Jeremiah 48

Jeremiah 48:1

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

Against = concerning.

Moab. Always hostile to Israel. Compare Judges 3:12, Judges 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.

Jeremiah 48:2

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.

Jeremiah 48:3

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

Jeremiah 48:5

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

Jeremiah 48:6

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

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

Jeremiah 48:7

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. 1 Kings 11:7. 2 Kings 23:13.

Jeremiah 48:10

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

Jeremiah 48:11

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

remained = stood.

Jeremiah 48:12

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).

Jeremiah 48:13

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).

Jeremiah 48:14

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

Jeremiah 48:15

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.

Jeremiah 48:16

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

Jeremiah 48:18

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

Jeremiah 48:19

inhabitant = inhabitress. Reference to “daughter’ (Jeremiah 48:18).

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

Jeremiah 48:20

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

Jeremiah 48:21

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

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

Jeremiah 48:22

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.

Jeremiah 48:23

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

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

Jeremiah 48:24

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

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

Jeremiah 48:26

wallow in = stagger or splash into.

Jeremiah 48:27

since = as often as, or whenever.

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

Jeremiah 48:29

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

Jeremiah 48:31

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.

Jeremiah 48:32

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.

Jeremiah 48:33

wine. Hebrew. yayin. App-27.

Jeremiah 48:34

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.

Jeremiah 48:35

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

Jeremiah 48:36

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

Jeremiah 48:37

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”.

Jeremiah 48:38

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

streets = broadways.

Jeremiah 48:40

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.

Jeremiah 48:41

mighty men’s. Hebrew. geber. App-14.

Jeremiah 48:43

Fear = Terror.

Jeremiah 48:44

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

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

Jeremiah 48:45

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.

Jeremiah 48:46

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.

Jeremiah 48:47

bring again the captivity. Note the Figure of speech Paronomasia

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