The coming exile of Egypt (Jer 46:17-46:19)

“Give Pharaoh,

The king of Egypt,

The name

‘Braggart

Who missed his chance.’

‘As I live!’

Says the King,

Whose name is

Yahweh of hosts.

‘One is coming

Like Tabor

Among the mountains,

Like Carmel

By the sea.

Pack your bags

For exile!

Sheltered daughter Egypt!

Memphis shall become

A waste,

A ruin,

Without inhabitants.’”

The Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, Neco, missed his chance since he was only a braggart who did not back up his words. Yahweh was going to send someone who would make a big impact on southern Egypt around Memphis. He would come like the great mountains of Tabor or the sea mountains of Carmel, both around the plains of Jezreel. They ought to pack their bags to get ready to leave for exile. The city of Memphis would become a waste and a ruin, without anyone living there. This was a clear warning.

Yahweh has created everything (Ps 89:11-89:14)

“You have founded

The world.

You have founded

All that is in it.

You have created

The north

You have created

The south.

Tabor

Joyously praises your name.

Hermon

Joyously praises your name.

You have a mighty arm.

Your hand is strong.

Your right hand is high.

Righteousness is

The foundation of your throne.

Justice is

The foundation of your throne.

Steadfast love goes before you.

Faithfulness goes before you.”

Yahweh has founded the world and everything in it. He has created the north and the south ends of the earth. The two northern mountains of Tabor and Hermon joyously praise the name of Yahweh. Even the mountains praise Yahweh.   He has a mighty strong arm. His right hand controls everything. Yahweh’s throne is built on the foundation of righteousness and justice. His steadfast love and faithfulness are the key concepts of this kingdom.

The towns of the Merarites (1 Chr 6:77-6:81)

“To the rest of the Merarites out of the tribe of Zebulun were given Rimmono with its pasture lands and Tabor with its pasture lands. Across the Jordan from Jericho, on the east side of the Jordan, out of the tribe of Reuben were given Bezer in the steppe with its pasture lands, Jahzah with its pasture lands, Kedemoth with its pasture lands, and Mephaath with its pasture lands. Out of the tribe of Gad were given Ramoth in Gilead with its pasture lands, Mahanaim with its pasture lands, Heshbon with its pasture lands, and Jazer with its pasture lands.”

The distribution of land to 3rd group of Levites, the Merarites, has a reference point is Joshua, chapter 21, also. Somehow Zebulun was included with this group of east Jordan tribes, but they were clearly on the west side of the Jordan River. There were only 2 of the 4 towns from Zebulun mentioned here, Rimmono and Tabor, while in Joshua there were the names of 4 different towns, Jokneam, Kartah, Dimnah, Nahalal in Zebulun. This adds to the oddity of Zebulun who was put into this group of the Transjordan tribes. The 4 towns from Reuben were Bezer, Jahzah or Jahaz, Kedemoth, and Mephaath which is exactly the same as Joshua, with the tiny exception of Jahzah and Jahaz that are close enough. The 4 towns from Gad, Ramoth in Gilead, Mahanaim, Heshbon, and Jazer were exactly the same here as in Joshua. Here the Merarites only get 10 towns instead of 12.