Bible Commentaries
Jeremiah 48

Verse 1

The Forty-Fourth Prophecy of Jeremiah (see book comments for Jeremiah).

Against = concerning.

Moab. Always hostile to Israel. Compare Judges 3:12 , Jdg 3:28 ; 1 Samuel 14:47 . 2 Samuel 8:2 . 2 Kings 1:1 ; 2 Kings 3:4-27 ; 2 Kings 13:20 . In the reign of Jehoiakim they joined with the Chaldeans.

thus saith. As in Numbers 21:28 , Numbers 21:29 ; Numbers 24:17 (compare verses: Jeremiah 48:45 , Jeremiah 48:46 ), and Amos 2:2 .

the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel. See note on Jeremiah 7:3 .

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

Nebo. Not the mountain, but formerly a Reubenite possession (Numbers 32:37 , Numbers 32:38 ), now belonging to Moab.

Kiriathaim. Now probably el Kureiyat, between Medeba and Dibon.

Misgab. Probably = the high fort.

Verse 2

Heshbon. Now Hesban. The capital of Sihon king of the Amorites. Rebuilt by Reubenites (Numbers 32:37 . Compare Joshua 13:17 ).

devised = counselled. Note Figure of speech Paronomasia . Heshbon, hashbu.

evil. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44 .

be cut down = be reduced to silence.

Madmen. Now Umm Deineh, a town in Moab twelve miles N. E. of Dibon.

Verse 3

Horonaim. Probably near Zoar. Compare Isaiah 15:5 .

Verse 5

Luhith. ' Now Tal'atel Heith, one mile west of Mount Nebo.

Verse 6

lives = soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

the heath = naked trees. Compare Jeremiah 17:6 .

Verse 7

thou shalt also = thou too shalt.

Chemosh shall go forth into captivity. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 21:29 ). App-92 . See App-54 , and compare Judges 11:24 . 1Ki 11:7 . 2 Kings 23:13 .

Verse 10

deceitfully = negligently: i.e. this work of judgment.

Verse 11

hath been at ease. Since Moab had driven out the Emims (Deuteronomy 2:10 ).

remained = stood.

Verse 12

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos.

saith the LORD = [is] Jehovah's oracle.

wanderers, that shall cause him to wander = tilters that shall tilt him. Keeping up the symbol of a wine-jar (Jeremiah 48:11 ).

Verse 13

as = according as.

the house of Israel. See note on Jeremiah 2:4 . The last occurrence in Jeremiah.

Beth-el. Reference to the calves of Jeroboam (1 Kings 12:29 . Hosea 10:5 ).

Verse 14

men. Hebrew, plural of 'enosh. App-14 .

Verse 15

gone up . . . her cities = her cities have gone up, or ascended in burning.

saith the King = [is] the King's oracle. Compare Jeremiah 46:18 .

the LORD of hosts. See note on Jeremiah 6:6 .

Verse 16

hasteth fast. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 32:35 ). App-92 .

Verse 18

Dibon. Now Dhiban. Ruins north of the river Arnon. Compare Jeremiah 48:22 .

Verse 19

inhabitant = inhabitress. Reference to "daughter' (Jeremiah 48:18 ).

Aroer. Now 'Ar'air, on the north bank of Wady, Mojib (Arnon).

Verse 20

Arnon. Now Wady Mojib, on the east side of the Dead Sea.

Verse 21

Holon. Now probably Aleiyan (not Holon or Hilen in Judah).

Jahazah . . . Mephaath. Not yet identified. Compare Isaiah 15:4 .

Verse 22

Dibon. See Jeremiah 48:18 .

Beth-diblathaim. Also Almon-diblathaim (Numbers 33:46 , Numbers 33:47 ). Now probably Khan Deleyat = house of the two disks, mentioned on the Moabite stone. App-64 .

Verse 23

Beth-gamul. Now Khan Jemail, east of Dibon.

Beth-meon. Now Tell M'ain. Compare Joshua 13:17 .

Verse 24

Kerioth. Probably the same as Kiriathaim (Jeremiah 48:1 ).

Bozrah. Now el Buseirah, in Edom, south-east of the Dead Sea.

Verse 26

wallow in = stagger or splash into.

Verse 27

since = as often as, or whenever.

skippedst for joy = didst shake thyself in excitement, or wag thy head.

Verse 29

pride = arrogance. Note the Figure of speech Synonymia : six expressions, for the sake of emphasis.

Verse 31

mine heart shall mourn = must one mourn. So the St. Petersburg Codex (A.D. 916), with note that the Eastern Massorites read "I shall mourn".

Kir-heres. Now Kerak, the fortified town east of southern end of the Dead Sea.

Verse 32

Sibmah. Now probably Sumia, east of Jordan. Compare Numbers 32:38 .

Jazer. Now Beit Zer'ah, east of Jordan.

plants = branches.

over the sea. Probably the Dead Sea.

Verse 33

wine. Hebrew. yayin. App-27 .

Verse 34

From the cry, &c. or, on hearing Heshbon ' s mournful cry.

Elealeh. Now el 'Al, a ruin near Heshbon.

Jahaz. A town in Reuben. Not yet identified.

Zoar. Now Tell esh Shughur, on the south side of Wady Heshban. Originally "Bela".

as an heifer of three years old: or, the third Eglath (to distinguish it from two other Eglaths), or Eglath-Shelishiyah,

Nimrim. Now Wady Nimrim, near the south end of the Dead Sea.

Verse 35

high places. See note on 1 Kings 3:3 .

Verse 36

like pipes. Used in mourning at funerals. Compare Matthew 9:23 .

Verse 37

every head. Some codices, with four early printed editions (one margin), read "For upon every head".

bald = baldness. The symbol of mourning. Compare Jeremiah 47:5 .

upon the loins. Some codices, with three early printed editions, Septuagint, and Vulgate, read "and upon all loins".

Verse 38

the housetops. Where they prayed to their gods. Compare Jeremiah 19:13 .

streets = broadways.

Verse 40

he = one (not named): Nebuchadnezzar understood.

shall fly. Codex Oriental, 2091 (British Museum), reads "shall ascend"; but the Massorah ( App-30 ) has a note, saying "according to other codices, it is fly" (vol, 167a).

as an eagle. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 28:49 ). App-92 .

Verse 41

mighty men's. Hebrew. geber. App-14 .

Verse 43

Fear = Terror.

Verse 44

the fear . . . the pit . . . the pit . . . in the snare. Note the Figure of speech Paronomasia . Hebrew. h appa- had . . . happahath . . . happahath . . . bepah .

the year of their visitation. See note on Jeremiah 8:12 .

Verse 45

stood . . . because of the force = stood strengthless; or, halted.

a fire shall come forth out of Heshbon, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 21:28 ). App-92 .

devour. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 24:17 ). App-92 .

corner: or, flank.

tumultuous ones = sons of tumult.

Verse 46

Woe, &c. Figure of speech Maledictio. App-6 .

the people of Chemosh. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 21:29 ).

perisheth. Same word as "undone" in Numbers 21:29 .

captives = in the captivity (masculine)

captives. Feminine.

Verse 47

bring again the captivity. Note the Figure of speech Paronomasia

the latter days = in the end, or afterpart of the days.