Identity of Rabbah in Jeremiah 49

Jeremiah 49:2 states, "Therefore behold, the days come, says Yahweh, that I will cause an alarm of war to be heard against Rabbah of the children of Ammon; and it shall become a desolate heap, and her daughters shall be burned with fire: then shall Israel possess those who possessed him, says Yahweh" ^[1]. This verse is part of a larger prophetic oracle against Ammon, one of several nations surrounding Israel that Jeremiah addresses in chapters 46-51 ^[1].

Rabbah, meaning "great," "powerful," or "contentious," was the metropolis of Ammon ^{[3, 5]}. It is also referred to as "Rabbah of the children of Ammon" ^[4]. The destruction of Rabbah is a recurring theme in prophetic literature, also foretold in Ezekiel 25:5 and Amos 1:14-15 ^[5]. The phrase "her daughters" refers to the towns and villages that were dependencies of the main city ^[5].

The prophecy in Jeremiah 49:2 includes a promise that "Israel shall possess those who possessed him" ^[1]. This aspect of the prophecy, concerning Israel's re-possession of its former oppressors, was partially fulfilled during the Maccabean period, as noted in 1 Maccabees 5:6, but its full accomplishment is considered by some to be still future ^[5].

The broader context of Jeremiah's prophecies against nations highlights God's sovereignty over all peoples, not just Israel ^{[1, 2]}. While the Midrash Rabbah frequently references various biblical figures and events, including Jacob, Joseph, Judah, and specific instances of divine judgment or promise, it does not directly engage with the identity of Rabbah in Jeremiah 49:2 beyond Rashi's identification of it as "Rabbah of the children of Ammon" ^{[4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17]}. The focus in these rabbinic texts is often on ethical lessons, interpretations of names, or the unfolding of God's plan through Israel's patriarchs and tribes ^{[7, 8, 10, 16]}. For instance, the Midrash Rabbah discusses the meaning of names like Judah (Yehuda) in relation to kingship and identity ^[10], or the characteristics of tribes like Dan ^[16], but these discussions do not directly illuminate the specific identity of Rabbah beyond its geographical and political designation as the capital of Ammon.

Sources

Jeremiah “Therefore behold, the days come, says Yahweh, that I will cause an alarm of war to be heard against Rabbah of the children of Ammon; and it shall become a desolate heap, and her daughters shall be burned with fire: then shall Israel possess those who possessed him, says Yahweh. -- Jeremiah 49:2”
Jeremiah “The portion of Jacob is not like these; for he is the former of all things; and is the tribe of his inheritance: Yahweh of Armies is his name. -- Jeremiah 51:19”
Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Rabbah — great; powerful; contentious”
Sefaria (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) on Jeremiah 49:3: O villages of Rabbah Rabbah of the children of Ammon.”
Jeremiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Jeremiah 49:2: Rabbah--"the great," metropolis of Ammon (Sa2 12:26-30). Its destruction is foretold also in Eze 25:5; Amo 1:14-15. her daughters--the towns and villages, dependencies of the metropolis (Jos 15:45). shall . . . be heir--shall possess those who possessed him. The full accomplishment of this is still future; partially fulfilled under the Maccabees (1 Maccabees 5:6).”
Midrash Rabbah (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Midrash Rabbah, Eichah Rabbah 1:19: There was an incident in which Rabbi Yehoshua was walking along the path. 49 This was a path through a field that was created by people traversing it. A certain person found him walking along the path and said to him: ‘What are you doing?’ He said to him: ‘I am walking along the path.’ He said to him: ‘You have spoken well that you are walking along a path, for it was trodden by robbers like you.’ He went on from there and found a certain child sitting at a fork in the road. He said to him: ‘Which road is closer to the city?’ He said to him: ‘This one is clo”
Midrash Rabbah (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Midrash Rabbah, Bereishit Rabbah 97:6: “Israel said to Joseph: Behold, I am dying, and God will be with you, and He will restore you to the land of your fathers” (Genesis 48:21). “Israel said to Joseph: Behold, I [ anokhi ] am dying, and God will be with you, and He will restore…” – the son of Rabbi Yosei’s brother [said]: The elder gave them three signs: One who comes [to redeem] with the term anokhi , who will appoint elders from among you, and will say to you pakod , he is the redeemer. 24 These were Jacob’s signs as to the identity of the future redeemer of the Israelites. Moses fulfilled ”
Midrash Rabbah (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Midrash Rabbah, Bereishit Rabbah 98:5: “Simeon and Levi are brothers; weapons of villainy are their heritage” (Genesis 49:5) “Simeon and Levi are brothers” – brothers of Dina but not brothers of Joseph. “Weapons of villainy are their heritage [ mekheroteihem ]” – he said to them: These weapons in your possession have been stolen by you. For whom are they fitting? It is for mekheroteihem – for Esau, who sold [ makhar ] the birthright. “Let my soul not come in their company; with their assembly let my glory not be associated; for in their anger they killed men, and with their will they hamstrung”
Midrash Rabbah (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Midrash Rabbah, Bereishit Rabbah 49:9: “Far be it from You to do something like this, to kill the righteous with the wicked, and the righteous will be as the wicked. Far be it from You; shall the Judge of all the earth not practice justice?” (Genesis 18:25). “Far be it [ ḥalila ] from You” – Rabbi Yudan said: It is profane for You, 43 Ḥalila is related to ḥol , meaning that which is unholy. it is foreign to You. Rabbi Aḥa said: Ḥalila ḥalila , twice – this entails profaning [ ḥilul ] the name of Heaven. 44 People will say that Your ways are unjust. Rabbi Abba said: “From doing this thing” is n”
Midrash Rabbah (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Midrash Rabbah, Bereishit Rabbah 98:6: “Judah, you shall your brothers acknowledge; your hand will be at the nape of your enemies; your father’s sons will prostrate themselves to you” (Genesis 49:8). “Judah, you shall your brothers acknowledge” – your brothers acknowledge you; your mother acknowledges you; I, myself, acknowledge you. 47 All acknowledge you as worthy of honor and kingship. Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai said: All your brothers will be called by your name. A person does not say: I am a Reubenite, I am a Simeonite, but rather: I am a Jew [ Yehudi ]. 48 Judah is called Yehuda in Hebrew. R”
Midrash Rabbah (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Midrash Rabbah, Bereishit Rabbah 45:9: “He will be a wild man: His hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him and he will dwell among all his brethren” (Genesis 16:12). “He will be a wild [ pereh ] man” – Rabbi Yoḥanan and Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish, Rabbi Yoḥanan said: This means that everyone else would inhabit settlements, but he would inhabit the wilderness. 37 The word peleh is used in connection with the wilderness in Jeremiah 2:24: “A wild ass [ pereh ] accustomed to the wilderness.” Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: “A wild man” – in its plain sense. Most people plunder wea”
Midrash Rabbah (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Midrash Rabbah, Bereishit Rabbah 85:11: “She was taken out, and she sent to her father-in-law, saying: By the man to whom these belong I am with child. She said: Identify, please, whose signet, and belt, and staff these are” (Genesis 38:25). “She was taken out [ mutzet ]…” – Rabbi Yudan said: [It may be derived] from here that [Judah’s items] were lost, and the Holy One blessed be He provided [ himtzi ] her with others in their place, just as it says: “Or found [ matza ] a lost item…” (Leviticus 5:22). Rav Huna said: “She was taken out” – he and she should be taken out. 50 This is expounded fr”
Midrash Rabbah (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Midrash Rabbah, Eichah Rabbah 4:4: There was an incident involving Rabbi Yehoshua ben Ḥananya, who went to the great city of Rome. They said to him: ‘There is a certain child in prison in disgrace.’ 10 The Romans were exploiting him, or planned to exploit him, for homosexual relations. He went there and saw a certain child with beautiful eyes, good looking, with his hair arranged, standing in disgrace. He stood at the entrance to test him, and he read this verse in his regard: “Who delivered Jacob to plunder and Israel to looters?” (Isaiah 42:24). The child answered after him: “Was it not the ”
Midrash Rabbah (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Midrash Rabbah, Bereishit Rabbah 49:10: “The Lord said: If I find in Sodom fifty righteous people within the city, I will forgive the entire place for their sake” (Genesis 18:26). “The Lord said: If I find in Sodom” – Rabbi Yudan and Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi: “For [I speak] of God who said: I have forgiven; I will not bring harm” (Job 34:31). This refers to what is written: “I will forgive [ venasati ] the entire place for their sake.” “I will not bring harm [ eḥbol ]” – [God said:] ‘I will not take collateral from them, 57 To secure payment for ”
Midrash Rabbah (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Midrash Rabbah, Bereishit Rabbah 94:6: “God spoke to Israel in the visions of the night, and said: Jacob, Jacob, and he said: Here I am” (Genesis 46:2). “He said: I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, as I will make you a great nation there” (Genesis 46:3). “I will go down with you to Egypt and I will also take you up again and Joseph will place his hand over your eyes” (Genesis 46:4). “God spoke to Israel in the visions of the night…He said: I am the God Beit El 14 These words do not appear in the verse and should be deleted (Rashash). … and I will also take you u”
Midrash Rabbah (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Midrash Rabbah, Bereishit Rabbah 99:11: “Dan will avenge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel” (Genesis 49:16). “Dan will avenge his people, [as one [ ke’aḥad ] of the tribes of Israel]” – like the most special [ kamyuḥad ] of the tribes, which is Judah. Another matter: “As one” – like the single One of the world, who needs no assistance in war, as it is stated: “I have trodden the winepress alone” (Isaiah 63:3), so, Samson, who descended from Dan, did not need others to assist him – without a sword, with but the jawbone of a donkey. “Dan will be a serpent on the road, a viper on the pat”
Midrash Rabbah (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Midrash Rabbah, Bereishit Rabbah 87:1: “It was after these matters that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph and she said: Lie with me” (Genesis 39:7). “It was after these matters.” “I saw among the naïve [ bapetayim ]” (Proverbs 7:7) – these are the tribes. Rabbi Levi said: In Arabia, they call children patya . “Discerned among the youths a lad” (Proverbs 7:7) – this is Joseph. He was “devoid of understanding” (Proverbs 7:7), as he would speak slander about his brothers. Is there anyone more devoid of understanding? From that, their descent to Egypt developed. “And behold, there is a w”

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