This prophecy Jeremiah 48 is an amplification of Isa. 15–16, and also introduces two verses, Jeremiah 48:43, from Isaiah 24:17. Jeremiah’s introduction of passages from older writers being accepted, it would seem that the passages borrowed are so inwoven with that which is Jeremiah’s own, that they... [ Continue Reading ]
AGAINST MOAB - Concerning Moab. IS CONFOUNDED - Is brought to shame. MISGAB - The high fort; some special fortress, probably Kir-haraseth 2 Kings 3:25.... [ Continue Reading ]
NO MORE PRAISE OF MOAB - literally, “The glory of Moab is no more,” i. e., Moab has no more cause for boasting. HESHBON - This town now belonged to the Ammonites Jeremiah 49:3 but was on the border. The enemy encamped there arranges the plan of his campaign against Moab. In the original there is a... [ Continue Reading ]
Omit shall be. “Spoiling and great destruction,” literally breaking, is the cry heard from Horonaim Isaiah 15:5.... [ Continue Reading ]
MOAB - Probably the city elsewhere called Ar-Moab. See the Septuagint of this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
Luhith was situated upon an eminence, and Jeremiah describes one set of weeping fugitives as pressing close upon another. IN THE GOING DOWN OF HORONAIM ... - Rather, in the descent of Horonaim they have heard the distresses of the cry of breaking, i. e., the cry of distress occasioned by the ruin i... [ Continue Reading ]
LIKE THE HEATH - Or, Like a destitute man. See the marginal reference note.... [ Continue Reading ]
WORKS - Possibly the products of labor. The versions render fortifications. CHEMOSH - As the national god of Moab Numbers 21:29, he represents the whole land; and his being led into captivity implies the total ruin of those under his protection. His name here spelled Chemish is repeated in Car-chem... [ Continue Reading ]
THE VALLEY - The lowlands on the east bank of the Jordan, and at the top of the Dead Sea. THE PLAIN - An upland pasture; it answers very much to downs: so in Jeremiah 48:21.... [ Continue Reading ]
DECEITFULLY - Better as in the margin.... [ Continue Reading ]
Moab from the time it conquered the Emims Deuteronomy 2:9, and so became a nation, had retained quiet possession of its land, and enjoyed comparative prosperity. From the Moabite Stone we gather that King Mesha, after the death of Ahab threw off the yoke of Israel; nor except for a short time under... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL SEND - tilters “unto him and they shall” tilt “him, and they shall empty his vessels, and break their” pitchers “in pieces.” “Pitchers” originally meant “skins,” but the word came to signify small earthenware jars Isaiah 30:14 : thus the Chaldaeans shall destroy of Moab everything that has co... [ Continue Reading ]
ISRAEL WAS ASHAMED OF BETH-EL - After Salmaneser had carried Israel away, they could trust no longer in the calf of Bethel established by Jeroboam.... [ Continue Reading ]
MIGHTY - Heroes, veteran warriors.... [ Continue Reading ]
Rather, “Moab is spoiled,” and her cities have gone up, i. e., in smoke, have been burned Joshua 8:20. Others render, “The waster of Moab and of her towns is coming up to the attack, and her chosen youths are gone down to the slaughter.”... [ Continue Reading ]
NEAR TO COME - Twenty-three years elapsed between the fourth year of Jehoiakim, when this prophecy was spoken, and its accomplishment by the invasion of Moab five years after the capture of Jerusalem. So slowly does God’s justice move onward.... [ Continue Reading ]
The lamentation over Moab uttered by those “round about him,” i. e., the neighboring nations, and those “that know his name,” nations more remote, who know little more than that, there is such a people, takes the form of an elegy. The metaphorical expressions, “staff of strength,” and “rod” or “scep... [ Continue Reading ]
SIT IN THIRST - Jeremiah draws a picture of the conquered inhabitants, collected outside the walls, waiting for their captors to march them away to the slave mart. The enemy occupied with plundering the houses of Dibon thinks little of the hunger and thirst of his prisoners. STRONG HOLDS - The rema... [ Continue Reading ]
AROER - On the Arnon, due south of Dibon. If Dibon falls, the turn of Aroer will come next, and therefore its inhabitants are to be on the look out, asking for news.... [ Continue Reading ]
Or, “Moab is ashamed, because she (Dibon) is broken” by her fortifications being battered down.... [ Continue Reading ]
HOLON - This place apparently took its name from caverns in its neighborhood.... [ Continue Reading ]
BETH-DIBLATHAIM - i. e., “the house of the two cakes of figs,” perhaps so called from two hills in its neighborhood. Hosea 1:3 note.... [ Continue Reading ]
BETH-MEON - Meon is probably the Moabite Olympus, and thus Beth-Baal-Meon, the full name of this town Joshua 13:17, would signify the place where the heavenly Baal was worshipped.... [ Continue Reading ]
KERIOTH - A synonym of Ar, the old capital of Moab. It appears to have been a considerable place, and has been identified with El-Korriat, situated on the long ridge of Mount Attarus. BOZRAH - Probably the Bosora mentioned in 1 Macc. 5:26 in company with Bosor, i. e., Bezer. Since the word means sh... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HORN - i. e., his pride (marginal reference); his arm, i. e., his strength Jeremiah 17:5.... [ Continue Reading ]
MAKE YE HIM DRUNKEN - With the wine-cup of God’s fury, until terror deprive him of his senses.... [ Continue Reading ]
WAS HE FOUND ... - Or, “was he found among thieves that so often as thou speakest of him” thou waggest thy head? - in contempt for a fallen enemy.... [ Continue Reading ]
DWELL IN THE ROCK - See Jeremiah 4:29. The sole chance of escape is refuge in inaccessible fastnesses. IN THE SIDES ... - On the further side “of the mouth of the pit.” The wild rock pigeon invariably selects deep ravines for its nesting and roosting.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IT SHALL NOT BE SO - Most commentators translate, “I know, saith Jehovah, his arrogancy, and the emptiness of his boastings; they have worked emptiness.”... [ Continue Reading ]
MINE HEART ... - Rather, “there shall be mourning for” etc.... [ Continue Reading ]
Or, “More than the weeping of Jazer” over its ruined vineyards “will I weep for thee, O vine of Sibmah.” Compare the marginal reference. Jazer lies in an upland valley about 15 miles north of Heshbon. THY PLANTS ... - “Thy branches are gone over the sea, i. e.” the power of Moab is felt even on the... [ Continue Reading ]
WINEPRESSES - Rather, “wine-vats,” into which the wine runs from the presses. THEIR SHOUTING SHALL BE NO SHOUTING - The vintage shout is - silence. For the vines have been destroyed, and desolation reigns where once was the joyful cry of those who tread the grapes.... [ Continue Reading ]
The meaning is that, taking up the lamentation of Heshbon, the Moabites break forth into a wail, heard as far as Elealeh, scarcely two miles distant Numbers 32:37, but thence spreading over the land to towns on the southern and southwestern borders of the land. AN HEIFER OF THREE YEARS OLD - Applie... [ Continue Reading ]
LIKE PIPES - A wind instrument, used at funerals Matthew 9:23. THE RICHES THAT HE HATH GOTTEN - literally, “that which remains over, a superfluity.”... [ Continue Reading ]
CUTTINGS - Compare Jeremiah 16:6, and marginal references.... [ Continue Reading ]
GENERALLY - Rather, entirely.... [ Continue Reading ]
Literally, “How is it broken down! they wail! How hath Moab tutored the back in shame! Yea, Moab is become a laughter and a terror Jeremiah 17:17 to all who are round about him.”... [ Continue Reading ]
The rapid and irresistible attack of Nebuchadnezzar is compared to the impetuous dash of the eagle on its prey Deuteronomy 28:49.... [ Continue Reading ]
SURPRISED - captured by force.... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE OF THE FORCE - Rather, without force. Translate it: “The fugitives have stood, (i. e., halted) powerless in the shadow of Heshbon.” As Heshbon was the capital of the Ammonites, the sense is that the defeated Moabites looked to Ammon for protection. BUT AFIRE ... - Not only will Ammon refuse... [ Continue Reading ]
BRING AGAIN THE CAPTIVITY - (Or, “restore the prosperity.”) A similar promise is given to Egypt, Ammon, and Elam Jeremiah 46:26; Jeremiah 49:6. THUS FAR ... MOAB - An editorial note by the same hand as the last words of Jeremiah 51:64.... [ Continue Reading ]