Jeremiah 49:27
And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it shall consume the palaces of Ben-hadad.
Original Language Analysis
Historical Context
The Ben-hadad dynasty ruled Damascus during the 9th-8th centuries BC. By Jeremiah's time, Syria was a Babylonian vassal. The 'palaces of Ben-hadad' became a stock phrase for Damascus's royal establishment, even after that dynasty ended—emphasizing the continuity of pride and consequent judgment.
Questions for Reflection
- Why is fire the characteristic metaphor for divine judgment throughout Scripture?
- What does God's personal agency ('I will kindle') teach about His active involvement in historical judgments?
- How should the burning of 'palaces' inform Christian perspectives on wealth, power, and architectural monuments?
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Analysis & Commentary
And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus (וְהִצַּתִּי אֵשׁ בְּחוֹמַת דַּמֶּשֶׂק, v'hitsatti esh b'chomat Dammeseq)—God personally ignites (yatsath, kindle/set ablaze) Damascus's fortifications. Fire is God's signature judgment weapon, purifying and consuming (Deuteronomy 4:24, Hebrews 12:29). The walls, representing military security and civic pride, will burn.
And it shall consume the palaces of Ben-hadad (וְאָכְלָה אַרְמְנוֹת בֶּן־הֲדָד, v'akhlah armonot Ben-Hadad)—The verb akal (consume/devour) suggests total destruction. Ben-hadad was the dynastic name/title of Damascus's kings (1 Kings 15:18, 20:1). Their citadels and royal estates will be fuel for God's fire. This formula parallels Amos 1:4, confirming the prophetic tradition of Syria's judgment. What human hands built, divine fire unmakes—a sobering reminder that all cultural achievements are subject to their Maker's appraisal.