Jeremiah 48
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
PROPHECY AGAINST MOAB. (Jer. 48:1-47) Nebo--a mountain and town of Moab; its meaning is "that which fructifies." Kiriathaim--a city of Moab, consisting of two cities, as the word signifies; originally held by the Emim (Gen 14:5). Misgab--meaning "elevation." It lay on an elevation.
Open source ↗Against Moab thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel,.... The prophecy concerning Moab is introduced with these epithets of God, partly to observe that the God of Israel was the only true God, in opposition to the gods of Moab, and other nations; and partly to point out his omnipotence, being able to perform what he here predicts and threatens; as also to suggest, that for the enmity of the Moabites to his people Israel, and their contempt of them, which is taken notice of in this chapter, and the ill treatment of them, the Lord would now take vengeance on them. Some render it, "concerning Moab" (z); because every thing that is here said is not against it; the chapter concludes in favour of it; though the far greater part, and ever, all but the last verse, is against it. This prophecy, according to Josephus (a), had its fulfilment about five years after the destruction of Jerusalem; woe unto Nebo, for it is spoiled; its walls broken down; its houses demolished; its inhabitants destroyed, and plundered of their riches; this, in prophetic language, is represented as done, because of the certainty of it. Of this city See Gill on Isa 15:2; It is thought to be an oracular one, where was a temple of their idol; and from whence their priests gave out oracles, promising peace, and prosperity and safety, to Moab; and therefore the desolation of that is first prophesied of, to show that no dependence was to be had on those lying oracles; Kirjathaim is confounded and taken; a city in the tribe of Reuben, which afterwards came into the hands of the Moabites, Jos 13:19. The word is of the dual form; and it might be a double city, like Jerusalem, consisting of a lower and upper city; or it might be divided by a river; or, as Kimchi and Ben Melech think, it was so called becau…
Open source ↗Calamities to come on Moab. - Jer 48:1. "Thus saith Jahveh of hosts, the God of Israel, Woe to Nebo, for it is laid waste! Kiriathaim is come to dishonour, it is taken: the fortress is come to dishonour and broken down. Jer 48:2. Moab's glory is no more. In Heshbon they have devised evil against her, [saying], Come, and let us cut her off from [being] a nation: thou also, O Madmen, art brought to silence; the sword shall go after thee. Jer 48:3. A sound of crying from Horonaim, desolation and great destruction. Jer 48:4. Moab is destroyed; her little ones have caused a cry to be heard. Jer 48:5. For they ascend the ascent of Luhith with weeping - weeping: for on the descent of Horonaim the enemies have heard a cry of destruction. Jer 48:6. Flee, save your life! and be like one destitute in the wilderness. Jer 48:7. For, because they trust [was] in thy works, and in thy treasures, thou also shalt be taken; and Chemosh shall go into captivity, his priests and his princes together. Jer 48:8. The destroyer shall come to every city, and no city shall escape; and the valley shall perish, and the plain shall be laid waste, as Jahveh hath said." With the exclamation "Woe!" Jeremiah transports the hearers of the word of God at once into the midst of the catastrophe which is to come on Moab; this is with the view of humbling the pride of this people, and chastening them for their sins. The woe is uttered over Nebo, but holds also of the towns named afterwards. Nebo is not the mountain of that name (Deu 32:49; Deu 34:1), but the city, which probably did not lie far from the peak in the mountain-range of Abarim, which bore the same name (Num 32:3, Num 32:38; Isa 15:2), although in the Onomasticon, s.v. Ναβαῦ, the situation of the mountain is given as being six Roman miles from Hes…
Open source ↗We may observe in these verses, I. The author of Moab's destruction; it is the Lord of hosts, that has armies, all armies, at his command, and the God of Israel (Jer 48:1), who will herein plead the cause of his Israel against a people that have always been vexatious to them, and will punish them now for the injuries done to Israel of old, though Israel was forbidden to meddle with them (Deu 2:9), therefore the destruction of Moab is called the work of the Lord (Jer 48:10), for it is he that pleads for Israel; and his work will exactly agree with his word, Jer 48:8. II. The instruments of it: Spoilers shall come (Jer 48:8), shall come with a sword, a sword that shall pursue them, Jer 48:2. "I will send unto him wanderers, such as come from afar, as if they were vagrants, or had missed their way, but they shall cause him to wander; they seem as wanderers themselves, but they shall make the Moabites to be really wanderers, some to flee and others to be carried into captivity." These destroyers stir up themselves to do execution; they have devised evil against Heshbon, one of the principal cities of Moab, and they aim at no less than the ruin of the kingdom: Come, and let us cut it off from being a nation (Jer 48:2); nothing less will serve the turn of the invaders; they come, not to plunder it, but to ruin it. The prophet, in God's name, engages them to make thorough work of it (Jer 48:10): Cursed be he that does the work of the Lord deceitfully, this bloody work, this destroying work; though it goes against the grain with men of compassion, yet it is the work of the Lord, and must not be done by the halves. The Chaldeans have it in charge, by a secret instinct (says Mr. Gataker), to destroy the Moabites, and therefore they must not spare, must not, out of foolish pity, k…
Open source ↗48:1–49:6 The Lord decreed the destruction and future restoration of Moab and Ammon, the two nations descended from Lot, Abraham’s nephew (Gen 19:36-38). 48:1-47 Moab, one of two nations descended from Abraham’s nephew Lot (Gen 19:36-38), was the next nation brought to trial in the Lord’s courtroom (cp. Isa 15–16). Moab’s territory lay between the Arnon River and the Zered Brook east of the Dead Sea. At the time, the Moabites felt self-assured because they were relatively free from the military reach of the Babylonians. However, the Lord found the Moabites to be greedy and cruel, and their worship was vicious and sensuous. 48:1 The powerful Judge, the God of Israel (see study note on 2:2), introduced the indictments and decrees against Moab. • The city of Nebo was on the side of Mount Nebo (Num 32:3, 38), several miles east of the north end of the Dead Sea. • The city of Kiriathaim was built by the tribe of Reuben (Josh 13:19) in the highlands east of the Dead Sea.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
מוֹאָב (Môwʼâb, H4124) — Moab, an incestuous son of Lot; also his territory and descendants אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God צָבָא (tsâbâʼ, H6635) — a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized forwar (an army);… אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity הוֹי (hôwy, H1945) — oh! נְבוֹ (Nᵉbôw, H5015) — Nebo, the name of a Babylonian deity, also of a mountain in Moab, and of a place in… שָׁדַד (shâdad, H7703) — properly, to be burly, i.e. (figuratively) powerful (passively, impregnable); by… קִרְיָתַיִם (Qiryâthayim, H7156) — Kirjathaim, the name of two placed in Palestine יָבֵשׁ (yâbêsh, H3001) — to be ashamed, confused or disappointed; also (as failing) to dry up (as water) or wither… לָכַד (lâkad, H3920) — to catch (in a net, trap or pit); generally, to capture or occupy; also to choose (by… מִשְׂגָּב (misgâb, H4869) — defence, high fort (tower), refuge, Misgab, a place in Moab חָתַת (châthath, H2865) — properly, to prostrate; hence, to break down, either (literally) by violence, or…
Open source ↗תְּהִלָּה (tᵉhillâh, H8416) — laudation; specifically (concretely) a hymn מוֹאָב (Môwʼâb, H4124) — Moab, an incestuous son of Lot; also his territory and descendants חֶשְׁבּוֹן (Cheshbôwn, H2809) — Cheshbon, a place East of the Jordan חָשַׁב (châshab, H2803) — properly, to plait or interpenetrate, i.e. (literally) to weave or (generally) to… רַע (raʻ, H7451) — bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral) יָלַךְ (yâlak, H3212) — to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses) כָּרַת (kârath, H3772) — to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to… גּוֹי (gôwy, H1471) — a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight… דָּמַם (dâmam, H1826) — to be dumb; by implication, to be astonished, to stop; also to perish מַדְמֵן (Madmên, H4086) — Madmen, a place in Palestine חֶרֶב (chereb, H2719) — drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or… אַחַר (ʼachar, H310) — properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various…
Open source ↗קוֹל (qôwl, H6963) — a voice or sound צַעֲקָה (tsaʻăqâh, H6818) — a shriek חֹרֹנַיִם (Chôrônayim, H2773) — Choronajim, a place in Moab שֹׁד (shôd, H7701) — violence, ravage גָּדוֹל (gâdôwl, H1419) — great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent שֶׁבֶר (sheber, H7667) — a fracture, figuratively, ruin; specifically, a solution (of a dream)
Open source ↗מוֹאָב (Môwʼâb, H4124) — Moab, an incestuous son of Lot; also his territory and descendants שָׁבַר (shâbar, H7665) — to burst (literally or figuratively) צָעִיר (tsâʻîyr, H6810) — little; (in number) few; (in age) young, (in value) ignoble זַעַק (zaʻaq, H2201) — a shriek or outcry שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,…
Open source ↗מַעֲלֶה (maʻăleh, H4608) — an elevation, i.e. (concretely) acclivity or platform; abstractly (the relation or state)… לוּחִית (Lûwchîyth, H3872) — Luchith, a place East of the Jordan בְּכִי (Bᵉkîy, H1065) — a weeping; by analogy, a dripping עָלָה (ʻâlâh, H5927) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of… מוֹרָד (môwrâd, H4174) — a descent; as architecture, an ornamental appendage, perhaps a festoon חֹרֹנַיִם (Chôrônayim, H2773) — Choronajim, a place in Moab צַר (tsar, H6862) — narrow; (as a noun) a tight place (usually figuratively, i.e. trouble); also a pebble ;… שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… צַעֲקָה (tsaʻăqâh, H6818) — a shriek שֶׁבֶר (sheber, H7667) — a fracture, figuratively, ruin; specifically, a solution (of a dream)
Open source ↗נוּס (nûwç, H5127) — to flit, i.e. vanish away (subside, escape; causatively, chase, impel, deliver) מָלַט (mâlaṭ, H4422) — properly, to be smooth, i.e. (by implication) to escape (as if by slipperiness);… נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh, H5315) — properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in… הָיָה (hâyâh, H1961) — to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or… עֲרוֹעֵר (ʻărôwʻêr, H6176) — a juniper (from its nudity of situation) מִדְבָּר (midbâr, H4057) — a pasture (i.e. open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert; also…
Open source ↗בָּטַח (bâṭach, H982) — figuratively, to trust, be confident or sure מַעֲשֶׂה (maʻăseh, H4639) — an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication,… אוֹצָר (ʼôwtsâr, H214) — a depository לָכַד (lâkad, H3920) — to catch (in a net, trap or pit); generally, to capture or occupy; also to choose (by… כְּמוֹשׁ (Kᵉmôwsh, H3645) — Kemosh, the god of the Moabites יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… גּוֹלָה (gôwlâh, H1473) — exile; concretely and collectively exiles כֹּהֵן (kôhên, H3548) — literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a… שַׂר (sar, H8269) — a head person (of any rank or class) יַחַד (yachad, H3162) — properly, a unit, i.e. (adverb) unitedly
Open source ↗שָׁדַד (shâdad, H7703) — properly, to be burly, i.e. (figuratively) powerful (passively, impregnable); by… בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) עִיר (ʻîyr, H5892) — a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere… מָלַט (mâlaṭ, H4422) — properly, to be smooth, i.e. (by implication) to escape (as if by slipperiness);… עֵמֶק (ʻêmeq, H6010) — a vale (i.e. broad depression) אָבַד (ʼâbad, H6) — properly, to wander away, i.e. lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy) מִישׁוֹר (mîyshôwr, H4334) — a level, i.e. a plain (often used (with the article prefix) as a proper name of certain… שָׁמַד (shâmad, H8045) — to desolate יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude)
Open source ↗נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) צִיץ (tsîyts, H6731) — properly, glistening, i.e. a burnished plate; also a flower (as bright-colored); a wing… מוֹאָב (Môwʼâb, H4124) — Moab, an incestuous son of Lot; also his territory and descendants נָצָא (nâtsâʼ, H5323) — to go away יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… עִיר (ʻîyr, H5892) — a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere… שַׁמָּה (shammâh, H8047) — ruin; by implication, consternation יָשַׁב (yâshab, H3427) — properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to… הֵן (hên, H2004) — they (only used when emphatic)
Open source ↗אָרַר (ʼârar, H779) — to execrate עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application מְלָאכָה (mᵉlâʼkâh, H4399) — properly, deputyship, i.e. ministry; generally, employment (never servile) or work… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God רְמִיָּה (rᵉmîyâh, H7423) — remissness, treachery מָנַע (mânaʻ, H4513) — to debar (negatively or positively) from benefit or injury חֶרֶב (chereb, H2719) — drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or… דָּם (dâm, H1818) — blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice…
Open source ↗מוֹאָב (Môwʼâb, H4124) — Moab, an incestuous son of Lot; also his territory and descendants שָׁאַן (shâʼan, H7599) — to loll, i.e. be peaceful נָעוּר (nâʻûwr, H5271) — (only in plural collectively or emphatic form) youth, the state (juvenility) or the… שָׁקַט (shâqaṭ, H8252) — to repose (usually figurative) שֶׁמֶר (shemer, H8105) — something preserved, i.e. the settlings (plural only) of wine רוּק (rûwq, H7324) — to pour out (literally or figuratively), i.e. empty כְּלִי (kᵉlîy, H3627) — something prepared, i.e. any apparatus (as an implement, utensil, dress, vessel or weapon) הָלַךְ (hâlak, H1980) — to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively) גּוֹלָה (gôwlâh, H1473) — exile; concretely and collectively exiles טַעַם (ṭaʻam, H2940) — properly, a taste, i.e. (figuratively) perception; by implication, intelligence;… עָמַד (ʻâmad, H5975) — to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive) רֵיחַ (rêyach, H7381) — odor (as if blown) מוּר (mûwr, H4171) — to alter; by implication, to barter, to dispose of
Open source ↗יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) נְאֻם (nᵉʼum, H5002) — an oracle יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God שָׁלַח (shâlach, H7971) — to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications) צָעָה (tsâʻâh, H6808) — to tip over (for the purpose of spilling or pouring out), i.e. (figuratively) depopulate;… רוּק (rûwq, H7324) — to pour out (literally or figuratively), i.e. empty כְּלִי (kᵉlîy, H3627) — something prepared, i.e. any apparatus (as an implement, utensil, dress, vessel or weapon) נָפַץ (nâphats, H5310) — to dash to pieces, or scatter נֶבֶל (nebel, H5035) — a skin-bag for liquids (from collapsing when empty); hence, a vase (as similar in shape…
Open source ↗מוֹאָב (Môwʼâb, H4124) — Moab, an incestuous son of Lot; also his territory and descendants בּוּשׁ (bûwsh, H954) — properly, to pale, i.e. by implication to be ashamed; also (by implication) to be… כְּמוֹשׁ (Kᵉmôwsh, H3645) — Kemosh, the god of the Moabites בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity בֵּית־אֵל (Bêyth-ʼÊl, H1008) — Beth-El, a place in Palestine מִבְטָח (mibṭâch, H4009) — properly, a refuge, i.e. (objective) security, or (subjective) assurance
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) גִּבּוֹר (gibbôwr, H1368) — powerful; by implication, warrior, tyrant חַיִל (chayil, H2428) — probably a force, whether of men, means or other resources; an army, wealth, virtue,… אֱנוֹשׁ (ʼĕnôwsh, H582) — a man in general (singly or collectively) מִלְחָמָה (milchâmâh, H4421) — a battle (i.e. the engagement); generally, war (i.e. warfare)
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
“Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon,
Edom, Moab, and the Ammonites;
And now, here are the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, whom You did not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt; but Israel turned away from them and did not destroy them.
I, the LORD, am its keeper; I water it continually. I guard it night and day so no one can disturb it;
I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come forth from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will crush the skulls of Moab and strike down all the sons of Sheth.
For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain. But Moab will be trampled in his place as straw is trodden into the dung pile.
They set out from Almon-diblathaim and camped in the mountains of Abarim facing Nebo.
The older daughter gave birth to a son and named him Moab. He is the father of the Moabites of today.
Send word to the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, and Sidon through the envoys who have come to Jerusalem to Zedekiah king of Judah.
Egypt, Judah, Edom, Ammon, Moab, and all the inhabitants of the desert who clip the hair of their temples. For all these nations are uncircumcised, and the whole house of Israel is uncircumcised in heart.”