Bible Commentaries

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jeremiah 48

Introduction

1  The judgment of Moab,
7  for their pride;
11  for their security;
14  for their carnal confidence;
26  and for their contempt of God and his people.
47  The restoration of Moab.
Verse 1

Against Moab thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Woe unto Nebo! for it is spoiled: Kiriathaim is confounded and taken: Misgab is confounded and dismayed.
A. M. cir. 3420. B.C. cir. 584. Moab
9:26, 25:21, 27:3, Genesis 19:37, Numbers 24:17, 2 Chronicles 20:10, Isaiah 15:1-16, Isaiah 25:10, 27:3, Ezekiel 25:8-11, Amos 2:1,2, Zephaniah 2:8-11
Nebo
22,23, Numbers 32:3,37,38, 33:47, Isaiah 15:2
Misgab
or, The high place.
Verse 2

There shall be no more praise of Moab: in Heshbon they have devised evil against it; come, and let us cut it off from being a nation. Also thou shalt be cut down, O Madmen; the sword shall pursue thee.
no more
17, Isaiah 16:14
Heshbon
34,35, Numbers 21:25-30, 32:37, Isaiah 15:5, 16:8,9
come
42, 31:36, 33:24, 46:28, Esther 3:8-14, Psalms 83:4-8
thou shalt
25:15,17
cut down
or, brought to silence.
Isaiah 15:1, 25:10; *marg:
Madmenah
pursue thee. Heb. go after thee.
Verse 3

A voice of crying shall be from Horonaim, spoiling and great destruction.
voice
4:20,21, 47:2, Isaiah 15:2,8, 16:7-11, 22:4
Horonaim
5,34, Isaiah 15:5
Verse 4

Moab is destroyed; her little ones have caused a cry to be heard.
Moab
This prophecy against Moab, as well as the following ones concerning Ammon, Edom, and the neighbouring countries, seem to have been fulfilled during the long siege of Tyre by Nebuchadnezzar. Josephus places these events five years after the destruction of Jerusalem.
Numbers 21:27-30
her
Esther 8:11, Psalms 137:9
Verse 5

For in the going up of Luhith continual weeping shall go up; for in the going down of Horonaim the enemies have heard a cry of destruction.
Luhith
Luhith is placed by Eusebius between Areopolis, or Ar, and Zoar. (See ver. 34.) It was evidently situated upon a height; as was also Horonaim, which was probably not far from Luhith.
Isaiah 15:5
continual weeping
Heb. weeping with weeping.
Verse 6

Flee, save your lives, and be like the heath in the wilderness.
Flee
51:6, Genesis 19:17, Psalms 11:1, Proverbs 6:4,5, Matthew 24:16-18, Luke 3:7, 17:31-33, Hebrews 6:18
be like
17:6, Job 30:3-7
the heath
or, a naked tree.
Verse 7

For because thou hast trusted in thy works and in thy treasures, thou shalt also be taken: and Chemosh shall go forth into captivity with his priests and his princes together.
because
9:23, 13:25, Psalms 40:4, 49:6,7, 52:7, 62:8-10, Isaiah 59:4-6, Ezekiel 28:2-5, Hosea 10:13, 1 Timothy 6:17, Revelation 18:7
Chemosh
13,46, 43:12, Numbers 21:29, Judges 11:24, 1 Kings 11:7,33, Isaiah 46:1,2
his priests
49:3
Verse 8

And the spoiler shall come upon every city, and no city shall escape: the valley also shall perish, and the plain shall be destroyed, as the LORD hath spoken.
the spoiler
18, 6:26, 15:8, 25:9, 51:56
and no
20-25, Ezekiel 25:9
Verse 9

Give wings unto Moab, that it may flee and get away: for the cities thereof shall be desolate, without any to dwell therein.
wings
28, Psalms 11:1, 55:6, Isaiah 16:2, Revelation 12:14
the cities
46:19, Zephaniah 2:9
Verse 10

Cursed be he that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood.
Cursed
50:25, Numbers 31:14-18, Judges 5:23, 1 Samuel 15:3,9,13-35, 1 Kings 20:42
deceitfully
or, negligently.
Verse 11

Moab hath been at ease from his youth, and he hath settled on his lees, and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither hath he gone into captivity: therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent is not changed.
hath been
Psalms 55:19, 73:4-8, 123:4, Proverbs 1:32; *marg:; Zechariah 1:15
he hath
Isaiah 25:6, Zephaniah 1:12
emptied
51:34, Isaiah 24:3, Nahum 2:2,10
thereof
29, Isaiah 16:6, Ezekiel 16:49,50
remained
Heb. stood.
Verse 12

Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will send unto him wanderers, that shall cause him to wander, and shall empty his vessels, and break their bottles.
wanderers
8,15, 25:9, Isaiah 16:2, Ezekiel 25:9,10
empty
11,38, 14:3, 19:10, 25:34, Psalms 2:9, Isaiah 30:14, Nahum 2:2
Verse 13

And Moab shall be ashamed of Chemosh, as the house of Israel was ashamed of Bethel their confidence.
ashamed
7,39,46, Judges 11:24, 1 Samuel 5:3-7, 1 Kings 11:7, 18:26-29,40, Isaiah 2:20, Isaiah 16:12, 45:16,20, 46:1,2
as the
1 Kings 12:28,29, Hosea 8:5,6, 10:5,6,14,15, Amos 5:5,6
Verse 14

How say ye, We are mighty and strong men for the war?
How
8:8, Psalms 11:1, Isaiah 36:4,5
We
9:23, 49:16, Psalms 33:16, Ecclesiastes 9:11, Isaiah 10:13,16, 16:6, Ezekiel 30:6, Zephaniah 2:10
Verse 15

Moab is spoiled, and gone up out of her cities, and his chosen young men are gone down to the slaughter, saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts.
spoiled
8,9-25
his chosen
Heb. the choice of his, etc.
Isaiah 40:30,31
gone
4, 50:27, 51:40, Isaiah 34:2-8
saith
46:18, 51:57, Psalms 24:8-10, 47:2, Daniel 4:37, Zechariah 14:9, Malachi 1:14, Revelation 19:16
whose
James 5:4
Verse 16

The calamity of Moab is near to come, and his affliction hasteth fast.
near
1:12, Deuteronomy 32:35, Isaiah 13:22, 16:13,14, Ezekiel 12:23,28, 2 Peter 2:3
Verse 17

All ye that are about him, bemoan him; and all ye that know his name, say, How is the strong staff broken, and the beautiful rod!
bemoan
31-33, 9:17-20, Isaiah 16:8, Revelation 18:14-20
How
39, Isaiah 9:4, 10:5, 14:4,5, Ezekiel 19:11-14, Zechariah 11:10-14
Verse 18

Thou daughter that dost inhabit Dibon, come down from thy glory, and sit in thirst; for the spoiler of Moab shall come upon thee, and he shall destroy thy strong holds.
daughter
46:18,19, Isaiah 47:1
Dibon
22, Numbers 21:30, 32:3, Joshua 13:17, Isaiah 15:2
and sit
Genesis 21:16, Exodus 17:3, Judges 15:18, Isaiah 5:13, Ezekiel 19:13
the spoiler
Verse 19

O inhabitant of Aroer, stand by the way, and espy; ask him that fleeth, and her that escapeth, and say, What is done?
inhabitant
Heb. inhabitress. Aroer.
Numbers 32:34, Deuteronomy 2:36, 2 Samuel 24:5, 1 Chronicles 5:8
ask
1 Samuel 4:13,14,16, 2 Samuel 1:3,4, 18:24-32
Verse 20

Moab is confounded; for it is broken down: howl and cry; tell ye it in Arnon, that Moab is spoiled,
confounded
1-5, Isaiah 15:1-5,8, 16:7-11
Arnon
Numbers 21:13,14,26-28, Deuteronomy 2:36, Joshua 13:9, Judges 11:18, Isaiah 16:2
Verse 21

And judgment is come upon the plain country; upon Holon, and upon Jahazah, and upon Mephaath,
the plain
8, Ezekiel 25:9, Zephaniah 2:9
Jahazah
Joshua 13:18
Jahaza
Joshua 21:36,37, Isaiah 15:4
Jahaz
Verse 22

And upon Dibon, and upon Nebo, and upon Bethdiblathaim,
Dibon
1,18, Numbers 32:34
Beth-diblathaim
Numbers 33:46
Almon-diblathaim
Ezekiel 6:14
Diblath
Verse 23

And upon Kiriathaim, and upon Bethgamul, and upon Bethmeon,
Kiriathaim
1, Genesis 14:5
Shaveh Kiriathaim
Joshua 13:19
Kirjathaim
Beth-meon.
Numbers 32:38
Baal-meon
Joshua 13:17
Beth-baal-meon
Verse 24

And upon Kerioth, and upon Bozrah, and upon all the cities of the land of Moab, far or near.
Kerioth
41, Amos 2:2
Bozrah
Deuteronomy 4:43
Bezer
Joshua 21:36
Bezor
Zephaniah 2:8-10
Verse 25

The horn of Moab is cut off, and his arm is broken, saith the LORD.
horn
Psalms 75:10, Lamentations 2:3, Daniel 7:8, 8:7-9,21, Zechariah 1:19-21
and his
Numbers 32:37, Job 22:9, Psalms 10:15, 37:17, Ezekiel 30:21-25
Verse 26

Make ye him drunken: for he magnified himself against the LORD: Moab also shall wallow in his vomit, and he also shall be in derision.
ye him
13:13,14, 25:15-17,27-29, 51:7,39,57, Psalms 60:3, 75:8, Isaiah 29:9, Isaiah 51:17, 63:6, Lamentations 3:15, 4:21, Ezekiel 23:31-34, Nahum 3:11, Revelation 16:19
for he
42, Exodus 5:2, 9:17, Job 9:4, Isaiah 10:15, Ezekiel 35:12,13, Daniel 5:23, Daniel 8:11,12, 11:36, Zephaniah 2:8-10, 2 Thessalonians 2:4
wallow
Isaiah 19:14, 29:9, Habakkuk 2:16
and he also
39, Psalms 2:4, 59:8, Lamentations 1:21, Ezekiel 23:32
Verse 27

For was not Israel a derision unto thee? was he found among thieves? for since thou spakest of him, thou skippedst for joy.
was not
Psalms 44:13, 79:4, Proverbs 24:17,18, Lamentations 2:15-17, Ezekiel 25:8, 26:2,3, 35:15, Ezekiel 36:2,4, Obadiah 1:12,13, Micah 7:8-10, Zephaniah 2:8,10, Matthew 7:2
was he found
2:26, Matthew 26:55, 27:38
skippedst
or, movedst thyself.
Verse 28

O ye that dwell in Moab, leave the cities, and dwell in the rock, and be like the dove that maketh her nest in the sides of the hole's mouth.
leave
9, Judges 6:2, 1 Samuel 13:6, Isaiah 2:19, Obadiah 1:3,4
like
49:16, Psalms 55:6,7, Song of Solomon 2:14
Verse 29

We have heard the pride of Moab, (he is exceeding proud) his loftiness, and his arrogancy, and his pride, and the haughtiness of his heart.
heard
Proverbs 8:13, Isaiah 16:6, Zephaniah 2:8-15
his loftiness
Job 40:10-12, Psalms 138:6, Proverbs 18:12, 30:13, Isaiah 2:11,12, Daniel 4:37, Luke 14:11, James 4:6
Verse 30

I know his wrath, saith the LORD; but it shall not be so; his lies shall not so effect it.
know
Isaiah 16:6, 37:28,29
his lies shall not so effect it
or, those on whom he stayeth (Heb. his bars) do not right. Baddim, as Lowth observes, sometimes means those who pretend to the art of divination. Though the soothsayers of Moab, upon whose skill she relies, promise him success, yet in the event it will appear there was no truth in what they said.
50:36, Job 9:12,13, Psalms 33:10, Proverbs 21:30
Verse 31

Therefore will I howl for Moab, and I will cry out for all Moab; mine heart shall mourn for the men of Kirheres.
will I howl
Isaiah 15:5, 16:7-11
Kir-heres
36, 2 Kings 3:25
Kar-haraseth
Isaiah 16:7
Kir-hareseth
Verse 32

O vine of Sibmah, I will weep for thee with the weeping of Jazer: thy plants are gone over the sea, they reach even to the sea of Jazer: the spoiler is fallen upon thy summer fruits and upon thy vintage.
vine
Numbers 32:38
Shibmah
Joshua 13:19, Isaiah 16:8,9
Jazer
Numbers 21:32
Jaazer
Numbers 32:1,35, Joshua 21:39
the spoiler
8,15,18, 40:10
Verse 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.
joy
25:9,10, Isaiah 9:3, 16:9, 24:7-12, 32:9-14, Joel 1:12,16, Revelation 18:22,23
caused
Isaiah 5:10, 7:23, 16:10, Joel 1:5,12,13, Haggai 2:16
Verse 34

From the cry of Heshbon even unto Elealeh, and even unto Jahaz, have they uttered their voice, from Zoar even unto Horonaim, as an heifer of three years old: for the waters also of Nimrim shall be desolate.
the cry
2, Isaiah 15:4-6
Elealeh
Numbers 32:37
Jahaz
Jahazah
Zoar.
3,5, Deuteronomy 34:3, Isaiah 15:5
as an heifer of
As a young cow, when deprived of her first calf; which runs about from place to place, filling the air with loud and repeated lowings, expressive of the deepest distress.
Nimrim
Numbers 32:3
Nimrah
Numbers 32:36
Beth-nimrah
Isaiah 15:6
desolate
Heb. desolations.
Verse 35

Moreover I will cause to cease in Moab, saith the LORD, him that offereth in the high places, and him that burneth incense to his gods.
him that offereth
7, Numbers 22:40,41, 28:14,28-30, Isaiah 15:2, 16:12
Verse 36

Therefore mine heart shall sound for Moab like pipes, and mine heart shall sound like pipes for the men of Kirheres: because the riches that he hath gotten are perished.
mine heart
4:19, Isaiah 15:5, 16:11, 63:15
Kir-heres
the riches
17:11, Proverbs 11:4, 13:22, 18:11, Ecclesiastes 5:13,14, Isaiah 15:7, Luke 12:20,21, James 5:2,3
Verse 37

For every head shall be bald, and every beard clipped: upon all the hands shall be cuttings, and upon the loins sackcloth.
every head
16:6, 41:5, 47:5, Isaiah 3:24, 15:2,3, Ezekiel 7:18, 27:31, Amos 8:10, Micah 1:16
clipped
Heb. diminished. cuttings.
Leviticus 19:28, 1 Kings 18:28, Mark 5:5
upon the loins
Genesis 37:29,34, 1 Kings 21:27, 2 Kings 6:30, Isaiah 20:2, 37:1, Revelation 11:3
Verse 38

There shall be lamentation generally upon all the housetops of Moab, and in the streets thereof: for I have broken Moab like a vessel wherein is no pleasure, saith the LORD.
upon
Isaiah 15:3, 22:1
broken
22:28, 25:34, Psalms 2:9, Isaiah 30:14, Hosea 8:8, Romans 9:21,22, 2 Timothy 2:20,21, Revelation 2:27
Verse 39

They shall howl, saying, How is it broken down! how hath Moab turned the back with shame! so shall Moab be a derision and a dismaying to all them about him.
How is it
17, Lamentations 1:1, 2:1, 4:1, Revelation 18:9,10,15,16
back
Heb. neck. a derision.
26,27, Isaiah 20:4-6, Ezekiel 26:16-18
Verse 40

For thus saith the LORD; Behold, he shall fly as an eagle, and shall spread his wings over Moab.
he shall
4:13, Deuteronomy 28:49, Lamentations 4:19, Ezekiel 17:3, Daniel 7:4, Hosea 8:1
spread
49:22, Isaiah 8:8
Verse 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.
Kerioth
or, The cities.
as the heart
4:31, 6:24, 30:6, 49:22,24, 50:43, 51:30, Isaiah 13:8, 21:3, 26:17,18, Micah 4:9,10, 1 Thessalonians 5:3
Verse 42

And Moab shall be destroyed from being a people, because he hath magnified himself against the LORD.
Moab
Moab has long since ceased to be a nation; while the Jews, agreeably to the Divine promise, (ch. 46:28,) though successively subdued and oppressed by the Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Syro-Macedonians, and Romans, (which have also all passed away, and are no more,) and dispersed over the face of the earth, subsist to this day as a distinct people from all the nations of the world!
from
2, 30:11, Esther 3:8-13, Psalms 83:4-8, Isaiah 7:8, Matthew 7:2
magnified
26-30, Proverbs 16:18, Isaiah 37:23, Daniel 11:36, 2 Thessalonians 2:4, Revelation 13:6
Verse 43

Fear, and the pit, and the snare, shall be upon thee, O inhabitant of Moab, saith the LORD.
Deuteronomy 32:23-25, Psalms 11:6, Isaiah 24:17,18, Lamentations 3:47
Verse 44

He that fleeth from the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that getteth 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, saith the LORD.
that fleeth
16:16, 1 Kings 19:17, 20:30, Isaiah 37:36-38, Amos 2:14,15, 5:19, 9:1-4
the year
8:12, 10:15, 11:23, 23:12, 46:21, 51:18, Isaiah 10:3, Hosea 9:7, Micah 7:4
Verse 45

They that fled stood under the shadow of Heshbon because of the force: but a fire shall come forth out of Heshbon, and a flame from the midst of Sihon, and shall devour the corner of Moab, and the crown of the head of the tumultuous ones.
a fire
Numbers 21:28, Amos 2:2
devour
Numbers 24:17, Zechariah 10:4, Matthew 21:42
tumultuous ones
Heb. children of noise.
Verse 46

Woe be unto thee, O Moab! the people of Chemosh perisheth: for thy sons are taken captives, and thy daughters captives.
Woe
Numbers 21:29
the people
7,13, Judges 11:24, 1 Kings 11:7, 2 Kings 23:13
captives
Heb. in captivity.
Verse 47

Yet will I bring again the captivity of Moab in the latter days, saith the LORD. Thus far is the judgment of Moab.
Yet will I bring
Many of the Moabites were afterwards restored to their country by Cyrus, as we learn from Josephus; but they never were restored to their national consequence; and perhaps their restoration in the latter days refers to the conversion of their scattered remnants to the gospel.
46:26, 49:6,39, Isaiah 18:7, 19:18-23, 23:18, Ezekiel 16:53-55
in the latter
23:20, 30:24, Numbers 24:14, Deuteronomy 4:30, 31:29, Job 19:25, Ezekiel 38:8, Daniel 2:28, Daniel 10:14, Hosea 3:5

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