring Jeremiah's prophecy about Nebuchadnezzar's conquest.
Ezekiel 27:21This verse mentions Kedar supplying Tyre with lambs, highlighting their role as pastoral people whose wealth was in livestock, which aligns with the 'spoiling' mentioned in Jeremiah.
Psalm 120:5-7The Psalmist speaks of dwelling with those who 'hate peace' and are like the 'tents of Kedar,' illustrating the nomadic and often conflict-prone lifestyle of the people Jeremiah describes.
Genesis 25:13-16This passage identifies Kedar as a son of Ishmael, providing the genealogical background for the people whom Nebuchadnezzar is prophesied to conquer, connecting the prophecy to biblical lineage.
clarkeJeremiah 49:28: "Concerning Kedar, and concerning the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon shall smite, thus saith the LORD; Arise ye, go up to Kedar, and spoil the men of the east."
Concerning Kedar, and Concerning the Kingdoms of Hazor - This is the title of another new prophecy. Kedar was the name of one of the sons of Ishmael (Genesis 25:13) who settled in Arabia, and who gave name to a powerful tribe of Arabs who used to traffic with the Tyrians in cattle. It appears fro…
gillJeremiah 49:28: "Concerning Kedar, and concerning the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon shall smite, thus saith the LORD; Arise ye, go up to Kedar, and spoil the men of the east."
Concerning Kedar, and concerning the kingdoms of Hazor,.... A new prophecy concerning the Arabians; for Kedar was a son of Ishmael, Genesis 25:13 ; whose posterity inhabited Arabia Petraea. Hazor was Petra itself, the metropolis of the country, whose king had several petty kings and kingdoms unde…
This prophecy about Kedar and Hazor isn't just a prediction of conquest; it reveals that even seemingly free, nomadic people of the east, dwelling in their tents and living apart, are not beyond God's reach or judgment when His purposes demand it. Nebuchadnezzar is given a divine commission to "rise up" and "spoil" them, showing that God’s sovereignty extends even to those who might appear remote and untouchable.
This passage is a prophetic oracle directed against the Arab tribes of Kedar and the peoples of Hazor, identifying them as targets for Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. Jeremiah, following prophecies about other nations, now turns to these eastern peoples, commissioned by the LORD to rise up and plunder them. The text emphasizes their nomadic lifestyle and the impending destruction of their tents, flocks, and possessions by the Babylonian armies.
This passage is a prophetic oracle directed against the Arab tribes of Kedar and the peoples of Hazor, identifying them as targets for Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. Jeremiah, following prophecies about other nations, now turns to these eastern peoples, commissioned by the LORD to rise up and plunder them. The text emphasizes their nomadic lifestyle and the impending destruction of their tents, flocks, and possessions by the Babylonian armies.
"Concerning Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon struck down.
Thus says the LORD:
“Rise up, advance against Kedar!
Destroy the people of the east! Their tents and their flocks shall be taken,…" — This prophecy about Kedar and Hazor isn't just a prediction of conquest; it reveals that even seemingly free, nomadic people of the east, dwelling in their tents and living apart, are not beyond God'…
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