View Jeremiah 48 in the note window.
The judgment of Moab, ver. 1 - 6.
for their pride, ver. 7 - 10.
for their security and human confidence, ver. 11 - 15.
especially for their contempt of God, and insolence towards his
people, ver. 26 - 46.
Their restoration, ver. 47.
2: Heshbon - Heshbon was one of the principal cities of the
Moabites. Probably the enemies sat there in counsel, when they
had taken it, against the other parts of the country.
3: Horoniam - Another city of Moab.
5: Luhith - To this city the Moabites fled for sanctuary, and
flying made so great an out - cry that their enemies who pursued
them heard it.
6: And be - Save your lives, though all ye have be lost.
7: Trusted - In thy idols. Chemosh - Chemosh was their
principal idol.
9: Give wings - The Moabites have need of wings like a bird to
escape that ruin which is coming upon them.
11: At ease - The Moabites ever since they began to be a people,
have been a quiet people. Settled - Like a cask of wine, that has
not been racked but has continued in the same state. Not emptied - A
metaphor of wine which is drawn out from vessel to vessel, when it
is drawn off the lees. It is expounded by the next words.
Therefore - And this is the reason why they retain their old sins, pride,
presumption, and luxury.
12: Wanderers - The Chaldeans, who wandered from their own country
to conquer other people. Break his bottles - He had before compared
the Moabites, to wine settled upon the lees, here he saith, that God
would send those that should not only disturb, but destroy them.
13: Bethel - The golden calves, which Jeroboam set up at Dan
and Bethel.
16: Is near - Josephus tells us this destruction came upon the
Moabites five years after the siege of Jerusalem.
17: Staff - A staff and a rod are as well, ensigns of power
and government, as instruments to punish offenders.
18: Dibon - Dibon, Aroer, and Ataroh were built by the
children of Gad. It should seem the Moabites were not come
into the possession of them. In thirst - It was a place well
watered, but God threatens she should be in thirst, that is,
driven into some dry, barren countries. The spoiler - The king
of Babylon.
20: Arnon - Arnon was the name of a river; it was the border of
Moab: probably the adjacent country or city might take its name
from the river.
25: The horn - That is the beauty and the strength of Moab.
26: Drunken - Fill him with the intoxicating wine of God's vengeance.
27: Was he found - Why didst thou deal by Israel as men deal by
thieves, when they are brought to shame?
28: O ye - Still the prophet speaks of the Moabites, as a people
whose armies were routed, and calls to them to leave their houses in
cities, not promising themselves any security, either to or from their
houses, or from the walls of the cities, but to get them to rocks,
which are naturally fortified, and from whence (if from any place)
security may be promised.
30: I know - He shall never execute what he thinks to do.
But - His boastings and his lies, still never effect his designs.
31: Kir - herez - A city of Moab.
32: Sibmah - Sibmah was famous in those days for vines.
Jazer - Jazer was it seems first taken, and carried into captivity.
36: Pipes - The prophet means such pipes as they were wont to use
at funerals, and other sad occasions.
40: He - Nebuchadnezzar shall come swiftly, and spread himself
over Moab.
43: Fear - A variety of dangers upon all sides.
45: Heshbon - Heshbon was it seems a place of force.
The crown - That is, the glory.
47: Bring again - It seems this is to be understood of a spiritual
reduction of them, by calling them into the kingdom of the Messiah.
