Jeremiah 48
DortA prophesy against the Moabites because of their manifold sins especially their intolerable insolence and contempt of God and his people with a promise annexed.
1. Against Moab [or of Moab compare Isaiah chapter 15 and 16 Ezekiel 25:9 and Amos 2:1 and above chapter 25.21 and 27.5] thus saith the Lord of hosts the god of Israel Wo unto Neho [this city and those that follow lay all beyond the Jordan in the land of the Moabites see numbers 32.31 &c] for it is destroyed [that is it shall certainly be destroyed so in the sequel] Kirjathaim is confounded it is taken the city of the high place [some conceive this to be Heshbon lying upon a great high mountain of which the Moabites especially boasted as followeth or one of the chiefest fortress others understand Bamoath from Isaiah 15:2 and here below verse 35 others the rock Sela from verse 28 some retain the Hebrew word Misgah in the text] is confounded and afraid.
2. Moabs boasting of Moshoa is no more [Hesbon was a royal city Deuteronomy 2:24 &c repaired by the children of Reuben Numbers 32:37 others there is no more boasting of Moab at Hesbon have they c[see they have thought evil against it]the enemies have determined to destroy Heshon this is aptly fitted in the Hebrew to the word Heshon Heb Chesehbon that is thought imagination Chaschab I s to think to device so in the sequel to the city of the Madmen Isaiah 25:10 where also mention is made of Moab is taken for dung excrement and the Hebrew word this Tiddomm is derived signifieth to cut off to cut down to be destroyed [saying come and let us cut it off that be more a people] compare above chapter 33.24 and below verse 42] also thou Madmen [see of another Madmen Isaiah 10:31] shall be cut down the sword shall destroy thee.
3. There is a voice of crying from Heronaim destruction and great breach [that is desolation murder &c above chapter 4 on verse 6 and 20.]
4. Moab is broken [compare above chapter 17 verse 18 and 22.20 &c] her [in the feminine gender in this prophesy is spoken of Moab sometimes in the feminine sometimes in the masculine gender so in the next chapter of Amon Edom &c and consequently of Babel Midian &c sometimes respect may be had to the land and sometimes to the people also the Hebrew word which signifieth land or earth is used in both genders but most of all in the feminine compare below chapter 51 on verse 28] little children have caused a cry to be heard.
5. For in the going up of Lubith weeping upon weeping shall go up [compare Isaiah 15:5] for in the going down of Heronaim [where man go down of Heronaim lying to the low ground close to Lubith [the adversaries of Moab have heard a cry of calamity [Heb cry of a breach or of breaking that is murder or wailing cry of the Moabites crying to one another as followeth so Isaiah 15:5 others the enemies that cried breach were heard.]
6. Flee deliver your soul [that is save yourselves as we use to say or your persons] and be as the teeth in the wilderness [as dry waste and bare solitary and the heath or Tamarisk Shrub in the wilderness see above chapter 17 on verse 6 Heb Aror which also suiteth to the city of Aroer whereof below verse 19.]
7. For thy confidence in thy works [thus we also use the word works for all manner of buildings and fortification wherefore Moab as inhabiting for the most part a plain and even land seemeth to have well provided and to have trusted therein against all invasions as is here exprest]and in thy treasures thou shalt also be taken and Camos [Heb Chemosch the idol of Moabite see Numbers 21:29 as also the Ammonites see Judges 11:24] shall go forth into captivity [or among the captives or those that are carried away captive so below verse 11compare Isaiah 46:1 with the annotate] his prince and his princes together [his to wit the idol Camos his priest that honored and adhered unto this idol as their Lord and king to whom his princes are also added so below chapter 49.3 compare Hosea 10.5and Ezekiel 43:7.]
8. For the destroyer [the king of Babel] shall come upon every city so that not a city shall escape and the valley shall perish and the plain [or flat land] shall be destroyed for the lord hath saith it.
9. Give feathers unto Moab [spoken in a deriding way] for she shall go forth flying [instead of making resistant the prophet say they shall seek to flee with away with all speed like a bud] and her city shall become a desolation that no man shall dwell in them.
10. caused be he that doth the work of the Lord [to wit the cutting off of the Moabites which was commanded and enjoined by God unto the Babylonians] deceitfully ] Heb with deceit that is slothfully slow so that he doth not perform his master’s charge compare Proverbs 10 on verse 4and 2 on verse 24,27] yea cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood [the blood of the Moabite that he should not shed it by the sword compare above chapter 47.6,7.]
11. Moab hath been quiet [that is secure and careless living at ease and in pleasure compare Amos 6:10 not fearing any violence compare Proverbs 1:32,33 and above chapter 6.27 where another kind of quietness is promised unto the people of God] from his youth and he hath lien still on his lees [or dregs] hath not been emptied from the vessels into vessels [or let off drawn off the lees from one vessel into another a similitude taken from wine the meaning is that Moab having continued in his country from the beginning was grown rich luxurious mighty and insolent as the following words declare] and hath not walked into captivity therefore his taste remained [Heb stood] in him and his sent is not changed.
12. Therefore the day is come saith the Lord that will send unto him strand guests that shall carry him into strange places [or wanderers walkers that shall cause him to wander and straggle abroad in the strange countries compare above chapter 2.20 with the annotation]and empty vessels and beat or scatter see Judges 7 on verse 19 ] their bottles [meaning wine bottles see above chapter 13.12] in pieces .
13. And Moab shall be ashamed because of Chamos [see above verse 7] like as the house of Israel was ashamed because of Bethel [that is for the idolatrous golden calf of Bethel and the idolatry which they committed therewith see 1 Kings 12:28, 29&c.] their confidence [that is wherein they put their confidence.]
14. How will ye say we are champions and valiant man [Heb man of valor and courage battle?
15. Moab is destroyed [that is certainly Moab must be suddenly destroyed and so in the sequel] and gone up [that is broke up and gone away] out of his [Heb her see verse 4] cities [Others her cities are gone up into smoke that is burning or the destroyed hath scaled her cities] and the choice of his young men is gone down to the slaughter [for to be slain compare below chapter 50.27] saith the King whose name is the Lord of hosts.
16. Moab’s destruction [as above chapter 46.21] is near to come and his evil [of punishment is ruin] hasted greatly.
17. Bemoan him all ye that are around him and all ye that know his name[that knew how famous and renowned he hath been see Genesis 6 on verse4] say how is the strong slate the beautiful stick[Heb the staff of strength the stick of beauty or of ornament that is the mighty or magnificent people or kingdom] broken?
18. come down from thine glory and dwell in thirst [that is dry places in want of all things] thou inhabitants [compare above chapter 46.19 with the annotate] thou daughter of Dibon [also a city of the Moabites lying on a mountain see Isaiah 14 on verse 2] for Moab’s destroyer is come up against thee he hath spoiled thy strong holds.
19. Stand by the way and espy thou inhabitants of Aroer [Lying by the brook Amon Deuteronomy 2:36.] ask the fleeing men and to escape woman say what is there done ?[because ye flee thus amazed a lively description of that which is done at such time and that which is done there.]
20. Moab is confounded for he [Heb she] is cast down [or afraid astonished] howl and cry [see Isaiah 16:7] publish it at Amon [a city lying by the mountains where the original of both the brooks Arnons was having the same name] that Moabis destroyed.
21. And the judgment [that is punishment see Deuteronomy 19 on verse 6 and Proverbs 19 on verse 29 so below verse 47] is come upon the plain land [that is flat land there was such a country in Moab so called the following names are all names of the cities of the Moabites it is conceive that the Moabites took them all again either by force or with the consent of the kingdom of Assyria after that the ten tribes were carried away captive for they being subdued in David’s time 2 Samuel 8:2 and afterwards rebelling were conquered again by Joram &c 2Kings 3.4 c] upon Holon and upon Jahazah and upon Mophath.
22. And upon Dibon and upon Nibo and upon Bethdeblathaim.
23. And upon Kariatham and upon Beth-gamuland upon Beth-meon.
24. And upon Kerioth and upon Bozra [not of the Edomites as below chapter 49.13 and elsewhere often but of the Moabites some conceive it to be Bezer Josiah 21. 36] yea upon all the cities of the land that are far off and that are near.
25. The horn see Deuteronomy 33 on verse 17 and in particular psalms 75.11] of Moab is cut off and his arm [see job 22 on verse 8 and in particular Psalms 37:17] I broken saith the Lord.
26. make him drunken [ye Babylonian to wit with the cup of Gods wrath see above chapter 25.15,16 and Isaiah 63:6] because he hath magnified himself against the Lord [hath insulted against God and his people both in words and deeds compare Psalms 35:26,27 with the annotate and below verse 42] therefore Moab shall clap with the hands in his vomit [like mad drunkards that fallings down to the ground clap hands and keep a stir with their own vomit others wallow themselves &c] and he himself also shall be derision [as he formerly did use to deride the people of God as followeth.]
27. For was not Israel derision unto thee? [yea certainly will the Lord say meaning when Israel was punished and carried away captive] was be found among thieves [discovered and taken in the very act of theft who are wont to be deride ? see above chapter 2.26 and job 30.5] that thou wast so moved from the time that thy words were of him? [or didst shake for joy when thou didst talk of him mocking at his miseries as Edom did at Judah.]
28. Forsake the cities and dwell in the rock [some conceive this to be a fortress lying in the south and to the wilderness of Moab which was also destroyed Isaiah 16:1 and is meant above verse 1 others take it to be meant in general of rocks and shelves] ye inhabitants of Moab and be like a dove that maketh her nest in the passages [that is in the sides in the cliffs carnies holes] of holes mouth.
29. We have heard the pride of Moab he is very proud his stoutness his arrogance his pride and the haughtiness of his heart [compare Isaiah 16:6,7.]
30. I know his wrath [or rising overflowing anger] saith the Lord but not so his bars [that is his vain empty counsels his imaginary confidence compare psalms 7.15] do not effect it so [compare Isaiah 16.6such kind of phrase we do also use in our language of a man that presumptuously intended to go through with his own design not so he shall not go through with it so it will not be done so lies will not do it &c others because the Hebrew particles ken and baddin also admit to other signification thus but there is no firmness his bars whereon he relied make no firmness both in good sense to wit that Moab with all his pride and vain confidence shall find himself deceived in the end.]
31. There will I howl over Moab yea I will cry for all Moab for the man of Kerheres [some conceive this of the name of another city in Moab so called because it had brick-wall compare Isaiah 16:7,11] shall they sigh [or grumble mutter peep as men used to do in the unexpected mischance grief wonder c others shall may heart sigh]
32. Above the weeping of Jaezer will I weep for thee [that is more yet then Isaiah wept for Jaezer see Isaiah 16:9 others from or with the weeping of Jaezer that is as Isaiah did I will take my weeping from his join myself with him in it c] thou vine of Sibma thy branches[or young grafts twigs plants] are gone beyond sea they have reached unto the sea of Jaezer [as men are wont to deal with noble vines thus the prophet speaketh because there were many vines in the country of the sibma and not far off lay the city of Jaezer by the brook Arnon which from thence ran along through the sea that is the lake of Jaezer between Jaezer and Acor and beyond this lake is the north-east some say that there be also vines whose plants peradventure wee carried over thither from Sibma or else transported out of the land]but the destroyer [the Babylonian] is fallen upon thy summer fruits and upon thy vintage.
33. So that joy gladness is taken away [Heb gathered see Psalms 26 on verse 9] out of the fruitful field [Heb camel see above chapter 2 on verse 7]namely out of the land of Moab for I have caused the wine to cease [that is I will make that there shall be no wine these are Gods words] from the tubs [or wine-fat see Joel 3 on verse 18] men shall not tread grapes with shouting Heb Kedad see above chapter 25 on verse 30] shouting shall be no shouting [but rather like a cry murder.]
34. Because of the cry of Hebon unto Eleale unto Johas have they lifted up [Heb given] their voices from Zoar unto Horonaim that heifer of three years old [which cities are so full bodied fat lusty strong and wanton as young lusty heifer of here years old compare Isaiah 15.5above chapter 46.20] for the waters also of Nimrim [see Isaiah 15:6 some place the city of Nimrim with these waters by the dead sea between the brook Arnon and the brook Zered in the south end of Moab compare Numbers 32:3 ,36 Josiah 15.22] shall become desolations.
35. And I will cause to cease [that is make that there shall be no more] in Moab saith the Lord him that offereth on the high places [the idolatrous tremble of Baal Poer was upon an high mountains at the foot whereof the city of Banoth-Baal lay that is Baal high places] and him that burneth incense to his Gods.
36. Therefore mine heart shall sound for Moab like flutes [or pipes whereon they played lamentations]also mine heart shall make a noise for the men of Kir-heres like flutes because [so are the Hebrew particles also elsewhere fitly taken for because or for that see Genesis 38.31 Numbers 10:26 and 14.43 Psalms 42:7 see also Psalms 45 on verse 3 and 8] the over plus he [namely Moab] had made [or the plainly to wit of all kind of riches which he had gotten] is lost [Heb are lost to wit good plentiful gotten and plentiful riches which is included in the meaning of those words .]
37. For all heard are bald and all beard shortened upon all hands are incision and upon the loins is a sack [Heb every heard is baldness also beard &c these were all token of grief and mourning see above chapter 16 on verse 6 and Genesis 37 on verse 34 Isaiah 15:2,3 and above chapter 47.5.]
38. There is lamentation upon all the house-top of Moab [which were flat in those countries see Deuteronomy 22 on verse 8] and in the streets thereof everywhere [Heb by whole] for I have broken Moab like a vessel when in a man hath no pleasure [as above chapter 22.28] saith the Lord.
39. How is he [Moab Heb she] smitten? [That is beaten in pieces bruised dismayed astonished] they howl [others thus howl or they howl saying how is he smitten? others how is he smitten how do they howl?] how hath Moab turned the neck [fleeing from the enemy] with shame? [Others how hath Moab turned the neck? is he ashamed or how is he ashamed?] So shall Moab be derision and astonishment to all that are around about him.
40. For thus saith the Lord Behold he shall fly swiftly as an eagle [see Psalms 18 on verse 11and compare above chapter 4 on verse 13 and below chapter 49.22 Ezekiel 17:3 Hosiah 8.1 he the enemy the Babylonian shall suddenly come upon you] and shall be spread out his wings over Moab .
41. Everyone of these cities is won [Heb the cities is won or taken that is everyone of the city shall be c as followeth others Kerijoth as above verse 24] and everyone of the strong holds [or towers castles] is taken and heart of Moab champions shall be that day as the heart of a woman that is in pain [o children beating or what is in travail as above chapter 22,23 and below chapter 49.22c.]
42. For Moab shall be destroyed that he be no people [as above chapter 33 .24 and in this chapter verse2] because he hath magnified himself against the Lord [see above verse 26 .]
43. Fear and the pit and the snare [here are the words in the Hebrew that are very like to one another patched pacheth and patch with elegancy we can not imitate our language so Isaiah 24:17] upon thee thou inhabitants of Moab saith the Lord.
44. He that fleeteth away from the fear [Heb form the face of the fear] shall fall into the pit and that getteth up out of the pit shall be taken in the snare for I will b ring upon her upon Moab he year of their visitation saith the Lord.
45. They that fled from the enemy forces stayed in the shadow of Hesbon [that is betook themselves for refugee in royal of Hesbon thinking to be safe or secured there]but a fire came forth out of Hesbon and a flame from Sibon [that is from the midst of the city which Sibon had taken from the Moabites and had reigned there as King Numbers 21:26] and consumed the corners of Moab and the cry of the head of the children of Tumult ] of the Moabites that made so great a tumult and boasted and bragged so highly compare above chapter 43.17 with the annotate see Numbers 21.228 the meaning is as at that time the subduing of the land of Hesbon began so shall it likewise happen so that none shall be able to hide himself.]
46. Wo unto thee Moab [see Numbers 21:29 and above chapter 7] the people of Camos [see above verse 7.13] is lost for thy sons are taken away into captivity thy daughters are also lost in captivity.
47. But in the days I will away captivity of Moab [or bring again the captives of Moab this indeed maybe in some sort also applied to some temporal and corporal restoration but it hath principal respect to the spiritual redemption which they by the preaching of the gospel should with or other nations be made partakers of compare below chapter 49.6,39]saith the Lord thus far is the judgment of Moab [that is as we use to say thus spoken of the punishment of Moab see above on verse 21.]