Jeremiah 48:27

27 Moab, you made fun of Israel. Israel was caught in the middle of a gang of thieves. When you spoke about Israel, you shook your head and acted as if you were better than it.

Jeremiah 48:27 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 48:27

For was not Israel a derision unto thee?
&c.] In the time of his calamity, when the ten tribes were carried captive by the Assyrians some years ago; and of late the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin by the Chaldeans; the Moabites rejoiced at this, which they ought not to have done, upon the common principles of humanity; and especially since they were not only neighbours, but akin; and therefore, according to the law of retaliation, it was but just that they should be had in derision themselves: was he found among thieves?
that is, Israel; that he should be a derision to any, as thieves are when they are taken; men rejoice at it, insult them, and deride them; but was this the case of Israel? had he robbed any? had he done any injury to Moab, or any other? no, verily: why this derision then? for since thou spakest of him, thou skippedst for joy;
or, "shookedst thyself" F3; whenever the Moabites spoke of the distresses and calamities of Israel, and of their captivity, they laughed till they shook themselves; not only shook their heads, but their whole bodies. The Vulgate Latin version is, "therefore, because of thy words which thou hast spoken against him, thou shall be carried captive"; and Jarchi mentions such a sense of the words, as given by some of their Rabbins; and to this agrees the Targum,

``and because ye have multiplied words against them, therefore ye shall go into captivity.''

FOOTNOTES:

F3 (ddwntt) "commovisti te", Vatablus, Calvin; "commoves te", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "motitas te", Schmidt.

Jeremiah 48:27 In-Context

25 Moab's strength has been cut off, and its arm broken!" says the Lord.
26 "The people of Moab thought they were greater than the Lord, so punish them until they act as if they are drunk. Moab will fall and roll around in its own vomit, and people will even make fun of it.
27 Moab, you made fun of Israel. Israel was caught in the middle of a gang of thieves. When you spoke about Israel, you shook your head and acted as if you were better than it.
28 People in Moab, leave your towns empty and go live among the rocks. Be like a dove that makes its nest at the entrance of a cave.
29 "We have heard that the people of Moab are proud, very proud. They are proud, very proud, and in their hearts they think they are important."
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.