Jeremiah 48:5
For on the ascent to Luhith they weep bitterly as they go, and on the descent to Horonaim cries of distress resound over the destruction:
For on the ascent to Luhith
The phrase "on the ascent to Luhith" refers to a specific geographical location in Moab, a region east of the Jordan River. The ascent indicates a steep climb, suggesting a difficult journey. Historically, Luhith was a town in Moab, and its mention here signifies a place of distress and hardship. The Hebrew root for "ascent" (עֲלִיָּה, aliyah) often implies a journey towards something significant, yet here it is marked by sorrow. This ascent symbolizes the spiritual and emotional struggles faced by the people, as they are forced to confront the consequences of their actions and the impending judgment of God.

they will go up with weeping
The act of going up "with weeping" underscores the deep sorrow and lamentation of the Moabites. The Hebrew word for "weeping" (בְּכִי, bechi) conveys a profound sense of mourning and despair. This imagery of tears and sorrow is a powerful reminder of the consequences of sin and rebellion against God. In a broader spiritual context, it serves as a call to repentance, urging believers to turn back to God with contrite hearts. The weeping also reflects the loss of hope and the realization of the impending doom that awaits those who have turned away from God's commandments.

surely on the road to Horonaim
The "road to Horonaim" is another significant location in Moab, often associated with destruction and calamity. The certainty implied by "surely" (כִּי, ki) emphasizes the inevitability of the coming judgment. Horonaim, meaning "two caves" in Hebrew, suggests a place of refuge that has become a place of distress. This road symbolizes the path of life choices that lead away from God's protection and towards destruction. It serves as a warning to all believers about the dangers of straying from the righteous path and the importance of seeking God's guidance in all aspects of life.

they will raise a cry of destruction
The "cry of destruction" is a vivid expression of the impending doom that the Moabites face. The Hebrew word for "cry" (זְעָקָה, zeakah) is often used in the context of a loud, desperate plea for help. This cry is not just a response to physical destruction but also a spiritual acknowledgment of the consequences of sin. The destruction (שֶׁבֶר, shever) signifies a complete breaking down, both physically and spiritually. For the conservative Christian, this serves as a sobering reminder of the reality of divine judgment and the need for sincere repentance. It calls believers to raise their own cries to God, not in despair, but in faith and hope for His mercy and redemption.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Luhith
A location in Moab, mentioned in the context of a path of ascent. It is a place associated with weeping and lamentation due to impending destruction.

2. Horonaim
Another location in Moab, mentioned as a place of descent. It is characterized by cries of distress, indicating the severity of the calamity that has befallen Moab.

3. Moab
A nation east of Israel, often in conflict with Israel. In this context, Moab is facing judgment and destruction as prophesied by Jeremiah.

4. Jeremiah
A prophet of God who conveyed messages of judgment and hope to the nations, including Moab. His prophecies often called for repentance and warned of consequences for sin.

5. Destruction
The event of judgment upon Moab, symbolized by the weeping and cries of distress. It serves as a warning of the consequences of turning away from God.
Teaching Points
The Consequences of Sin
The destruction of Moab serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of turning away from God. Sin leads to sorrow and distress, as seen in the weeping and cries of Moab.

The Certainty of God's Judgment
The prophecy against Moab underscores the certainty of God's judgment. Just as Moab faced destruction, so too will all who persist in sin without repentance.

The Call to Repentance
The lamentation of Moab is a call to repentance for all nations. It is a reminder to turn back to God before facing similar judgment.

The Compassion of God
Even in judgment, God's heart is for restoration. The weeping and cries are not just signs of destruction but also an invitation to seek God's mercy and grace.

The Role of the Prophet
Jeremiah's role as a prophet was to convey God's message faithfully, regardless of its popularity. Believers are called to speak truth in love, warning others of the consequences of sin.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the imagery of weeping and cries of distress in Jeremiah 48:5 reflect the spiritual state of Moab, and what can we learn from this about the impact of sin in our own lives?

2. In what ways does the prophecy against Moab in Jeremiah 48:5 parallel the warnings given to other nations or individuals in the Bible, and how should this influence our understanding of God's justice?

3. How can the themes of judgment and repentance in Jeremiah 48:5 be applied to our personal walk with God, and what steps can we take to ensure we are living in alignment with His will?

4. Considering the role of Jeremiah as a prophet, how can we as believers today fulfill a similar role in our communities, warning others of the consequences of sin while offering hope through the gospel?

5. Reflect on a time when you experienced sorrow or distress as a result of sin. How did you respond, and what did you learn about God's character and your relationship with Him through that experience?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Isaiah 15
This chapter also speaks of the burden against Moab, describing similar scenes of lamentation and destruction, reinforcing the theme of divine judgment.

Lamentations 1
The book of Lamentations, attributed to Jeremiah, echoes the themes of weeping and distress over destruction, drawing a parallel to the sorrow expressed in Jeremiah 48:5.

Psalm 137
This psalm captures the weeping and lamentation of the Israelites in exile, similar to the weeping of Moab, highlighting the universal experience of sorrow due to sin and judgment.
The Departed Praise of MoabD. Young
People
Chemosh, Gamul, Jeremiah, Sihon, Zoar
Places
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, Zoar
Topics
Adversaries, Anguish, Anguished, Ascend, Ascent, Bitterly, Continual, Cries, Cry, Descent, Desolation, Destruction, Distress, Distressing, Ears, Enemies, Horonaim, Horona'im, Luhith, Road, Slope, Weeping
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Jeremiah 48:4-5

     5801   brokenness

Jeremiah 48:4-6

     5178   running

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

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