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Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents
48:1-47 God Will Judge Moab. Israel's dealings with Moab date back even farther than its relationship with Philistia. Moab's origins in Abraham's era () began with the tawdry episode of Lot and his daughters (Gen. 19:30-38). Moab opposed Israel in Moses' era (Numbers 22-25), served Israel in David's era (2 Sam. 8:2), and plotted with Judah against Babylon in Zedekiah's era (Jer. 27:3). Here Jeremiah claims God will judge Moab's arrogance and idolatry (48:1-10), make Moab ashamed of its god (vv. 11-20), silence Moab's boasts (vv. 21-44), and someday restore Moab (vv. 45-47).
48:1 The location of Nebo is uncertain; perhaps it was near Mount Nebo,
48:2 Heshbon was northeast of Mount Nebo. Madmen. Either the name of an unknown city or a play on words. If a play on words, it could mean "dung pit" (Isa. 25:10 and ESV footnote), so Moab may become a dung pit.
48:3 Horonaim. Location uncertain, perhaps in southwest Moab. If so, cities from north (vv. 1-2) to south have suffered in the invasion.
48:5 ascent of Luhith. Perhaps in southern Moab on the way to Zoar. See Isa. 15:5. descent of Horonaim. Location unknown, but perhaps farther south than Luhith. See Isa. 15:5. The contrast between ascent and descent may simply mean the cry of destruction has reached the heights and depths of Moab.
48:6 like a juniper in the desert. A short shrub that barely survived in its harsh environment (17:6).
48:7 works, treasures. Moab once raised vast numbers of sheep, boasted fierce warriors (2 Kings 3), and was likely proud of building a nation in a desert region. Chemosh was Moab's national deity. Human sacrifice was part of Moab's rituals for Chemosh (2 Kings 3:27). shall go into exile. Images of a defeated nation's gods were often taken to the temples of the victorious nation (1 Sam. 5:1-12; Isa. 46:1-2; Amos 5:25-27).
48:8 destroyer. Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar defeated Moab Every city and region, valley or plain was devastated.
48:9 she would fly away. Moab's only escape route is the sky, so she has no hope of eluding Babylon. See Isa. 15:5-9 and 16:6-12 for similar imagery of a defeat Moab suffered at Assyria's hand
48:10 Babylon will do its work as God's instrument of judgment (27:1-15) with urgency, not laziness.
48:11 Moab has survived many previous invasions (v. 9). Thus, Moab has become complacent and settled on his dregs (Zeph. 1:12), like wine allowed to age. Moab produced wine (Isa. 16:8-11), so the metaphor is apt.
48:12 pour him . . . break his jars. Babylon will empty Moab like one pours wine from a jar; it will smash Moab like one smashes and disposes of old jars (13:12-14; 19:1-15).
48:13 ashamed of Chemosh. Because this god cannot save (10:1-25; Isa. 15:2; 16:12). ashamed of Bethel. See Hos. 10:6. At Bethel, Jeroboam I established one of his chief high places in his syncretistic religion (1 Kings 12:25-33). Worship there was part of the reason God judged Israel (2 Kings 17:9).
48:17 all you who are around him. Neighboring nations that once plotted with Moab against Babylon (27:3). scepter. A symbol of royal power (cf. Gen. 49:10). staff. A symbol of the king's rule as shepherd of his people (cf. Ps. 23:4).
48:19 Aroer. About
48:20 The fleeing ones explain that Moab is broken (v. 12). The Arnon is a river just south of Aroer.
48:21-24 All Moab's cities are lost in this judgment time. the tableland. The region north of the Arnon as far as Heshbon (v. 8). Holon. Location uncertain. Jahzah. Perhaps near Dibon (v. 18). Mephaath. Location uncertain. Nebo. See v. 1. Beth-diblathaim. Location uncertain. Kiriathaim. See v. 1. Beth-gamul. Perhaps
48:25 horn . . . arm. Symbols of strength (Deut. 11:2; Ps. 18:2; 75:5).
48:27 derision. See Zeph. 2:8-11. wagged your head. See Lam. 2:15.
48:28 God counsels Moab to seek refuge in the mountains, as David once did (1 Sam. 24:1-3).
48:31 This verse is close in content to Isa. 16:7, 11. God mourns over the necessity of judging Moab. Kir-hareseth. Probably
48:32 Jazer. Probably
48:33 The shout of joy heard when new wine is made will be replaced by warriors' shouts (25:30-31). See Isa. 16:8-10.
48:34 Heshbon. See v. 2. Elealeh.
48:36 my heart moans. God himself mourns that Moab's people will lose the possessions they spent a lifetime collecting (Isa. 15:7; 16:11). Though God in his justice brings righteous judgment against sinners and takes delight in the purity and holiness of his judgment, he also feels sorrow at the destruction that the judgment brings upon human beings created in his image (cf. Ezek. 18:32; 33:11; Matt. 23:37; Luke 19:41).
48:40 spread his wings against. Babylon will swoop down on Moab like a bird capturing prey (cf. 49:22; Lam. 4:19; Ezek. 17:3-8).
48:41 Moab will be as capable of stopping the invasion as a woman giving birth is able to stop birth pains (4:31; 6:24; Isa. 13:7-8).
48:42 Moab . . . magnified itself against the Lord by failing to accept God's word concerning Babylon's role as a divine instrument of judgment. See 27:1-15.
48:43-44 Moab will be hunted down and captured like animals. See Isa. 24:17-18; Lam. 3:52-55; Amos 5:18-20.
48:45 Heshbon. See v. 2. fugitives stop without strength. These people have fled only as far as the northern regions of Moab. fire came out from Heshbon. The city has been torched. house of Sihon. See Num. 21:21. forehead . . . crown. Probably a reference to Moab's northern regions.
48:46 This verse echoes Num. 21:29, which celebrates Israel's victory over the Amorites and Moabites before Israel entered Canaan.
48:47 God makes the same promise of restoration to Moab as he did to Judah in 29:14. The latter days most likely refers to a time when Moabites will take refuge in the Messiah (cf. 49:6, 39; Isa. 16:3-5).
