Jeremiah 48:4

4 "Moab is destroyed; Her little ones have caused a cry to be heard;

Jeremiah 48:4 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 48:4

Moab is destroyed
Either the whole nation in general; so the Targum,

``the kingdom of Moab is broken;''

and so Abarbinel; or a city so called, which some take to be the city Areopolis. Jerom ^F7 says, that Moab is a city of Arabia, now called Areopolis; and which also has the name of Rabbathmoab, or "grand Moab"; her little ones have caused a cry to be heard;
seeing their parents killed, and they left desolate, and in the hands of the enemy; and not only so, but just going to be dashed in pieces by them. The Targum interprets it, her governors; and so Jarchi, who thinks they are so called, because they are lesser than kings. Kimchi and Ben Melech suggest, that these are called so by way of contempt. The word "tzeir" signifies both "little" and "great", as the learned Pocock ^F8 has abundantly proved.

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FOOTNOTES:

F7 De locis Heb. fol. 87. H. & 93. B.
F8 Not. Miscell. in Port. Mosis, p. 17, 18.

Jeremiah 48:4 In-Context

2 No more praise of Moab. In Heshbon they have devised evil against her: 'Come, and let us cut her off as a nation.' You also shall be cut down, O Madmen! The sword shall pursue you;

3 A voice of crying shall be from Horonaim: 'Plundering and great destruction!'

4 "Moab is destroyed; Her little ones have caused a cry to be heard;

5 For in the Ascent of Luhith they ascend with continual weeping; For in the descent of Horonaim the enemies have heard a cry of destruction.

6 "Flee, save your lives! And be like the juniper in the wilderness.

Footnotes

• [a]. Following Masoretic Text, Targum, and Vulgate; Septuagint reads Proclaim it in Zoar.