Ch. Jeremiah 48:1-47 (= LXX. Ch. Jeremiah 31:1-40). Prophecy against Moab

The comparative length of this utterance of itself makes it probable that it has been considerably expanded, and there is a general agreement among modern commentators on this head, though with a good deal of difference as to the parts to be considered secondary. Gi. makes the whole to be spurious. It is, however, unlikely that in the utterance of prophecies of this kind so important a people as Moab would be omitted. See on Jeremiah 48:3. On the other hand the fact that the ch. includes sometimes the substance, sometimes the actual words of Is. 15., 16; Amos 2:1-3; Zephaniah 2:8-10; cp. Numbers 24:17, and the probability that Israel’s feelings of hatred towards Moab (Isaiah 25:10-12) would prompt later writers to expand a prophecy uttered against that nation, are a strong support to the view that we have here a great extension of the original utterance.

The ch. may be summarized as follows.

(i) Jeremiah 48:1-10. The cities of Moab are overthrown. It remains only to flee. Gods and their followers shall be led captive, city and country laid waste. The work is Jehovah’s. Cursed be he who does it negligently. (ii) Jeremiah 48:11-19. Political disaster is new to Moab. He has not had the discipline which is now to be his lot. His god disappoints him, as Israel was disillusioned when they trusted in Beth-el. His chosen warriors are slain. Bewail ye his fate. Dibon is cast down. Aroer questions the fugitives for news. (iii) Jeremiah 48:20-28. Destruction is coming on Moab’s many cities. As he mocked Israel, so shall he be himself a derision. O inhabitants, take refuge like doves in the rocks. (iv) Jeremiah 48:29-39. Moab’s well-known haughtiness has ended in disaster. I will weep for her fruits and vineyards. Throughout the land there is woe. Worship has perforce ceased. Signs of mourning are on every side. Moab is a derision to all. (v) Jeremiah 48:40-47. The enemy shall descend like an eagle. The mightiest shall be terrorized. None shall escape the visitation or captivity. Yet in the end her fate shall be reversed.

1. Moab] Its territory was the high tableland E. of the Dead Sea. See further on Jeremiah 48:2.

Nebo] not the mountain (Deuteronomy 32:49; Deuteronomy 34:1), but the city (Numbers 32:38). It was taken by Mesha king of Moab (c. 895 b.c.) according to the records of the “Moabite stone.” See transl. of lines 14–18 in HDB. III. 406. Kiriathaim, Kerioth, Jahzah, Dibon, Aroer, Bozrah (Bezer), Beth-diblathaim, Baal-meon (see on Jeremiah 48:23), and Horonaim are also mentioned on that stone.

Kiriathaim] probably Kureyat, ten miles N. of the Dead Sea.

Misgab] better, as mg. the high fort. Cp. Isaiah 25:12.

broken down] better than (mg.) dismayed. So in Jeremiah 48:20; Jeremiah 48:39.

2. in Heshbon they have devised] There is a play on the two Hebrew words thus rendered (b’Ḥeshbon ḥash’bu) which might be represented in English by in Devizes they have devised. Heshbon, one of the chief cities of Moab, lay to the N. E. of the Dead Sea, and was considered the N. boundary of Moab till Reuben, on entering Palestine, claimed the territory between it and the Arnon which enters the Dead Sea about the middle of its E. side. Of the cities assigned (Joshua 13:15 ff.) to Reuben many are here mentioned as occupied by Moab. Hence the constant hostility between Moab and Israel (Jdg 3:12 ff.; 1 Samuel 14:47, etc.).

O Madmen, shalt be brought to silence] Here again there is a play on the sound in the Hebrew which is, Madmên, tiddômmi. But perhaps we should read with the LXX and Syr. thou (i.e. Moab) shalt be utterly brought to silence.

4. her little ones have caused a cry to be heard] Read rather, with LXX, they make a cry to be heard unto Zoar (S.E. of the Dead Sea). The point then is that the cry extends throughout Moab from N. to S. Cp. Isaiah 15:5, from which also Jeremiah 48:5 is mainly taken.

4, 5. Both these vv. are probably later than Jeremiah.

5. See preceding note.

6. the heath] See on Jeremiah 17:6. The LXX read somewhat differently from MT., rendering wild ass (as shy and difficult to capture). This is probably right. Cp. Job 39:5.

7. in thy works and in thy treasures] “works” perhaps meaning results of work, gains. This is suggested by the word “treasures” which follows. Cp. ch. Jeremiah 20:5, where, however, the Hebrew (translated “gains”) is not the same. The LXX (and so the Vulg.) rightly read but one substantive (omitting “works”), and render, from what was doubtless the original form of the Heb., strongholds. “Works” is a later insertion referring to Chemosh. So Co. For “work” in the sense of an idol cp. Deuteronomy 4:28 and elsewhere. The exile of a people was considered to involve that of their deity. For Chemosh’s captivity cp. Isaiah 46:1 f., and for the latter part of the v., Amos 1:15.

Chemosh] the object of Moab’s national worship (Numbers 21:29; 1 Kings 11:7). If the god is powerless to prevent his own captivity, what chance is there for the people?.

8. the valley] the valley of the Jordan towards the Dead Sea.

the plain] the tableland of Moab.

9. wings] The sense is that nothing short of wings would enable the Moabites to escape before their enemies.

that she may fly and get her away] or as mg. for she must fly; but better (so Dr.) for she would fain fly away.

10. negligently] lit. with slackness, better than mg. deceitfully.

11. Moab hath been at ease from his youth] He hath not been driven from his land hitherto. The feeling of horror at suffering expatriation, as compared with the consequences of a more ordinary defeat in battle such as the nation had often suffered in past time, is well exhibited by these verses.

settled on his lees] Wine improved by being allowed to rest upon its sediment (Isaiah 25:6; but contrast the use of the figure in Zephaniah 1:12). Its “taste” and “scent” were unimpaired. If emptied from vessel to vessel it would become vapid, without fragrance and tasteless. Something like this was now to happen to the nation by being taken captives.

11–19. See introd. summary to the ch.

12. pour off] rather as mg. tilt (a vessel). The figure of earthenware jars of wine is continued. They are emptied by being tilted on one side, an operation which was performed slowly and carefully, that the jars might be safe and the wine run off clear while the sediment was left. This work, however, in the case of Moab shall be done roughly.

bottles] rather as mg. jars.

13. shall be ashamed] See on Jeremiah 2:26.

was ashamed of Beth-el their confidence] Bethel was the southern seat of Jeroboam’s idolatrous worship. But Israel found their confidence in the worship there misplaced, when Shalmaneser carried them away. Cp. Amos 5:5. Pe. remarks that the mention of Bethel and not Jerusalem in this connexion is a noteworthy proof that this ch. contains a pre-exilic element.

15. Moab … her cities] The Hebrew is difficult. Dr., followed by Pe., alters the MT. on the model of Jeremiah 48:18, so as to read, “The spoiler of Moab is come up against him, and his, etc.”

17. For the use of “How” introducing a lament, cp. Lamentations 1:1; Lamentations 2:1; Lamentations 4:1.

the strong staff (mg. sceptre) … the beautiful rod] For these expressions, as implying national glory and power over others, cp. Psalm 110:2; Isaiah 14:29; Ezekiel 19:11-12; Ezekiel 19:14.

18. thou daughter that dwellest (mg. art seated) in Dibon] meaning, inhabitants of Dibon See on Jeremiah 4:11.

Dibon] now Diban (the “Moabite stone” was found there in 1868) stands on two hills. Hence the expression “come down” in the text. It is four miles N. of the Arnon, and thirteen E. of the Dead Sea, and is described as now a dreary and featureless ruin.

sit in thirst] The words are apparently corrupt, but it is difficult to obtain a satisfactory emendation; perhaps sit in mire or filth.

19. Aroer] now ‘Ara‘ir, not to be confounded with the Aroer of Numbers 32:34, a Gadite city, or with an Aroer belonging to Judah (1 Samuel 30:28). The Aroer of the text was a few miles S.W. of Dibon. Mesha records on the “Moabite stone” that he “built (i.e. restored) the city and made the road over the Arnon.”

20. broken down] See on Jeremiah 48:1.

in Arnon] rather, by the Arnon, i.e. on its banks.

20–24. The metrical arrangement begun in Jeremiah 48:17 ends in the middle of Jeremiah 48:20. From “tell ye it” onwards to the end of Jeremiah 48:24 is in all probability a later addition. Of the places not already mentioned in the ch. the position of some is quite unknown.

20–28. See introd. summary to the ch.

21. the plain country] See Jeremiah 48:8.

Holon] not known. It is not the H. near Hebron of Joshua 15:51; Joshua 21:15.

Jahzah] one of the Levitical cities (the Jahaz of Joshua 21:36). There Moses defeated Sihon (Numbers 21:23).

Mephaath] also a Levitical city (Joshua 21:37). Both M. and Jahzah were in Reuben’s territory.

22. Dibon] See on Jeremiah 48:18.

Nebo] See on Jeremiah 48:1.

Beth-diblathaim] lit. house of two figs. Some identify it with Almondiblathaim of Numbers 33:46, but this is doubtful.

23. Kiriathaim] See on Jeremiah 48:1.

Beth-gamul] now Umm el Jemâl, S. of Medeba.

Beth-meon] the B. of Numbers 32:36; Ezekiel 25:9; called Beth-baal-meon in Joshua 13:17 and on the Moabite stone.

24. Kerioth] This may be another name for Ar of Moab (Numbers 21:28). See on Amos 2:2, C.B. Both nouns have city for their primary sense.

Bozrah] probably the Bezer of Deuteronomy 4:43; Joshua 20:8; Joshua 21:36. The B. of Jeremiah 49:13 was in Edom.

25. The horn is an emblem of strength, the arm of authority. For the former see Psalm 75:4-5; Psalm 75:10, for the latter ch. Jeremiah 17:5.

26. Make ye him drunken] For the metaphor of drunkenness see on ch. Jeremiah 25:15.

he magnified himself against the Lord] He resisted Reuben in his occupation of the territory which the Lord had assigned him, but also in much more recent times. See e.g. 2 Kings 24:2.

wallow] or, splash into.

he also shall be in derision] just as he derided Israel.

26, 27. Probably post-Jeremianic.

27. was he found among thieves?] i.e. Thou couldst not, O Moab, have treated him with more contempt, hadst thou caught him in the act of stealing. Cp. Jeremiah 2:26.

waggest the head] in scorn. Cp. Psalm 64:8; Matthew 27:39.

28. dwell in the rock] See on Jeremiah 4:29.

in the sides of the hole’s mouth] The expression is peculiar and probably corrupt, but the figure is plain. See Tristram, Nat. Hist. of the Bible, p. 215, for mention of the many fissures in the rocky sides of the defiles in Palestine. Cp. Ca. Jeremiah 2:14.

29, 30. Expanded from Isaiah 16:6. For pride as a characteristic of Moab cp. Isaiah 25:11; Zephaniah 2:8-10.

29–39. See introd. summary to the ch. The passage may contain some Jeremianic matter, but on the whole is late (see also on Jeremiah 48:37-38) and borrowed to a large extent from Is. 15., 16. (chs. which are perhaps earlier than Isaiah’s time and republished by him. See Skinner, C.B. ad loc.).

30. I know his wrath] The Lord corroborates the assertion of the prophet in the former verse.

that it is nought … nothing] rather, as Dr. his boastings are untruth; they do untruth.

31. Based on Isaiah 16:7, but the influence of the first person in Jeremiah 48:9 there (“I will, etc.”) has led here to the prophet’s grief for Moab being represented as caused by her pride.

will I howl] In the corresponding passage in Isaiah it is first the country that mourns for itself, Jeremiah 48:7, and only later, Jeremiah 48:9, the prophet also expresses grief.

For “the men of” we should probably read, as in Isaiah, raisin-cakes of Kir-heres. They were made of a mixture of raisins and meal. Cp. Hosea 3:1. The two words in the original resemble each other. Kir-heres was probably the modern Kerak, eighteen miles S. of the Arnon and eight miles E. of the Dead Sea; a strong fortress on a steep hill surrounded by ravines.

32. Based on Isaiah 16:8 f.

With more than the weeping of Jazer] over its ruins, and wasted vineyards. But, by the slightest alteration of MT., we can obtain the reading in Is., viz. with the weeping of Jazer (so too LXX).

O vine of Sibmah] Sibmah was two and a half miles W.N. W., and Jazer was ten miles N. of Heshbon. The grapes of the region of Heshbon are still said to be excellent.

thy branches] thy tendrils.

over the sea] to the W. shore of the Dead Sea. A hyperbolical metaphor to express the great luxuriance of Sibmah’s vines.

the sea of Jazer] “Sea” is an accidental repetition from the previous clause.

thy vintage] Isaiah, whose word differs only by a single letter, has “thy harvest.”

the spoiler] Isaiah has “a shouting.”

33. This v. is taken with modifications from Isaiah 16:10.

And gladness … Moab] probably genuine. From “and I have caused” to the end of Jeremiah 48:34 seems again an expansion.

none shall tread with shouting] read rather, with Isaiah, no treader shall tread.

the shouting shall be no shouting] The Hebrew noun is used for both the joyous shout of the grape-treaders and for a battle-cry. Thus the clause means that the former shall be transformed into the latter. Cp. Jeremiah 25:30.

34. Abbreviated from Isaiah 15:4-6. The first words need emendation; “How criest thou, O H. and El.” (Gi.), or “Crying are H. and El.” (Du.). Elealeh according to Conder (HBD.) was about a mile N. of Heshbon. For the other towns see notes above.

Eglath-shelishiyah] mg. much less suitably, as an heifer of three years old. The Hebrew apparently means the third Eglath, i.e. as distinct from two other neighbouring Eglaths. Pe. compares “the three Strettons which are close together, Little Stretton, Church Stretton, and All Stretton.”

Nimrim] probably the modern Wady Numeirah at the S.E. end of the Dead Sea.

desolate] lit. desolations. The sources of water-supply shall be cut off. Cp. 2 Kings 3:25.

35. him that offereth in] This involves a slight modification of MT. which, as it stands, will mean, him that bringeth up (worshippers) to. LXX, omitting one consonant, render him that goeth up to.

36. soundeth for Moab like pipes] Their use was connected with funerals, so that the word is appropriate as expressing mourning. Isaiah’s word is “an harp” (Jeremiah 16:11).

37. All shall have the usual indications of mourning. See on ch. Jeremiah 16:6.

37, 38. Cp. Isaiah 15:2 f. From “for I have broken” (Jeremiah 48:38) to “upon Moab” (Jeremiah 48:44) is either wholly or in a large part the work of a supplementer.

38. vessel, etc.] See on Jeremiah 22:28.

39. broken down] See on Jeremiah 48:1.

40. he shall fly as an eagle] Cp. on Jeremiah 4:13. The simile seems taken from Deuteronomy 28:49, but is used elsewhere (see Isaiah 46:11; Ezekiel 17:3). It well represented the Babylonian empire, which “seemed to those who witnessed it like the rising of a mighty eagle, spreading out his vast wings, feathered with the innumerable colours of the variegated masses which composed the Chaldean host, sweeping over the different countries, and striking fear in his rapid flight:” Stanley, J. Ch. II. 451.

40, 41. The LXX omit “Behold … Moab” (Jeremiah 48:40) and “and the heart … pangs” (Jeremiah 48:41). Both are probably glosses in MT. supplied from Jeremiah 49:22, with change of names.

41. Kerioth] See on Jeremiah 48:20-24. But, because of the parallel expression “strong holds” in the next clause, the word may simply mean cities.

43, 44. Cp. Isaiah 24:17 f. and probably a proverb in frequent use. We cannot reproduce in English the assonance paḥad vâpaḥath vâpâḥ. See on Lamentations 3:47.

44. Co. considers “for I will bring … saith the Lord” to be genuinely Jeremianic.

the year of their visitation] Cp. Jeremiah 11:23, Jeremiah 23:12.

45–47 are wanting in the LXX and are pretty clearly an insertion. The greater part of Jeremiah 48:45 f. is from Numbers 21:28 f., Numbers 24:17.

45. They that fled … Heshbon] i.e. the fugitives of Moab in vain seek help from Heshbon, as it is among the first to be overthrown (Jeremiah 48:2).

midst] Read house, changing one letter of MT. Heshbon is meant, as the old capital (Numbers 21:26; Deuteronomy 2:26). The Moabites now are to recover it, after it had been held successively by Sihon and the Israelites.

corner] rather, the temples of the head. See on Jeremiah 9:25.

the tumultuous ones] lit. sons of tumult or din of battle, Moabite warriors. See on Jeremiah 25:31.

47. bring again] See on Jeremiah 46:26 for possible genuineness.

Thus far … Moab] an editor’s insertion.