CHAPTER XLVIII _The following prophecy concerning the Moabites is supposed to_ _have had its accomplishment during the long siege of Tyre in_ _the reign of Nebuchadnezzar. The whole of this chapter is_ _poetry of the first order. The distress of the cities of Moab,_ _with which it opens, is fin... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 48:2. _NO MORE PRAISE OF MOAB_] "The glory of Moab, that it had never been conquered," (_Dahler_,) is now at an end. Dr. _Blayney_ translates: - "Moab shall have no more glorying in Heshbon; They have devised evil against her (saying.)" And this most certainly is the best translati... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 48:3. _HORONAIM_] Another city of Moab, near to Luhith. At this latter place the _hill country_ of Moab commenced. "It is a place," says _Dahler_, "situated upon a height between _Areopolis_ and _Zoar_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 48:6. _FLEE, SAVE YOUR LIVES_] The enemy is in full pursuit of you. _BE LIKE THE HEATH_] כערוער _caaroer_, "like Aroer;" which some take for a _city_, others for a _blasted_ or _withered tree_. It is supposed that a place of this name lay towards the north, in the land of the Ammonit... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 48:7. _CHEMOSH SHALL GO FORTH INTO CAPTIVITY_] The grand national idol of the Moabites, Numbers 21:29; Judges 11:24. Ancient idolaters used to take their gods with them to the field of battle. This was probably in imitation of the Israelites, who took the ark with them in such cases.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 48:9. _GIVE WINGS UNTO MOAB_] There is no hope in resistance, and to escape requires the _speediest_ flight. I cannot conceive how _Dahler_ came to translate thus: Tirez Moab par les chevaux, "Drag Moab away by the hair of the head.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 48:10. _CURSED BE HE THAT DOETH THE WORK OF THE LORD_ _DECEITFULLY_] Moab is doomed to destruction, and the Lord pronounces a curse on their enemies if they do not proceed to utter extirpation. God is the Author of life, and has a sovereign right to dispose of it as he pleases; and th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 48:11. _MOAB HATH BEEN AT EASE_] The metaphor here is taken from the mode of preserving wines. They let them rest upon their lees for a considerable time, as this improves them both in strength and flavour; and when this is sufficiently done, they rack, or pour them off into other ves... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 48:12. _I WILL SEND UNTO HIM WANDERERS THAT SHALL CAUSE HIM TO_ _WANDER_] Dr. _Blayney_ renders צעים _tsaim, tilters_; those who elevate one end of the wine cask when nearly run out that the remains of the liquor may be the more effectually drawn off at the cock. And this seems to be... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 48:13. _BETH-EL THEIR CONFIDENCE._] Alluding to the golden calves which Jeroboam had there set up, and commanded all the Israelites to worship.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 48:17. _HOW IS THE STRONG STAFF BROKEN_] The _sceptre_. The sovereignty of Moab is destroyed.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 48:18. _THAT DOST INHABIT DIBON_] This was anciently a city of the Reubenites, afterwards inhabited by the Moabites, about two leagues north of the river Arnon, and about six to the east of the Dead Sea.-_Dahler_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 48:19. _O INHABITANT OF AROER_] Jeremiah 48:6. This place, being at a greater distance, is counselled to watch for its own safety, and inquire of every passenger, _What is done_? that it may know when to pack up and be gone.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 48:20. _TELL YE IT IN ARNON_] Apprize the inhabitants there that the territories of Moab are invaded, and the country about to be destroyed, that they may provide for their own safety.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 48:21. _UPON HOLON, C._] All these were cities of the Moabites, but several of them are mentioned in no other place.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 48:25. _THE HORN OF MOAB IS CUT OFF, AND HIS ARM IS BROKEN_] His political and physical powers are no more.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 48:27. _WAS NOT ISRAEL A DERISION UNTO THEE?_] Didst thou not mock my people, and say their God was no better than the gods of other nations? See Ezekiel 25:8. _WAS HE FOUND AMONG THIEVES?_] Did the Israelites come to _rob_ and _plunder_ you? Why then mock them, and rejoice at their... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 48:28. _DWELL IN THE ROCK_] Go to the most inaccessible places in the mountains. _THE HOLE'S MOUTH._] And into the most secret eaves and holes of the earth.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 48:29. _THE PRIDE OF MOAB_] Isaiah 16:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 48:32. _O VINE OF SIBMAH_] Isaiah 16:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 48:34. AS _A HEIFER OF THREE YEARS OLD_] Which runs lowing from place to place in search of her calf, which is lost or taken from her.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 48:37. _FOR EVERY HEAD_ SHALL BE _BALD_] These, as we have seen before, were signs of the deepest distress and desolation.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 48:40. _HE SHALL FLY AS AN EAGLE_] The enemy will pounce upon him, carry him off, and tear him to pieces.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 48:42. _MOAB SHALL BE DESTROYED FROM_ BEING _A PEOPLE_] They shall not have a king or _civil governor_: and I doubt whether there be any evidence that they were ever reinstated in their _national_ _character_. They were captivated by the Chaldeans; and probably many returned with the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 48:43. _FEAR, AND THE PIT, AND THE SNARE_] See the note on Isaiah 24:17.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 48:45. _THEY THAT FLED STOOD UNDER THE SHADOW OF HESHBON_] Heshbon being a fortified place, they who were worsted in the fight fled to it, and rallied under its walls; but, instead of safety, they found themselves disappointed, betrayed, and ruined. See Jeremiah 48:2, and the note the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 48:46. _THE PEOPLE OF CHEMOSH_] The Moabites, who worshipped _Chemosh_ as their supreme god.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jeremiah 48:47. _WILL I BRING AGAIN THE CAPTIVITY OF MOAB IN THE LATTER_ _DAYS_] I have already expressed doubts (see Jeremiah 48:42) whether the Moabites were ever restored to their national distinction. The expressions in this chapter, relative to their total destruction as a people, are so... [ Continue Reading ]