Jeremiah 48:1-9
Moab, located east of the Jordan on the east side of the Dead Sea, was long time enemy of Judah. The area is related to Israel through Lot (Gen 19:37). Nebo is likely a reference to Mt. Nebo to the North. Kiriathaim was a city near to Nebo and assigned to the tribe of Reuben. Heshbon is a play on words meaning 'plot'; the fall of Moab was in the works. Babylon would come from the North and destroy and drive the people from their homes. They will flee to the south. Madmen is an unknown city but was likely a wordplay for 'cut down'. Horonaim is unknown but with Luhith, a city in the southwest listed next we might think Horomaim is more central to show the destruction moving from north to south.
In their flight, they would become like a bush in the desert; a picture of meager existence amongst barrenness. Chemosh is the god of Moab, one using child sacrifice (2 Kings 3:27). The conquering nation would confiscate the idols to take them home and display them, showing their god was bigger and more powerful.
Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian army is the 'destroyer' the Lord is using. The ruination of the valley is likened to salting the land; a practice of ruining the land so nothing would grow. There is some dispute on this translation where some want to think salt should be translated as a marker, a headstone or grave marker for the death of this nation.
Jeremiah 48:10
The Babylonian destroyer is addressed in this break of the oracle. They were to to be relentless in their pursuit of doing the Lord's work. A curse is offered for them if they fail to deliver the judgment.
Jeremiah 48:11-13
Moab is pictured as undisturbed in its spiritual state from the beginning. This was the state of idolatry and complacency regarding this state. They had never experienced exile or suffering and therefore had no motivation to change. This was all about to change as they would be destroyed and driven from their land. They would come to know it was their idolatry that brought this on, as it was with Israel.
Jeremiah 48:14-17
The thought of the army being warriors and valiant men will not seem appropriate when the nations is destroyed and the towns invaded. They will go down to slaughter. The destruction will come quickly.
Jeremiah 48:18-25
Whatever glory Moab possessed would be reduced to dust. Dibon was east of the dead sea along the Arnon; Aroer was east of Dibon. The list of cities on the plateau are not well known; regardless, the message is clear that this judgment came to all the nation. No part of it would go unaffected.
Jeremiah 48:26-28
Moab would be made drunk from the cup of God's wrath (Jer 25); made to drink, stagger, vomit and fall. Moab would then become the object of ridicule very much like they had ridiculed Israel when they were being judged. The people were advised to flee to the rocks, to caves and hiding places.
Jeremiah 48:29-33
Moab's pride is famous, along with her arrogance, insolence, haughtiness and boasting. This sets up wailing, crying out, moaning and weeping for those of Moab. Kir Hareseth is 30 mile south of Arnon, east of Jordon. Jazer and Sibmah are sister cities of agriculture. The destruction would overtake these cities and they would fall due to the pride of Moab. There will be shouting, but not from joy.
Jeremiah 48:34-35
The translation is difficult to draw meaning from; the Hebrew text translates, "From the cry of Heshbon unto Elealeh unto Jahaz they utter their voice from Zoar unto Horonaim Eglath Shelishiyah." The translation is drawn more from a parallel passage in Isaiah 15:4-6. Elealeh was 2 miles north of Heshbon. Jahaz was about 20 miles south of it. These three cities were in the north and then Zoar, Horanaim and Eglath Shelishiyah were apparently in the south.
Jeremiah 48:36-39
Moab is pictured as a broken jar, a throwaway. The lament is extensive the actions listed are mourning rituals; in this case they mourned over the national distress and mourning for the dead.
Jeremiah 48:40-44
Babylon will swoop down from the north like an eagle and spread over Moab. Again, we see it covers the land and no one will escape the affects of the judgment. Moab will cease to be a nation because they defied the Lord. The judgment coming will play out as a triple threat; whenever someone escapes one, they will be caught in another.
Jeremiah 48:45-47
Sihon was an Amorite king that opposed Israel (Nu 21:21-26). The fire from Heshbon is judgment agains this spirit of resistance or hatred toward Israel and her God. This fire no burns those who boast and the proud. Their loyalty had been to their god, Chemosh; to whom they sacrificed their children. The people of Chemosh are destroyed.
Then, in a single sentence, we see that Moab has a glimmer of hope. A future hope of restoration.
©2019 Doug Ford
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