C L1 48:1-47. Moab. The sons of Lot. L2 49:1-6. Ammon. "
L1 M 1-. Introduction.
N -1-46. The present state.
M 47-. The latter state.
N -47. Conclusion.
496 B.C.
Jeremiah 48)
1 Concerning Moab (always hostile against Israel. Cp. Judg. 3:12,28. 1 Sam. 14:47. 2 Sam. 8:2. 2 Kings 1;1; 3;4-27; 13:20. In the reign of Jehoiakim they joined with the Chaldeans) thus says the LORD (Yahaveh) of hosts, the God (Elohim) of Israel; (See 7:3)
N O p -1-5. Threatening.
q 6-10. Flight.
P 11-28. Flight.
P 29-39. Character.
O p 40-43. Threatening.
q 44-46. Flight.
"Woe to Nebo! (Not the mountain, but formerly a Reubenite possession [Num. 32;37,38], now belonging to Moab) for it is spoiled: Kiriathaim (now probably el Kureiyat, between Medeba and Dibon) is confounded and taken: Misgab (probably = the high fort) is confounded and dismayed.
2 There shall be no more praise of Moab: in Heshbon (the capital of Sihon king of the Amorites. Rebuilt by Reubenites [Num. 32:27. Cp. Josh. 13;17]) they have counseled evil against it; come, and let us cut it off from being a nation. Also you shall be reduced to silence, O Madmen (= dung hill. Now Umm Deineh, a town in Moab 12 miles N.E. of Dibon); the sword shall pursue you.
(They turned their back on God.)
3 A voice of crying shall be from Horonaim (= the 2 caverns, probably near Zoar. Cp. Isa. 15:5), spoiling and great destruction.
4 Moab is destroyed; her little ones have caused a cry to be heard.
5 For in the going up of Luhith (now Tal'at el Heith, 1 mile west of Mount Nebo) continual weeping shall go up; for in the going down of Horonaim the enemies have heard a cry of destruction.
(You can't have false balances and false worship without weeping.)
6 Flee, save your soul, and be like naked trees in the wilderness. (cp. 17:6. It's a wild bush in the wilderness.)
7 For because you have trusted in your works and in your treasures, you too shall be taken: and Chemosh shall go forth into captivity with his priests and his princes together. (Cp. Num. 21:29. Judg. 11:24. 1 Kings 11:7. 2 Kings 23:13.)
(Father won't allow false religion.)
8 And the spoiler (One of Satan's names.)
shall come upon every city, and no city shall escape: the valley also shall perish, and the plain shall be destroyed, as the LORD has spoken.
(Satan will cause many spiritual deaths.)
9 Give wings to Moab, that it may flee and get away: for the cities thereof shall be desolate, without any to dwell therein.
(Rapture, fleeing away is not God's way. He wants you to make a stand.)
10 Cursed be he that does the work of the LORD negligently (i.e. this work of judgment), and cursed be he that keeps back his sword from blood.
(Bad news for those who teach falsely.)
P Q 11. At ease.
R T 12,13. Places.
U 14-25. Judgments.
S 26-28. Consequences.
P Q 29. In pride.
R U 30,31. Judgments.
T 32-36. Places.
S 37-39. Lamentations.
11 Moab has been at ease from his youth (Since Moab had driven out the Emims [Deut. 2:10), and he has settled on his lees, and has not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither has he gone into captivity: therefore his taste stood in him, and his scent is not changed.
(Play on wine making. If something isn't tried it' good for nothing.)
12 Therefore, behold, the days come, says the LORD, that I will send to him tilters that shall tilt him (keeping up the symbol of a wine-jar [v.11]), and shall empty his vessels, and break their bottles.
(They are going to poor out every good thing he's got.)
13 And Moab shall be ashamed of Chemosh, according as the house of Israel (see 2:2. This is the last occurrence in Jeremiah) was ashamed of Bethel their confidence. (Ref. to the calves of Jeroboam [1 Kings 12:29. Hos. 10;5.)
U r 14. Question.
s 15,16. Answer.
t 17,18. Lamentation.
r 19. Question.
s 20- Answer.
t -20-25. Lamentation.
14 How say you, 'We are mighty and strong men for the war?'
(They have never been tried, how can they say this?)
15 Moab is spoiled, and her cities have gone up (or, ascended in burning), and his chosen young men are gone down to the slaughter, says the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts.
16 The calamity of Moab is near to come, and his affliction hastes fast. (Cp. Deut. 32:35)
17 All you that are about him, bemoan him; and all you that know his name, say, 'How is the strong staff broken, and the beautiful rod!'
(Because it was fit for nothing. God wasn't there with them because they left Him out.)
18 You daughter that does inhabit Dibon (ruins north of the river Arnon. Cp. v.22), come down from your glory, and sit in thirst; for the spoiler (antichrist.)
of Moab shall come upon you, and he shall destroy your strong holds.
(He comes in peafully and prosperously. Greatly deceiving everyone except the elect.)
19 O inhabitress of Aroer (on the north bank of Wady Mojib [Aarnon]), stand by the way, and espy; ask him that flees, and her that escapes, and say, 'What is done?'
20 Moab is confounded; for it is broken down:
howl and cry; tell you it in Arnon (see above. On the east side of the Dead Sea), that Moab is spoiled,
(He spoiled himself.)
21 And judgment (God's judgement.)
is come upon the plain country; upon Holon (now probably 'Aleiyan), and upon Jahazah, and upon Mephaath, (Cp. Isa. 15:4.)
22 And upon Dibon, and upon Nebo, and upon Beth-diblathaim, (= house of fig cakes, Also Almon-diblathaim [Num. 33:46,47]. Now probably Khan Delegat = house of the two disks, mentioned on the Moabite stone.)
23 And upon Kiriathaim, and upon Beth-gamul (now Khan Jemail, east of Dibon), and upon Beth-meon, (Now Tell M'ain. Cp. Josh. 13:17.)
24 And upon Kerioth, and upon Bozrah (now el Buseirah, in Edom, south-west of the Dead Sea), and upon all the cities of the land of Moab, far or near.
25 The horn of Moab is cut off, and his arm is broken, says the LORD.
(God is taking it away.)
26 Make you him drunken: for he magnified himself against the LORD: Moab also shall stagger (or splash) into his vomit, and he also shall be in derision.
(The state of his soul is miserable.)
27 For was not Israel a derision to you? (They wanted to come through and you stopped them.)
was he found among thieves? for whenever you spoke of him, you did shake yourself with excitement (or, wag your head).
28 O you that dwell in Moab, leave the cities, and dwell in the rock, and be like the dove that makes her nest in the sides of the hole's mouth.
29 We have heard the arrogance of Moab, (he is exceeding proud) his loftiness, and his arrogance, and his pride, and the haughtiness of his heart.
(Same as Satan's downfall.)
30 I know his wrath, says the LORD; but it shall not be so; his lies shall not so effect it.
(Don't believe some man's word over God's Word.)
31 Therefore will I howl for Moab, and I will cry out for all Moab; must one mourn for the men of Kirheres. (Now Kerak, the fortified town east of the southern end of the Dead Sea. Nothing fragrent about it.)
32 O vine of Sibmah (now probably Sumia, east of Jordan. Cp. Num. 32:28), I will weep for you with the weeping of Jazer (now Beit Zer'ah, east of Jordan. Cp. 1 Chron. 26:31): your branches are gone over the sea probably the Dead Sea, they reach even to the sea of Jazer: the spoiler is fallen upon your summer fruits and upon your vintage.
(Antichrist will rip off all there good works.)
33 And joy and gladness is taken from the plentiful field, and from the land of Moab, and I have caused wine to fail from the winepresses: none shall tread with shouting; their shouting shall be no shouting.
34 From the cry of Heshbon even to Elealeh (now el'Al, a ruin near Hesbon), and even to Jahaz, have they uttered their voice, from Zoar (now Tell esh Shughur, on the south side of Wady Hesbon) even to Horonaim, as an heifer of three years old (or Eglath-shelishiyah): for the waters also of Nimrim (now Wady Nimrim, near the south end of the Dead Sea) shall be desolate.
35 Moreover I will cause to cease in Moab, says the LORD, him that offers in the high places (see 1 Kings 3:3), and him that burns incense to his gods.
36 Therefore My heart shall sound for Moab like pipes (used in mourning at funerals. Cp. Matt. 9:23), and My heart shall sound like pipes for the men of Kirheres: because the riches that he has gotten are perished.
37 For every head shall be baldness (the symbol of mourning. Cp. 47:5), and every beard clipped: upon all the hands shall be cuttings, and upon the loins sackcloth.
38 There shall be lamentation generally upon all the housetops of Moab (where they prayed to their gods. Cp. 19:13), and in the broadways thereof: for I have broken Moab like a vessel wherein is no pleasure, says the LORD.
39 They shall howl, saying, 'How is it broken down! how has Moab turned the back with shame!' so shall Moab be a derision and a dismaying to all them about him.
40 For thus says the LORD; Behold, one shall fly as an eagle (Nebuchadnezzar understood), and shall spread his wings over Moab.
41 Kerioth is taken, and the strong holds are surprised, and the mighty men's hearts in Moab at that day shall be as the heart of a woman in her pangs.
42 And Moab shall be destroyed from being a people, because he has magnified himself against the LORD.
43 Terror, and the pit, and the snare, shall be upon you, O inhabitant of Moab, says the LORD.
44 He that flees from the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that gets up out of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for I will bring upon it, even upon Moab, the year of their visitation (see 8:12), says the LORD.
45 They that fled stood under the shadow of Heshbon because of the force (= stood strengthless): but a fire shall come forth out of Heshbon (cp. Num. 21:28), and a flame from the midst of Sihon, and shall devour the corner (or flank) of Moab, and the crown of the head of the sons of tumult.
46 Woe be to you, O Moab! the people of Chemosh perishes (cp. Num. 21:29): for your sons are taken in the captivity, and your daughters captives.
47 Yet will I bring again the captivity of Moab in the end, says the LORD.' "
Thus far is the judgment of Moab.