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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 47:1
1That which came as the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines, before Pharaoh conquered Gaza.
47:1 This first verse dates the prophecy (i.e., before Pharaoh conquered Gaza).
The Babylonian conquest of Philistia was also prophesied in 25:20. There are several other places where the destruction of Philistia is prophesied (cf. Isa. 14:29-31; Ezek. 25:15-17; Joel 3:4-8; Amos 1:6-8; Zeph. 2:4-7; Zech 9:5-7).
Herodotus (Hist. II, 159) mentions that Pharaoh Necho II conquered a Philistine city (i.e., Gaza) about 609 b.c. This would link up with his replacing Josiah's heir (Jehoiahaz) with another puppet king (Jehoiakim), also in 609 b.c. The problem with this date is that Nebuchadnezzar did not invade until 601 b.c.
The Expositors Bible Commentary, vol. 6, p. 655, lists three possible dates for the invasion of Babylon (if the MT is correct).
1. 609 b.c. - same time as the death of Josiah by Necho II
2. 604 b.c. - after the defeat of the Egyptian army at Carchemish
3. still later in the reign of Pharaoh Hophra (or Apries, 588-569 b.c.), when he invaded Phoenicia and Philistia, which were on the way (i.e., southern coast)
