The next oracle in Jeremiah 49:23–27 is concerning Damascus.
Being the major city in the region, Damascus was the name used by Jeremiah to refer to the area known as Aram which lay to the east of the Jordan River, north of Amon and northeast of Judah. Hamath and Arpad were two other important cities in Aram that lay north of Damascus. All three cities came under Assyrian control until Babylon rose to power in 605 BC, after which they were vassals of Nebuchadnezzar. All three cities, especially Damascus, had a long history of conflict with northern Israel (1 Kings 1:1–22:53 and 2 Kings 1:1–25:30). However, they had very little contact with Judah.1
The bad news
that confounds Hamath and Arpad is probably the news of Nebuchadnezzar’s rise to power after the defeat of the Assyrians in 605 BC. This would have had huge implications for the whole region and would certainly have unsettled these cities so that they melt in fear
and are troubled like the sea that cannot be quiet.
The most devastating news of all for the region is that the great city of Damascus, has itself become feeble, she turned to flee, and panic seized her; anguish and sorrow have taken hold of her, as of a woman in labor.
It is unclear if this prophecy is speaking of what has already happened, or what is to come, but what is clear is that the coming of the Babylonians would change things forever in the region.
23 Concerning Damascus: “Hamath and Arpad are confounded, for they have heard bad news; they melt in fear, they are troubled like the sea that cannot be quiet.