Therefore I will wail for Moab; I will cry out for all of Moab; I will moan for the men of Kir-heres. Therefore I will wailThe phrase begins with a divine declaration of lamentation. The Hebrew root for "wail" is "yalal," which conveys a deep, mournful cry. This is not a superficial expression of sadness but a profound, heartfelt response to the impending judgment. In the context of ancient Near Eastern cultures, wailing was a common expression of grief, often accompanied by specific rituals. Here, it signifies God's deep sorrow over Moab's fate, reflecting His compassionate nature even in judgment. for Moab
Moab was a nation descended from Lot, Abraham's nephew, and had a complex relationship with Israel. Historically, Moab was often in conflict with Israel, yet they shared familial ties. The mention of Moab here highlights the specific target of God's lament. It underscores the personal nature of God's dealings with nations, where He is not indifferent to their plight despite their enmity with His people. I will cry out for all Moab
The repetition of lamentation emphasizes the totality of the judgment. "All Moab" indicates that the entire nation, without exception, is subject to this divine sorrow. The Hebrew word for "cry out" is "za'aq," which often denotes a loud, urgent call. This suggests an intensity in God's response, reflecting His deep emotional investment in the fate of Moab. for the men of Kir-heres
Kir-heres, also known as Kir-hareseth, was a significant city in Moab, known for its fortifications and pottery. The mention of this city highlights the specific areas within Moab that will experience the brunt of the judgment. Historically, Kir-heres was a center of strength and pride for Moab, and its mention here signifies the fall of what was once considered secure and unassailable. I will moan
The Hebrew root "nahah" for "moan" conveys a deep, guttural sound of grief. This further intensifies the emotional response of God towards Moab's impending doom. It is a continuation of the theme of divine empathy, where God is not detached from the suffering of nations but is deeply moved by their plight. like the sound of a flute
The flute, in ancient times, was often associated with mourning and funerals. Its sound is soft, haunting, and evocative of sorrow. By comparing His moaning to the sound of a flute, God is using a culturally resonant image to convey the depth of His lament. This metaphor serves to illustrate the somber and pervasive nature of the judgment that is to come. Persons / Places / Events 1. MoabAn ancient kingdom located east of the Dead Sea, often in conflict with Israel. Moab is frequently mentioned in the Bible as a nation that turned away from God and faced His judgment. 2. Kir-heresA significant city in Moab, known for its strong fortifications. It is often associated with Moab's strength and pride. 3. JeremiahThe prophet who conveyed God's messages of judgment and hope to the nations, including Moab. His lamentation reflects God's sorrow over Moab's impending destruction. Teaching Points God's Compassion in JudgmentEven in judgment, God expresses sorrow for the nations. This reflects His compassionate nature and desire for repentance rather than destruction. The Consequences of PrideMoab's downfall serves as a warning against pride and self-reliance. Trusting in one's own strength rather than God leads to ruin. Intercessory LamentJeremiah's lament for Moab encourages believers to intercede for those who are far from God, praying for their repentance and restoration. The Universality of God's SovereigntyGod's judgment on Moab demonstrates His sovereignty over all nations, not just Israel. His moral standards apply universally. Hope Amidst JudgmentWhile the prophecy is one of destruction, it also implies the possibility of redemption for those who turn back to God. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Jeremiah's lament for Moab reflect God's character, and what does this teach us about how we should view those who are under judgment today? 2. In what ways can pride lead to downfall in our personal lives, and how can we guard against it? 3. How can we practice intercessory prayer for those who are spiritually lost, following Jeremiah's example? 4. What does the judgment of Moab teach us about God's sovereignty over all nations, and how should this influence our worldview? 5. How can we find hope and assurance in God's character, even when facing His judgment or discipline in our own lives? Connections to Other Scriptures Isaiah 15-16These chapters also contain prophecies against Moab, echoing the themes of lament and judgment found in Jeremiah 48. Lamentations 1:1-2The book of Lamentations, attributed to Jeremiah, shares a similar tone of mourning over Jerusalem, paralleling his lament for Moab. Psalm 137:1This psalm captures the sorrow of the Israelites in exile, akin to the lamentation for Moab's downfall. People Chemosh, Gamul, Jeremiah, Sihon, ZoarPlaces Arnon, Aroer, Beth-diblathaim, Bethel, Beth-gamul, Beth-meon, Bozrah, Dibon, Elealeh, Heshbon, Holon, Horonaim, Jahaz, Jahzah, Jazer, Kerioth, Kir-hareseth, Kiriathaim, Luhith, Madmen, Mephaath, Moab, Nebo, Nimrim, Sea of Jazer, Sibmah, ZoarTopics Cause, Cries, Cry, Crying, Grief, Hareseth, Heart, Heres, Howl, Kir, Kirheres, Kir-heres, Kir-he'res, Moab, Moan, Moaning, Mourn, Sorrowing, Wail, Yea, YesDictionary of Bible Themes Jeremiah 48:31-36 1135 God, suffering of Library August 8. "Be Like the Dove" (Jer. Xlviii. 28).
"Be like the dove" (Jer. xlviii. 28). Harmless as a dove, is Christ's interpretation of the beautiful emblem. And so the Spirit of God is purity itself. He cannot dwell in an unclean heart. He cannot abide in the natural mind. It was said of the anointing of old, "On man's flesh it shall not be poured." The purity which the Holy Spirit brings is like the white and spotless little plant which grows up out of the heap of manure, or the black soil, without one grain of impurity adhering to its crystalline …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth How those are to be Admonished who Decline the Office of Preaching Out of Too Great Humility, and those who Seize on it with Precipitate Haste.
(Admonition 26.) Differently to be admonished are those who, though able to preach worthily, are afraid by reason of excessive humility, and those whom imperfection or age forbids to preach, and yet precipitancy impells. For those who, though able to preach with profit, still shrink back through excessive humility are to be admonished to gather from consideration of a lesser matter how faulty they are in a greater one. For, if they were to hide from their indigent neighbours money which they possessed …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great Balaam's Prophecy. (Numb. xxiv. 17-19. )
Carried by the Spirit into the far distant future, Balaam sees here how a star goeth out of Jacob and a sceptre riseth out of Israel, and how this sceptre smiteth Moab, by whose enmity the Seer had been brought from a distant region for the destruction of Israel. And not Moab only shall be smitten, but its southern neighbour, Edom, too shall be subdued, whose hatred against Israel had already been prefigured in its ancestor, and had now begun to display Itself; and In general, all the enemies of …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Meditations for the Sick.
Whilst thy sickness remains, use often, for thy comfort, these few meditations, taken from the ends wherefore God sendeth afflictions to his children. Those are ten. 1. That by afflictions God may not only correct our sins past, but also work in us a deeper loathing of our natural corruptions, and so prevent us from falling into many other sins, which otherwise we would commit; like a good father, who suffers his tender babe to scorch his finger in a candle, that he may the rather learn to beware …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety The Section Chap. I. -iii.
The question which here above all engages our attention, and requires to be answered, is this: Whether that which is reported in these chapters did, or did not, actually and outwardly take place. The history of the inquiries connected with this question is found most fully in Marckius's "Diatribe de uxore fornicationum," Leyden, 1696, reprinted in the Commentary on the Minor Prophets by the same author. The various views may be divided into three classes. 1. It is maintained by very many interpreters, …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament The Prophet Joel.
PRELIMINARY REMARKS. The position which has been assigned to Joel in the collection of the Minor Prophets, furnishes an external argument for the determination of the time at which Joel wrote. There cannot be any doubt that the Collectors were guided by a consideration of the chronology. The circumstance, that they placed the prophecies of Joel just between the two prophets who, according to the inscriptions and contents of their prophecies, belonged to the time of Jeroboam and Uzziah, is …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Jeremiah
The interest of the book of Jeremiah is unique. On the one hand, it is our most reliable and elaborate source for the long period of history which it covers; on the other, it presents us with prophecy in its most intensely human phase, manifesting itself through a strangely attractive personality that was subject to like doubts and passions with ourselves. At his call, in 626 B.C., he was young and inexperienced, i. 6, so that he cannot have been born earlier than 650. The political and religious …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Jeremiah 48:31 NIVJeremiah 48:31 NLTJeremiah 48:31 ESVJeremiah 48:31 NASBJeremiah 48:31 KJV
Jeremiah 48:31 Commentaries
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