Matthew Poole and continuators on Jeremiah 49:23

23 ¶ Concerning Damascus . Hamath is confounded, and Arpad : for they have heard evil tidings, they are faint-hearted, there is sorrow on the sea, it cannot be quiet .

The Prophet comes to denounce the judgments of God against Syria, another nation of the Gentiles, Damascus was the head City of Syria, Isa. 7.8. and 17.3. or Aram (as in the Heb.) because it was a Country inhabited by the posterity of Aram one of the sons of Sem, part of it lay betwixt Babylon and Arabia, and was called Mesopotamia, lying betwixt the two Rivers of Tigris and Euphrates. Laban and Naaman were of this Countrey, David had War with them 2 Sam. 8.5. and 10.18. So had Ahab 1 King. 20.20. and Ioram 2 Kings 8.28. And Aha[illegible: 1 letter] Isai. 7.2. after Gods long patience with them he threatens them with ruine, as by Ieremiah in this place, so by Amos 1.5. Damascus being the head City of this Country is sometimes put (as here) for the whole Countrey.

Hamath and Arpad were two Cities also of Syria, 2 Kings 18.34.

The Prophet foretels that they also should hear of ill news, an Enemy that is coming against them, and that they should be melted through fear, and their courage should fail them, they should be as troubled as the Sea is in a storm, or their inhabitants that lived near to the Sea should be troubled.

Marginal references: Zech. 9.12▪; Heb. [illegible: 1 word] ▪; Or, as [illegible: 1 span] Sea.