Jeremiah 48:44

44 “Whoever flees the panic will fall into the pit, and whoever climbs from the pit will be caught in the snare. For I will bring upon Moab the year of their punishment,” declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 48:44 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 48:44

He that fleeth from the fear
From terrible enemies he is afraid of, and dares not face them, but flees, in order to escape them: shall fall into the pit;
into some misfortune or another: and he that getteth out of the pit shall be taken in the snare;
laid by the enemy for him, and so shall fall into his hands. Sanctius very ingeniously observes that the allusion is to the hunting of deer, and such like creatures; when first a line of feathers of various colours is placed to frighten them; and if they get over that, then there is a pit dug for them, to catch them in; and if they get out of that, a snare is laid to take them; so that they rarely escape: and thus it would be with the Moabites, if they got rid of a first and second danger, a third would involve them; their destruction was certain, as follows; see ( Isaiah 24:18 ) ; for I will bring upon it, [even] upon Moab, the year of their
visitation, saith the Lord;
in a way of wrath and punishment; for which there was a time fixed, and was now at hand, and would quickly take place, according to the will and word of the Lord, of which Moab might be assured; who is expressed by name, for the sake of explanation, and that it might be manifest who was intended.

Jeremiah 48:44 In-Context

42 Moab will be destroyed as a nation because he vaunted himself against the LORD.

43 Terror and pit and snare await you, O dweller of Moab,” declares the LORD.

44 “Whoever flees the panic will fall into the pit, and whoever climbs from the pit will be caught in the snare. For I will bring upon Moab the year of their punishment,” declares the LORD.

45 “Those who flee will stand helpless in Heshbon’s shadow, because fire has gone forth from Heshbon and a flame from within Sihon. It devours the foreheads of Moab and the skulls of the sons of tumult.

46 Woe to you, O Moab! The people of Chemosh have perished; for your sons have been taken into exile and your daughters have gone into captivity.