Jeremiah 48:17-27

17 "Mourn for him, all you who live around him, Even all of you who know his name; Say, 'How has the mighty 1scepter been broken, A staff of splendor!'
18 "2Come down from your glory And sit on the parched ground, O 3daughter dwelling in 4Dibon, For the destroyer of Moab has come up against you, He has ruined your strongholds.
19 "Stand by the road and keep watch, O inhabitant of 5Aroer; 6Ask him who flees and her who escapes And say, 'What has happened?'
20 "Moab has been put to shame, for it has been shattered. Wail and cry out; Declare by the 7Arnon That Moab has been destroyed.
21 "Judgment has also come upon the plain, upon Holon, 8Jahzah and against 9Mephaath,
22 against Dibon, Nebo and Beth-diblathaim,
23 against Kiriathaim, Beth-gamul and 10Beth-meon,
24 against 11Kerioth, Bozrah and all the cities of the land of Moab, far and near.
25 "The 12horn of Moab has been cut off and his 13arm broken," declares the LORD.
26 "14Make him drunk, for he has become 15arrogant toward the LORD; so Moab will wallow in his vomit, and he also will become a laughingstock.
27 "Now was not Israel a 16laughingstock to you? Or was he 17caught among thieves? For each time you speak about him you 18shake your head in scorn.

Jeremiah 48:17-27 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 48

This chapter contains a prophecy of the destruction of Moab, and of the mourning that should be for it; and not only its destruction in general is predicted, but particular places are mentioned, on which it should fall, Jer 48:1-5; the causes of which were their confidence in their works and riches, their carnal ease and security, and their idolatry, they should now be ashamed of, Jer 48:6-13; and this destruction is represented both as certain and as near, notwithstanding their mighty warriors and choice young men, Jer 48:14-17; and then other cities are particularly named, that should share in the calamity, Jer 48:18-25; and all this because of their insolence to the Lord; their contempt of his people; their pride, arrogance, and haughtiness; their wrath, and their lies, Jer 48:26-30; and this destruction is further exaggerated by the lamentation of the prophet over Moab in general, and over several particular cities; and by the lamentation of the inhabitants of them, because of the spoiling of their vines, their fruits, and their riches, Jer 48:31-39; and this is confirmed by the Lord, as to the swiftness of the enemy that should destroy them; the consternation and fear that should seize them; the flight they should be put to; and the consumption and captivity of them, Jer 48:40-46; and the chapter is concluded with a promise of the return of their captivity in the latter day, Jer 48:47.

Cross References 18

  • 1. Isaiah 9:4; Isaiah 14:5
  • 2. Isaiah 47:1
  • 3. Jeremiah 46:19
  • 4. Numbers 21:30; Joshua 13:9, 17; Isaiah 15:2; Jeremiah 48:22
  • 5. Deuteronomy 2:36; Joshua 12:2
  • 6. 1 Sam 4:13, 14, 16
  • 7. Numbers 21:13
  • 8. Numbers 21:23; Isaiah 15:4; Jeremiah 48:34
  • 9. Joshua 13:18
  • 10. Joshua 13:17
  • 11. Jeremiah 48:41; Amos 2:2
  • 12. Psalms 75:10; Zechariah 1:19-21
  • 13. Job 22:9; Psalms 10:15
  • 14. Jeremiah 25:15
  • 15. Exodus 5:2; Jeremiah 48:42; Daniel 5:23
  • 16. Lamentations 2:15-17; Micah 7:8-10
  • 17. Jeremiah 2:26
  • 18. Job 16:4; Jeremiah 18:16

Footnotes 6

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