Jeremiah 48:1-11

1 To Moab, the Lord of hosts, God of Israel, saith these things. Woe on Nebo, for it is destroyed, and shamed; Kiriathaim is taken (captive), the strong city is shamed, and trembled. (About Moab, the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saith these things. Woe on Nebo, for it is destroyed; Kiriathaim is shamed, and taken captive; Misgab is shamed, and trembleth.)

2 And full out joying is no more in Moab; they thought evil against Heshbon. Come ye, and lose we it from [the] folk. Therefore thou being still, [thou] shalt be stilled, and sword shall follow thee. (And rejoicing is no longer in Moab; they plotted evil against Heshbon. Come ye, and let us destroy them from being a nation. And so thou shalt be silenced, O town of Madmen, yea, the sword shall follow after thee.)

3 A voice of cry(ing) from Horonaim, destroying, and great sorrow.

4 Moab is defouled, tell ye [out the] cry to (the) little children thereof. (Moab is defiled, tell ye out the cry of its little children.)

5 For a man weeping, ascended with weeping, by the ascending of Luhith; for in the coming down of Horonaim, [the] enemies heard the yelling of (that) sorrow. (For people wept, as they went up by the ascent of Luhith; and on the coming down, or the descent, of Horonaim, their enemies heard their cries of distress.)

6 Flee ye, save ye your lives; and ye shall be as brooms in desert. (Flee ye, save ye your lives; and ye shall be like the heath in the wilderness.)

7 For that that thou haddest trust in thy strongholds, and in thy treasures, also thou shalt be taken. And Chemosh shall go into passing over, the priests thereof and the princes thereof together. (For that thou haddest trust in thy strongholds, and in thy treasures, thou also shalt be taken. And Chemosh shall go into captivity, its priests and its princes, or its leaders, together.)

8 And a robber shall come to each city, and no city shall be saved; and valleys shall perish, and field places shall be destroyed, for the Lord said.

9 Give ye the flower of Moab, for it shall go out flowering; and the cities thereof shall be forsaken, and unhabitable. (Give ye a flower to Moab, for it shall go out flowering; and its cities shall be deserted, and uninhabited.)

10 He is cursed, that doeth the work of God guilefully; and he is cursed, that forbiddeth his sword from blood. (He is cursed, who doeth the work of God deceitfully; and he is cursed, who forbiddeth his sword from blood.)

11 Moab was plenteous from his young waxing age, and rested in his dregs, neither was shed out from vessel into vessel, and went not into passing over; therefore his taste dwelled in him, and his odour is not changed. (Moab hath lived safe and secure since his youth, and rested on his dregs, or on his lees, yea, he was not poured out from vessel to vessel, nor went into captivity; and so his taste stayed in him, and his odour was not changed.)

Jeremiah 48:1-11 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.