Jeremiah 48
Verse 2Heshbon - 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. Verse 3Horoniam - Another city of Moab. Verse 5Luhith - To this city the Moabites fled for sanctuary, and flying made so great an out - cry that their enemies who pursued them heard it. Verse 6And be - Save your lives, though all ye have be lost. Verse 7Trusted - In thy idols. Chemosh - Chemosh was their principal idol. Verse 9Give wings - The Moabites have need of wings like a bird to escape that ruin which is coming upon them. Verse 11At 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. Verse 12Wanderers - 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. Verse 13Bethel - The golden calves, which Jeroboam set up at Dan and Bethel. Verse 16Is near - Josephus tells us this destruction came upon the Moabites five years after the siege of Jerusalem. Verse 17Staff - A staff and a rod are as well, ensigns of power and government, as instruments to punish offenders. Verse 18Dibon - 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. Verse 20Arnon - 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. Verse 25The horn - That is the beauty and the strength of Moab. Verse 26Drunken - Fill him with the intoxicating wine of God's vengeance. Verse 27Was he found - Why didst thou deal by Israel as men deal by thieves, when they are brought to shame? Verse 28O 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. Verse 30I know - He shall never execute what he thinks to do. But - His boastings and his lies, still never effect his designs. Verse 31Kir - herez - A city of Moab. Verse 32Sibmah - Sibmah was famous in those days for vines. Jazer - Jazer was it seems first taken, and carried into captivity. Verse 36Pipes - The prophet means such pipes as they were wont to use at funerals, and other sad occasions. Verse 40He - Nebuchadnezzar shall come swiftly, and spread himself over Moab. Verse 43Fear - A variety of dangers upon all sides. Verse 45Heshbon - Heshbon was it seems a place of force. The crown - That is, the glory. Verse 47Bring again - It seems this is to be understood of a spiritual reduction of them, by calling them into the kingdom of the Messiah.