Jeremiah 49:1-6, The Future War between Israel and Jordan
on Tuesday, January 8, 2019 by Bill Salus
You might be wondering what this article headline is all about? Is it even conceivable that Israel and Jordan might go to war again? It sounds impossible because these two countries presently have a peace agreement. However, Jordan is the subject of several UNFULFILLED war prophecies.
These biblical predictions are found in Jeremiah 49, Zephaniah 2, Isaiah 11, Ezekiel 25, Obadiah 1, Psalm 83, Amos 1-2 and elsewhere. An important question is, “are these assorted Jordanian prophecies all part of the greater Psalm 83 Arab war prophecy, or are they independent from it?” Psalm 83:6-8 clearly identifies Jordan as a member of the Arab coalition that seeks to destroy Israel. This article, which is taken from my book called, The NOW Prophecies, will primarily explore Jeremiah 49:1-6 and secondarily explain the other Jordan related prophecies referenced above.
Formerly called Transjordan, the country was renamed Jordan in 1946. However, in ancient times northern Jordan was known as Ammon, central Jordan was called Moab and southern Jordan was referred to as Edom. Presently, Jordan has a fragile peace treaty with Israel, however this peace treaty is temporary and nowhere to be found in the Jordanian related prophecies listed above.
Jeremiah 49:1-6
Approximately 2600 years ago, the Hebrew prophet Jeremiah foretold of a tormenting fear that would someday debilitate and destroy this Arab state. The prophecy informs that Jordan will tremble as troubling events encroach in on all sides of its borders. Jeremiah 49:5 predicts that terrorizing geo-political events surrounding Jordan will severely destabilize the nation. The terror that Jeremiah describes has never engulfed this territory until NOW!
According to Jeremiah 49:1-5, which is quoted below, the instability that occurs within the country burgeons into an epic biblical war against Israel, which results in the,
• Trembling and toppling of Jordan,
• Dispersion of Jordanians from Jordan,
• Expansion of the Jewish state into Jordan.
Against the Ammonites. (Northern Jordanians) Thus says the LORD: “Has Israel no sons? Has he no heir? Why then does Milcom (Pagan god formerly worshipped by the Ammonites) inherit Gad, (One of tribal territories belonging to Israel) And his people dwell in its cities? Therefore behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “That I will cause to be heard an alarm of war In Rabbah (Amman, Jordan) of the Ammonites; It shall be a desolate mound, (Toppled) And her villages shall be burned with fire. Then Israel shall take possession of his (Promised Land) inheritance,” says the LORD. “Wail, O Heshbon, for Ai (Ancient cities in Northern Jordan) is plundered! Cry, you daughters of Rabbah, Gird yourselves with sackcloth! Lament and run to and fro by the walls; For Milcom (False god) shall go into captivity With his priests (Religious leaders) and his princes (Political leaders) together. Why do you boast in the valleys, Your flowing valley, and O backsliding daughter? Who trusted in her treasures, saying, ‘Who will come against me?’ Behold, I will bring fear (Jordan will tremble) upon you,” Says the Lord GOD of hosts, “From all those who are around you; You shall be driven out, (Exiled from Jordan) everyone (Refugees) headlong, And no one will gather those who wander off. (Jer. 49:1-5; emphasis added)
Jeremiah 49:1
The 3 Rhetorical Questions God Asks Jordan Today
Thus says the LORD: “Has Israel no sons? Has he no heir? Why then does Milcom inherit Gad, And his people dwell in its cities?
In this verse above, Jeremiah asks three rhetorical questions, which some future Jordanian generation will be required to answer. Since certain details in these verses have never been fulfilled, we need to ask these questions NOW to see if they find a present application.
1. Has Israel no sons?
2. Has he (Israel) no heir?
3. Why then does Milcom inherit Gad, And his people dwell in its cities?
The answers to these questions, if asked today, would be as follows;
1. YES, Israel has sons! Israel was the name given to Jacob in Genesis 32:28. Jacob had twelve sons and they are referred to as the twelve tribes of Israel. One of the sons was named Gad, (Genesis 30:11). Gad is alluded to in this Jeremiah prophecy. Gad’s descendants are part of the modern day regathering of the Jews into Israel. Hitler’s genocidal attempt of the Jews, as well as all of the other pogroms to eradicate the Jews throughout history, were unsuccessful. This means that Jacob still has descendants (sons) living today!
2. YES, Israel has heirs! Jews are living in Israel as inheritors of the Promised Land given to Abraham! The land was renamed Israel in 1948. It was supposed to have included the ancient tribal territory of Gad as per the Balfour Declaration of 1917. However, the British Empire failed to implement this declaration. This deprived the Jews of obtaining their territorial inheritance of Gad. Gad’s territory is situated in Jordan near its capital city of Amman. It is located east of the Jordan River, due north from the Dead Sea. Worsening matters, this territory was snatched away from the Jews and willfully given to the Arabs in 1946. This was accomplished through the “Treaty of London,” which was signed between the United Kingdom and Transjordan. This was the same year that Transjordan was renamed Jordan.
3. The third question only applies if the answers to first two questions are YES! If the answers are no, then Jordanians could easily inherit the tribal territory of Gad, because none of Gad’s descendants would be alive to stop them. Furthermore, the Jordanians could worship Allah or any false god of their choosing, because Gad’s God Jehovah would be a proven promise breaker! Thus, question number three would be utterly embarrassing for Gad’s God Jehovah to have Jeremiah ask. However, the answers to questions one and two are emphatically YES, which means that the Jordanians and their false god, which in the case of today is Allah, are trespassing in the Holy Land!
Jeremiah 49:2
The Israeli Defense Forces Defeat Jordan
Therefore behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “That I will cause to be heard an alarm of war In Rabbah of the Ammonites; It shall be a desolate mound, And her villages shall be burned with fire. Then Israel shall take possession of his inheritance,” says the Lord.
In verse two Jeremiah predicts that a war will happen in Rabbah of the Ammonites, which is a likely reference to the capital city of Amman, Jordan. As a result of this war Amman gets destroyed and the “villages shall be burned with fire.”
But, who reduces Amman to a desolate mound? The answer is found in the clue, “Then Israel shall take possession of his inheritance, says the Lord.” This war is between Israel and Jordan. The Israeli Defenses Forces (IDF) defeats the Jordanian forces and then Israel annexes at least parts of Northern Jordan into a greater Jewish state.
Israel has a historical pattern of winning wars and capturing conquered territories. Joshua did it around 3300 years ago, Kings David and Solomon did it around 3000 years ago and Israel did this as a result of their victory in the Arab-Israeli war of 1967 (refer to map). Israel has since relinquished some, but not all, of these 1967 real estate gains.
The expansions of Israel in the past have been justified because, as the victor they possessed the rights to claim the conquered lands, it increased the defensibility of their borders and the lands taken were part of the Promised Land described in Genesis 15:18. It’s important to note that the present peace treaty between Jordan and Israel is nonexistent when this prophecy finds fulfillment!
The theme of the IDF winning a war against Jordan and capturing land within Jordan is also foretold in Zephaniah 2:8-9.
Zephaniah 2:8-9
“I have heard the reproach of Moab, And the insults of the people of Ammon, With which they have reproached My people, And made arrogant threats against their borders. Therefore, as I live,” Says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, “Surely Moab shall be like Sodom, And the people of Ammon like Gomorrah—Overrun with weeds and saltpits, And a perpetual desolation. The residue of My people shall plunder them, And the remnant of My people shall possess them.” (Zephaniah 2:8-9)
The prophet Zephaniah tells us the following:
• The IDF will conquer Jordan. (My people shall plunder them).
• The Israelis will annex at least northern Jordan (Ammon) and central Jordan (Moab). (My people shall possess them).
• The war will be devastating and cause significant damage to Jordan. (Surely Moab shall be like Sodom, And the people of Ammon like Gomorrah—Overrun with weeds and saltpits, And a perpetual desolation).
• The reason for the war and devastation is because the Jordanians have encroached upon Israel’s borders and reproached against the Israelis. (I have heard the reproach of Moab, And the insults of the people of Ammon, With which they have reproached My people, And made arrogant threats against their borders). This reproach and encroachment is undoubtedly why Jeremiah 49:1 above asked Jordan the 3 rhetorical questions.
Notice that these Zephaniah verses also make no mention of the peace treaty that Jordan presently has with Israel. However, what is observable is that the Lord is upset with Jordan and promising to curse Jordan for cursing Israel. This is in direct correlation to God’s foreign policy in Genesis 12:3 which promises blessings to those who bless Abraham and his descendants, but cursings to those who curse them.
Additional IDF unfulfilled war related prophecies against Jordan are found in the following verses. None of these verses speak about Jordan’s fragile peace treaty with Israel. All of these verses appear to parallel Jeremiah 49:1-6 and Zephaniah 2:8-9.
Isaiah 11:13-14
Also the envy of Ephraim shall depart, And the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off; Ephraim shall not envy Judah, And Judah shall not harass Ephraim. But they shall fly down upon the shoulder of the Philistines toward the west; Together they shall plunder the people of the East; They shall lay their hand on Edom and Moab; And the people of Ammon shall obey them.
Isaiah informs that a united Israel that is no longer a divided kingdom like in the past, will successfully wage war against Jordan and that the Jordanians will submit to Israeli rule. (They, the united Jewish state of Israel, shall lay their hand on Edom and Moab; And the people of Ammon shall obey them).
Ezekiel 25:12-14
‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Because of what Edom did against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and has greatly offended by avenging itself on them,” therefore thus says the Lord GOD: “I will also stretch out My hand against Edom, cut off man and beast from it, and make it desolate from Teman; Dedan shall fall by the sword. I will lay My vengeance on Edom by the hand of My people Israel, that they may do in Edom according to My anger and according to My fury; and they shall know My vengeance,” says the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel declares that the Lord will execute His fury and vengeance against Edom, which is Southern Jordan. This judgment will cause desolation and be conducted by the IDF as a tool of the Lord. (I will lay My vengeance on Edom by the hand of My people Israel).
Obadiah 1:18
The house of Jacob, (the IDF), shall be a fire, And the house of Joseph, (the IDF) a flame; But the house of Esau, (the Edomites), shall be stubble; They shall kindle them and devour them, And no survivor shall remain of the house of Esau,” For the LORD has spoken. The South, (Israel), shall possess the mountains of Esau, (Edom), And the Lowland shall possess Philistia. They shall possess the fields of Ephraim And the fields of Samaria. Benjamin shall possess Gilead.
Obadiah appears to allude to the same battle described in Ezekiel 25:14. The IDF defeats Edom, which is southern Jordan, (They shall kindle them and devour them, And no survivor shall remain of the house of Esau). In the aftermath, Israel will take over the mountains in southern Jordan, (The South shall possess the mountains of Esau).
Psalm 83
Psalm 83 is an ancient prophecy written by the prophet Asaph at the time of King David. For more information about this Psalm you can read my book entitled, Psalm 83: The Missing Prophecy Revealed, How Israel Becomes the Next Mideast Superpower.
The Psalm speaks of a confederacy that involves Ammon, Moab and Edom along with seven other populations. This Arab coalition seeks to destroy Israel and capture the Promised Land.
They, (Ammon, Moab and Edom), have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, That the name of Israel may be remembered no more.” For they have consulted together with one consent; They form a confederacy against You: (Psalm 83:4-5) Who said, “Let us take for ourselves The pastures of God for a possession.” (Psalm 83:12)
Amos 1:11-15
More details of the coming IDF victory over Jordan seem to be put forward in Amos. Amos 1:11-15 addresses Edom and Ammon and Amos 2:1-3 speaks about Moab.
Thus says the Lord: “For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because he pursued his brother with the sword, And cast off all pity; His anger tore perpetually, And he kept his wrath forever. But I will send a fire upon Teman, Which shall devour the palaces of Bozrah.” (Amos 1:11-12)
Amos states that southern Jordan (Edom) will attempt four transgressions against Israel (his brother). Genesis 25:23-26 informs us that Esau and Jacob were twin brothers. According to Genesis 32:28, Jacob was later renamed Israel and Esau fathered the Edomites as per Genesis 36:9. Ezekiel 35:5 reveals that the Edomites, who dwelled in Mt. Seir in southern Jordan, developed a hatred toward the Jews. Amos points out that this ancient hatred “tore continually,” which infers that it exists in Esau’s descendants even today! The Edomites have ethnical representation in the modern-day Palestinians.
The motive behind these four transgressions is the Edomites historic hatred of the Jews. Is it possible that the three transgressions occurred in the Arab-Israeli wars of 1948, 1967 and 1973? The Edomites, as represented in part by the Palestinians, were involved in these three conflicts.
Amos says that the fourth is the final transgression. It will evidence that Edom must be fatally punished because of his lack of remorse and continual genocidal acts of violence against the Jews. Could the fourth transgression find fulfillment in the Psalm 83 war? The same question could be asked about Ammon in the Amos verses below.
Thus says the Lord: “For three transgressions of the people of Ammon, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they ripped open the women with child in Gilead, That they might enlarge their territory. But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, And it shall devour its palaces, Amid shouting in the day of battle, And a tempest in the day of the whirlwind. Their king shall go into captivity, He and his princes together,” Says the Lord. (Amos 1:13-15; emphasis added)
Zephaniah 2:8 accused Ammon of encroaching upon Israel’s borders. Is that what Amos is faulting northern Jordan for when he says, “That they might enlarge their territory?” Also, Psalm 83:13-15 similarly references a fire, tempest and a whirlwind. Could this be further evidence that Ammon’s final punishment happens when they participate in Psalm 83? Moreover, Amos 2:1-3 also alludes to Moab having four transgressions and being punished for the fourth wrongdoing!
Jeremiah 49:3-5
The Trembling and Captivity of Jordan
“Wail, O Heshbon, for Ai is plundered! Cry, you daughters of Rabbah, Gird yourselves with sackcloth! Lament and run to and fro by the walls; For Milcom shall go into captivity With his priests and his princes together. Why do you boast in the valleys, Your flowing valley, O backsliding daughter? Who trusted in her treasures, saying, ‘Who will come against me?’ Behold, I will bring fear upon you,” Says the Lord God of hosts, “From all those who are around you; You shall be driven out, everyone headlong, And no one will gather those who wander off.
Jeremiah 49:3-5 says that the conquered Jordanians will then go into captivity or exile. Heshbon was located in northeast of the Dead Sea, which is in northern Jordan (Ammon). The pagan Jordanian god called Milcom, which is likely be a reference to Allah, will be severely defamed when Jordan gets defeated. Remember that Allah as a Jordanian deity did not exist at Jeremiah’s time. Read Zephaniah 2:8-11 for more information about how Allah will lose his Akbar, (greatness), when the IDF defeats Jordan.
Jeremiah 49:5 says that the Lord will “bring fear upon” Jordan from “all those who are around.” Presently, Jordan faces trouble on every front. Syria and Iraq have been longstanding battlegrounds to the northeast of Jordan. As a result of the Syrian civil war, Jordan has been flooded with an estimated 1.4 million refugees. This influx of exiles has created internal security concerns and an uncertain economic future for Jordan.
Jordan Trembles to the East (Iran)
On the eastern front Jordan is unnerved by Iran’s attempt to spread its hegemony in its direction. Presently, Iranian troops are deployed into the embattled areas of Iraq and Syria. Moreover, Iran’s funding of terrorist organizations like Hezbollah, (to the north) Hamas, (to the east) and the Houthis, (to the south) further aggravates Jordan’s situation. Jordan is primarily a Sunni state, whereas Iran and the Hezbollah are Shiites. A Times of Israel headline from June 16, 2018, reads,
“Jordan recalls its ambassador from Iran over regional interference“
Jordan has recalled its ambassador from Iran in protest over its interference in the affairs of countries in the region, the Al Arabiya television network reported Friday.
Of equal or greater concern is Iran’s burgeoning nuclear program and unhindered development of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM). These ICBM’s, which are designed to carry weapons of mass destruction, could fly over Jordanian airspace on route to Israel and possibly malfunction and land in Jordan.
Jordan Trembles to the West (Israel vs. Hezbollah Conflict)
Hezbollah’s growing presence to Jordan’s north in the Golan Heights, intensifies the already existing tension between Israel and Syria. On Jordan’s western front, Israel is bracing for another possible war with Hezbollah, which could eventuate in over 1500 missiles being launched into Israel daily. A related news headline from Israel National News on April 1, 2015, reads, “IDF Scenario for Next Hezbollah War: 1,500 Missiles Per Day.”
Jordan Trembles to the South (Terror in the Sinai)
Terrorism in the Sinai to Jordan’s south threatens Jordan’s borders. Egypt has an ongoing campaign to fight the spread of terrorism in the Sinai. The Guardian headline in February of 2018 reads, “Egypt launches massive operation targeting Islamic militants in Sinai.”
Jeremiah 49:6
The Good News for the Jordanian Remnant
But afterward I will bring back The captives of the people of Ammon,” says the LORD.
Although Jordan’s future looks bleak, Jeremiah 49:6 has some good news for the Jordanians. This verse foretells that sometime after Jordan gets toppled, some of the Jordanian exiles will survive and the Lord will deliver them back into their ancient homeland. The theme of the Lord bringing back a remnant to inhabit the Messianic Kingdom is found in several scriptures. A few of them are identified below.
Iran: Jeremiah 49:39.
Israel, Syria and Egypt: Isaiah 19:23-24.
Jordan: Jeremiah 49:6 and 48:47.
Conclusion
According to the Bible prophecies put forward in this article, someday Jordan will shred the fragile peace treaty with Israel and go to war against the Jewish state. Jordan will be soundly defeated and as a result Israel will capture significant amounts of territory inside of modern-day Jordan. Many Jordanians will go into captivity or exile. Fortunately, for a remnant of surviving Jordanians, they will return to Jordan and reside there during the Messianic Kingdom period.
At the beginning of this commentary the question was asked if these assorted Jordanian prophecies are part of the greater Psalm 83 Arab war prophecy? In light of the explanations provided, what do you think? I believe they are and that they remain unfulfilled.
Some of you might be wondering why Jordan would involve itself in a war with Israel. The Jordanian army is no match for the IDF. Warring against the IDF would result in an almost certain defeat. However, if Jordan doesn’t wage the war alone, but enjoins in the Arab coalition of Psalm 83, then that seems more realistic. Psalm 83:8 says that Assyria actually helps Jordan in the Psalm 83 conflict.
Or, what if Jordan is a reluctant participant in the Psalm 83 confederacy. This was somewhat the case in the 1973 Arab-Israeli war. Egypt and Syria were the primary antagonists and subsequently, after Egypt and Syria were beginning to falter, Jordan was drawn into the conflict. Some suggest that Psalm 83 found fulfillment in the Arab-Israeli war of 1948. In my DVD entitled, The NEXT Prophecies, I provide multiple reasons why the Psalm was not entirely fulfilled at that time.
Psalm 83 involves a consortium of nations and terrorist populations that surround Israel. These are the countries that share common borders with Israel. Their modern-day equivalents are depicted on the map.
Today, there are some Bible prophecy teachers that suggest the current treaty between Israel and Jordan means that Psalm 83 has either been already fulfilled or can’t happen. Unless they can prove that these war prophecies included in this article have been fulfilled independently of Psalm 83, then they should no longer use this fragile treaty as a reason to dismiss the potential coming war prophecy of Psalm 83.
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